Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
89

SERMON 89

Allah's attributes and some
advice

Praise be to Allah who
is well-known without being seen, Who creates without pondering
over, Who has ever been existent when there was no sky with domes,
nor curtains with lofty doors, nor gloomy night, nor peaceful
ocean, nor mountains with broad pathways, nor curved mountain
roads, nor earth of spread floors, nor self-reliant creatures. He
is the Originator of creation and their Master. He is the God of
the creation and its feeder. The sun and the moon are steadily
moving in pursuit of His will. They make every fresh thing old and
every distant thing near.

He distributed their
sustenance and has counted their deeds and acts, the number of
their breaths, their concealed looks, and whatever is hidden in
their bosoms. He knows their places of stay and places of last
resort in the loins and wombs till they reach their end.

His punishment on
enemies is harsh despite the extent of His Mercy, and His
compassion on His friends is vast despite His harsh punishment. He
overpowers one who wants to overcome Him, and destroys one who
clashes with Him. He disgraces one who opposes Him and gains sway
over one who bears Him hostility. He is sufficient for one who
relies on Him. He gives one who asks Him. He repays one who lends
to Him. He rewards one who thanks Him.

O' creatures of Allah,
weigh yourselves before you are weighed and assess yourselves
before you are assessed. Breathe before suffocation of the throat.
Be submissive before you are harshly driven. Know that if one does
not help himself in acting as his own adviser and warner then no
one else can (effectively) be his adviser or warner.