( 168 )

SERMON 211

The greatness of Allah and the creation of the Universe

It is through the strength of Allah's greatness and His subtle power of innovation that He made solid dry earth out of the water of the fathomless compact and dashing ocean. Then He made from it layers and separated them into seven skies after they had been joined together. So they became stationary at His command and stopped at the limit fixed by Him. He so made the earth that it is born by deep blue surrounded and suspended water which is obedient to His command and has submitted to His awe while its flow has stopped due to fear of Him.

He also created high hills rocks of stones and lofty mountains. He put them in their positions and made them remain stationary. Their peaks rose into the air while their roots remained in the water. In this way He raised the mountains above the plains and fixed their foundations in the vast expanse wherever they stood. He made their peaks high and made their bodies lofty. He made them like pillars for the earth and fixed them in it like pegs. Consequently the earth became stationary; otherwise it might bend with its inhabitants or sink inwards with its burden or shift from its positions.

Therefore glorified is He who stopped it after the flowing of its waters and solidified it after the watery state of its sides. In this way He made it a cradle for His creatures and spread it for them in the form of a floor over the deep ocean which is stationary and does not move and is fixed and does not flow. Severe

( 170 )

winds move it here and there and clouds draw up water from it.

Verily in this there is a lesson unto him who feareth (Allah) (Qur'an 79:26)

* * * * *

SERMON 212

About those who give up supporting right

O' my Allah! whoever listens to our utterance which is just and which seeks the prosperity of religion and the worldly life and does not seek mischief but rejects it after listening then he certainly turns away from Thy support and desists from strengthening Thy religion. We make Thee a witness over him and Thou art the greatest of all witnesses and we make all those who inhabit Thy earth and Thy skies witness over him. Thereafter Thou alone can make us needless of his support and question him for his sin.

* * * * *

SERMON 213

The Sublimity of Allah and a eulogy of the Prophet

Praise be to Allah who is above all similarity to the creatures is above the words of describers who displays the wonders of His management for the on-lookers is hidden from the imagination of thinkers by virtue of the greatness of His glory has knowledge without acquiring it adding to it or drawing it (from someone) and Who is the ordainer of all matters without reflecting or thinking. He is such that gloom does not concern Him nor does He

( 172 )

seek light from brightness night does not overtake Him nor does the day pass over Him (so as to affect Him in any manner). His comprehension (of things) is not through eyes and His knowledge is not dependent on being informed.

A part of the same sermon about the Prophet

Allah deputised the Prophet with light and accorded him the highest precedence in selection. Through him Allah united those who were divided overpowered the powerful overcame difficulties and levelled rugged ground and thus removed misguidance from right and left.

* * * * *

SERMON 214

The Prophet's nobility of descent

I stand witness that He is just and does justice He is the arbiter Who decides (between right and wrong). I also stand witness that Muhammad is His slave. His Messenger and the Chief of His creatures. Whenever Allah divided the line of descent He put him in the better one and therefore no evil-doer ever shared with him nor was any vicious person his partner.

Beware! surely Allah the Glorified has provided for virtue those who are suited to it for truth pillars (that support it) and for obedience protection (against deviation). In every matter of obedience you will find Allah the Glorified's succour that will speak through tongues and accord firmness to hearts. It has sufficiency for those who seek sufficiency and a cure for those who seek cure.

( 174 )

The characteristics of the virtuous whose guidance must be followed

Know that certainly those creatures of Allah who preserve His knowledge offer protection to those things which He desires to be protected and make His springs flow (for the benefit of others). They contact each other with friendliness and meet each other with affection. They drink water from cups that quench the thirst and return from the watering places fully satiated. Misgiving does not affect them and backbiting does not gain ground with them. In this way Allah has tied their nature with good manners. Because of this they love each other and meet each other. They have become superior like seeds which are selected by taking some and throwing away others. This selection has distinguished them and the process of choosing has purified them.

Therefore man should secure honour by adopting these qualities. He should fear the day of Doom before it arrives and he should appreciate the shortness of his life and the shortness of his sojourn in the place of stay which has only to last for his change over to the next place. He should therefore do something for his change over and for the known stages of his departure. Blessed be he who possesses a virtuous heart who obeys one who guides him desists from him who takes to ruin catches the path of safety with the help of him who provides him light (of guidance) and by obeying the leader who commands him hastens towards guidance before its doors are closed gets open the door of repentance and removes the (stain of) sins. He has certainly been put on the right path and guided towards the straight road.

* * * * *