ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) وهي من الخطب العجيبة تسمّى «الغراء» وفيها نعوت الله جل شأنه، ثمّ الوصية بتقواه، ثمّ التنفير من الدنيا، ثمّ ما يلحق من دخول القيامة، ثمّ تنبيه الخلق إلى ما هم فيه من الاعراض، ثمّ فضله (عليه السلام) في التذكير

This sermon is called the al-Gharrā’ and it is one of the most wonderful sermons of Amīr al-mu’minin.

[صفته جل شأنه] الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي عَلاَ بِحَوْلِهِ ودَنَا بِطَوْلِهِ مَانِحِ كُلِّ غَنِيمَةٍ وَفَضْلٍ، وَكَاشِفِ كُلِّ عَظِيمَةٍ وَأَزْلٍ أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى عَوَاطِفِ كَرَمِهِ، وَسَوَابِغِ ـ نِعَمِهِ وَأُومِنُ بهَ أَوَّلاً بَادِياً وَأَسْتَهْدِيهِ قَرِيباً هَادِياً، وَأَسْتَعِينُهُ قَاهِراً قَادِراً، وَأَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ كَافِياً نَاصِراً.

Praise be to Allāh who is High above all else, and is Near (the creation) through His bounty. He is the Giver of all reward and distinction, and Dispeller of all calamities and hardships. I praise Him for His continuous mercy and His copious bounties. I believe in Him as He is the First of all and He is Manifest. I seek guidance from Him as He is Near and is the Guide. I seek His succour as He is Mighty and Subduer. I depend upon Him as He is Sufficer and Supporter.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً صلى الله عليه وآله عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، أَرْسَلَهُ لاِنْفَاذِ أَمْرِهِ، وَإِنْهَاءِ عُذْرِهِ وَتَقْدِيمِ نُذُرِهِ

And I stand witness that Muḥammad (blessing of Allāh be on him and his progeny) is His slave and His Prophet. He sent him for enforcement of His commends, for exhausting His pleas and for presenting warnings (against eternal punishment).

[الوَصِيَّة بالتقوى] أوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَ اللهِ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ الَّذِي ضَرَبَ لَكُمُ الاْمْثَالَ وَوَقَّتَ لَكُمُ الاْجَالَ ، وَأَلْبَسَكُمُ الرِّيَاشَ وَأَرْفَغَ لَكُمُ المَعَاشَ وَأَحَاطَ بِكُمُ الاْحْصَاءَ وَأَرْصَدَ لَكُمُ الْجَزَاءَ وَآثَرَكُمْ بِالنِّعَمِ السَّوَابغِ، وَالرِّفَدِ الرَّوافِغِ ، وَأَنْذَرَكُمْ بِالْحُجَجِ الْبَوَالِغِ فَأَحْصَاكُمْ عَدَداً، ووَظَّفَ لَكُمْ مُدَداً فِي قَرَارِ خِبْرَةٍ وَدَارِ عِبْرَةٍ، أَنْتُمْ مُخْتَبَرُونَ فِيهَا، وَمُحَاسِبُونَ عَلَيْهَا.

[Enjoining people to Piety] O creatures of Allāh I advise you to have fear of Allāh Who has furnished illustrations and Who has timed for you your lives. He has given you covering of dress [1] and He has scattered for you livelihood. He has surrounded you with His knowledge. He has ordained rewards. He has bestowed upon you vast bounties and extensive gifts. He has warned you through far reaching arguments, and He has counted you by numbers. He has fixed for you ages (to live) in this place of test and house of instruction. You are on test in this world and have to render account about it.

[التنفير من الدنيا] فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا رَنِقٌ مَشْرَبُهَا، رَدِغٌ مَشْرَعُهَا، يُونِقُ مَنْظَرُهَا، وَيُوبِقُ مَخْبَرُهَا، غُرُورٌ حَائِلٌ، وَضَوْءٌ آفِلٌ، وَظِلٌّ زائِلٌ، وَسِنَادٌ مَائِلٌ، حَتَّى إِذَا أَنِسَ نَافِرُهَا، وَاطْمَأَنَّ نَاكِرُهَا، قَمَصَتْ بِأَرْجُلِهَا، وَقَنَصَتْ بِأَحْبُلِهَا، وَأَقْصَدَتْ بِأَسْهُمِهَا، وَأَعْلَقَتِ الْمَرْءَ أَوْهَاقَ الْمَنِيَّةِ قَائِدَةً لَهُ إِلى ضَنْكَ الْمَضْجَعِ، وَوَحْشَةِ الْمَرْجِعِ، ومُعَايَنَةِ الْـمَحَلِّ، وَثَوَابِ الْعَمَلِ، وَكَذلِكَ الْخَلَفُ بِعَقْبِ السَّلَفِ، لاَتُقْلِعُ الْمَنِيَّةُ اخْتِرَاماً، وَلاَيَرْعَوِي الْبَاقُونَ اجْتِرَاماً، يَحْتَذُون مِثَالاً، وَيَمْضُونَ أَرْسَالاً، إِلَى غَايَةِ الانْتِهَاءِ، وَصَيُّورِ الْفَنَاءِ.

[Caution against this world] Certainly this world is a dirty watering place and a muddy source of drinking. Its appearance is attractive and its inside is destructive. It is a changeable deception, a vanishing reflection and a bent pillar. When its despiser begins to like it and he who is not acquainted with it feels satisfied with it, then it raises and puts down its feet (in joy), entraps him in its trap, makes him the target of its arrows and puts round his neck the rope of death taking him to the narrow grave and fearful abode in order to show him his place of stay and the recompense of his acts. This goes on from generation to generation. Neither death stops from cutting them asunder nor do the survivors keep aloof from committing of sins. They are emulating each other and proceeding in groups towards the final objective and the rendezvous of death,

[بعد الموت البعث] حَتَّى إِذَا تَصَرَّمَتِ الْأُمُورُ وَتَقَضَّتِ الدُّهُورُ وَأَزِفَ النُّشُورُ أَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْ ضَرَائِحِ الْقُبُورِ وَأَوْكَارِ الطُّيُورِ وَأَوْجِرَةِ السِّبَاعِ وَمَطَارِحِ الْمَهَالِكِ سِرَاعاً إِلَى أَمْرِهِ مُهْطِعِينَ إِلَى مَعَادِهِ رَعِيلًا صُمُوتاً قِيَاماً صُفُوفاً يَنْفُذُهُمُ الْبَصَرُ وَيُسْمِعُهُمُ الدَّاعِي عَلَيْهِمْ لَبُوسُ الِاسْتِكَانَةِ وَضَرَعُ الِاسْتِسْلَامِ وَالذِّلَّةِ قَدْ ضَلَّتِ الْحِيَلُ وَانْقَطَعَ الْأَمَلُ وَهَوَتِ الْأَفْئِدَةُ كَاظِمَةً وَخَشَعَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ مُهَيْنِمَةً وَأَلْجَمَ الْعَرَقُ وَعَظُمَ الشَّفَقُ وَأُرْعِدَتِ الْأَسْمَاعُ لِزَبْرَةِ الدَّاعِي إِلَى فَصْلِ الْخِطَابِ وَمُقَايَضَةِ الْجَزَاءِ وَنَكَالِ الْعِقَابِ وَنَوَالِ الثَّوَابِ.

[Resurrection after Death] Till when matters come to a close, the world dies and resurrection draws near. Allāh [2] would take them out from the corners of the graves, the nests of birds, the dens of beasts and the centres of death. They hasten towards His command and run towards the place fixed for their final return group by group, quiet, standing and arrayed in rows. They will be within Allāh’s sight and will hear every one who would call them. They would be having the dress of helplessness and covering of submission and indignity. (At this time) contrivances would disappear, desires would be cut, hearts would sink quietly, voices would be curbed down, sweat would choke the throat, fear would increase and ears would resound with the thundering voice of the announcer calling towards the final judgement, award of recompense, striking of punishment and paying of reward.

[تنبيه الخلق] عِبَادٌ مَخْلُوقُونَ اقْتِدَاراً وَمَرْبُوبُونَ اقْتِسَاراً وَمَقْبُوضُونَ احْتِضَاراً وَمُضَمَّنُونَ أَجْدَاثاً وَكَائِنُونَ رُفَاتاً وَمَبْعُوثُونَ أَفْرَاداً وَمَدِينُونَ جَزَاءً وَمُمَيَّزُونَ حِسَاباً قَدْ أُمْهِلُوا فِي طَلَبِ الْمَخْرَجِ وَهُدُوا سَبِيلَ الْمَنْهَجِ وَعُمِّرُوا مَهَلَ الْمُسْتَعْتِبِ وَكُشِفَتْ عَنْهُمْ سُدَفُ الرِّيَبِ وَخُلُّوا لِمِضْمَارِ الْجِيَادِ وَرَوِيَّةِ الِارْتِيَادِ وَأَنَاةِ الْمُقْتَبِسِ الْمُرْتَادِ فِي مُدَّةِ الْأَجَلِ وَمُضْطَرَبِ الْمَهَلِ.

[The limitation of Life] People have been created as a proof of (His) power, have been brought up with authority, they are made to die through pangs, and placed in graves where they turn into crumbs. Then they would be resurrected one by one, awarded their recompense and would have to account for their actions, each one separately. They had been allowed time to seek deliverance, had been shown the right path and had been allowed to live and seek favours, the darkness of doubts had been removed, and they had been let free in this period of life as a training place in order to make preparation for the race on the Day of Judgement, to search for the objective with thoughtfulness, to get time necessary to secure benefits and provide for the next place of stay.

[فضل التذكير] فَيَا لَهَا أَمْثَالًا صَائِبَةً وَمَوَاعِظَ شَافِيَةً لَوْ صَادَفَتْ قُلُوباً زَاكِيَةً وَأَسْمَاعاً وَاعِيَةً وَآرَاءً عَازِمَةً وَأَلْبَاباً حَازِمَةً فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ تَقِيَّةَ مَنْ سَمِعَ فَخَشَعَ وَاقْتَرَفَ فَاعْتَرَفَ وَوَجِلَ فَعَمِلَ وَحَاذَرَ فَبَادَرَ وَأَيْقَنَ فَأَحْسَنَ وَعُبِّرَ فَاعْتَبَرَ وَحُذِّرَ فَحَذِرَ وَزُجِرَ فَازْدَجَرَ وَأَجَابَ فَأَنَابَ وَرَاجَعَ فَتَابَ وَاقْتَدَى فَاحْتَذَى وَأُرِيَ فَرَأَى فَأَسْرَعَ طَالِباً وَنَجَا هَارِباً فَأَفَادَ ذَخِيرَةً وَأَطَابَ سَرِيرَةً وَعَمَّرَ مَعَاداً وَاسْتَظْهَرَ زَاداً لِيَوْمِ رَحِيلِهِ وَوَجْهِ سَبِيلِهِ وَحَالِ حَاجَتِهِ وَمَوْطِنِ فَاقَتِهِ وَقَدَّمَ أَمَامَهُ لِدَارِ مُقَامِهِ.

[No happiness without Piety] How appropriate are these illustrations and effective admonitions provided they are received by pure hearts, open ears, firm views and sharp wits. Fear Allāh like him who listened (good advice) and bowed before it, when he committed sin he admitted it, when he felt fear he acted virtuously, when he apprehended he hastened (towards good acts), when he believed he performed virtuous acts, when he was asked to take lesson (from the happenings of this world) he did take the lesson, when he was asked to desist he abstained (from evil), when he responded to the call (of Allāh) he leaned (towards him), when he turned back (to evil) he repented, when he followed he almost imitated and when he was shown (the right path) he saw it. Such a man was busy in search of truth and got rid (of the worldly evils) by running away. He collected provision (of good acts) for himself, purified his inner self, built for the next world, and took with himself provision for the day of his departure, keeping in view his journey, his requirement and the position of his need. He sent ahead of him for the abode of his stay (in the next world).

