Sermon 85

I stand witness that there is no god except Allah, He is One and there is no partner with Him. He is the First, such that nothing was before Him. He is the Last, such that there is not limit for Him. Imagination cannot catch any of His qualities. Hearts cannot entertain belief about His nature. Analysis and division cannot be applied to Him. Eyes and hearts cannot encompass Him.

A part of the same sermon

O creatures of Allah! Take lesson from useful items of instruction and shining indications. Be cautioned by effective items of warning. Get benefit from preaching and admonition. It is as though the claws of death are pressed in you, the connection of hope and desires has been cut asunder, hard affairs have befallen you and your march is towards the place where everyone has to go, namely death. Hence*,* "with every person there is a driver and a witness" (Qur'an, 50:21). The driver drives him towards resurrection while the witness furnishes evidence about his deeds.

A part of the same sermon about Paradise

In Paradise there are various degrees of excellence and different places of stay. Its blessings never end. He who stays in it will never depart from it. He who is endowed with everlasting abode in it will not get old, and its resident will not face want.

Arabic Text

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) وفيها صفات ثمان من صفات الجلال وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ: الاْوَّلُ لاَ شَيْءَ قَبْلَهُ، وَالاخِرُ لاَ غَايَةَ لَهُ، لاَ تَقَعُ الاْوْهَامُ لَهُ عَلى صِفَة، وَلاَ تُعْقَدُ الْقُلُوبُ مِنْهُ عَلَى كَيْفِيَّة، وَلاَ تَنَالُهُ التَّجْزِئَةُ وَالتَّبْعِيضُ، وَلاَ تُحِيطُ بِهِ الاْبْصَارُ وَالْقُلُوبُ. منها: فَاتَّعِظُوا عِبَادَ اللهِ بِالعِبَرِ النَّوَافِعِ، وَاعْتَبِرُوا بِالاْي السَّوَاطِعِ، وَازْدَجِرُوا بِالنُّذُرِ الْبَوَالِغِ، وَانْتَفِعُوا بِالذِّكْرِ وَالْمَوَاعِظِ، فَكَأَنْ قَدْ عَلِقَتْكُمْ مَخَالِبُ الْمَنِيَّةِ، وَانْقَطَعَتْ مِنْكُمْ عَلاَئِقُ الاْمْنِيَّةِ، وَدَهِمَتْكُمْ مُفْظِعَاتُ الاْمُورِ، وَالسِّيَاقَةُ إِلى الْوِرْدِ المَوْرُودِ، (وَكُلُّ نَفْس مَعَهَا سَائِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ): سَائِقٌ يَسُوقُهَا إِلَى مَحْشَرِهَا; وَشاهِدٌ يَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهَا بِعَمَلِهَا. منها: في صفة الجنّة دَرَجَاتٌ مُتَفَاضِلاَتٌ، وَمَنَازِلُ مُتَفَاوِتَاتٌ، لاَ يَنْقَطِعُ نَعِيمُهَا، وَلاَ يَظْعَنُ مُقِيمُهَا، وَلاَ يَهْرَمُ خَالِدُهَا، وَلاَ يَبْأَسُ سَاكِنُهَا.

Alternative Sources

(1) Abu Nu'aym, Hilyah, I, 77; (2) al-Wasiti, 'Uyun al-hikam; (3) Sibt, Tadhkirah, 131; (4) Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 140.