ومن كلامه (عليه السلام) قبل موته

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، كُلُّ امْرِىء لاَق بِمَا يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ فِي فِرَارِهِ، وَالاْجَلُ مَسَاقُ النَّفْسِ، وَالْهَرَبُ مِنْهُ مُوَافَاتُهُ. كَمْ أَطْرَدْتُ الاَيَّامَ أَبْحَثُهَا عَنْ مَكْنُونِ هذَا الاَمْرِ، فَأَبَى اللهُ إِلاَّ إِخْفَاءَهُ، هَيْهَاتَ! عِلْمٌ مَخْزُونٌ!

O people, every one has to meet what he wishes to avoid by running away. [1] Death is the place to which life is driving. To run away from it means to catch it. How many days did I spent in searching for the secret of this matter, but Allāh did not allow save its concealment. Alas! It is a treasured knowledge.

أَمَّا وَصِيَّتِي: فَاللهَ لاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئاً، وَمُحَمَّداً فَلاَ تُضَيِّعُوا سُنَّتَهُ، أَقِيمُوا هذَيْن الْعَمُودَيْنِ، وَأَوْقِدُوا هذَيْنِ الْمِصْبَاحَيْنِ، وَخَلاَكُمْ ذَمٌّ مَالَمْ تَشْرُدُوا، حُمِّلَ كُلُّ امْرِىء مَجْهُودَهُ، وَخُفِّفَ عَنِ الْجَهَلَةِ، رَبٌّ رَحِيمٌ، وَدِينٌ قَوِيمٌ، وَإِمَامٌ عَلِيمٌ. أَنَا بِالاْمْسِ صَاحِبُكُمْ، وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ عِبْرَةٌ لَكُمْ، وَغَداً مُفَارِقُكُمْ! غَفَرَ اللهُ لي وَلَكُمْ!

As for my last will, it is that concerning Allāh, do not believe in a partner for Him, and concerning Muḥammad (S), do not disregard his sunnah. Keep these two pillars and burn these two lamps. Till you are not divided, no evil will come to you. [2] Every one of you has to bear his own burden. It has been kept light for the ignorant. Allāh is Merciful. Faith is straight. The leader (Prophet) is the holder of knowledge. Yesterday I was with you; today I have become the object of a lesson for you; and tomorrow I shall leave you. Allāh may forgive me and you.

إِنْ تَثْبُتِ الْوَطْأَةُ فِي هذِهِ الْمَزَلَّةِ فَذَاكَ، وَإِنْ تَدْحَضِ الْقَدَمُ فَإِنَّا كُنَّا فِي أَفْيَاءِ أَغْصَان، وَمَهَابِّ رِيَاح، وَتَحْتَ ظِلِّ غَمَام، اضْمَحَلَّ فِي الْجَوِّ مُتَلَفَّقُهَا، وَعَفَا في الارْضِ مَخَطُّهَا. وَإِنَّمَا كُنْتُ جَاراً جَاوَرَكُمْ بَدَنِي أَيَّاماً، وَسَتُعْقَبُونَ مِنِّي جُثَّةً خَلاَءً سَاكِنَةً بَعْدَ حَرَاك، وَصَامِتَةً بَعْدَ نُطْق لِيَعِظْكُمْ هُدُوِّي، وَخُفُوتُ إِطْرَاقِي، وَسُكُونُ أَطْرَافِي، فَإِنَّهُ أَوْعَظُ لَلْمُعْتَبِرِينَ مِنَ الْمَنْطِقِ الْبَلِيغِ وَالْقَوْلِ الْمَسْمُوعِ. وَدَاعِيكُم وَدَاعُ امْرِىء مُرْصِد لِلتَّلاَقِي! غَداً تَرَوْنَ أَيَّامِي، وَيُكْشَفُ لَكُمْ عَنْ سَرَائِرِي، وَتَعْرِفُونَنِي بَعْدَ خُلُوِّ مَكَانِي وَقِيَامِ غَيْرِي مَقَامِي.

If the foot remains firm in this slippery place, well and good . But if the foot slips, this is because we are under the shade of branches, the passing of the winds and the canopy of the clouds whose layers are dispersed in the sky, and whose traces disappeared [3] in the earth. I was your neighbour. My body kept you company for some days and shortly you will find just an empty body of mine which would be stationary after (all its) movement and silent after speech so that my calmness, the closing of my eyes, and the stillness of my limbs may provide you counsel, because it is more of a counsel for those who take a lesson (from it) than eloquent speech and a ready word. I am departing from you like one who is eager to meet (someone). Tomorrow you will look at my days, then my inner side will be disclosed to you and you will understand me after the vacation of my place and its occupation by someone else.

O gens! Chacun rencontre dans sa fuite ce duquel il fuit. La mort est la fin des vicissitudes de la vie. Fuir la mort c’est venir à la rencontrer. Que de jours ai-je repoussé pour chercher le secret de la mort, mais Dieu refuse de révéler son instant. C’est la perseience de Dieu, que Lui seul détient

Voici mon testament: n’associez personne à Dieu et ne perdez pas la Sounna de Mohammad, Élevez ces deux piliers et allumez ces deux phares. On ne vous blâme pas tant que vous ne vous égarez pas. Chacun est responsable à la mesure de ses possibilités, et le fardeau est allégé pour les ignorants. Seigneur miséricordieux, religion orthodoxe et Imam savant. Jadis j'étais votre compagnon, aujourd’hui je suis une leçon pour vous et demain je vous quitterai! Que Dieu nous pardonne, vous et moi.

Si je guéris de mes blessures ce sera bon, mais si mon pied glisse c’est que nous étions sous les ombres des branches, exposés aux quatre vents, au-dessous des nuages dissipés et dont il ne reste aucune trace. J’étais votre voisin par ma présence corporelle, et vous allez me trouver un cadavre sans âme, immobile après mouvement et muet après paroles. Tirez une leçon de ma quiétude: mon silence, mes yeux baissés, mes membres paralysés. Elle est plus éloquente pour ceux qui méditent que la parole éloquente. Je vous dis adieu dans l’attente du jour de la rencontre: demain vous verrez mes exploits et mes intentions vous seront révélées; alors, vous me connaîtrez lorsque le poste vacant que j’occupais sera régi par un autre.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #149