ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) في الشهادة و التقوى وقيل إنه خطبها بعد مقتل عثمان في أول خلافته

Praise of Allāh, transience of this world, and causes of the decline of Allāh’s blessings. (Delivered at the beginning of his caliphate after the killing of ‘Uthmān)

[اللّه و رسوله :] لاَ يَشْغَلُهُ شَأْنٌ، وَلاَ يُغَيِّرُهُ زَمَانٌ، وَلاَ يَحْوِيهِ مَكَانٌ، وَلاَ يَصِفُهُ لِسَانٌ، وَلاَ يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ عَدَدُ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ، وَلاَ نُجُومِ السَّماءِ، وَلاَسَوَافِي الرِّيحِ فِي الْهَوَاءِ، وَلاَ دَبِيبُ الـنَّمْلِ عَلَى الصَّفَا، وَلاَ مَقِيلُ الذَّرِّ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ. يَعْلَمُ مَسَاقِطَ الاْوْرَاقِ، وَخَفِيَّ طَرْفِ الاْحْدَاقِ.

One condition does not prevent Him from (getting into) another condition, time does not change Him, place does not locate him and the tongue does not describe Him. 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. He knows the places where leaves fall, and the secret movements of the pupils of the eyes.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إلهِ إِلاَّ اللهُ غَيْرَ مَعْدُول بِهِ، وَلاَ مَشْكُوك فِيهِ، وَلاَ مَكْفُور دِينُهُ، وَلاَ مَجْحُود تَكْوِينُهُ، شَهَادَةَ مَنْ صَدَقَتْ نِيَّتُهُ، وَصَفَتْ دِخْلَتُهُ، وَخَلَصَ يَقِينُهُ، وَثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ.

I stand witness that there is no god but Allāh, Who has no parallel, Who is not doubted, Whose religion is not denied and Whose creativeness is not questioned. My witnessing is like that of a man whose intention is free, whose conscience is clear, whose belief is pure and whose loads (of good actions) are heavy.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، الْـمُجْتَبَى مِنْ خَلاَئِقِهِ، وَالْمُعْتَامُ لِشَرْحِ حَقَائِقِهِ، وَالْـمُخْتَصُّ بِعَقَائِلِ كَرَامَاتِهِ، وَالْمُصْطَفَى لِكَرَائِمِ رِسَالاَتِهِ، وَالْمُوَضَّحَةُ بِهِ أَشْرَاطُ الْهُدَى، وَالْـمَجْلُوُّ بِهِ غِرْبِيبُ الْعَمَى.

I also stand witness that Muḥammad — the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him and his progeny — is His slave and His Messenger, chosen from His creations, selected for detailing His realities, picked for His selected honours and chosen for His esteemed messages. Through him the signs of guidance have been lighted and the gloom of blindness (misguidance) has been dispelled.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إنَّ الدُّنْيَا تَغُرُّ الْمُؤَمِّلَ لَهَا وَالْـمُخلِدَ إِلَيْهَا، وَلاَ تَنْفَسُ بِمَنْ نَافَسَ فِيهَا، وَتَغْلِبُ مَنْ غَلَبَ عَلَيْهَا. وَايْمُ اللهِ، مَا كَانَ قَوْمٌ قَطُّ فِي غَضِّ نِعْمَة مِنْ عَيْش فَزَالَ عَنْهُمْ إِلاَّ بِذُنُوب اجْتَرَحُوهَا، لِ «أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ» وَلَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ حِينَ تَنْزِلُ بِهِمُ النِّقَمُ، وَتَزُولُ عَنْهُمُ النِّعَمُ، فَزِعُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ بِصِدْق مِنْ نِيَّاتِهمْ، وَوَلَه مِنْ قُلُوبِهمْ، لَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ كُلَّ شَارِد، وَأَصْلَحَ لَهُمْ كُلَّ فَاسِد،

O people, surely this world deceives him who longs for it and who is attracted towards it. It does not behave niggardly with him who aspires for it and overpowers him who overpowers it. By Allāh, no people are deprived of the lively pleasures of life after enjoying them, excepts as a result of sins committed by them, because certainly Allāh is not unjust to His creatures. Even then, when calamities descend upon people and pleasures depart from them, they turn towards Allāh with true intention and the feeling in their hearts that He will return them everything that has fled from them and cure all their ills.

وَإنِّي لاَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونُوا فِي فَتْرَة، وَقَدْ كَانَتْ أُمُورٌ مَضَتْ، مِلْتمْ فِيهَا مَيْلَةً، كُنْتُمْ فِيهَا عِندِي غَيْرَ مَحْمُودِينَ، وَلَئِنْ رُدَّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَمْرُكُمْ إنَّكُمْ لَسُعَدَاءُ، وَمَا عَلَيَّ إلاَّ الْجُهْدُ، وَلَوْ أَشاءُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَقُلْتُ: عَفَا اللهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ!

I fear about you lest you fall into ignorance (that prevailed before the appearance of the Prophet). In the past there were certain matters in which you were deflected, and in my view you were not worthy of admiration; but if your previous position could be returned to you then you would become virtuous. I can only strive; but if I were to speak I would (only) say may Allāh forgive your past actions.

Extrait d’un discours sur le martyre et la piété, proféré -dît-on- après le meurtre de ‘Ottthman, au début de son califat

[Dieu et son Envoyé :] Rien ne préoccupe Dieu que n’affecte le temps, ni L’englobe le lieu, ni Le décrit la langue. Il connaît le nombre des gouttes de pluie, des étoiles du ciel et des composants du vent. Ne Lui sont cachés ni la marche des fourmis sur les roches lisses, ni le lieu de repos des petites fourmis pendant la nuit obscure. Il connaît d’où tombent les feuilles des arbres et les mouvements minimes des yeux.

Je témoigne qu’il n’y a de dieu que Dieu, que je ne compare à rien d'autre,et dont je ne dénie ni l’existence, ni la religion. Je ne conteste non plus sa création du monde. Mon témoignage procède d’une intention sincère, d’un for intérieur limpide, d’une croyance pure et d’une conviction pondérée.

Je témoigne que Mouhammad est Son serviteur et Son Envoyé choisi parmi Ses créatures pour expliquer Ses vérités, Ses miracles généreux et Ses messages bienveillants, pour clarifier les conditions de la guidance et pour sauver les hommes des ténèbres de l’erreur.

O vous les gens, le monde séduit celui qui place son espérance en lui, n’est pas avare envers celui qui rivalise avec les autres dans la poursuite de ses biens et vainc celui qui le combat. Par Dieu, nul n’a été privé des bienfaits du monde qu’à cause de péchés commis de sa part, car Dieu «n’est pas injuste envers ses serviteurs». Si les hommes privés des grâces et voués aux malheurs se réfèrent à leur Seigneur avec des intentions véridiques et des sentiments amoureux, Il leur rectifiera toute errance et leur fera éviter tout ce qui est mauvais.

J’ai peur que vous ne soyez dans une illusion trompeuse. Durant des jours passés vous vous étiez déviés de moi et vous n’étiez pas dignes d’éloges de ma part. Sentez-vous heureux maintenant parce que les affaires se sont normalisées. Quant à moi, je m’efforcerai de vous pardonner en vous disant: que Dieu pardonne les actes antérieurs!

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #178