ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) في ذم الدنيا

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكُمُ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّهَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرِةٌ، حُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ، وَتَحَبَّبَتْ بِالْعَاجِلَةِ، وَرَاقَتْ بِالْقَلِيلِ، وَتَحَلَّتْ بِالاْمَالِ، وَتَزَيَّنَتْ بِالْغُرُورِ، لاَ تَدُومُ حَبْرَتُهَا، وَلاَ تُؤْمَنُ فَجْعَتُهَا، غَرَّارَةٌ ضَرَّارَةٌ، حَائِلَةٌ زَائِلَةٌ، نَافِدَةٌ بَائِدَةٌ، أَكَّالَةٌ غَوَّالَةٌ، لاَ تَعْدُوـ إِذَا تَنَاهَتْ إِلَى أُمْنِيَّةِ أَهْلِ الرَّغْبَةِ فِيهَا والرضى بِهَا ـ أَنْ تَكُونَ كَمَا قَالَ اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وتعالى: ﴿كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا﴾.

So now, certainly I frighten you from this world for it is sweet and green, surrounded by lusts, and liked for its immediate enjoyments. It excites wonder with small things, is ornamented with (false) hopes and decorated with deception. Its rejoicings do not last and its afflictions cannot be avoided. It is deceitful, harmful, changing, perishable, exhaustible, liable to destruction, eating away and destructive. When it reaches the extremity of desires of those who incline towards it and feel happy with it, the position is just what Allah the Glorified, says (in the Qur’ān): “. . . like the water which send We down from heaven, and the herbage of the earth mingleth with it, then it becometh dry stubble which the winds scatter; for Allah over all things hath power.” (18:45)

لَمْ يَكُنِ امْرُؤٌ مِنْهَا فِي حَبْرَةٍ إِلاَّ أَعْقَبَتْهُ بَعْدَهَا عَبْرَةً وَلَمْ يَلْقَ منْ سَرَّائِهَا بَطْناًئف إِلاَّ مَنَحَتْهُ مِنْ ضَرَّائِهَا ظَهْراً وَلَمْ تَطُلَّهُ فِيهَا دِيمَةُ رَخَاءٍ إِلاَّ هَتَنَتْ عَلَيهِ مُزْنَةُ بَلاَءٍ! وَحَرِيٌّ إِذَا أَصْبَحَتْ لَهُ مُنْتَصِرَةً أَنْ تُمْسِيَ لَهُ مُتَنَكِّرَةً، وَإِنْ جَانِبٌ مِنْهَا اعْذَوْذَبَ وَاحْلَوْلَى، أَمَرَّ مِنْهَا جَانِبٌ فَأَوْبَى. لاَ يَنَالُ امْرُؤٌ مِنْ غَضَارَتِهَارَغَباً إِلاَّ أَرْهَقَتْهُ مِنْ نَوَائِبِهَا تَعَباً! وَلاَ يُمْسِي مِنْهَا فِي جَنَاحِ أَمْنٍ، إِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ عَلَى قَوَادِمِ خَوْفٍ!

No person gets rejoicing from this world but tears come to him after it, and no one gets its comforts in the front but he has to face hardships in the rear. No one receives the light rain of ease in it but the heavy rain of distress pours upon him. It is just worthy of this world that in the morning it supports a man but in the evening it does not recognize him. If one side of it is sweet and pleasant the other side is bitter and distressing. No one secures enjoyment from its freshness but he has to face hardship from its calamities. No one would pass the evening under the wing of safety but that his morning would be under the feathers of the wing-tip of fear.

غَرَّارَةٌ، غُرُورٌ مَا فِيهَا، فَانِيَةٌ، فَانٍ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا، لاَ خَيْرَ في شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَزْوَادِهَا إِلاَّ التَّقْوَى. مَنْ أَقَلَّ مِنْهَا اسْتَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُؤْمِنُهُ! وَمَنِ اسْتَكْثَرَ مِنْهَا اسْتَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُوبِقُهُ وَزَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ عَنْهُ. كُمْ مِنْ وَاثِقٍ بِهَا قَدْ فَجَعَتْهُ، وَذِي طُمَأْنِينَةٍ إِلَيْهَا قَدْ صَرَعَتْهُ، وَذِي أُبَّهَةٍ قَدْ جَعَلَتْهُ حَقِيراً، وَذِي نَخْوَةٍ قَدْ رَدَّتْهُ ذَلِيلاً! سُلْطَانُهَا دُوَّلٌ وَعَيْشُهَا رَنِقٌ وَعَذْبُهَا أُجَاجٌ وَحُلْوُهَا صَبِرٌ وَغِذَاؤُهَا سِمَامٌ وَأَسْبَابُهَا رِمَامٌ حَيُّهَا بِعَرَضِ مَوْتٍ، وَصَحِيحُهَا بَعَرَضِ سُقْمٍ! مُلْكُهَا مَسْلُوبٌ، وَعَزِيزُهَا مَغْلُوبٌ، وَمَوْفُورُهَا مَنْكُوبٌ، وَجَارُهَا مَحْرُوبٌ.