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ جِهَةَ مَا خَلَقَكُمْ لَهُ وَاحْذَرُوا مِنْهُ كُنْهَ مَا حَذَّرَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَاسْتَحِقُّوا مِنْهُ مَا أَعَدَّ لَكُمْ بِالتَّنَجُّزِ لِصِدْقِ مِيعَادِهِ وَالْحَذَرِ مِنْ هَوْلِ مَعَادِهِ.

O creatures of Allāh, fear Allāh keeping in view the reason why He created you and be afraid of Him to the extent He has advised you to do. Make yourself deserve what He has promised you, by having confidence in the truth of His promise and entertaining fear for the Day of Judgement.

ومنها [التذكير بضروب النعم] جَعَلَ لَكُمْ أسْمَاعاً لِتَعِيَ مَا عَنَاهَا، وَأَبْصَاراً لِتَجْلُوَ عَنْ عَشَاهَا، وَأَشْلاَءً جَامِعَةً لاِعْضَائِهَا، مُلاَئِمَةً لاِحْنَائِهَا في تَرْكِيبِ صُوَرِهَا، وَمُدَدِ عُمُرِهَا، بِأَبْدَان قَائِمَة بِأَرْفَاقِهَا، وَقُلُوب رائِدَة لاِرْزَاقِهَا، فِي مُجَلِّلاَتِ نِعَمِهِ، وَمُوجِبَاتِ مِنَنِهِ، وَحَوَاجِزِ عَافِيَتِهِ.

[A part of the same sermon Reminding people of Allāh’s bounties] He has made for you ears to preserve what is important, eyes to have sight in place of blindness and limbs which consist of many (smaller) parts, whose curves are in proportion with the moulding of their shapes and lengths of their ages, and also bodies that are sustaining themselves and hearts that are busy in search of their food, besides other big bounties, obliging bestowings and fortresses of safety.

وَقَدَّرَ لَكُمْ أَعْمَاراً سَتَرَهَا عَنْكُمْ، وَخَلَّفَ لَكُمْ عِبَراً مِنْ آثَارِ الْمَاضِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ، مِنْ مُسْتَمْتَعِ خَلاَقِهِمْ، وَمُسْتَفْسَحِ خَنَاقِهِمْ. أَرْهَقَتْهُمُ الْمَنَايَا دُونَ الاْمَالِ، وَشَذَّبَهمْ عَنْهَا تَخَرُّمُ الاْجَالِ، لَمْ يَمْهَدُوا فِي سَلاَمَةِ الاْبْدَانِ، وَلَمْ يَعْتَبِرُوا فِي أُنُفِ الاْوَانِ. فَهَلْ يَنْتَظِرُ أَهْلُ بَضَاضَةِ الشَّبَابِ إِلاَّ حَوَانِيَ الْهَرَمِ؟ وَأَهْلُ غَضَارَةِ الصِّحَّةِ إِلاَّ نَوَازِلَ السَّقَمِ؟ وَأَهْلُ مُدَّةِ الْبَقَاءِ إِلاَّ آوِنَةَ الْفَنَاءِ؟ مَعَ قُرْبِ الزِّيَالِ، وَأُزُوفِ الانتِقَالِ، وَعَلَزِ الْقَلَقِ، وَأَلَمِ الْمَضَضِ، وَغُصَصِ الْجَرَضِ، وَتَلَفُّتِ الاِسْتِغَاثَةِ بِنُصْرَةِ الْحَفَدَةِ وَالاْقْرِبَاءِ، وَالاْعِزَّةِ وَالْقُرَنَاءِ!

He has fixed for you ages that are not known to you. He has retained for you remains of the past people for your instruction. Those people enjoyed themselves fully and were completely unhampered. Death overtook them before (satisfaction of) their desires, from which the hands of death separated them. They did not provide for themselves during health of their bodies, and did not take lesson during pendency of youth. Are these people who are in youth waiting for the back-bending old age, and those enjoying fresh health waiting for ailments, and these living persons looking for the hour of death? When the hour of departure would be close and the journey at hand, with pangs of grief an trouble, suffering of sorrows and suffocation of saliva, and the time would arrive for calling relations and friends for help and changing sides on the bed.

فَهَلْ دَفَعَتِ الاْقَارَبُ، أَوْ نَفَعَتِ النَّوَاحِبُ؟ وَقَدْ غُودِرَ فِي مَحَلَّةِ الاْمُوَاتِ رَهِيناً، وَفِي ضِيقِ الْمَضْجَعِ وَحِيداً، قَدْ هَتَكَتِ الْهَوَامُّ جِلْدَتَهُ، وَأَبْلَتِ النَّوَاهِكُ جِدَّتَهُ، وَعَفَتِ الْعَوَاصِفُ آثَارَهُ، وَمَحَا الْحَدَثَانُ مَعَالِمَهُ، وَصَارَتِ الاْجْسَادُ شَحِبَةً بَعْدَ بَضَّتِهَا، وَالْعِظَامُ نَخِرَةً بَعْدَ قُوَّتِهَا، وَالاْرْوَاحُ مُرْتَهَنَةً بِثِقَلِ أَعْبَائِهَا مُوقِنَةً بَغَيْبِ أَنْبَائِهَا، لاَ تُسْتَزَادُ مِنْ صَالِحِ عَمَلِهَا، وَلاَ تُسْتَعْتَبُ مِنْ سَيِّىءِ زَلَلِهَا! أَوَلَسْتُمْ أَبْنَاءَ الْقَوْمِ وَالابَاءَ، وَإِخْوَانَهُمْ وَالاْقْرِبَاءَ؟ تَحْتَذُونَ أَمْثِلَتَهُمْ، وَتَرْكَبُونَ قِدَّتَهُمْ، وَتَطَؤُونَ جَادَّتَهُمْ؟! فَالْقُلُوبُ قَاسِيَةٌ عَنْ حَظِّهَا، لاَهِيَةٌ عَنْ رُشْدِهَا، سَالِكَةٌ في غَيْرِ مِضْمارِهَا! كَأَنَّ الْمَعْنِيَّ سِوَاهَا، وَكَأَنَّ الرُّشْدَ في إحْرَازِ دُنْيَاهَا.

Could then the near ones stop death, or the mourning women do any good? He would rather be left alone in the graveyard confined to the narrow corner of his grave. His skin has been pierced all over by retiles, and his freshness has been destroyed by these tribulation. Storms have removed his traces and calamities have obliterated even his signs. Fresh bodies have turned thin and withered and bones have become rotten. The spirits are burdened with the weight of sins and have become conscious of the unknown things. But now neither the good acts can be added to nor evil acts can be atoned for by repentance. Are you not sons, fathers, brothers and relations of these dead and are not to follow their footsteps and pass by their paths? But hearts are still unmoved, heedless of guidance and moving on wrong lines, as though the addressee is someone else, and as though the correct way is to amass worldly gains.

[التحذير من هول الصراط] وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ مَجَازَكُمْ عَلَى الصِّراطِ وَمَزَالِقِ دَحْضِهِ، وَأَهَاوِيلِ زللِ ه، وَتَارَاتِ أَهْوَالِهِ; فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ تَقِيَّةَ ذِي لُبٍّ شَغَلَ التَّفَكُّرُ قَلْبَهُ، وَأَنْصَبَ الْخَوْفُ بَدَنَهُ، وَأَسْهَرَ التَّهَجُّدُ غِرَارَ نَوْمِهِ، وَأَظْمَأَ الرَّجَاءُ هَوَاجِرَ يَوْمِهِ، وَظَلَفَ الزُّهْدُ شَهَوَاتِهِ، وَأَوْجَفَ الذِّكْرُ بِلِسَانِهِ، وَقَدَّمَ الْخَوْفَ لاِمَانِهِ، وَتَنَكَّبَ الْمخالجَ عَنْ وَضَحِ السَّبِيلِ، وَسَلَكَ أَقْصَدَ المَسَالِكَ إِلَى النَّهْجِ الْمَطْلُوبِ; وَلَمْ تَفْتِلْهُ فَاتِلاَتُ الْغُرُورِ، وَلَمْ تَعْمَ عَلَيْهِ مُشْتَبِهَاتُ الاْمُورِ، ظَافِراً بِفَرْحَةِ الْبُشْرَى، وَرَاحَةِ النُّعْمَى، في أَنْعَمِ نَوْمِهِ، وَآمَنِ يَوْمِهِ.

[Preparation for the Day of Judgement] And know that you have to pass over the path way (of ṣirāṭ) where steps waver, feet slip away and there are fearful dangers at every step. O creatures of Allāh, fear Allāh, like the fearing of wise man whom the thought (of next world) has turned away from other matters, fear (of Allāh) has afflicted his body with trouble and pain, his engagement in the night prayer has turned even his short sleep into awakening, hope (of eternal recompense) keeps him thirsty in the day, abstention has curbed his desires, and remembrance of Allāh is ever moving his tongue. He entertains fear before dangers. He avoids uneven ways in favour of clear ones. He follows the shortest route to secure his purpose, wishfulness does not twist his thinking and ambiguities do not blind his eyes. He enjoys deep sleep and passes his day happily because of the happiness of good tidings and pleasure of (eternal bounties).

قَدْ عَبَرَ مَعْبَرَ الْعَاجِلَةِ حَمِيداً، وَقَدَّمَ زَادَ الاْجِلَةِ سَعِيداً، وَبَادَرَ مِنْ وَجَل، وَأَكْمَشَ فِي مَهَل، وَرَغِبَ فِي طَلَب، وَذَهَبَ عَنْ هَرَب، وَرَاقَبَ فِي يَوْمِهِ غَدَهُ، وَنَظَرَ قُدُماً أَمَامَهُ. فَكَفَى بِالْجَنَّةِ ثَوَاباً وَنَوَالاً، وَكَفى بَالنَّارِ عِقَاباً وَوَبَالاً! وَكَفَى بِاللهِ مُنْتَقِماً وَنَصِيراً! وَكَفَى بِالكِتَابِ حَجيجاً وَخَصِيماً.

He passes the pathway of this world in praiseworthy manner. He reaches the next world with virtues. He hastens (towards virtue) out of fear (for vice). He removes briskly during the short time (of life in this world). He devotes himself in seeking (eternal good), he runs away from evil. During today he is mindful of tomorrow, and keeps the future in his view. Certainly Paradise is the best reward and achievement, which hell is appropriate punishment and suffering. Allāh is the best Avenger and Helper and the Qur’ān is the best argument and confronter.

[الوصية بالتقوى] أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَعْذَرَ بِمَا أَنْذَرَ وَاحْتَجَّ بِمَا نَهَجَ وَحَذَّرَكُمْ عَدُوّاً نَفَذَ فِي الصُّدُورِ خَفِيّاً وَنَفَثَ فِي الْآذَانِ نَجِيّاً فَأَضَلَّ وَأَرْدَى وَوَعَدَ فَمَنَّى وَزَيَّنَ سَيِّئَاتِ الْجَرَائِمِ وَهَوَّنَ مُوبِقَاتِ الْعَظَائِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَدْرَجَ قَرِينَتَهُ وَاسْتَغْلَقَ رَهِينَتَهُ أَنْكَرَ مَا زَيَّنَ وَاسْتَعْظَمَ مَا هَوَّنَ وَحَذَّرَ مَا أَمَّنَ.

[Warning against Satan] I enjoin upon you fear of Allāh Who has left no excuse against what He has warned, has exhausted argument (of guidance) about the (right) path He has shown. He has warned you of the enemy that steals into hearts and stealthily speaks into ears, and thereby misguides and brings about destruction, makes (false) promises and keeps under wrong impression; He represents evil sins in attractive shape, and shows as light even serious crimes. When he has deceived his comrades and exhausted the pledge he begins to find fault with what he presented as good, and considers serious what he had shown as light, and threatens from what he had shown as safe.

[ومنها في صفة خلق الإنسان] أَمْ هذَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهُ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الاْرْحَامِ، وَشُغُفِ الاْسْتَارِ، نُطْفَةً دِفاقاً، وَعَلَقَةً مِحَاقاً، وَجَنِيناً وَرَاضِعاً، وَوَلِيداً وَيَافِعاً ثُمَّ مَنَحَهُ قَلْباً حَافِظاً، وَلِساناً لاَفِظاً، وَبَصَراً لاَحِظاً، لِيَفْهَمَ مُعْتَبِراً، وَيُقَصِّرَ مُزْدَجِراً؛ حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ اعْتِدَالُهُ، وَاسْتَوَى مِثالُهُ، نَفَرَ مُسْتَكْبِراً، وَخَبَطَ سَادِراً، مَاتِحاً فِي غَرْبِ هَوَاهُ، كَادِحاً سَعْياً لِدُنْيَاهُ، فِي لَذَّاتِ طَرَبِهِ، وَبَدَوَاتِ أَرَبِهِ؛ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ رَزِيَّةً،

[Part of the same sermon dealing with creation of man] Or look at man whom Allāh has created in the dark wombs and layers of curtains from what was overflowing semen, then shapeless clot, then embryo, then suckling infant, then child and then fully grown up young man. Then He gave him heart with memory, tongue to talk and eye to see with, in order that he may take lesson (from whatever is around him) and understand it and follow the admonition and abstain from evil. When he attained the normal growth and his structure gained its average development he fell in self-conceit and got perplexed. He drew bucketfuls of his desires, got immersed in fulfilling his wishes for pleasures of the world and his (sordid) aims.

وَلاَ يَخْشَعُ تَقِيَّةً؛ فَمَاتَ فِي فِتْنَتِهِ غَرِيراً، وَعَاشَ فِي هَفْوَتِهِ أسيراً، لَمْ يُفِدْ عِوَضاً، وَلَمْ يَقْضِ مُفْتَرَضاً. دَهِمَتْهُ فَجَعَاتُ الْمَنِيَّةِ فِي غُبَّرِ جِمَاحِهِ، وَسَنَنِ مِرَاحِهِ، فَظَلَّ سَادِراً، وَبَاتَ سَاهِراً فِي غَمَرَاتِ الاْلاَمِ، وَطَوَارِقِ الاْوْجَاعِ والاْسْقَامِ، بَيْنَ أَخ شَقِيق، وَوَالِد شَفِيق، وَدَاعِيَة بِالْوَيْلِ جَزَعاً، وَلاَدِمَة لِلصَّدْرِ قَلَقاً. وَالْمَرءُ فِي سَكْرَة مُلْهِية، وَغَمْرَة كَارِثَة، وَأَنَّة مُوجِعَة، وَجَذْبَة مُكْرِبَة وَسَوْقَة مُتْعِبَة.

He did not fear any evil nor got frightened of any apprehension. He died infatuated with his vices. He spent his short life in rubbish pursuits. He earned no reward nor did he fulfil any obligation. Fatal illness overtook him while he was still in his enjoyments and perplexed him. He passed the night in wakefulness in the hardships of griefs and prickings of pains and ailments in the presence of real brother, loving father, wailing mother, crying sister, while he himself was under maddening uneasiness, serious senselessness, fearful cries, suffocating pains, anguish of suffocating sufferings and the pangs of death.

ثُمَّ أُدْرِجَ فِي أَكْفَانِهِ مُبْلِساً، وَجُذِبَ مُنْقَاداً سَلِساً، ثُمَّ أُلْقِيَ عَلَى الاْعَوادِ رَجِيعَ وَصِب، وَنِضْوَ سَقَم، تَحْمِلُهُ حَفَدَةُ الْوِلْدَانِ، وَحَشَدَةُ الاْخْوَانِ، إِلَى دَارِ غُرْبَتِهِ، وَمُنْقَطَعِ زَوْرَتِهِ; حَتَّى إِذَا انْصَرَفَ الْمُشَيِّعُ، وَرَجَعَ الْمُتَفَجِّعُ أُقْعِدَ فِي حُفْرَتِهِ نَجِيّاً لِبَهْتَةِ السُّؤَالِ، وَعَثْرَةِ الامْتِحَانِ. وَأَعْظَمُ مَاهُنَالِكَ بَلِيَّةً نُزُلُ الْحَمِيم، وَتَصْلِيَةُ الْجَحِيمِ، وَفَوْرَاتُ السَّعِيرِ، وَسَوْراتُ السَّعِيرِ، لاَ فَتْرَةٌ مُرِيحَةٌ، وَلاَ دَعَةٌ مُزِيحَةٌ، وَلاَ قُوَّةٌ حَاجِزَةٌ، وَلاَ مَوْتَةٌ نَاجِزَةٌ، وَلاَ سِنَةٌ مُسَلِّيَةٌ، بَيْنَ أَطْوَارِ الْمَوْتَاتِ، وَعَذَابِ السَّاعَاتِ! إِنَّا بِاللهِ عَائِذُونَ!

