Regarding the vicissitudes of time

Pearl of Wisdom

to a man who asked, 'Do you consider all these creatures as people?' said, 'Exclude from among them those who do not brush their teeth, sitting cross-legged in a narrow place, one who interferes in matters that do not concern him, debates about that which he has no knowledge, one who acts sick without an illness, one who falls apart without a calamity, one who opposes his friends in matters of truth that they have agreed upon, a proud person who is proud of his forefathers but he is devoid of their good deeds, so he is like a heath peeling off its bark bit by bit until it reaches its core, and he is like Allah's verse: They are like cattle; rather they are more astray.'

Imam Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq [as]

al-Khisal, p. 409, no. 9

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Library » Nahj ul Balagha » Sermons » Regarding the vicissitudes of time

Regarding the vicissitudes of time

Sermon 186 Regarding the vicissitudes of time

May my father and my mother be sacrificed for those few whose names are well-known in the sky and not known on the earth. Beware, you should expect what is to befall you such as adversity in your affairs, severance of relations and the rising up of inferior people. This will happen when the blow of a sword will be easier for a believer than to secure one Dirham lawfully. This will happen (1) when the reward of the beggar is more than that of the giver. This will be when you are intoxicated, not by drinking, but with wealth and plenty, you are swearing without compulsion and are speaking lies without compulsion. This will be when troubles hurt you as the saddle hurts the hump of the camel. How long will these tribulations be and how distant the hope (for deliverance from them)?

O' people, throw away the reins of the horses who carry on their backs the weight of your hands (i.e. sins), do not cut away from your chief (Imam) otherwise you will blame yourself for your own doings. Do not jump in the fire which is in flames in front of you; keep away from its courses and leave the middle way for it. Because, by my life, the believer will die in its flames, and others will remain safe in it.

I am among you like a lamp in the darkness. Whoever enters by it will be lit from it. So listen O' men, preserve it and remain attentive with the ears of your hearts so that you may understand.

(1). In that period the reward of the beggar who takes will be higher than that of the giver because the ways of earning livelihood of the rich will be unlawful, and whatever he will donate of it, its purpose will be showing himself, hypocrisy and seeking fame, for which he will not be entitled to any reward, while the poor who take it by force of their poverty and helplessness, and to spend it in the right manner, will deserve more reward and recompense.

The commentator, Ibn Abi'l-Hadid has written another meaning of it also, namely if the beggar does not take the wealth from the rich and it remains with him he will spend it on unlawful matters and enjoyments, and since his taking it from him prevents him from using it in unlawful manner; therefore, for this prevention of evil, the beggar will deserve more reward and recompense. (Sharh Nahj al-balaghah, vol. 13, p. 97)

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