NAHJUL BALAGHA

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 SERMON 100

He (Alláh) is the First before every first and the Last after every last. His First ness necessitates that there is no (other) first before Him and His Last ness necessitates that there is no other last after Him. I do stand witness that there is no god but Alláh both openly as well as secretly, with heart as well as with tongue.

O’ people, do not commit the crime of opposing me, do not be seduced into disobeying me and do not wink at each other with eyes when you hear me. By Alláh, Who germinates the seed and blows the wind, whatever I convey to you is from the Prophet. Neither the conveyor (of Allah’s message, i.e. the Prophet) lied nor the hearer misunderstood.

Well, it is as though I see a misguided man(1) who is shouting in Syria (ash-Shám) and has put his banners in the out-skirt of Kúfah. When his mouth would be fully opened, his recalcitrance would become intense and his steps on earth would become heavy (and tyrannical) then the disorder (so created) would cut the people with its teeth and war would rage with (all) its waves, days would become severe and night full of toil. So when the crops grows and stands on stalks, its foam shoots forth and its lightning shines, the banners of misguiding rebellion would fire up and shoot forth like darkening night and surging sea. This and how many other storms would rend Kúfah and gales would sweep over it, and shortly heads would clash with heads, the standing crop would be harvested and the harvest would be smashed.

(1). Some people have taken this to refer to Mu`áwiyah and others to `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwán.