Sermon 203

O people, certainly this world is a passage while the next world is a place of permanent abode. So, take from the passage (all that you can) for the permanent abode. Do not tear away your curtain before Him Who is aware of your secrets. Take away from this world your hearts before your bodies go out of it, because herein you have been put on trial, and you have been created for the other world.

When a man dies people ask what (property) he has left while the angels ask what (good actions) he has sent forward. May Allah bless you; send forward something, it will be a loan for you, and do not leave everything behind, for that would be a burden on you.

Arabic Text

ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) في التزهيد من الدنيا والترغيب في الاخرة أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا دارُ مَجَاز، وَالاْخِرَةُ دَارُ قَرَار، فَخُذُوا مِنْ مَمَرِّكُمْ لِمَقَرِّكُمْ، وَلاَ تَهْتِكُوا أَسْتَارَكُمْ عِنْدَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَسْرَارَكُم، وَأَخْرِجُوا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا قُلُوبَكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنْهَا أَبْدَانُكُمْ، فَفِيهَا اخْتُبِرْتُمْ، ولِغِيْرِهَا خُلِقْتُمْ. إِنَّ الْمَرْءَ إِذَا هَلَكَ قَالَ النَّاسُ: مَا تَرَكَ؟ وَقَالَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ: مَا قَدَّمَ؟ لله آبَاؤُكُمْ! فَقَدِّمُوا بَعْضَاً يَكُنْ لَكُمْ قَرْضاً، وَلاَ تُخَلِّفُوا كُلاًّ فَيَكُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ.

Alternative Sources

(1) Al-Saduq, al-'Amali, 132; (2) al-Saduq, 'Uyun akhbar al-Rida, I, 298; (3) al-Mufid, al-'Irshad, 139; (4) al-Tabarsi, Mishkat, 243; (5) Ibn Qutaybah, 'Uyun, II, 253; (6) al-Mubarrad, al-Kamil; (7) Ibn 'Abd Rabbih, al-'Iqd, II, 200; (8) Warram, Majmu'ah, 66; (9) al-Qali, al-'Amali, I, 258; (10) al-Bayhaqi, al-Mahasin, II, 31; see 'Arshi.