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SERMON 98

Oppression of the Umayyads

By Allah they would continue like this till there would be left no unlawful act before Allah but they would make it lawful and no pledge but they would break it and till there would remain no house of bricks or of woollen tents but their oppression would enter it. Their bad dealings would make them wretched till two groups of crying complainants would rise one would cry for his religion and the other for this world and the help of one of you to one of them would be like the help of a slave to his master namely when he is present he obeys him but when the master is away he backbites him. The highest among you in distress would be he who bear best belief about Allah. If Allah grants you safety accept it and if you are put in trouble endure it because surely (good) result is for the God-fearing.

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SERMON 99

About abstinence of the world and vicissitudes of time

We praise Allah for what has happened and seek His succour in our affairs for what is yet to happen and we beg Him for safety in the faith just as we beg Him for safety in our bodies.

O' creatures of Allah! I advise you to keep away from this world which is (shortly) to leave you even though you do not

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like its departure and which would make your bodies old even though you would like to keep them fresh. Your example and its example is like the travellers who travel some distance and then as though they traverse it quickly or they aimed at a sign and reached it at once. How short is the distance to the aim if one heads towards it and reaches it. And how short is the stage of one who has only a day which he cannot exceed while a swift driver is driving him in this world till he departs from it.

So do not hanker after worldly honour and its pride and do not feel happy over its beauties and bounties nor wail over its damages and misfortunate because its honour and pride would end while its beauty and bounty would perish and its damages and misfortunes would pass away. Every period in it has an end and every living being in it is to die. Is not there for you a warning in the relics of the predecessors and an eye opener and lesson in your fore-fathers provided you understand?

Do you not see that your predecessors do not come back and the surviving followers do not remain? Do you not observe that the people of the world pass mornings and evenings in different conditions? Thus (somewhere) the dead is wept for someone is being condoled someone is prostrate in distress someone is enquiring about the sick someone is passing his last breath someone is hankering after the world while death is looking for him someone is forgetful but he is not forgotten (by death) and on the footsteps of the predecessors walk the survivors.

Beware! At the time of committing evil deeds remember the destroyer of joys the spoiler of pleasures and the killer of desires (namely death). Seek assistance of Allah for fulfilment of His

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obligatory rights and for (thanking Him) for His countless bounties and obligations.

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SERMON 100

About the Holy Prophet and his Descendants

Praise be to Allah Who spreads His bounty throughout the creation and extends His hand of generosity among them. We praise Him in all His affairs and seek His assistance for fulfilment of His rights. We stand witness that there is no god except He and that Muhammad (p.b.u.h.a.h.p. ) is His slave and Prophet. He sent him to manifest His commands and speak about His remembrance. Consequently he fulfilled it with trustworthiness and he passed away while on the right path.

He left among us the standard of right. Whoever goes further from it goes out of Faith whoever lags behind it is ruined. Whoever sticks to it would join (the right). Its guide is short of speech slow of steps and quick when he rises. When you have bent your necks before him and pointed towards him with your fingers his death would occur and would take him away. They would live after him as long as Allah wills till Allah brings out for you one who would collect you together and fuse you after diffusion. Do not place expectations in one who does not ⁽¹⁾ come forward and do not lose hope in one who is veiled because it is possible that one of the two feet of the veiled one may slip while the other may remain sticking till both return to position and stick.

Beware! The example of the descendant (Al) of Muhammad - peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his descendants -

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is like that of stars in the sky. When one star sets another one rises. So you are in a position that Allah's blessings on you have been perfected and He has shown you what you used to wish for.

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SERMON 101

About the vicissitudes of time

He (Allah) is the First before every first and the Last after every last. His Firstness necessitates that there is no (other) first before Him and His Lastness necessitates that there is no other last after Him. I do stand witness that there is no god but Allah both openly as well as secretly with heart as well as with tongue.

O' people do not commit the crime of opposing me do not be seduced into disobeying me and do not wink at each other with eyes when you hear me. By Allah Who germinates the seed and blows the wind whatever I convey to you is from the Prophet. Neither the conveyor (of Allah's message i.e. the Prophet) lied nor the hearer misunderstood.

Well it is as though I see a misguided man ⁽¹⁾ who is shouting in Syria (ash-Sham) and has put his banners in the out-skirt of Kufah. When his mouth would be fully opened his recalcitrance would become intense and his steps on earth would become heavy (and tyrannical) then the disorder (so created) would cut the people with its teeth and war would rage with (all) its waves days would become severe and night full of toil. So when the crops grows and stands on stalks its foam shoots forth and its lightning shines the banners of misguiding rebellion would fire

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up and shoot forth like darkening night and surging sea. This and how many other storms would rend Kufah and gales would sweep over it and shortly heads would clash with heads the standing crop would be harvested and the harvest would be smashed.

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SERMON 102

On the same subject - Day of Judgement

That day would be such that Allah would collect on it the anteriors and the posteriors to stand in obedience for exaction of accounts and for award of recompense for deeds. Sweat would flow upto their mouths like reins while the earth would be trembling under them. In the best condition among them would be he who has found a resting place for both his feet and an open place for his breath.

A part of the same sermon about future troubles (fitan)

The troubles are like a dark night. Horses would not stand for (facing) them nor would their banners turn back. They would approach in full reins and ready with saddles. Their leader would be driving them and the rider would be exerting (them). The trouble-mongers are a people whose attacks are severe. Those who would fight them for the sake of Allah would be a people who are low in the estimation of the proud unknown in the earth but well known on the sky. Woe to you O' Basrah when an army of Allah's infliction would face upon you without (raising) dust of cries. Your inhabitants would then face bloody death

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and dire hunger.

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SERMON 103

About abstemiousness and fear of Allah

O' people! look at the world like those who abstain from it and turn away from it. By Allah it would shortly turn out its inhabitants and cause grief to the happy and the safe. That which turns and goes away from it never returns and that which is likely to come about is not known or anticipated. Its joy is mingled with grief. Herein men's firmness inclines towards weakness and languidness. The majority of what pleases you here should not mislead you because that which would help you would be little.

Allah may shower His mercy on him who ponders and takes lesson thereby and when he takes lesson he achieves enlightenment. Whatever is present in this world would shortly not exist while whatever is to exist in the next world is already in existence. Every countable thing would pass away. Every anticipation should be taken to be coming up and every thing that is to come up should be taken as just near.

A part of the same sermon on the attributes of a learned person

Learned is he who knows his worth. It is enough for a man to remain ignorant if he knows not his worth. Certainly the most hated man with Allah is he whom Allah has left for his own self. He goes astray from the right path and moves without a guide.

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If he is called to the plantation of this world he is active but if he is called to the plantation of the next world he is slow. As though what he is active for is obligatory upon him whereas in whatever he is slow was not required of him.

A part of the same sermon concerning future times

There would be a time wherein only a sleeping (inactive) believer would be safe (such that) if he is present he is not recognised but if he is absent he is not sought after. These are the lamps of guidance and banners of night journeys. They do not spread calumnies nor divulge secrets nor slander. They are those for whom Allah would open the doors of His mercy and keeps off from them the hardships of His chastisement.

O' people ! a time will come to you when Islam would be capsized as a pot is capsized with all its contents. O' people Allah has protected you from that He might be hard on you but He has not spared you from being put on trial. Allah the Sublimest of all speakers has said:

Verily in this are signs and We do only try (the people). (Qur'an 23:30)

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: As regards Amir al-mu'minin's words "kullu mu'minin nuwamah" (every sleeping believer) he implies thereby one who is talked of little and causes no evil. And the word "al-masayih" is the plural of "misyah". He is one who spreads trouble among people through evils and calumnies. And the word "al-madhayi" is the plural of "midhya". He is one who on hearing of an evil about some one spreads it and shouts about it. And "al-budhur" is the plural of "badhur". He is one who excels in foolishness and speaks rubbish.

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