Thereafter he was clad in the shroud while he remained quiet and thoroughly submissive to others. Then he was placed on planks in such a state that he had been down-trodden by hardships and thinned by ailments. The crowd of youngmen and helping brothers carried him to his house of loneliness where all connections of visitors are severed. Thereafter those who accompanied him went away and those who were wailing for him returned and then he was made to sit in his grave for terrifying questioning and slippery examination. The great calamity of that place is the hot water and entry into Hell, flames of eternal Fire and intensity of blazes. There is no resting period, no gap for ease, no power to intervene, no death to bring about solace and no sleep to make him forget pain. He rather lies under several kinds of deaths and moment-to-moment punishments. We seek refuge with Allāh.

عِبَادَ اللهِ، أَيْنَ الَّذِينَ عُمِّرُوا فَنَعِمُوا، وَعُلِّمُوا فَفَهِمُوا، وَأُنْظِرُوا فَلَهَوْا، وَسُلِّمُوا فَنَسُوا؟ أُمْهِلُوا طَوِيلاً، وَمُنِحُوا جَميِلاً، وَحُذِّرُوا ألِيماً، وَوُعِدُوا جَسِيماً! احْذَرُوا الذُّنُوبَ الْمُوَرِّطَةَ، وَالْعُيُوبَ الْمُسْخِطَةَ.

[The lesson to be learnt from those who have passed away] O creatures of Allāh! where are those who were allowed (long) ages to live and they enjoyed bounty. They were taught and they learnt; they were given time and they passed it in vain; they were kept healthy and they forgot (their duty). They were allowed long period (of life), were handsomely provided, were warned of grievous punishment and were promised big rewards. You should avoid sins that lead to destruction and vices that attract wrath (of Allāh).

أُولِي الاْبْصَارِ والاْسْمَاعِ، وَالْعَافِيَةِ وَالمَتَاعِ، هَلْ مِنْ مَنَاص أَوْ خَلاَص، أَوْ مَعَاذ أَوْ مَلاَذ، أَوْ فِرَار أَوْ مجاز أوْ مَحَار! أَمْ لاَ؟ ﴿فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ﴾! أَمْ أَيْنَ تُصْرَفُونَ! أَمْ بِمَاذَا تَغْتَرُّونَ؟ وَإِنَّمَا حَظُّ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الاْرْضِ، ذَاتِ الطُّولِ وَالْعَرْضِ، قِيدُ قَدِّهِ، مُتَعَفِّراً عَلى خَدِّهِ!

O people who possess eyes and ears and health and wealth! Is there any place of protection, any shelter of safety, or asylum or haven, or occasion to run away or to come back (to this world)? If not, “how are you then turned away” (Qur’ān, 6:95; 10:34; 35:3; 40:62) and wither are you averting? By what things have you been deceived? Certainly, the share of every one of you from this earth is just a piece of land equal to his own stature and size where he would lie on his cheeks covered with dust. The present is an opportune moment for acting.

الاْنَ عِبَادَ اللهِ وَالْخِنَاقُ مُهْمَلٌ، وَالرُّوحُ مُرْسَلٌ، فِي فَيْنَةِ الاِرْشَادِ، وَرَاحَةِ الاْجْسَادِ، وَبَاحَةِ الاحْتِشَادِ، وَمَهَلِ الْبَقِيَّةِ، وَأُنُفِ الْمَشِيَّةِ، وَإِنْظَارِ التَّوْبَةِ، وَانْفِسَاحِ الْحَوْبَةِ قَبْلَ الضَّنْكِ وَالْمَضِيقِ، وَالرَّوْعِ وَالزُّهُوقِ، وَقَبْلَ قُدُومِ الْغَائِبِ المُنتَظَرِ، وَإِخْذَةِ الْعَزِيزِ الْمُقْتَدِرِ.

O creatures of Allāh, since the neck is free from the loop, and spirit is also unfettered, now you have time for seeking guidance; you are in ease of body; you can assemble in crowds, the rest of life is before you; you have opportunity of acting by will; there is opportunity for repentance, and peaceful circumstances. (But you should act) before you are overtaken by narrow circumstances and distress, or fear and weakness, before the approach of the awaited death and before seizure by the Almighty, the Powerful.

قال الشريف: وفي الخبر: أنّه (عليه السلام) لمّا خطب بهذه الخطبة اقشعرت لها الجلود، وبكت العيون، ورجفت القلوب. ومن الناس من يسمي هذه الخطبة: «الغراء».

as-Sayyid ar-Raḍī says: It is related that when Amīr al-mu’minin delivered this sermon people began to tremble, tears flowed from their eyes and their hearts were frightened. Some people call this sermon the Brilliant Sermon (al-Khuṭbatu’l-Gharrā’)

Extrait de son discours extraordinaire qualifié de noble

[Attributs de Dieu] Grâce à Dieu qui transcende toutes choses par Son pouvoir mais dont la bienfaisance Le fait approcher de ses créatures. Il est le donneur de tout profit et de toute faveur, le sauveur de toute peine. Je Le loue pour ses généreux sentiments et pour la profusion de ses grâces. Je crois en Lui qui prime en existence. Je recherche Son guidance toute proche. Je demande Son aide toute puissante et triomphante. Je me confie à Lui qui me comble et me soutient.

Je témoigne que Mouhammad est Son serviteur et Son Envoyé qui exécuta Ses ordres, exposa Ses arguments et Ses avertissements.

[Recommandation de la piété] Je vous recommande, ô adorateurs de Dieu, d’être pieux envers Celui qui vous a présenté les paraboles, déterminé les délais de votre vie terrestre, vous a fait vêtir [pour cacher ce dont vous avez honte et vous prémunir contre le froid et la chaleur], vous a procuré largement la nourriture, a recensé vos actes, vous a préparé la rétribution [tant pour le bien que pour le mal], vous a entourés de grâces et de dons nombreux, vous a proposés des arguments convaincants, vous a dénombrés et a donné à chacun une espérance de vie bien déterminée dans un monde où vous faites des expériences et tirez des leçons utiles. Vous êtes à l’épreuve et vous allez rendre compte de votre passage dans cette vie.

[Incitation à Paversion pour la vie terrestre] L’abreuvoir de la vie contient une eau trouble dans de la vase malpropre, à l’aspect mortellement attrayant: c’est une vie passagère, semblable à l’ombre ou à une colonne inclinée, prête à faire écrouler la maison. Celui qui a de l’aversion et une attitude négative envers elle, dès qu’elle l’apprivoise, elle se montre comme un cheval qui saute pour faire tomber son cavalier; Elle l’attrape par ses cordes et ses filète; elle le tue par ses flèches; elle lui fait goûter les affreuses douleurs de la mort, le guidant vers la tombe, la solitude du lieu de retour d’où l’on devine sa place [dans le Paradis ou dans l'Enfer] et la rétribution des actes passés, et ce, génération après génération. La mort ne cesse de décimer les vivants tandis que les survivants ne s’écartent pas de leurs mauvaises actions, imitant en cela leurs devanciers comme un troupeau de brebis, et s’acheminant vers leur fin et leur destin : l’anéantissement.

[La Résurrection après la mort] C’est ainsi que les siècles s’écoulent et la Résurrection s’approche. Alors, Dieu fait sortir les hommes de leurs tombes, les oiseaux de leurs nids, les fauves de leurs tanières. Tous ensemble accourent pour obéir à Son ordre et confronter la vie future, comme un troupeau de chevaux, silencieux, en rangs, sous le regard de Dieu. Le héraut leur dicte les messages et ils obéissent humblement, étant soumis et humiliés. Aucune ruse ne sert à rien, tout espoir est coupé. Les cœurs sont vides de joie et d’espérance, les voix abaissent leur chuchotement, la sueur bride les bouches, l’angoisse monte, les oreilles tremblent en écoutant les cris stridents du héraut qui déclare les décisions finales: récompense des bons et punition des mauvais.

[Avertissement des créatures] Les serviteurs sont créés par le Pouvoir de Dieu à Qui ils appartiennent bon gré mal gré. Les anges viennent reprendre leurs âmes. Leurs corps sont ensevelis dans les tombes et il n’en reste que des morceaux. Ils seront ressuscités individuellement et jugés d’après leurs actes, après qu’un délai et une bonne guidance leur fussent accordés durant un temps suffisant qu’ils auraient pu utiliser pour écarter les doutes et mener une bonne vie. Ils devaient donc faire leur course vers le bien, bien considérer le pour et le contre de chaque acte, s’éclairer à la lumière [de la foi] durant ce délai.

[Les bienfaits du rappel] Ils auraient pu profiter des exemples adéquats et des exhortations utiles si leurs cœurs étaient purs, leurs ouïes conscientes, leurs résolutions fermes et leurs intentions bonnes. Craignez donc Dieu comme ceux qui écoutent Ses ordres et s’humilient, qui acquièrent et reconnaissent Ses dons, qui craignent et se mettent à l’action, qui prennent garde et s’activent rapidement, qui profitent des avis donnés, qui croient et font le bien, qui sont avertis et se défient, qui sont réprimandés et s’empêchent de faire le mai, qui répondent à l’appel de Dieu et se repentent, qui imitent les bonnes œuvres et les appliquent, qui voient ce qu’on leur a montré et se pressent de le faire en fuyant l’illicite et en profitant du licite, et qui conservent une bonne humeur et s’approvisionnent en vue de leur mort.

O serviteurs de Dieu, craignez Dieu et travaillez pour la fin pour laquelle II vous a créés, prenez garde de ne pas enfreindre ses interdictions, et ce pour mériter ce qu’il vous a promis en accréditant Ses engagements et en évitant l’horreur du Jour du Jugement.

[Rappel de différentes grâces] Il vous a donné des ouïes pour retenir ce qui est important, des yeux pour voir et distinguer l’utile de l’inutile, des organes bien formés pour constituer des corps dont l’espérance de vie est plus ou moins longue et des cœurs qui s’affairent pour acquérir Ses bienfaits, Ses grâces et Ses faveurs.

Il a déterminé à chacun de vous un âge dont le terme est tenu caché et vous a laissé des leçons tirées de l’histoire des peuples qui vous ont devancés, racontant leurs prouesses et leurs déchéances; la mort avait arrêté leurs espérances d’une génération à l’autre et ils n’avaient pas profité de la robustesse de leurs corps pour se préparer aux échéances inévitables. Les jeunes qui ont la peau fine n’attendent-ils pas la courbature de la vieillesse? Ceux dont la santé est saine n’attendent-ils pas les douleurs de la maladie? De même, ceux qui sont en vie n’entrevoient-ils pas l’instant du décès, devancé par l’agonie qui s'approche, la peur, l’angoisse, la suffocation de la salive et la demande de secours des petitsfils, des parents, des êtres chéris et des camarades?!

Est-ce que leurs parents et ceux qui gémissent autour d’eux leur ont été utiles lorsqu’ils ont été délaissés comme des otages isolés dans la demeure des morts? Les voilà rongés par les insectes, décomposés par la pourriture, balayés par les tempêtes et effacés par les intempéries, La peau fine des corps [cadavres] est devenue livide. Les os durs sont devenus cariés, les esprits pliés sous le poids de leurs œuvres et de l’amnésie de toutes les nouvelles les concernant. Ces esprits cessent de profiter de leurs bonnes actions ou de demander pardon pour leurs mauvaises œuvres. Or, n’êtes-vous pas les enfants de ces gens -pères, frères et parents— que vous imitiez et dont vous suiviez le chemin? Hélas! Les cœurs sont durs, éloignés de leur chance, distraits, inconscients, en déviation, comme s’il s’agissait d’autres cœurs, comme si la voie véritable consiste à s’occuper uni- quement des affaires de la vie terrestre!

[Avertissement contre les difficultés du chemin] Sachez que vous vous acheminez sur un sentier glissant, où vous vous trébucheriez et rencontreriez des malheurs. Craignez donc Dieu à l’instar de celui qui considère les conséquences de ses actes dans son cœur, celui dont la peur paralyse le corps, les prières nocturnes raccourcissent le sommeil, l’espérance altère la bouche au milieu du jour, l’ascèse bride les passions, la louange fait accélérer la langue, la peur sert d’introduction à la tranquillité. Un bon croyait s’éloigne des illusions qui obscurcissent le droit chemin, marche sur les sentiers bien battus pour aboutir au but, reste impassible devant les vanités meurtrières, et clairvoyant devant les équivoques. En plus, il gagne la joie de la bonne nouvelle et la réjouissance de l’abondance des biens durant son sommeil le plus doux et sa journée la plus tranquille.

Il a traversé le passage de la vie étant digne d’éloges, présenté les provisions de l’Au-delà étant heureux, lutté de vitesse pour les bonnes œuvres de peur de rencontrer la terreur, accéléré sa marche tout doucement, souhaité des vœux licites et fui tout ce qui est illicite, observé quotidiennement son avenir et marché tout droit. Il lui suffit d’être récompensé par le Paradis, d’éviter la punition du Feu, d’avoir Dieu comme vengeur et soutien et de prendre le Livre pour critère.

[Conseil en faveur de la piété] Je vous conseille de suivre la piété divine, car Dieu vous a avertis et vous n’avez plus d’excuses; Il vous a montré le chemin et prévenu contre un ennemi qui s’infiltre secrètement dans les cœurs et susurre amicalement dans les oreilles pour vous faire dévier et pour vous tuer. [Cet ennemi] vous fait des promesses doucereuses, embellit les pires crimes, facilite les péchés les plus graves, si bien que lorsqu’il amène l’âme par degrés à devenir son otage bien enfermé, il se rétracte et renie tous ses mensonges.

[Mode de création de Pliomme] Quant à l’homme que Dieu a formé dans les ténèbres de l’utérus et les rideaux du placenta sous forme d’une goutte [remplie de germes de la vie], [puis] d’un embryon difforme, [puis] d’un fœtus et d’un [bébé] qui tète, d’un petit enfant et d’un adolescent, il a été doté d’un cœur qui se souvient, d’une langue qui prononce, d’yeux qui voient, afin qu’il comprenne et tire profit ou bien qu’il soit incapable de remplir ses tâches et être alors réprimandé. Lorsqu’il acquiert la maturité de l’homme adulte, le voilà qui s’effarouche avec arrogance, frappe le sol du pied comme une chamelle aveugle, puise de l’eau avec le seau de ses passions, plonge dans les plaisirs et la satisfaction de ses désirs;

Ce faisant, il ne tient pas compte du malheur qu’il pourra encourir et ne craint pas Dieu. Il mourra alors désabusé dans son erreur, perdant toute espérance. La mort arrive à l’improviste pour le trouver attaché à l’injustice et au manque de piété. Il la rencontre avec stupéfaction, passe ses nuits dans l’insomnie, attaqué par les douleurs et les accidents de la maladie, entre un frère utérin et un père miséricordieux et parmi les femmes qui se lamentent et celles inquiètes qui frappent leurs poitrines. Entre-temps, le moribond se trouve dans un état de détresse et d’angoisse, coupant toute espérance, lançant des gémissements atroces, respirant d’une façon entrecoupée et livrant son âme à contrecœur.

Ensuite on l’enveloppe du linceul avec désespoir, on le tire sans qu’il puisse résister, on l’étend sur un brancard comme s’il était un voyageur exténué ou un malade amaigri. La civière sera portée par les assistants de ses fils et frères et acheminée vers la demeure des expatriés, ou l’on vit seul et ron ne reçoit point des visites. Lorsque ceux qui avaient accompagné le défunt et ceux qui l’avaient pleuré sont de retour, celuici se tient coi dans sa tombe, stupéfait devant les questions de l’examen dans lequel il échoue. Mais la plus grande des calamités est la tombée de la pluie chaude et l’entrée dans l’Enfer où bouillonnent les flammes en effervescence tumultueuse. Là-bas, la souffrance est continuelle, sans répit, sans repos qui soulage, sans force contraignante, sans mort accomplie, sans sommeil distrayant entre les accès de douleur et les supplices continuels! Implorons la miséricorde de Dieu!

O serviteurs de Dieu! Où sont ceux qui ont vécu longtemps et joui de la vie, ceux qui ont été instruits et avaient compris, ceux qui ont été avertis et s’étalent amusés et ceux à qui on a livré un message et l'avaient oublié? On leur avait donné un délai suffisamment long, on leur avait rendu service, on les avait sérieusement avertis et des promesses importantes leur ont été faites! Évitez donc les péchés mortels et les vices qui engendrent le courroux.

O vous dotés de vue et d’ouïe, de santé et de biens; y a-t-il un subterfuge, un salut, un asile, un abri, un refuge ou un retour à la vie après la mort? Nenni! Quelles illusions vous emportent et quelles séductions vous bercent? Ne savez-vous pas que la portion de terre allouée à chacun de vous a les mêmes dimensions que sa stature et sa carrure, couché qu’il est sur sa joue affleurant la terre?!

Maintenant, ô serviteurs de Dieu, que la bride est lâchée et l’esprit libre à l’heure de la bonne conduite et du bien-être des corps; à l’occasion de la vie communautaire où vous pouvez agir librement et vous repentir; maintenant, dis-je, évitez ce qui vous conduira à la peine, à la frayeur et à l'anéantis- sement avant que la mort inévitable ne vous livre aux mains du Très-Puissant.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #83