Sermons from Nahjul Balagha

Now then, O ‘ people(1) of Iraq! You are like the pregnant woman who, on completion of the period of pregnancy delivers a dead child and her husband is also dead and her period of widowhood is long while only remote relation inherits her. By Alláh, I did not come to you of my own […]

Spoken on the morning of the day when Amír al-mu’minín was fatally struck with sword. I was sitting when sleep overtook me. I saw the Prophet of Alláh appear before me, and I said: “O’ Prophet of Alláh! what crookedness and enmity I had to face from the people. “ The prophet of Alláh said:

How long shall I accord you consideration that is accorded to camels with hollow hump, or to worn clothes which when stitched on one side give way on the other. Whenever a vanguard force of Syria (ash-Shám) hovers over you, everyone of you shuts his door and hides himself like the lizard in its hole

When Amír al-mu’minín appointed Muhammad ibn Abí Bakr (1) Governor of Egyptand he was overpowered and killed, Amír al-mu’minín said:I had intended to send Háshim ibn `Utbah to Egypt and had l done so he would have made way for the opponents nor given them time (to get hold of him). This is without reproach

When after the death of the Prophet news reached Amír al-mu’minín about the happening in Saqífah of Baní Sá`idah,(1) he enquired what the ansár said. People said that they were  asking for one chief from among them and one from the others, Amír al-mu’minín said: Why did you not argue against them (ansár) that the Prophet

O’ crowd of Muslims! Make fear of Alláh the routine of your life. Cover yourselves with peace of mind and clinch your teeth because this makes the sword slip off from the skull. Complete your armour and shake your swords in their sheathes before showing them out. Have your eyes on the enemy. Use your

Praise be to Alláh for Whom one condition does not proceed another  so that He may be the First before being the Last or He may be Manifest before being Hidden. Everyone called one  (alone) save Him is by virtue of being small (in number); and everyone enjoying honour other than Him is humble. Every

O’ creatures of Alláh! Fear Alláh and anticipate your death by good actions. Purchase everlasting joy by paying transitory things – pleasures of this world. Get ready for the journey, for you are being driven, and prepare yourselves for death, since it is hovering over you. Be a people who wake up when called, and

Beware ! surely this world is a place from which protection cannot be sought except while one is in it. The action which is performed only for this world cannot secure salvation. People are tested in it through calamities. Those who have taken worldly pleasures here will be taken out from them (by death) and

Surely, there is a strong shield of Alláh over me. When my day would come it would get away from me and hand me over to death. At that time neither an arrow would go amiss nor a wound would heal up. Back to list of Sermons SHARE THIS PAGE: