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Title
1-10
Sermon 1
In this sermon he recalls the creation of Earth and Sky and the
birth of Adam...Angels...chosen prophets (p)...Qur'an...religious laws...
pilgrimage..."Praise
is due to Allah whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose
bounties cannot be counted by calculators and whose claim (to obedience)
cannot be satisfied by those who attempt to do so, whom the height of
intellectual courage cannot appreciate, and the divings of understanding
cannot reach..."
Sermon 2
Delivered on return from Siffin...Arabia before proclamation of
Prophethood...Battle of Siffin...Ahl al-Bayt...opposers of Ahl al-Bayt..."None
in the Islamic community can be taken at par with the Progeny
of the Prophet (Alu Muhammad). One who was under their obligation cannot
be matched with them. They are the foundation of religion and pillar of
Belief."
Sermon 3
Sermon of ash-Shiqshiqiyyah... three Sunni Caliphs...their depriving Ali (p)
of his right-caliphate..... and leadership...the sorrows and patience of
Imam Ali (p)..."Beware! By Allah the son of
Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr)dressed
himself with it (the caliphate) and he certainly knew that my position in
relation to it was the same as the position of the axis in relation to the
hand-mill."
Sermon 4
Amir al-mu'minin's far-sightedness and his staunch conviction
in Belief...enjoining good...Ali (p) has no fear...reason of fear of
Moses...righteous and falsehood..."The
opinion of the person who abandons me may get astray. I have never doubted
in the truth since it has been shown to me."
Sermon 5
Delivered when the Holy Prophet died...Ali
(p)'s deep knowledge and morals...calamities after the death of the Prophet
(p)....If I speak out they
would call me greedy towards power but if I keep quiet they would say I was
afraid of death..."..."One
who plucks fruits before ripening is like one who cultivated in another's
field."
Sermon 6
Delivered on being advised not to chase...Ali
(p) has been deprived of his right-caliphate..."By Allah I have been
continually deprived of my right from the day the Prophet died till today."
Sermon 7
About the hypocrites...satan
and his followers and their characteristics..."They
have made Satan the master of their
affairs, and he has taken them as partners.He sees through their eyes, and
speaks with their tongues."
Sermon 8
Said about az-Zubayr at a time for which it was appropriate...insincerity
of Zubayr's allegiance..."He
asserts that he swore allegiance to me with his hand but did not swear with
his heart."
Sermon 9
Cowardice of the people of Jamal...deeds,
not only words..."..we
do not thunder till we pounce upon the foe nor do we show flow (of words)
until we have not virtually rained."
Sermon 10
About Talhah and az-Zubayr...satan...Ali
(p) is firm against satan and his followers...."I
have neither deceived myself nor ever been deceived."
11- 20
Sermon 11
When Amir al-mu'minin gave the standard to his son...
Muhammad Hanafiyyah...and Imam Ali (p)'s instructions of fighting to
him..."Mountains may move
from their position but you should not move from yours."
Sermon 12
When Allah gave him (Amir al-mu'minin) victory over the enemy
at the Battle of Jamal...unseen helpers of Imam Ali (p)...unity of
intentions..."...in
this army of ours even those persons were also present who are still in the
loins of men and wombs of women."
Sermon 13
Condemning the people of Basrah...Aishah,daughter
of Abu Bakr,...the army of a woman...his prophecy..."He
who stays with you is laden with sins and he who forsakes you secures
Allah's mercy."..."Your
city contains nine tenths of evil..."
Sermon 14
This also is in condemnation of the people of Basrah...short
in mind..."You
are the aim of the archer, a morsel for the eater and an easy prey for the
hunter."
Sermon 15
After resuming the land grants made by `Uthman ibn `Affan, he gave this
sermon....justice of Ali (p)... "...He
who finds it hard to act justly should find it harder to deal with
injustice."
Sermon 16
Delivered when allegiance was sworn to him in
Medina...repentence...different groups of people...keeping promise..."There
is right and wrong and there are followers for each. If wrong dominates, it
has (always) in the past been so, and if truth goes down that too has often
occurred. It seldom happens that a thing that lags behind comes forward."
Sermon 17
About those who sit for dispensation of justice among people
but are not fit for it...incapable & unqualified leaders caliphs,
rulers...led-astrays...."Those resembling like men have named him scholar
but he is not so."
Sermon 18
Amir al-mu'minin said in disparagement of....contradictions
in verdicts of scholars...Qur'an....command is in Qur'an..."When
a problem is put before anyone of them he passes judgement on it from his
imagination. When exactly the same problem is placed before another of them
he passes an opposite verdict. Then these judges go to the chief who had
appointed them and he confirms all the verdicts, although their Allah is One
(and the same), their Prophet is one (and the same), their Book (the Qur'an)
is one (and the same)."
Sermon 19
Amir al-mu'minin was
delivering a lecture from the pulpit of Kufah when:
Ash`ath ibn Qays objected and said,
"O' Amir al-mu'minin this thing is not in your favour but against you."
Sermon 20
Death and taking lessons from it...What Ali (p) is saying is
from Allah not from his own....seeking refuge in God..."You
have been called aloud by (instructive) examples and warned through items
full of warnings."
21- 30
Sermon 21
Advice to keep light in this world...the Day of Judgement..."Your
aim (reward or punishment) is before you. Behind your back is the hour (of
resurrection) which is driving you on..."
Sermon 22
About those who accused him of `Uthman's killing...satan and
his followers...Ali (p) never had doubts in religion like others...He is not
afraid of war...bringing into life innovation that is already dead..."By
Allah they have not put a correct blame on me, nor have they done justice
between me and themselves."
Sermon 23
About keeping aloof from envy, and good behaviour towards kith
and kin..concealing your brothers' faults...truth-speaking people...doing
something for the sake of others not for Allah..."Whoever
holds up his hand from (helping) his kinsmen, he holds only one hand, but at
the time of his need many hands remain held up from helping him."
Sermon 24
Exhorting people for jihad..Ali (p) never fails to fight
against unbelievers...and he is fearless...and His promise:"You
will succeed if you...."
Sermon 25
When Amir al-mu'minin received successive news that ...dwellers
of Kufa..coming together in evil...hell-calling imams... "...your disobedience
of your Imam in matters of right and their obedience to their leader in
matters of wrong..."
Sermon 26
Arabia before proclamation of Prophethood...the Prophet
(p)...characteristics of pagan Arabs...Ahl al-Bayt are his only
helpers...pledge of Amr ibn el-As to Mu'awiya...Muawiya and Amr ibn el-As
are not on the right way..."I looked and
found that there is no supporter for me except family, so I refrained from
thrusting them unto death."
Sermon 27
Exhorting people for jihad...plundering-army of
Mu'awiya...coward followers...."Allah is being
disobeyed and you remain agreeable to it."
Sermon 28
About the transient nature of this world and importance of the
next world...death...paradise & hell...preparing oneself for the next
world..."Whoever
acts during the days of his hope before approach of his death, his action
would benefit him and his death would not harm him."
Sermon 29
About those who found pretexts at the time of jihad (holy
war)...insincere followers...liars...deeds contradicting
words...Imam...motherland..."Right
cannot be achieved without effort. Which is the house besides this one to
protect? And with which leader (Imam) would you go for fighting after me?"
Sermon 30
Disclosing real facts about assassination of `Uthman...Uthman's
practice of his personal views...Uthman made mistake....and his murderers..."He appropriated (wealth) and
did it badly. You protested against it and committed excess therein. With
Allah lies the real verdict between the appropriator and the protester."
31- 40
Sermon 31
When before the commencement of the Battle of Jamal ... Talhah
& Zubayr...characteristics of them...their disobedience to Imam Ali (a)..."If
you meet him you will find him like an unruly bull whose horns are turned
towards its ears..."
Sermon 32
About the disparagement of the world and categories of its
people..difficulties of time...good people are considered bad...people who
want Allah...world..."The
world in your eyes should be smaller than the bark of acacia and the
clippings of wool."
Sermon 33
`Abdullah ibn `Abbas says that when Amir al-mu'minin set out...Quraysh...their
fight against Ahl al-Bayt...Imam Ali's (p) fight against Quraysh..he kills
the falsehood....the worth of leadership in Imam Ali's (p) eyes..."By
Allah, the Quraysh only take revenge against us because Allah has given us
(i.e. the Holy Prophet and his progeny) preference over them."
Sermon 34
To prepare the people for fighting with the people of Syria...obedience
to Imam....fighting techniques...characteristics of insincere followers.."Woe
to you. I am tired of rebuking you. Do you accept this worldly life in place
of the next life?"
Sermon 35
Amir al-mu'minin said after Arbitration...praise to
Allah...Muhammad (p) is Allah's Prophet...results of disobeying a righteous
leader..."I had
given you my orders about this arbitration and put before you my hidden
view..."
Sermon 36
Warning the people of Nahrawan of their fate..characteristics
of people of Nahrawan...no proof from Allah...His Prophecy about people of
Nahrawan..."I am warning you that you will be
killed..."
Sermon 37
Amir al-mu'minin's utterance which runs like a Sermon..Imam
Ali's (p) courage...humbleness...faultlessness...helping the weak...being
the first muslim...giving pledge of allegiance because of his
promise...never attributing a lie to the Prophet (p)..."I
discharged duties when others lost courage (to do so), and I came forward
when others hid themselves."
Sermon 38
About naming of doubt as such and disparagement of those in
doubt...the call of the enemies of Allah..."Doubt
is named doubt because it resembles truth..."
Sermon 39
In disparagement of those who shrink from fighting..disobeyers
and their characteristics..cowardice..."What
are you waiting for to rise for the cause of Allah?"
Sermon 40
When Amir al-mu'minin heard the cry of Kharijites... ""Verdict
is only that of Allah"...necessity
of a ruler...duties of a ruler...good & bad followers of a ruler..."The
sentence is right but what (they think) it means, is wrong. It is true that
verdict lies but with Allah, but these people say that (the function of)
governance is only for Allah. The fact is that there is no escape for men
from ruler good or bad."
41- 50
Sermon 41
In condemnation of treason...the
ignorant are considered good...those who leave God's religion knowingly.."We
are in a period when most of the people regard betrayal as wisdom."
Sermon 42
About heart's desires and extended hopes...lust.."O'
people what I fear most about you are two things - acting according to
desires and extending of hopes."
Sermon 43
After Amir al-mu'minin had sent Jarir ibn `Abdillah al-Bajali
to Mu'awiyah...preparations for war..."Certainly,
there was over the people a ruler (before me) who brought about new
(un-Islamic) things and compelled the people to speak out. So they did
speak, then rose up and thereafter changed the whole system."
Sermon 44
When Masqalah ibn Hubayrah ash-Shaybani fled to Mu`awiyah..."He
acted like the noble but fled away like a slave."
Sermon 45
About Allah's greatness and lowliness of this world..."So
depart from the world with the best of provision available with you..."
Sermon 46
When Amir al-mu'minin decided to march towards Syria..."My
Allah, I seek Your protection from the hardships of journey..."
Sermon 47
About calamities befalling Kufah.."I certainly
know that if any tyrant intends evil for you, Allah will afflict him with
worry and fling him with a killer."
Sermon 48
Delivered at the time of marching towards Syria...praise to
Allah...Tigris.."..praise
be to Allah whose bounty never misses and whose favours cannot be repaid."
Sermon 49
About Allah's greatness and sublimity.."He
cannot be seen by the eye of an onlooker, but the eye which does not see Him
cannot deny Him while the mind that proves His existence cannot perceive
Him."
Sermon 50
Admixture of right and wrong..cooperation against the religion
of God."The
basis of the occurrence of evils are those desires which are acted upon and
the orders that are innovated. They are against the Book of Allah."
51- 60
Sermon 51
When in Siffin the men of Mu`awiyah overpowered the men of Amir
al-mu'minin... war...insurgents...inevitable conditions of war..."..either
you remain in ignominy and the lowest position or drench your swords with
blood and quench your thirst with water..."
Sermon 52
Downfall of the world and reward and punishment in the
next world..."O'
creatures of Allah, get ready to go out of this world for whose inhabitants
decay is ordained..."
Sermon 53
A part of the same sermon on the description of the Day of
Sacrifice...the qualities of the animal for sacrifice..."If
the ears and the eyes are sound the animal of sacrifice is sound and
perfect.."
Sermon 54
On the swearing of allegiance..."...and
the hardships of this world were easier than the hardships of the next
world..."
Sermon 55
When Amir al-mu'minin's men showed impatience on his delay ..."..by
Allah I do not care whether I proceed towards death or death advances
towards me."
Sermon 56
About steadiness in the battlefield..."By
my life, if we had also behaved like you, ( Muawiya ) no pillar of (our)
religion could have been raised, nor the tree of faith could have borne
leaves."
Sermon 57
Amir al-mu'minin said to his companions about Mu`awiya, a man
with a broad mouth and a big belly...Imam Ali's (p) prophecy of Muawiya's
command to abuse him..."He
would command you to abuse me and to renounce me."
Sermon 58
Addressing the Kharijites, Amir al-mu'minin said:"Shall
I be witness to my becoming heretic after acceptance of Faith and fighting
in the company of the Prophet?! "In that case I shall be misguided and I
shall not be on the right path." (Qur'an, 6:56).
Sermon 59
When Amir al-mu'minin showed his intention to fight the
Kharijites ...His prophecy about the end of the battle with the
Kharijites..."Their
falling place is on this side of the river."
Sermon 60
When Amir al-mu'minin was told that the Kharijites had been
totally killed:"They
still exist in the loins of men and wombs of women."
61-70
Sermon 61
Amir al-mu'minin also said:"Do
not fight
the Kharijites after me, because one who seeks right but
does not find it, is not like one who seeks wrong and finds it."
Sermon 62
When Amir al-mu'minin was warned of being killed by deceit, he
said:"..When
my day would come..."
Sermon 63
About the transience of the world.."For
the intelligent this world is like the shade - one moment it is spread out
and extended but soon it shrinks and contracts."
Sermon 64
About decline and destruction of the world.."O'
creatures of Allah! Fear Allah and anticipate your death by good actions.
Purchase everlasting joy by paying transitory things - pleasures of this
world."
Sermon 65
About Allah's attributes.."Every
powerful person other than Him is weak. Every master (owner) other than Him
is slave (owned)."
Sermon 66
In some of the days of Siffin Amir al-mu'minin said to his
followers...fighting techniques...
"Keep in mind that you are before Allah and in the company of
the Prophet's cousin."
Sermon 67
When, after the death of the Prophet, news reached Amir
al-mu'minin about the companions fighting for the caliphate in Saqifah of
Bani Sa`idah... "They
argued with the tree but spoiled the fruits."
Sermon 68
When Amir al-mu'minin appointed Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Governor
of Egypt..who was his stepson brought up by him and loved a lot.."I
loved him and had brought him up."
Sermon 69
Admonishing his companions about careless behaviour.."You
do not understand the right as you understand the wrong and do not crush the
wrong as you crush the right."
Sermon 70
When Amir al-mu'minin was fatally struck with sword.."O'
Prophet of Allah ! what crookedness and enmity I had to face from the
people."
71- 80
Sermon 71
In condemnation of the people of Iraq..."O
' people of Iraq! You are like the pregnant woman who, on completion of the
period of pregnancy delivers a dead child.." "I
am the first who testified to the Prophet (p)."
Sermon 72
Herein Amir al-mu'minin tells people how to pronounce
"as-salat"...how to greet, invoke divine blessing on, the Prophet (p) and
his Ahl al-Bayt ( chosen members of his family )...Muhammad (p) is the Last
Prophet..."Hearts
achieved guidance through him after being ridden with troubles. He
introduced clearly guiding signs and shining injunctions."
Sermon 73
Amir al-mu'minin said about Marwan ibn al-Hakam in Basrah ..."If
he swears me allegiance with his hand he would violate it after a short
while."
Sermon 74
When the Consultative Committee decided to swear allegiance to
`Uthman...Imam Ali's (p) silence about caliphate...
"I am the most rightful of
all others for the Caliphate"
Sermon 75
When Amir al-mu'minin learnt that the Umayyads blamed him for
killing `Uthman ...Umayyads are ignorant.."I
am the contester against those who break away from Faith and the opposer of
those who entertain doubts."
Sermon 76
About preaching and counselling..god-fearing person is..."Allah
may bless him who listens to a point of wisdom and retains it, when he is
invited to the right path he approaches it, he follows a leader (by catching
his waist band) and finds salvation, keeps Allah before his eyes and fears
his sins..."
Sermon 77
About Umayyads...inheritance of Muhammad (p)..."The
Banu Umayyah (Umayyads) are allowing me the inheritance of Muhammad (p) bit
(by bit)."
Sermon 78
Supplications of Amir al-mu'minin.."My
Allah forgive me winkings of the eye, vile utterances, desires of the heart
and errors of speech."
Sermon 79
When Amir al-mu'minin decided to set out for the battle with
the Kharijites....astrology..."Do
you think you can tell the hour when a man goes out and no evil befall him
or can warn of the time at which if one goes out harm will accrue?"
Sermon 80
After the Battle of Jamal, Concerning Women and Their Shortcomings.."So
beware of the evils of women..."
81- 90
Sermon 81
About the way of preaching and counselling..."O'
people! abstinence is to shorten desires, to thank for bounties and to keep
off prohibitions."
Sermon 82
About the world and its people.."If
one keeps away from the world then it advances towards him."
Sermon 83
This sermon is called the al-Gharra' and it is one of the most
wonderful sermons ... enjoining people to piety..caution against
this world..death and resurrection..limitations of life...Allah's
bounties...preparation for the Day of Judgement..warning against
satan...creation of men..lessons from past nations..."You
are on test in this world and have to render account about it."
Sermon 84
About `Amr ibn al-`As.."He has not sworn allegiance
to Mu`awiyah without purpose; but has beforehand got him to agree that he
will have to pay its price, and gave him an award for forsaking religion."
Sermon 85
About the perfection of Allah and counselling.."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."
Sermon 86
About getting ready for the next world and following Allah's
commandments.."You
should know that even the smallest hypocrisy is like believing in more than
one God, and keeping company of people who follow their desires is the key
to obliviousness from religion, and is the seat of Satan. "
Sermon 87
The Qualities of a faithful believer...the qualities of an
unfaithful believer...Ahl al-Bayt..their importance..Obeying them is a MUST
be..."Where
are you being taken astray and how are you groping while you have among you
the descendants of the Prophet? They are the reins of Right, ensigns of
Faith and tongues of truth. Accord to them the same good position as you
accord to the Qur'an, and come to them (for quenching the thirst of
guidance) as the thirsty camels approach the water spring."
Sermon 88
About the division of the community into factions..."I
wonder, and there is no reason why I should not wonder, about the faults of
these groups who have introduced alterations in their religious pleas, who
do not move on the footsteps of their Prophet nor follow the actions of the
vicegerent."
Sermon 89
About the Holy Prophet.."By
Allah, whatever the Prophet told them, I am here telling you the same and
whatever you hear today is not different from what they heard yesterday."
Sermon 90
Allah's attributes and some advice.."He
is sufficient for one who relies on Him."
91-100
Sermon 91
This sermon is known as the Sermon of Skeletons
(Khutbatu'l-Ashbah)..Allah..His creation...perfection in his
creation..sky..angels..earth...water...creation of man..sending of the
Prophet (p)..."Even
when He made Adam die He did not leave them without one who would serve
among them as proof and plea for His Godhead, and serve as the link between
them and His knowledge, but He provided to them the proofs through His
chosen Messengers and bearers of the trust of His Message, age after age
till the process came to end with our Prophet Muhammad (p)."
Sermon 92
When people decided to Swear allegiance at Amir al-mu'minin's
hand ..."You
should know that if I respond to you I would lead you as I know and would
not care about whatever one may say or abuse.."
Sermon 93
About the annihilation of the Kharijites, the mischief
mongering of Umayyads ...Ahl al-Bayt.."We
Ahlu'l-bayt (the Household of the Prophet) are free from this mischief and
we are not among those who would engender it... "
Sermon 94
Allah's praise and eulogy of the prophets...Muhammad
(p) and his
Progeny...descendents..."Muhammad's
descendants are the best descendants..."
Sermon 95
About the condition of the people at the time of the Prophet's
proclamation..."Allah sent the Prophet at
a time when the people were going astray in perplexity and were moving here
and there in mischief..."
Sermon 96
In eulogy of the Holy Prophet.."Through
him Allah buried mutual rancour and put off the flames of revolt.."
Sermon 97
Admonishing his own companions...Ahl al-Bayt..
"Look at the people of the
Prophet's family. Adhere to their direction. Follow their footsteps
because they would never let you out of guidance, and never throw you into
destruction. If they sit down, you sit down, and if they rise up you rise
up. Do not go ahead of them, as you would thereby go astray and go not lag
behind of them as you would thereby be ruined..."
Sermon 98
Oppression of the Umayyads..they break their pledge...make
lawful things unlawful..."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...."
Sermon 99
About abstinence of the world and vicissitudes of time.."Every
period in it has an end and every living being in it is to die."
Sermon
100
About the Holy Prophet and his
Descendants.."Beware!
The example of the descendant (Al) of Muhammad - peace and blessing of Allah
be upon him and his descendants - is like that of stars in the sky. When one
star sets another one rises."
101-110
Sermon
101
About the vicissitudes of time..."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."
Sermon
102
On the same subject - Day of Judgement..future
troubles.."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."
Sermon
103
About abstemiousness and fear of Allah...future
events..."O'
people ! a time will come to you when Islam would be capsized as a pot is
capsized with all its contents."
Sermon
104
About the condition of the people before
the proclamation of prophethood..."I
never showed weakness or lack of courage, nor did I betray or become
languid..."
Sermon
105
In eulogy of the Holy Prophet...the
Umayyads...the functions of Holy Imams (pbut) (12 Imams
appointed by Allah)...
Sermon
106
About Islam...Prophet (p)..."It
is the most bright of all paths, the clearest of all passages.."
Sermon
107
Delivered during one of the days of
Siffin.."..You are the chiefs of Arabs.."
Sermon
108
It is one of the sermons about the
vicissitudes of time..Prophet (p)..."People have become brothers
over ill-doings, have forsaken religion, are united in speaking lie but
bear mutual hatred in the matter of truth."
Sermon
109
About the Might of Allah...Holy Prophet
(p)..Descendants of the Holy Prophet (p)...Angels...death...the Day of
Judgement..."We are the tree of
prophethood, staying place of (Divine) Message, descending place of
angels, mines of knowledge and the sources of wisdom. Our supporter and
lover awaits mercy while our enemy and he who hates us awaits wrath."
Sermon
110
About Islam...Fasting, Zekat
(alms-giving), Pilgrimage, Kinship, Quran and Sunnah..."Follow
the sunnah of the Prophet for it is the most right of all behaviours. Learn
the Qur'an for it is the fairest of discourses and understand it thoroughly
for it is the best blossoming of hearts."
111-120
Sermon
111
Caution about this world.."Whoever
takes little from it collects much of what would give him safety, while one
who takes much from it takes much of what would ruin him."
Sermon
112
About the Angel of Death and depart of
spirit..Some questions to be answered..."How
can he who is unable to describe a creature like this, describe Allah?"
Sermon
113
About this world and its people.."Make
your ears hear the call of death before you are called by death.."
Sermon
114
About abstemiousness, fear of Allah and
importance of providing for the next life.."That
which approaches (i.e. death) cannot be sent back, he who goes away does not
return..."
Sermon
115
Seeking rain.."They
are moaning like the moaning of mothers for their (dead) sons..."
Sermon
116
About troubles which would arise and the
Day of Judgement."The
Prophet conveyed the messages of Allah without being lazy and without any
shortcoming.."
Sermon
117
Rebuking Misers.."You
should derive lessons from your occupying the places of those who were
before you and from the departure of your nearest brothers.."
Sermon
118
In praise of his faithful companions.."Therefore,
extend to me support which is free from deceit and pure from doubt because,
by Allah, I am the most preferable of all for the people."
Sermon
119
Amir al-mu'minin collected the people
and exhorted them to jihad but ..."I
have put you on the clear path whereon no one will perish except who
perishes by himself. He who sticks to it would achieve Paradise and he who
deviates goes to Hell."
Sermon
120
About the greatness of Ahlu'l-bayt and
the importance of the laws of Islam.."He
who follows them achieves (the aim) and secures (the objective). And he who
stood away from it went astray and incurred repentance."
121-130
Sermon
121
A man from among the companions of Amir
al-mu'minin stood up and said ..attributes of true shia ( followers ) of
Imam Ali (as)..."Certainly,
Satan has made his ways easy for you and wants to unfasten the knots of
religion one by one and to cause division among you in place of unity."
Sermon
122
When the Kharijites persisted in their
rejecting the Arbitration...fight between relatives..
"In this affair the outer
side is Faith but the inner side is enmity."
Sermon
123
Amir al-mu'minin's address to his
followers on the battlefield of Siffin ... "..By
Allah in Whose hand (power) lies the life of the son of Abu Talib ( Imam
Ali, himself ), certainly a thousand strikings of the sword on me are easier
to me than a death in bed which is not in obedience to Allah.."
Sermon
124
To exhort his followers to fight.."By
Allah, even if you run away from the sword of today you would not remain
safe from the sword of the next world.."
Sermon
125
About the Kharijites and their opinion
on Arbitration.."we are the most rightful of all people for the
Caliphate...".."Reference
to Allah means that we decide according to the Qur'an while reference to the
Prophet means that we follow his Sunnah.."
Sermon
126
When Amir al-mu'minin was spoken ill of
for showing equality in the distribution ..."If
a man gives his property to those who have no right for it..."
Sermon
127
About the Kharijites.."You
are confusing those who have committed sins with those who have not..."
Sermon
128
About Important happenings in Basrah.."The
Prophet (p) passed his knowledge on to me and prayed for me..."
Sermon
129
About measures and weights, the
transience of this world and the condition of its people.."You
will shortly know who is the gainer tomorrow (on the Day of Judgement) and
who is more enviable..."
Sermon
130
Delivered when Abu Dharr was exiled
Caliph Uthman
towards ar-Rabadhah.."You
will shortly know who is the gainer tomorrow (on the Day of Judgement) and
who is more enviable..."
131-140
Sermon
131
Grounds for accepting the Caliphate and
the qualities of a ruler and governor.."I
am leading you towards truthfulness.."
Sermon
132
Warning about death and counselling..."Certainly
this world has not been made a place of permanent stay for you.."
Sermon
133
On the Glory of Allah...Qur'an..the
world.."Quran's
one part speaks for the other part, and one part testifies to the other..."
Sermon
134
Delivered when Caliph `Umar ibn
al-Khattab consulted Amir al-mu'minin.."..there will be
no place of the refuge for the muslims.."
Sermon
135
There was some exchange of words between
`Uthman ibn `Affan and Amir al-mu'minin ..."Allah will
not grant victory to him whom you support!!.."
Sermon
136
About the sincerity of his own intention
and support of the oppressed.."Your allegiance to me
wasn't without thinking."
Sermon
137
About Talhah and az-Zubayr..their
insincerity in allegiance to Imam Ali (p), they were a rebellious group..."You
advanced towards me shouting "allegiance, allegiance" like shecamels having
delivered newly born young ones leaping towards their young. I held back my
hand but you pulled it towards you., I drew back my hand but you dragged it.
O' my Allah! these two have ignored my rights and did injustice to me. They
both have broken allegiance to me, and roused people against me. Unfasten
Thou what they have fastened, and do not make strong what they have woven."
Sermon
138
Referring to events in the future...Imam
Mahdi (p).."He will revive the Qur'an and the Sunnah."
Sermon
139
On the occasion of the Consultative
Committee (after the death of `Umar ibn al-Khattab)..His
prophecy about the fights over the caliphate.."Hear my word and preserve
what I say..."
Sermon
140
About backbiting and speaking ill of
others.."How
can he vilify him about his sins when he has himself committed one like
it?.."
141-150
Sermon
141
Against reliance on heresy..:"There
is nothing is between truth and falsehood except four fingers..."
Sermon
142
Against misplaced generosity..."He
who shows generosity to those who have no claim to it or who are not fit for
it would not earn anything except the praise of the ignoble and appreciation
of bad persons..."
Sermon
143
Praying for rain..."Allah
tries his creatures..."
Sermon
144
Deputation of Prophets.. ..Ahl al-Bayt
and their opposers.."The Imams are from Quraysh, from the
Hashimite ...not from others.."
Sermon
145
About this world...innovations..."No
innovation is introduced unless one sunnah is forsaken...."
Sermon
146
Spoken when `Umar ibn al-Khattab
consulted Amir al-mu'minin..His advice to Umar.."If the
Persians see you...."
Sermon
147
The purpose of the deputation of the
Holy Prophet and ...Ahl al-Bayt.."They don't go against
religion and differ from one another about it."
Sermon
148
About Talhah and az-Zubayr and the
people of Basrah.."Each of thse two want the caliphate
for himself."
Sermon
149
Before his passing away (last will)..Obey
Allah and dont disregard the Sunnah of the Prophet (p)..."You will
understand me after you lose me.."
Sermon
150
About future events and some activities
of the hypocrites."..a group of them went back on their
tracks."
151-160
Sermon
151
The condition of the people during
disorder, and advice against oppression.."Whoever
precedes towards mischief..."
Sermon
152
About the greatness and the attributes
of Allah...Holy Imams..:"Certainly
the Imams are the vicegerents of Allah over His creatures and they make the
creatures know Allah. No one will enter Paradise except he who knows them
and knows Him, and no one will enter Hell except he who denies them and
denies Him."
"Certainly the Imams are the
vicegerents of Allah over his creatures and...No one will enter paradise
except those who know them..."
Sermon
153
About negligent persons and the
characteristics of beasts, carnivores and women..:"You
will be dealt with as you deal with others.."
Sermon
154
About the Ahlu'l-bayt (chosen
members of the Family of the Holy
Prophet) and their opposers...innovations...sunnah...."The
delicacies of the Qur'an are about them (Ahlu'l-bayt, the descendants of the
Prophet) and they are the treasurers of Allah. When they speak they speak
the truth, but when they keep quiet no one can speak unless they speak."
Sermon
155
About the wonderful creation of the bat...attributes
of Allah..."Intellects cannot
comprehend Him by fixing limits for Him since in that case to Him would be
attributed shape. Imagination cannot catch Him by fixing quantities for Him
for in that case to Him would be attributed body."
Sermon
156
About the malice borne by `A'ishah; and
warning the people of Basrah."..and they will not be
tried?" (Qur'an, 29:2)
Sermon
157
Urging people towards Piety (taqwa):"Paradise
is the end of those...Hell is the end of those..."
Sermon
158
About the Holy Prophet and the Holy
Qur'an..autocracy of
the Umayyads..."It
is the Qur'an. If you ask it to speak it won't do so; but I will tell you
about it. Know that it contains knowledge of what is to come about, stories
of the past, cure for your ills and regulation for whatever faces you."
Sermon
159
Good behaviour with people and ignoring
their faults..."I closed my eyes to
your many misdeeds which my eyes had observed and my body had witnessed."
Sermon
160
Praise of Allah...following
the Prophet...chatacteristics of the Holy Prophet (p)...The example of
Prophet Moses (p), David (p), Jesus (p)...world and its worthlessness in the
eyes of the Holy Prophet (p)...pictures reminding the world...Ali (p) is the
perfect example for the leaders of the world..."By
Allah, I have been putting patches in my shirts so much that now I feel shy
of the patcher."
161-170
Sermon
161
Deputation of the Holy Prophet...Makka...Medina....:"Allah
sent him with a sufficing plea..."..."I
advise you, O' creatures of Allah, to exercise fear of Allah and to obey Him
because it is salvation tomorrow and deliverance for ever."
Sermon
162
One of Amir al-mu'minin's companions
(from Banu Asad) asked him...Bani Umayya's struggle to destroy Islam...Ahl
al-Bayt were the most deserving for the Caliphate......"How did your tribe
deprive you of the caliphate?"..."It
was a selfish act over which the hearts of people became greedy, although
some people did not care for it. The Arbiter is Allah and to Him is the
return on the Day of Judgement."
Sermon
163
An excellent lecture on the Attributes of Allah...man's
creation...the requirements of life..."O'
creature who has been equitably created and who has been nurtured and looked
after in the darkness of wombs with multiple curtains."
Sermon
164
When people went to Amir
al-mu'minin in a deputation and complained to him three caliphs...Oppressive Imam
(Leader)..Just Imam...and a comparison..."Then
`Uthman said to Amir al-mu'minin: "Speak to the people to give me time until
I redress their grievances."..."I
heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "On the Day of Judgement the oppressive
Imam will be brought without anyone to support him or anyone to advance
excuses on his behalf, and then he will be thrown into Hell where he will
rotate as the hand-mill rotates, then (eventually) he will be confined to
its hollow.""
Sermon
165
Describing the wonderful creation of the
peacock...about the wonderful creation of birds..."He
prevented some of them from flying easily in the sky because of their heavy
bodies and allowed them to use their wings only close to the ground. He has
set them in different colours by his delicate might and exquisite creative
power."
Sermon
166
Advice for observing courtesy and
kindness and keeping in and out of the same...autocracy
and oppression of the Umayyads and their fate...Ali (p) called the people to
folllow the Prophet (p)...Imam Ali (p)'s unbelievable prophecy...
:"After me,
your tribulations..."..."Know that if you had
followed him who was calling you (to guidance) he would have made you
tread the ways of the Prophet, then you would have been spared the
difficulties of misguidance, and you would have thrown away the crushing
burden from your necks."
Sermon
167
At the beginning of his Caliphate...Fulfilment of rights and obligations ..."...a
Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand every (other) Muslim is safe save
in the matter of truth. It is not, therefore, lawful to molest a Muslim
except when it is obligatory.
"
Sermon
168
After swearing of allegiance to Amir
al-mu'minin, some people said:"Punish Uthman's murderers..."..."I
shall control this affair as far as possible, but if I find it necessary the
last treatment will, of course, be branding with a hot iron (through
fighting)."
Sermon
169
When the people of Jamal set off for
Basrah Amir al-mu'minin said:"They intend reverting...."...innovations...Imam
Ali (p)'s fight him because of their jealousy for the leadership Allah has
given him..."They
are hankering after this world out of jealousy against him on whom Allah has
bestowed it."
Sermon
170
When Amir al-mu'minin approached Basrah
an Arab met him and finally said:" I could not
refrain...."
171-180
Sermon
171
When Amir al-mu'minin decided to fight
the enemy face to face at Siffin he said:"Shame is
behind you..."
Sermon
172
About the Consultative Committee and the
Battle of Jamal...people of Jamal and what they did...wife of the Holy Prophet..."They
(Talhah, az-Zubayr and their supporters) came out dragging the wife of the
Messenger of Allah (the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his
descendants) just as a maidslave is dragged for sale.They took her to Basrah
where those two (Talhah and az-Zubayr) put their own women in their houses
but exposed the wife of the Messenger of Allah to themselves and to others
in the army in which there was not a single individual who had not offered
me his obedience and sworn to me allegiance quite obediently, without any
compulsion."
Sermon
173
On eligibility for the Caliphate...Muhammad
(p) is the last Prophet...."Know
that I shall fight two persons - one who claims what is not his and the
other who ignores what is obligatory upon him..."..."The
door of war has been opened between you and the other Muslims. And this
banner will be borne only by him who is a man of sight, of endurance and of
knowledge of the position of rightfulness."..."Know that the loss of
anything of this world will not harm you, if you have guarded the
principles of your religion. Know also that after the loss of your
religion nothing of this world for which you have cared will benefit you.
May Allah carry our hearts and your hearts towards the right and may He
grant us and you endurance."
Sermon
174
About Talhah ibn `Ubaydillah. Delivered
when he received the news ...Uthman's death...Talhah's lies...the role of
Talhah in Uthman's killing..."By
Allah, Talhah has hastened with drawn sword to avenge `Uthman's blood for
fear lest the demand for `Uthman's blood be made against himself, because
the people's idea in this matter is about him, and, in fact, he was the most
anxious among them for his killing."..."
Sermon
175
Warning to neglectful people, and
about the vastness of his own knowledge.."The Prophet (p)
informed me of..."..."They
are like beasts who are fed in order to be slaughtered, but they do not know
what is intended for them."...By
Allah, if I wish, I can tell every one of you from where he has come, where
he has to go and all his affairs..."
Sermon
176
Preaching...greatness Holy Quran...importance
of control of tongue...Sunnah and innovations...people's
innovations cant change lawful
things to unlawful and vice versa....Quran
contains a cure for the biggest diseases..."I
am a witness for you and shall plead excuses on your behalf on the Day of
Judgement."..."Know,
O' creatures of Allah, that a believer should regard lawful this year what
he regarded lawful in the previous year, and should consider unlawful this
year what he considered unlawful in the previous year. Certainly people's
innovation cannot make lawful for you what has been declared unlawful;
rather, lawful is that which Allah has made lawful and unlawful is that
which Allah has made unlawful."
Sermon
177
About the two arbiters (after the battle
of Siffin)..."Wrong-doing
was their desire, and going astray was their behaviour..."
Sermon
178
Praise of Allah...atributes
of Allah...transience of this
world, and causes of the decline of Allah's blessings..."The
number of drops of water, of stars in the sky, or of currents of winds in
the air are not unknown to Him, nor the movements of ants on rocks, or the
resting place of grubs in the dark night."
Sermon
179
Dhi`lib al-Yamani asked Amir al-mu'minin
whether he had seen Allah ...eyes can't see Allah...attributes of Allah..."Do
I worship one whom I have not seen?" Then he enquired, "How have you seen
Him?" Then Amir al-mu'minin replied:"Eyes do
not see Him face to face, but hearts perceive Him through the realities of
belief..."
Sermon
180
Condemning his disobedient men...characteristics
of his disobedient followers..Muawiya and Amr ibn al-As are ignorant of
Allah...."...what
are you waiting for in the matter of your assistance and for fighting for
your rights?"..."...I
am sick of your company and feel lonely with you."..."Is
there no religion which may unite you nor sense of shamefulness that may
sharpen you?"
181-190
Sermon
181
Amir
al-mu'minin sent one of his men to bring him news about a group
of Kufah who had decided to join the Kharijites but were
afraid of him...Disobedience...Satan...."Surely
today Satan has scattered them and tomorrow he will disclaim any connection
with them, and will leave them."...
Sermon
182
Attributes of Allah...past dwellers of
the world...Imam Mahdi (p)...Martyrdom of his friends...holy war..."Oh!
my brothers, who recited the Qur'an and strengthened it, thought over their
obligation and fulfilled it, revived the sunnah and destroyed innovation.
When they were called to jihad they responded and trusted in their leader
then followed him."..."Where
are my brethren who took the (right) path and trod in rightness. Where is
`Ammar?..."
Sermon
183
Praise of Allah for His bounties...Greatness
of Qur'an...the
Day of Judgement...preparation for the next world...this world and its
impermanence...hell, punishment and Malik
(the guard-in-charge of Hell)..."Have
you ever seen the crying of a person who has been pricked with a thorn or
who bleeds due to stumbling or whom hot sand has burnt? How would he feel
when he is between two frying pans of Hell with stones all round with Satan
as his companion?"
Sermon
184
One of the Kharijites al-Burj ibn
Mus'hir at-Ta'i raised the slogan..."Command behoves
only Allah...=...Allah is the only one to command..."..."...when
wrong began to shout loudly you again sprouted up..."
Sermon
185
Praise of Allah and His wonderful
creatures...attributes of Allah...Prophet Muhammad (p) and his
message...eyes can't see Allah...creation of animal species...Creation of
the Universe...wonderful creation of the locust..."Glorified
is Allah before Whom every one in the skies or the earth bows in prostration
willingly or unwillingly..."
Sermon
186
About the Oneness of Allah...excellent
sermon on attributes of Allah...to Him is
the return of all matters..."He is not
inside things nor outside them. He conveys news, but not with the tongue or
voice. He listens, but not with the holes of the ears or the organs of
hearing."
Sermon
187
Regarding the vicissitudes of time...mischiefs
that are to occur and the absence of lawful ways of livelihood..."I am
among you like a lamp in the darkness.Whoever
enters by it will be lit from it...."
Sermon
188
Allah's favours..transience
of this world...condition of people facing death...and..death!!. death!!.
death!!..."I also advise you to remember death
and to lessen your heedlessness towards it. Why should you be heedless of
Him Who is not heedless of you? Why expect from him (i.e., the angel of
death) who will not give you time? The dead whom you have been watching
suffice as preachers."
Sermon
189
Steadfast and transient belief...prophecy
about the Umayyads...Imam Ali (p) was the only one who used to say:"Ask
me before you miss me..."..."Certainly,
our case is difficult and complicated. No one can bear it except a believer
whose heart Allah has tried with belief. Our traditions will not be
preserved except by trustworthy hearts and (men of) solid understanding. O'
people! ask me before you miss me, because certainly I am acquainted with
the passages of the sky more than the passages of the earth
Sermon
190
Importance of fear of Allah, desolateness of the grave...the
death of the lover of Ahlu'l-bayt is like that of a martyr..."...do
not make haste in matters in which Allah has not asked for haste because any
one of you who dies in his bed while he had knowledge of the rights of Allah
and the rights of His Prophet and members of the Prophet's house (Prophet
(p)'s Ahl al-Bayt = His descendants ), will die as martyr."
191-200
Sermon
191
Praise of Allah...attributes of
Allah...the day of Judgement and account...preparation for the next
world...beware of the world...
"..and
very few of My creatures are grateful."( Qur'an, 34:13)
Sermon
192
Known as "al-Khutbah al-Qasi`ah" (Sermon
of Disparagement)...Allah's trial and Satan's vanity and worship to
Allah... Beware of
Satan...a warning to people who follow the path of Satan...The
humbleness of the Holy Prophet...Pharaoh
and his answer to Moses and Aoron..caution
against rebellion and oppressiveness...past nations and lessons to be
taken...Ali (p)'s condeming...Muhammad (p) and his miracle of ordering a
tree to move... his followers...angels...Ka'bah...Imam Ali's (p) wonderful struggle in
Islam...haughty leaders...."Satan
felt proud over Adam by virtue of his creation and boasted over him on
account of his origin. Thus, this enemy of Allah is the leader of those who
boast, and the fore-runner of the vain."
Sermon
193
It is related that a companion of Amir
al-mu'minin called Hammam who ... Qualities of a
True
Believer..."Their
speech is to the point, their dress is moderate and their gait is humble.
They keep their eyes closed to what Allah has made unlawful for them, and
they put their ears to that knowledge which is beneficial to them."..."They
remain in the time of trials as though they remain in comfort. If there had
not been fixed periods (of life) ordained for each, their spirits would not
have remained in their bodies even for the twinkling of an eye because of
(their) eagerness for the reward and fear of chastisement."
Sermon
194
In description of hypocrites...Prophet's
(p) struggle..."Their hearts are diseased
while their faces are clean. They walk stealthily and tread like the
approach of sickness (over the body). Their words speak of cure, but their
acts are like incurable diseases. They are jealous of ease, intensify
distress, and destroy hopes."..."They eulogise each other and expect reward
from each other. When they ask something they insist on it, if they reprove
(any one) they disgrace (him)..."
Sermon
195
Allah's praise
and His attributes, advice about fear of
Allah and details about the Day of Judgement..."No
curtain hides you from Him, nor is any door closed before you against Him."
Sermon
196
The condition of the world at the time
of the proclamation of prophethood...the transience of this world and the
state of its inhabitants..."O' creatures of Allah, you should know now
that you have to perform (good) acts, because (at present) your tongues are
free, your bodies are healthy, your limbs have movement, the area of your
coming and going is vast and the course of your running is wide; before the
loss of opportunity or the approach of death."
Sermon
197
Amir al-mu'minin's attachment to the
Holy Prophet. The performance of his funeral rites...Angels and their
worship...Imam Ali (p)'s bravery..Imam Ali (p) performed the Prophet (p)'s
funeral ablution...Imam Ali (p) is on the right path...His enemies are on
the wrong path...."When the Prophet (p) died his
head was on my chest."..."Therefore
depend on your intelligence and make your intentions pure in fighting your
enemy, because I swear by Him who is such that there is no god but He, that
I am on the path of truth and that they (the enemy) are on the misleading
path of wrong."
Sermon
198
Allah's attribute of Omniscience (
Knowing all )...İslam...the Holy Prophet
(p)...Holy Quran...Advantages of fear of Allah..."Allah
made him responsible for conveying His message and (a means of) honour for
his people, a period of bloom for the men of his days, a source of dignity
for the supporters and an honour for his helpers."
Sermon
199
Containing advice given by Amir
al-mu'minin to his companions...About Prayer (Namad)...the Islamic Tax
(zakat)...fulfilment of trust..."Have you not heard the reply of the
people of Hell when they were asked: What hath brought you into the hell?
They shall say: We were not of those who offered the regular prayers (to
Allah)! (Qur'an, 74:42-43). Certainly, prayer drops out sins like the
dropping of leaves (of trees), and removes them as ropes are removed from
the necks of cattle."
Sermon
200
Treason and treachery of Mu`awiyah and
the fate of those guilty of treason..."By
Allah, Mu`awiyah is not more cunning than I am, but he deceives and commits
evil deeds. Had I not been hateful of deceit I would have been the most
cunning of all men. But (the fact is that) every deceit is a sin and every
sin is disobedience (of Allah), and every deceitful person will have a
banner by which he will be recognised on the Day of Judgement."
201-210
Sermon
201
One should not be afraid of the scarcity
of those who tread on the right path...camel of Thamud...punishment for
keeping silent against unjustness..."O' people, he who treads the clear
path (of guidance) reaches the spring of water, and whoever abandons it
strays into waterless desert."..."O' people, certainly, what gathers people
together (in categories) is (their) agreement (to good or bad) and (their)
disagreement, for only one individual killed the camel of Thamud but Allah
held all of them in punishment because all of them joined him by their
acquiescing in their consenting to it."
Sermon
202
What Amir al-mu'minin said on the
occasion of the burial of his Beloved Wife, Fatima Zehra (p), the
leader of women of paradise (Sayyidat-ün Nisa)....what the Ummah ( Muslim
community ) did to the descendants of the Prophet (p)."I
laid you down in your grave when your last breath had passed (when your head
was) between my neck and chest."..."Certainly,
your daughter would apprise you of the joining together of your ummah
(people) for oppressing her. You ask her in detail and get all the news
about the position."
Sermon
203
Transience of this world, and importance
of collecting provisions for the next life..."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."
Sermon
204
What Amir al-mu'minin said generally to
his companions warning them...preparation for the next world...transience
of this world..."Regard your stay in the world as very short, and return
(to Allah) with the best provision that is with you, because surely, in
front of you lies a valley, difficult to climb, and places of stay full of
fear and dangers."
Sermon
205
After swearing allegiance to Amir
al-mu'minin, Talhah and az-Zubayr complained to him
that he had not consulted them or sought their assistance in the affairs (of
state)...Ali (p) is
faultless...Imam Ali (p)'s attachment to Quran and Sunnah...and his justice
in distribution of shares from the Muslim common
fund...."By
Allah, I had no liking for the caliphate nor any interest in government, but
you yourselves invited me to it and prepared me for it. When the caliphate
came to me, I kept the Book of Allah in my view and all that Allah had put
therein for us, and all that according to which He has commanded us to take
decisions; and I followed it, and also acted on whatever the Prophet - may
Allah bless him and his descendants - had laid down as his sunnah."
Sermon
206
During the battle of Siffin Amir
al-mu'minin heard some of his men abusing the
Syrians... "Don't swear, but say what they
did.. "..."I dislike you starting to
abuse them, but if you describe their deeds and recount their situations
that would be a better mode of speaking and a more convincing way of
arguing."
Sermon
207
In the battle of Siffin Amir al-mu'minin
saw Imam al-Hasan proceeding rapidly ...al-Hasan and
al-Husayn..."Hold
back this young man (al-Hasan) on my behalf..."
Sermon
208
When Amir al-mu'minin's companions
expressed displeasure about his attitude concerning
Arbitration..."You
have now shown liking to live in this world.."
Sermon
209
Amir al-mu'minin went to enquire about
the health of his companion al-`Ala' ibn Ziyad
al-Harithi and when he noticed the vastness of his house...How
muslim leaders should live...cutting oneself away from
the world..."Allah made it obligatory on true leaders that they should
maintain themselves at the level of low people so that the poor do not cry
over their poverty."
Sermon
210
Someone asked Amir al-mu'minin about
concocted traditions and contradictory sayings...during
the Prophet's days false sayings had been attributed to him...four
categories of hadith ( saying of the Prophet-p-) narrators...who is a
hypocrite...two types of sayings of the Prophet (p): a-particular
b-common ...reasons
and grounds of differences among the people in their traditions...Ali used
to ask the meaning....but most of the companions didn't..."Whoever
attributes falsehoods to me makes his abode in Hell."
211-220
Sermon
211
The greatness of Allah and the creation
of the Universe..."Most surely there is in this a lesson to him who
fears." (Qur'an 79:26)
Sermon
212
About those who give up supporting right...Whoever
rejects Ahl al-Bayt..."You
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...attributes of Allah..."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...Muhammed
(p) is the messenger of Allah...adopting these
qualities...obeying the leader...the
characteristics of the virtuous whose guidance must be followed..."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."
Sermon
215
A prayer which Amir al-mu'minin often
recited:" I am a slave in Thy possession..."..."...nor
do I disbelieve in my Lord, nor do I feel strangeness with my faith, nor is
my intelligence affected, nor have I been punished with the punishment of
peoples before me."
Sermon
216
Delivered at the battle of Siffin....Mutual rights of the ruler and the ruled...Allah's
right over his creatures...types of rights...causes & results of
oppression...Imam Ali doesnt like high praises...He hates flattery...Ali (p)
is innocent,infallible..."Generally,
people feel pleased at praise after good performances; but do not mention
for me handsome praise for the obligations I have discharged towards Allah
and towards you, because of (my) fear about those obligations which I have
not discharged and for issuing injunctions which could not be avoided, and
do not address me in the manner despots are addressed."
Sermon
217
About the excesses of the Quraysh...Their
violation of Imam Ali's rights...Only Ahl al-Bayt protect & help him...Ali
(p) refrains from
flinging Ahl al-Bayt into death..."O'
my Allah! I beseech Thee to take revenge on the Quraysh and those who are
assisting them, for they have cut asunder my kinship and over-turned my cup
and have joined together to contest a right to which I was entitled more
than anyone else."..."
They said to me: "If you get your right, that will be just,
but if you are denied the right, that too will be just. Endure it with
sadness or kill yourself in grief."
Sermon
218
A part of the same sermon about those
who went to Basrah to fight Amir al-mu'minin..."They marched on my
officers and the custodians of the public treasury which is still under my
control and on the people of a metropolis, all of whom were obedient to me
and were in allegiance to me."
Sermon
219
When
Amir al-mu'minin passed by the corpses of Talhah ibn `Ubaydullah and `Abd
ar-Rahman ibn `Attab ibn Asid who were both killed in the battle of Jamal..."They
had stretched their necks towards a matter for which they were not suited,
and therefore their necks were broken before they reached the goal."
Sermon
220
Qualities of the God-fearing and the
pious..."Different doors led him to the door of safety and the place of (his
permanent) stay. His feet, balancing his body became fixed in the position
of safety and comfort, because he kept his heart (in good acts) and pleased
his Allah."
221-230
Sermon
221
Amir al-mu'minin recited the verse...the
dead are not a source of pride but a source lessons...graves...the dead and
their conditions...the conditions of the alive before they were dead...."Engage
(your) vying inexuberance, until ye come to the graves."
(Qur'an, 101:1-2)...."The
bonds of their knowing each other have been worn out and the connections of
their friendship have been cut asunder. Everyone of them is therefore alone
although they are a group, and they are strangers, even though friends. They
are unaware of morning after a night and of evening after a day."..."How
many a prestigious body and amazing beauty the earth has swallowed, although
when in the world he enjoyed abundant pleasures and was nurtured in honour.
He clung to enjoyments (even) in the hour of grief. If distress befell him
he sought refuge in consolation (derived) through the pleasures of life and
playing and games."..."He was laughing at the world while the world was
laughing at him because of his life full of forgetfulness."
Sermon
222
Delivered after reciting the verse...the
time when there were no prophets...three
ways:middle...right...left....devoted servants of Allah...:" ...
therein declare glory unto Him ..." (Qur'an,
24:36-7)..."In
all the periods and times when there were no prophets, there have been
persons with whom Allah, precious are His bounties, whispered through their
wits and spoke through their minds."..."...Therefore, take account of
yourself for your own sake because the account of others will be taken by
one other than you."
Sermon
223
Amir al-mu'minin recited the verse...important
questions to be answered by the sinners & the neglectful...favors of
Allah...the world and its curtains...all the followers, on the Day of
Judgement cling to their leader...preparation for the next world...:
"O' thou man! what hath beguild thee from thy Lord .."
(Qur'an, 82:6)..."When
the earthquake occurs, the Day of Resurrection approaches with all its
severities, the people of every worshipping place cling to it, all the
devotees cling to the object of their devotion and all the followers cling
to their leader."..."Take from the transient things of this world that which
will stay for you (in the next world), provide for your journey, keep (your)
gaze on the brightness of deliverance and keep ready the saddles (for
setting off)."
Sermon
224
About keeping aloof from oppression and
misappropriation. `Aqil's ( His brother ) condition...an incredible
lesson of justice from Imam Ali (p) given to his brother and all other
humans... zekat ( islamic tax ) is forbidden to the
Ahl al-Bayt (members of the Prophet's family)..."...how
can I oppress any one for (the sake of a life) that is fast moving towards
destruction and is to remain under the earth for a long time."..."What has
`Ali to do with bounties that will pass away and pleasures that will not
last?"..."For me your world is lighter than
the leaf in the mouth of a locust that is chewing it."
Sermon
225
Supplication...Allah is the master of
giving..."O' my Allah! preserve (the
grace of) my face with easiness of life and do not disgrace my countenance
with destitution..."
Sermon
226
Transience of the world and the
helplessness of those in graves...shortness of human life...temptations of
the world...death and the dead..."Their
voices have become silent, their movements have become stationary, their
bodies have become rotten, their houses have become empty and their traces
have been obliterated."..."And
how can they meet each other when decay has ground them with its chest, and
stones and earth have eaten them."
Sermon
227
Supplication...Allah knows all...Asking
Allah's help..."If distresses befall
them, they beseech Thy protection, because they know that the reins of
affairs are in Thy hands, and that their movements depend upon Thy
commands."..."O' my Allah! deal with me through Thy forgiveness and do not
deal with me according to Thy justice."
Sermon
228
About a companion who passed away from
this world before the occurrence of troubles..."He achieved good (of
this world) and remained safe from its evils."
Sermon
229
About allegiance to Amir al-mu'minin
for the Caliphate...People's allegiance to Imam Ali (p) was willingly...."...and
the happiness of people on their allegiance to me was so manifested that
small children felt joyful, the old staggered (up to me) for it, the sick
too reached for it helter skelter and young girls ran for it without veils."
Sermon
230
Advice about fear of Allah, and an
account of those who remain apprehensive of death
and adopt abstemiousness...meaning
of fear of God...account-keeping angels...Angel of Death...overtaking of
death...preparation for the death...temptations of the world...abstainers..."Perform
(good) acts while such acts are being raised (in value), repentance can be
of benefit, prayer can be heard, conditions are peaceful and the pens (of
the two angels) are in motion (to record the actions)."..."Therefore, it is
upon you to strive, make effort, equip yourself, get ready and provide
yourself from the place of provision."..."Their bodies move among the people
of the next world."
231-240
Sermon
231
Amir al-mu'minin delivered this sermon
at Dhiqar on his way to Basrah...the Prophet (p)..."The
Prophet manifested whatever he was commanded and conveyed the messages of
his Lord."
Sermon
232
`Abdullah ibn Zama`ah who was one of the
followers of Amir al-mu'minin came to him to ask for some money...justice
of Imam Ali (p)..."If you had taken part
with them in their fighting you would have a share equal to theirs..."
Sermon
233
On Ja`dah ibn Hubayrah al-Makhzumi's
inability to deliver a sermon... speaking the truth...scarcity of
truth-speaking people...characteristics people of his time...."Their
youths are wicked, their old men are sinful, their learned men are
hypocrites, and their speakers are sycophants. Their youngs do not respect
their elders, and their rich men do not support the destitute."
Sermon
234
Causes for difference in the features
and traits of people...different types of clay...."They differ among themselves because
of the sources
of their clay (from which they have been created). This is because they
are either from saltish soil or sweet soil or from rugged earth or soft
earth. They, resemble each other on the basis of the affinity of their
soil and differ according to its difference."
Sermon
235
Spoken when Amir al-mu'minin was busy in
the funeral ablution of the Holy Prophet...the death of the Holy Prophet
(p) and the unmeasurable grief of Ahl al-Bayt...."But
this (death) is a matter that cannot be reversed nor is it possible to
repulse it.May my father and my mother
die for you; do remember us with Allah and take care of us."
Sermon
236
In this sermon Amir al-mu'minin has
related his own condition...Imam Ali (p) followed the sunnah of the
Prophet (p) strictly..."I began following the path adopted by the Prophet
and treading on the lines of his remembrance till I reached al-`Arj."
Sermon
237
About collecting provision for the next
world...performing good acts before
death..."Perform
(good) acts while you are still in the vastness of life, the books are open
(for recording of actions), repentance is allowed, the runner away (from
Allah) is being called and the sinner is being given hope (of forgiveness)
before the (light of) action is put off, time expires, life ends, the door
for repentance is closed and angels ascend to the sky."
Sermon
238
About the two arbitrators (Abu Musa
al-Ash`ari and `Amr ibn al-`As) and...disparagement
of the people of Syria..."Immigrants" and the
"Helpers"..."They
are neither muhajirun (immigrants from Mecca), nor ansar (helpers of Medina)
nor those who made their dwellings in the abode (in Medina) and in
belief."..."Do you not see that your cities are being attacked and your
prowess is being aimed at?"
Sermon
239
Amir al-mu'minin describes herein the
members of the Prophet's family..Ahl al-Bayt are the pillars of
Islam...relators & performers of knowledge...."They
do not go against right nor do they differ (among themselves) about it. They
are the pillars of Islam and the asylums of (its) protection."..."They have
understood the religion attentively and carefully, not by mere heresy or
from relaters, because the relaters of knowledge are many but its
understanders are few."
Sermon
240
When `Uthman ibn `Affan was surrounded...Imam
Ali (p)'s help to Uthman...Uthman's contradictory requests from Imam Ali
(p)..."By Allah,
I continued protecting him till I feared lest I become a sinner."
241
Sermon
241
Exhorting his men to jihad
(Holy War) and asking
them to refrain from seeking ease...competing for the best reward,
Paradise...."He has allowed time in the limited field (of life) so that
you may vie with each other in seeking the reward (of Paradise)."
Bibliography
Texts quoted in alternative sources for each sermon
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