It is deceitful, and all that is there in it is deception. It is perishable and all that is on it is to perish. There is no good in its provisions except in piety. 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. He would shortly depart from his collection. How many people relied on it but it distressed them; (how many) felt peaceful with it but it tumbled them down; how many were prestigious but it made them low and how many were proud but it made them disgraceful. Its authority is changing. Its life is dirty. Its sweet water is bitter. Its sweetness is like myrrh. Its food are poisons. Its means are weak. The living in it is exposed to death; the healthy in it is exposed to disease. Its realm is (liable to be) snatched away. The strong in it is (liable to be) defeated and the rich is (liable to be) afflicted with misfortune. The neighbour in it is (liable to be) plundered.

أَلَسْتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَطْوَلَ أَعْمَاراً، وَأَبْقَى آثَاراً، وَأَبْعَدَ آمَالاً، وَأَعَدَّ عَدِيداً، وَأَكْثَفَ جُنُوداً! تَعَبَّدُوا لِلدُّنْيَا أَيَّ تَعَبُّدٍ، وَآثَرُوهَا أَيَّ إِيثَارٍ، ثُمَّ ظَعَفُوا عَنْهَا بَغَيْرِ زَادٍ مُبَلِّغٍ وَلاَ ظَهْرٍ قَاطِعٍ. فَهَلْ بَلَغَكُمْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا سَخَتْ لَهُمْ نَفْساً بِفِدْيَةٍ أَوْ أَعَانَتْهُمْ بِمَعُونَةٍ؟ أَوْ أَحْسَنَتْ لَهُمْ صُحْبَةً؟ بَلْ أَرْهَقَتْهُمْ بَالْفَوَادِحِ وَأوْهَنَتْهُمْ بِالْقَوَارِعِ وَضَعْضَعَتْهُمْ بِالنَّوَائِبِ، وَعَفَّرَتْهُمْ لِلْمَنَاخِرَ، وَوَطِئَتْهُمْ بَالْمَنَاسِمِ وَأَعَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ﴿رَيْبَ الْمَنُونِ﴾.

Are you not (residing) in the houses of those before you, who were of longer ages, better traces, had bigger desires, were more in numbers and had greater armies. How they devoted themselves to the world and how they showed preference to it? Then they left it without any provision that could convey them through, or the back (of a beast for riding) to carry them. Did you get the news that the world was ever generous enough to present ransom for them, or gave them any support or afforded them good company? It rather inflicted them with troubles, made them languid with calamities, molested them with catastrophes, threw them down on their noses, trampled them under hoofs and helped the “vicissitudes of time” (52:30) against them.

فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ تَنَكُّرَهَا لِمَنْ دَانَ لَهَا وَآثَرَهَا وَأَخْلَدَ إِلَيْهَا، حِينَ ظَعَنُوا عَنْهَا لَفِرَاقِ الاْبَدِ. هَلْ زَوَّدَتْهُمْ إِلاَّ السَّغَبَ أَوْ أَحَلَّتْهُمْ إِلاَّ الضَّنْكَ أوْ نَوَّرَتْ لَهُمْ إِلاَّ الظُّلْمَةَ؟ أَوْ أَعْقَبَتْهُمْ إِلاَّ النَّدَامَةَ؟ أَفَهذِهِ تُؤْثِرُونَ؟ أَمْ إِلَيْهَا تَطْمَئِنُّونَ؟ أَمْ عَلَيْهَا تَحْرِصُونَ؟ فَبِئْسَتِ الدَّارُ لَمَنْ لَمْ يَتَّهِمْهَا، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهَا عَلَى وَجَلٍ مِنْهَا! فَاعْلَمُوا ـ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ـ بِأَنَّكُمْ تَارِكُوهَا وَظَاعِنُونَ عَنْهَا، وَاتَّعِظُوا فِيهَا بِالَّذِينَ ﴿قَالُوا مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً﴾: حُمِلُوا إِلَى قُبُورِهِمْ فَلاَ يُدْعَوْنَ رُكْبَاناً وَأُنْزِلُوا الاْجْدَاثَ فَلاَ يُدْعَوْنَ ضِيفَاناً، وَجُعِلَ لَهُمْ مِنَ الصَّفِيحِ أَجْنَانٌ وَمِنَ التُّرَابِ أَكْفَانٌ، وَمِنَ الرُّفَاتِ جِيرَانٌ.

You have observed its strangeness towards those who went near it, acquired it and appropriated it, till they depart from it for good. Did it give them any provision other than starvation, or make them stay in other than narrow places, or give them light other than gloom, or give them in the end anything other than repentance? Is this what you much ask for or remain satisfied with, or towards which you feel greedy? How bad is this abode for him he did not suspect it (to be so) and did not entertain fear from it? You should know, as you do know, that you have to leave it and depart from it. While in it, take lesson from those “who proclaimed ‘who is more powerful than we’” (Qur’ān, 41:15) but they were carried to their graves, though not as riders. They were then made to stay in the graves, but not as guests. Graves were made for them from the surface of the ground. Their shrouds were made from earth. Old bones were made their neighbour.

فَهُمْ جِيرَةٌ لاَ يُجِيبُونَ دَاعِياً، وَلاَ يَمْنَعُونَ ضَيْماً، وَلاَ يُبَالُونَ مَنْدَبَةً، إِنْ جِيدُوا لَمْ يَفْرَحُوا، وَإِنْ قُحِطُوا لَمْ يَقْنَطُوا، جَمِيعٌ وَهُمْ آحَادٌ، وَجِيرَةٌ وَهُمْ أَبْعَادٌ، مُتَدَانُونَ لاَ يَتَزَاوَرُونَ، وَقَرِيبُونَ لاَ يَتَقَارَبُونَ، حُلَمَاءُ قَدْ ذَهَبَتْ أَضْغَانُهُمْ، وَجُهَلاءُ قَدْ مَاتَتْ أَحْقَادُهُمْ، لاَ يُخْشَى فَجْعُهُمْ، وَلاَ يُرْجَى دَفْعُهُمْ، اسْتَبْدَلُوا بِظَهْرِ الاْرْضِ بَطْناً، وَبِالسَّعَةِ ضِيقاً، وَبِالاْهْلِ غُرْبَةً، وَبِالنُّورِ ظُلْمَةً، فَجَاؤُوهَا كَمَا فَارَقُوهَا، حُفَاةً عُرَاةً، قَدْ ظَعَنُوا عَنْهَا بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ إِلَى الْحَيَاةِ الْدَّائِمَةِ وَالدَّارِ الْبَاقِيَةِ، كَمَا قَالَ اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ: ﴿كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ ۚ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ﴾.

They are neighbours who do not answer a caller nor ward off trouble, nor pay heed to mourner. If they get rain they do not feel happy, and if they face famine they do not get disappointed. They are together but each one apart. They are close together but do not see each other. They are near but do not meet. They are enduring and have no hatred. They are ignorant and their malice has died away. There is no fear of trouble from them and no hope of their warding off (troubles). They have exchanged the back (surface) of the earth with its stomach (interior), vastness with narrowness, family with loneliness, and light with darkness. They have come to it (this world) as they had left it with bare feet and naked bodies. They departed from it with their acts towards the continuing life and everlasting house as Allāh has said: “.. As we caused the first creation, so will We get it return. (It is) a promise binding Us, verily We were doing it.” (Qur’ān, 21:104)

Extrait d’un discours Blâme de la vie terrestre

...Après cette introduction, je vous incite à prendre garde de la vie terrestre; elle est belle et verdoyante, entourée de passions, aimable pour ses biens, facilement reposante, parée d'espoirs et d’illusions. Cependant, ses plaisirs sont éphémères et l’on ne peut pas si fier à elle, tellement ses malheurs sont brusques; car elle vous trompe par ses changements maléfiques, elle a une fin inévitable et doit disparaître sans avertir, mais entre-temps elle agit comme une ogresse insatiable. Lorsqu’elle va à la rencontre de ceux qui la désirent, elle n’est pas loin d’être ce que Dieu-gloire à Luia dit: «[Et propose-leur l’exemple de la vie ici-bas] Elle est semblable à une eau que Nous faisons descendre du ciel; la végétation de la terre se mélange à elle puis elle devient de l’herbe desséchée que les vents dispersent. Allah est certes Puissant en toutes choses!» (La Caverne, 45),

Tout homme qui y vit heureux se voit amené à pleurer, car si elle lui accorde des moments de plaisir elle se hâte de l’accabler de malheurs. Elle lui fournit quelques moments d’agrément qu’elle fait suivre d’un fléau de désastres! Il est de son propre d’être, le matin, un ami fidèle et de se convertir, le soir, en ennemi antipathique. Déguisée de masques différents, elle montre successivement un visage délicieux et agréable, suivi d’un autre qui dénote Tamertume maladive. Nul n’acquiert d’elle une grâce ou une richesse qu’il n’en paie le prix par des calamités pénibles! Bien que l’homme passe sa nuit en toute tranquillité, il se voit le matin assailli par la peur!

Car la vie ici-bas est traîtresse et tout ce qu’elle contient est illusion; elle est périssable avec tout ce qu’elle renferme. Elle est digne d’être vécue uniquement parce qu’elle permet à l’homme d’être pieux et de craindre Dieu. Celui qui s’en détache voit sa foi grandir et celui qui s’y attache court rapidement à sa perte et à celle de ses acquisitions! Combien a-t-elle peiné de gens confiant en elle, affecté d’hommes qui s'y reposaient en toute confiance, abaissé d’orgueilleux et méprisé d’intrépides! Sa puissance est instable, ses aliments sont sans saveur, son eau est saumâtre, sa douceur est amère, sa nourriture est empoisonnée et ses moyens de subsistance ressemblent à une corde pourrie! Le vivant ici-bas est un accident [opposé à substance] périssable! Sa santé est vouée à la maladie et ses possessions sont condamnées au vol! Tout fort ici-bas sera vaincu, tout riche appauvri et tout voisin pillé!

N’occupez-vous pas les demeures de ceux qui vous ont devancés et avaient mené une vie plus longue et laissé plus de traces? Ne nourrissaient-ils pas plus d’espoirs? N’étaient-ils pas plus nombreux et mieux équipés en troupes? Ils avaient fortement adoré la vie terrestre, l’avaient préférée à toutes choses, puis l’avaient quittée sans provisions ni montures. Vous a-t-on dit que la vie a racheté l’un d’eux contre une rançon, ou qu’elle l’a assisté ou lui a offert une bonne compagnie? Non, au contraire! Elle les a tous opprimés par les caries [maladies], fouettés par les calamités, dispersés par les malheurs, roulés dans la poussière, foulés par les pieds [du chameau] et livrés aux «affres de la mort».

Vous avez vu comment elle renie celui qui s’y soumet, la préfère et lui fait confiance: elle s’en sépare pour toujours. Lui a-t-elle laissé sinon la faim, la vie gênée, les ténèbres et les regrets? Est-ce cette vie terrestre que vous voulez, préférez, convoitez et espérez? Elle est une demeure misérable pour celui qui ne la suspecte pas et ne nourrit aucune peur d’elle! Sachez-et vous le savez bien-que vous allez la quitter et recevez l’avis de ceux qui ont dit: «Y a-t-îl quelqu’un plus puissant que nous?». Ceux-ci ont été portés à leurs tombes bon gré mal gré, non comme des cavaliers, ni comme des hôtes, mais avec la poussière comme linceul et les restes des morts comme voisins,

des voisins qui ne répondent pas à leurs appels, qui ne repoussent pas une oppression, qui sont insensibles aux pleurs des vivants, qui ne se réjouissent pas s’il pleut et qui sont indifférents à la sécheresse. Tous ces morts sont des individus tassés ensemble, c.à-d, des voisins sans communications mutuel-les et sans visites réciproques... Ils sont devenus aimables et sans rancunes, ignorants et sans ressentiment, inoffensifs et inutiles les uns pour les autres. Ils ont échangé la surface de la terre par ses entrailles, l’étendu par l’étroitesse, la vie de famille par l’isolement et la lumière par les ténèbres. Ils ont quitté la vie tels qu’ils l’avaient reçue: totalement nus, sans prendre avec eux aucun de leurs biens, sauf les bonnes actions qui leur assurent la vie étemelle, comme Dieu l’avait révélé par ce verset: «Tout comme nous avons commencé la première création, ainsi Nous la commencé la répéterons; c’est une promesse qui nous incombe et Nous l’accomplirons!» (Les Prophètes, 104).

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #111