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SERMON 94

Allah's praise and eulogy of the prophets

Exalted is Allah Whom heights of daring cannot approach and fineness of intelligence cannot find. He is such First that there is no extremity for Him so that He be contained within it nor is there an end for Him where would cease.

A part of the same sermon about the Prophet

Allah kept the Prophets in deposit in the best place of deposit and made them stay in the best place of stay. He moved them in succession from distinguished fore-fathers to chaste wombs. Whenever a predecessor from among them died the follower stood up for the cause of the religion of Allah.

About the Holy Prophet and his Descendants ('Itrah)

Until this distinction of Allah the Glorified reached Muhammad - peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his descendants. Allah brought him out from the most distinguished sources of origin and the most honourable places of planting namely from the same (lineal) tree from which He brought forth other Prophets and from which He selected His trustees. Muhammad's descendants are the best descendants his kinsmen the best of kin and his lineal tree the best of trees. It grew in esteem and rose in distinction. It has tall branches and unapproachable fruits.

He is the leader (Imam) of all who exercise fear (of Allah) and a light for those who seek guidance. He is a lamp whose flame


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[ 94 ] ومن خطبة له عليه السلام

وفيها يصف الله تعالى ثمّ يبين فضل الرسول الكريم وأهل بيته ثمّ يعظ الناس

الله تعالى

فَتَبَارَكَ اللهُ الَّذِي لاَ تَبْلُغُهُ بُعْدُ الْهِمَمِ، وَلاَ يَنَالُهُ حَدْسُ الْفِطَنِ، الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي لاَ غَايَةَ لَهُ فَيَنْتَهِيَ، وَلاَ آخِرَ لَهُ فَيَنْقَضِيَ.

منها في وصف الانبياء

فَاسْتَوْدَعَهُمْ فِي أَفْضَلِ مُسْتَوْدَع، وَأَقَرَّهُمْ فِي خَيْرِ مُسْتَقَرّ، تَنَاسَخَتْهُمْ (1) كَرَائِمُ الْأَصْلاَبِ إِلَى مُطَهَّرَاتِ الْأَرْحَامِ; كُلَّمَا مَضَى سَلَفٌ، قَامَ مِنْهُمْ بِدِينِ اللهِ خَلَفٌ.

رسول الله وأهل بيته

حَتَّى أَفْضَتْ كَرَامَةُ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إِلَى مُحَمَّد صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، فَأَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الْمَعَادِنِ مَنْبِتاً (2) ، وَأَعَزِّ الْأُرُومَاتِ (3) مَغْرِساً (4) ، مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي صَدَعَ (5) مِنْهَا أَنْبِيَاءَهُ، وَانْتَجَبَ (6) مِنْهَا أُمَنَاءَهُ. عِتْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الْعِتَرِ (7) ، وَأُسْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الْأُسَرِ، وَشَجَرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الشَّجَرِ; نَبَتَتْ فِي حَرَم، وَبَسَقَتْ (8) فِي كَرَم، لَهَا فُرُوعٌ طِوَالٌ، وَثَمَرٌ لاَيُنَالُ. فَهُوَ إِمَامُ مَنِ اتَّقَى، وَبَصِيرَةُ مَنِ اهْتَدَى،


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is burning a meteor whose light is shining and a flint whose spark is bright. His conduct is upright his behaviour is guiding his speech is decisive and his decision is just. Allah sent him after an interval from the previous Prophets when people had fallen into errors of action and ignorance. Allah may have mercy on you.

May Allah shower His mercy on you ! Do act according to the clear signs because the way is straight and leads to the house of safety while you are in the place of seeking Allah's favour and have time and opportunity. The books (of your doings) are open and pens (of angels) are busy (to record your actions) while your bodies are healthy tongues are free repentance is accepted and deeds are accorded recognition.

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SERMON 95

About the condition of the people at the time of the Prophet's proclamation and his actions to do with the dissemination of his message

Allah sent the Prophet at a time when the people were going astray in perplexity and were moving here and there in mischief. Desires had deflected them and self-conceit had swerved them. Extreme ignorance had made them foolish. They were confounded by the unsteadiness of matters and the evils of ignorance. Then the Prophet - blessing of Allah be upon him and his descendants - did his best in giving them sincere advice himself trod on the right path and called (them) towards wisdom and good counsel.

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وسِرَاجٌ لَمَعَ ضَوْؤُهُ، وَشِهَابٌ سَطَعَ نُورُهُ وَزَنْدٌ بَرَقَ لَمْعُهُ; سِيرَتُهُ الْقَصْدُ (9) ، وَسُنَّتُهُ الرُّشْدُ، وَكَلاَمُهُ الْفَصْلُ، وَحُكْمُهُ الْعَدْلُ; أَرْسَلَهُ عَلَى حِينِ فَتْرَة (10) مِنَ الرُّسُلِ، وَهَفْوَة (11) عَنِ الْعَمَلِ، وَغَبَاوَة مِنَ الْأُمَمِ.

عظة النّاس

اعْمَلُوا، رَحِمَكُمُ اللهُ، عَلَى أَعْلاَم بَيِّنَة (12) ، فَالطَّرِيقُ نَهْجٌ (13) يَدْعُو إلَى دَارِ السَّلاَمِ، وَأَنْتُمْ فِي دَارِ مُسْتَعْتَب (14) عَلَى مَهَل وَفَرَاغ، والصُّحُفُ مَنْشُورَةٌ، وَالْأَقْلاَمُ جَارِيَةٌ، وَالْأَبْدَانُ صَحِيحَةٌ، والْأَلْسُنُ مُطْلَقَةٌ، وَالتَّوْبَةُ مَسْمُوعَةٌ، وَالْأَعْمَالُ مَقْبُولَةٌ.

[ 95 ] ومن خطبة له عليه السلام

يقرر فضيلة الرسول الكريم

بَعَثَهُ وَالنَّاسُ ضُلاَّلٌ فِي حَيْرَةٍ، وَحَاطِبُونَ (1) فِي فِتْنَةٍ، قَدِ اسْتَهْوَتْهُمُ الْأَهْوَاءُ، وَاسْتَزَلَّتْهُمُ (2) الْكِبْرِيَاءُ، وَاسْتَخَفَّتْهُمُ (3) الْجَاهِلِيِّةُ الْجَهْلاَءُ (4) ; حَيَارَى فِي زَلْزَالٍ مَنَ الْأَمْرِ، وَبَلاَءٍ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ، فَبَالَغَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ، وَمَضَى عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ، وَدَعَا إِلَى الْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ.