Peak of Eloquence Nahjul Balagha By Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib - English Translation - Sermon 2

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Peak of Eloquence Nahjul Balagha By Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib - English Translation - Sermon 2

Delivered on return from Siff􀂉n before his Nomination by the
Prophet (􀁨) for the Caliphate
I praise Allah, seeking completion of His Blessing, submitting to
His Glory and expecting safety from committing His sins. I invoke His
help being in need of His Sufficiency (of protection). He whom He guides
does not get astray. He with whom He is hostile gets no protection. He
whom He supports does not remain needy. Praise is most weighty of all
that is weighed and the most valuable of all that is treasured.
I testify that there is no god but Allah the One. He has no like.
My testimony has been tested in its frankness and its essence shall store it
facing the tribulations that overtake us because it is the foundation stone
of Belief (iman) and the first step toward good actions and the Divine
pleasure. It is the means to keep Satan away.
113
and darkness prevailed.
Allah was being disobeyed, Satan was given support and Belief
had been forsaken. As a result the pillars of religion fell down, its traces
could not be discerned, its passages had been destroyed and its streets had
fallen into decay. People obeyed Satan and tread his paths. They sought
113This is a reference to the Preserved Tablet.
I also testify that Muhammad (􀁨) is the Prophet. Allah sent him
with the illustrious religion, effective emblem, written Book, effulgent
light, sparkling gleam and decisive in junctions in order to dispel doubts,
present clear proofs, administer warning through signs and to warn of
punishments. At that time people had fallen in vices whereby the
rope of religion had been broken, the pillars of belief had been shaken,
principles had been desecrated, system had become topsy turvy,
openings were narrow, passage was dark, guidance was unknown
his standard was raised in vices which trampled the people under their
hoofs and treaded upon them with their feet. The vices stood on their toes
(in full stature) and the people immersed in them were strayed, perplexed,
ignorant and seduced as though in a Good House114 with bad neighbors.
Instead of sleep, they had wakefulness, and for antinomy, they had tears
in the eyes. They were a land where the learned were in bridle (keeping
their mouths shut) while the ignorant were honored.
In the same sermon, Amir al-Mu’minin (􀁸) referred to Ahl al-
Bayt (􀁸) (the Household of the Holy Prophet (􀁨)) as follows:
They are the trustees of His secrets, shelter for His affairs, source
of knowledge about Him, center of His wisdom, valleys for His books and
mountains of His religion. With them, Allah straightened the bend of
religion’s back and removed the trembling of its limbs.
In the same sermon, he spoke about the hypocrites thus:
They sowed vices, watered them with deception and harvested
destruction. Non in the Islamic community can be taken at par with the
Progeny of the Prophet (􀁨) (Ahl al-Bayt [􀁸]). One who was under their obligation
cannot be matched with them. They are the foundation of religion and the
pillar of belief. The forward runner has to turn back to them while the
follower has to overtake them. They possess the chief characteristics for
vicegerency. In their favor exists the will and succession (of the Prophet
(􀁨)). This is the time when right has returned to its owner and diverted to
its center of return.