Nahjul Balaaghah about Man By A.S. Hashim. MD

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man Supplication بـســـم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the Name of God, Lord of Mercy and Lord of Grace

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man Nahjul Balaaghah Nahjul Balaaghah, a highly valued book, consists of: – 254 sermons, – 48 letters, and – 212 sayings of Imam Ali Nahjul Balaaghah is unique to Imam Ali None of the Sahaaba was ever able to produce anything like it: 1. neither in substance 2. nor in literary eloquence. No wonder Ali was referred to as: 1. Sayyid al-Bulaghaa' (Pinnacle of Literary Expression) and 2. Sayyid al-Fu'qahaa, (Pinnacle of the Jurisprudents)

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man References about Man Nahjul Balaaghah contains 9 references about Man, some of which appear here The quotes appear in various sermons, –said at variable occasions and –about different subjects. 1. The Arabic quotes are from the book of Nahjul Balaaghah, by Dr. Subhi Al-Salih, and so is the numbering of the sermons and pages, 1st Edition, Beirut The Number of the sermons may differ by a factor of 1 in other volumes of Nahjul Balaaghah 3. The references are quotes by Abd al-Zahra' al-Husayni in vols. I & IV of his work (see Al-Islam.org, internet)

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man Time Element The majority of Ali's sayings and speeches were stated: –During his Khilaafah when in Kufa, –At Different Places –At Different Occasions –Often at Khutba of Jumu’ah

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 1, Page 42 Ali: about Man #1 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 57; 2. al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, I, 140; 3. al-Qadi al-Quda`i, Dustur, 153; 4. al-Razi, Tafsir, II, 164; 5. Ibn Talhah, Matalib; 6. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, bab al-sama' wa al-kawakib; 7. al-Wasiti, `Uyun, see al-Majlisi, Bihar, vol.77, 300, 423; 8. al-Rawandi, Sharh, see Kashif al-Ghita', Madarik, 69; 9. al-Tabarsi, al-'Ihtijaj, I, 150

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 1, Ali: about Man #1 Then Allah blew into it out of His Spirit whereupon it took the form of a human with a mind that governs, intelligence to make use of, limbs to serve him, and organs that sustain him, and: Knowledge that differentiates between truth and untruth, tastes and smells, colors and species. He is a mixture of clays of different colors, and: Cohesive materials, divergent matters and differing properties like heat, cold, softness and hardness. Then Allah asked the angels to fulfill His promise with them and to accomplish the pledge of His injunction to them by acknowledging Him through bowing to Him and submitting to His glorious position. ثُمَّ نَفَخَ فِيها مِنْ رُوحِهِ فَمَثُلَتْ إِنْساناً ذَا أَذْهَان يُجيلُهَا، وَفِكَر يَتَصَرَّفُ بِهَا، وَجَوَارِحَ يَخْتَدِمُهَا، وَأَدَوَات يُقَلِّبُهَا، وَمَعْرِفَة يَفْرُقُ بِهَا بَيْنَ الحَقِّ وَالبَاطِلِ، والاَذْوَاقِ والَمشَامِّ، وَالاَْلوَانِ وَالاَْجْنَاس، مَعْجُوناً بطِينَةِ الاَْلوَانِ الُمخْتَلِفَةِ، وَالاَشْبَاهِ المُؤْتَلِفَةِ، وَالاَْضْدَادِ المُتَعَادِيَةِ، والاَْخْلاطِ المُتَبَايِنَةِ، مِنَ الحَرِّ والبَرْدِ، وَالبَلَّةِ وَالْجُمُودِ، وَالْمَساءَةِ وَالسُّرُورِ، وَاسْتَأْدَى اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ المَلائكَةَ وَدِيعَتَهُ لَدَيْهِمْ، وَعَهْدَ وَصِيَّتِهِ إِلَيْهمْ، في الاِْذْعَانِ بالسُّجُودِ لَهُ، وَالخُنُوعِ لِتَكْرِمَتِهِ،

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 1, Page 43 Ali: about Man #2 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 57; 2. al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, I, 140; 3. al-Qadi al-Quda`i, Dustur, 153; 4. al-Razi, Tafsir, II, 164; 5. Ibn Talhah, Matalib; 6. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, bab al-sama' wa al-kawakib; 7. al-Wasiti, `Uyun, see al-Majlisi, Bihar, vol.77, 300, 423; 8. al-Rawandi, Sharh, see Kashif al-Ghita', Madarik, 69; 9. al-Tabarsi, al-'Ihtijaj, I, 150

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 1, Ali: about Man #2 And from Adam's progeny Allah chose Prophets, taking their pledge to carry out His Message as their Trust. But when people digressed from Allah's Trust, ignoring His position and conjoined other deities with Him: Satan impeded them from knowing Him and tempted them away from His worship. So, Allah sent His Messengers and a series of His Prophets to them: To fulfill the pledges of His creation, to remind them of His bounties, to exhort them by preaching, to unveil for them the hidden virtues of wisdom and show them the signs of His Power: from the skies raised over them, the earth beneath them, the means to sustain them, deaths that overtakes them, ailments and incidents that successively betake them. وَاصْطَفى سُبْحَانَهُ مِنْ وَلَدَهِ أَنْبيَاءَ أَخَذَ عَلَى الْوَحْيِ مِيثَاقَهُمْ، وَعَلَى تَبْليغِ الرِّسَالَةِ أَمَانَتَهُمْ، لَمَّا بَدَّلَ أَكْثَرُ خَلْقِهِ عَهْدَ اللهِ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَجَهِلُوا حَقَّهُ، واتَّخَذُوا الاَْنْدَادَ مَعَهُ، وَاجْتَالَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ عَنْ مَعْرفَتِهِ، وَاقتَطَعَتْهُمْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ، فَبَعَثَ فِيهمْ رُسُلَهُ، وَوَاتَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنْبِياءَهُ، لِيَسْتَأْدُوهُمْ مِيثَاقَ فِطْرَتِهِ، وَيُذَكِّرُوهُمْ مَنْسِيَّ نِعْمَتِهِ، وَيَحْتَجُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ بَالتَّبْلِيغِ، وَيُثِيرُوا لَهُمْ دَفَائِنَ الْعُقُولِ، وَيُرُوهُمْ آيَاتِ الْمَقْدِرَةِ: مِنْ سَقْف فَوْقَهُمْ مَرْفُوع، وَمِهَاد تَحْتَهُمْ مَوْضُوع، وَمَعَايِشَ تُحْيِيهِمْ، وَآجَال تُفْنِيهمْ، وَأَوْصَاب تُهْرِمُهُمْ، وَأَحْدَاث تَتَابَعُ عَلَيْهِمْ، ……

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 83, Page 109 Ali: about Man #3 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 146; 2. al-Quda`i, Dustur, 59, 3. al-'Amidi, Ghurar; 4. al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam; 5. Abu Nu`aym, Hilyah, I, 77; 6. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 132 (b.d.d), II, 287 (`a.a.z).

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 83, Ali: about Man #3 People were created as evidence of Allah’s Might, been impelled by His authority, made to die with pangs, and in graves to turn into crumbs, Then resurrected one by one, to be awarded their recompense, and have to account for their actions, each one separately. They had been given time to seek deliverance, shown the right path and allowed to live and seek favors, ─ and the darkness of doubts had been removed. They had been let free in this period of life as a training place to make preparation for the Hereafter, to search for the objective with thoughtfulness, To get time necessary to secure benefits and provide for the next place of stay. عِبَادٌ مَخْلُوقُونَ اقْتِدَاراً، وَمَرْبُوبُونَ اقْتِسَارا، وَمَقْبُوضُونَ احْتِضَاراً، وَمُضَمَّنُونَ أَجْدَاثاً، وَكَائِنُونَ رُفَاتاً، وَمَبْعُوثُونَ أَفْرَاداً، وَمَدِينُون جَزَاءً، وَمُمَيَّزُونَ حِسَاباً; قَدْ أُمْهِلُوا في طَلَبِ الْـمَخْرَجِ، وَهُدُوا سَبِيلَ الْمَنْهَجِ، وَعُمِّرُوا مَهَلَ الْمُسْتَعْتِبِ، وَكُشِفَتْ عَنْهُمْ سُدَفُ الرِّيَبِ، وَخُلُّوا لمِضْماَرِ الْجِيَادِ، وَرَوِيَّةِ الارْتِيَادِ، وَأَنَاةِ الْمُقْتَبِسِ الْمُرْتَادِ، فِي مُدَّةِ الاَْجَلِ، وَمُضْطَرَبِ الْمَهَلِ.

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 83, Page 112 Ali: about Man #4 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 146; 2. al-Quda`i, Dustur, 59, 3. al-'Amidi, Ghurar; 4. al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam; 5. Abu Nu`aym, Hilyah, I, 77; 6. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 132 (b.d.d), II, 287 (`a.a.z).

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 83, Ali: about Man #4 Or look at man whom Allah has created in the dark wombs with multiple layers, from father’s discharge, was a shapeless clot, then embryo, then an infant, then a child, and then a fully grown man. Allah gave him a mind with memory, a tongue to speak, an eye to see, so as to take lesson and understand and follow the admonition and from evil to abstain. When he became a young man and his structure matured, he fell in arrogance and was beholden to his passions, in perplexity. Immersed in fulfilling his impulse for the pleasures or sordid aims. He does not consider its mishaps, nor fear its misgivings. He dies infatuated with his vices, spending his life in trashy pursuits. He earns no reward nor fulfills any obligation. أَمْ هذَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهُ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الاَْرْحَامِ، وَشُغُفِ الاَْسْتَارِ، 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، وَلاَ يَخْشَعُ تَقِيَّةً; فَمَاتَ فِي فِتْنَتِهِ غَرِيراً، وَعَاشَ فِي هَفْوَتِهِ أسيراً، لَمْ يُفِدْ عِوَضاً، وَلَمْ يَقْضِ مُفْتَرَضاً.

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 83, Page 114 Ali: about Man #5 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 146; 2. al-Quda`i, Dustur, 59, 3. al-'Amidi, Ghurar; 4. al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam; 5. Abu Nu`aym, Hilyah, I, 77; 6. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 132 (b.d.d), II, 287 (`a.a.z).

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 83, Ali: about Man #5 Where are the aged men to enjoy the bounty, ─ who were taught so they learned; given time yet passed it in vain; kept at peace yet forgot their duty, allowed long life, given a plenty, warned of grievous punishment and promised big rewards? O’ People, Avoid sins that lead to ruin and vices that attract Allah’s wrath. O' people who see and hear, with health and wealth! Is there a place of protection, a shelter of safety, an asylum or haven, or an occasion to run away or to come back to this world? If not, "how are you then turned away" and wither are you averting? By what things have you been deceived? For certainly yours is a hole measured, with your cheek on the dirt of its floor! 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. أُولِي الاَْبْصَارِ والاَْسْمَاعِ، وَالْعَافِيَةِ وَالمَتَاعِ، هَلْ مِنْ مَنَاص أَوْ خَلاَص، أَوْ مَعَاذ أَوْ مَلاَذ، أَوْ فِرَار أَوْ مجاز أوْ مَحَار! أَمْ لاَ؟ (فَأَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ)! أَمْ أَيْنَ تُصْرَفُونَ! أَمْ بِمَاذَا تَغْتَرُّونَ؟ وَإِنَّمَا حَظُّ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الاَْرْضِ، ذَاتِ الطُّولِ وَالْعَرْضِ، قِيدُ قَدِّهِ، مُتَعَفِّراً عَلى خَدِّهِ!

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 163, Page 233 Ali: about Man #6 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Abu Nu`aym, Hilyah, I, 72; 2. al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam, see al-Majlisi, Bihar, vol.77, p.306; 3. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, bab al-mala'ikah.

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 163, Ali: about Man #6 O' creature, equitably created, nurtured, and looked after in the darkness of wombs of multiple layers. You were started from elements of clay, placed in a safe place for an ordained time. You moved in the womb as an embryo, not responding to a call nor hearing a voice. Then you were delivered to a place you had not seen, nor were you acquainted with its flavors and bounties, so who has guided you to eke out your sustenance from the breast of your mother, and who has appraised you of your needs and aims. Alas! He who does not understand the qualities of the physical is the more unable to understand the qualities of the Creator; and the more remote from appreciating Him because of the limitations of the creatures. أَيُّهَا الْـمَخْلُوقُ السَّوِيُّ، وَالْمُنْشَأُ الْمَرْعِىُّ، فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الاَْرْحَامِ، وَمُضَاعَفَاتِ الاَْسْتَارِ، بُدِئْتَ مِنْ سُلاَلَة مِنْ طِين، وَوُضِعْتَ فِي قَرَار مَكِين إِلَى قَدَر مَعْلُوم وَأَجَل مَقْسُوم، تَمُورُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّكَ جَنِيناً لاَ تُحِيرُ دُعَاءً، وَلاَ تَسْمَعُ نِدَاءً، ثُمَّ أُخْرِجْتَ مِنْ مَقَرِّكَ إِلَى دَار لَمْ تَشْهَدْهَا، وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْ سُبُلَ مَنَافِعِهَا; فَمَنْ هَدَاكَ لاِجْتِرَارِ الْغِذَاءِ مِنْ ثَدْيِ أُمِّكَ؟ وَعَرَّفَكَ عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ مَوَاضِعَ طَلَبِكَ وَإِرَادَتِكَ؟! هَيْهَاتَ، إِنَّ مَنْ يَعْجِزُ عَنْ صِفَاتِ ذِي الْهَيْئَةِ وَالاَْدَوَاتِ فَهُوَ عَنْ صِفَاتِ خَالِقِهِ أَعْجَزُ، وَمِنْ تَنَاوُلِهِ بِحُدُودِ الَْمخْلُوقِينَ أَبْعَدُ!

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 163, Page 233 Ali: about Man #7 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Abu Nu`aym, Hilyah, I, 72; 2. al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam, see al-Majlisi, Bihar, vol.77, p.306; 3. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, bab al-mala'ikah.

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 163, Ali: about Man #7 Allah did not create things from early matters eternal nor from after examples previously existing, But He created that which He created and thereto fixed the creation limits, and He shaped what He shaped and thereto gave the best shape. Nothing can disobey Him, yet the obedience of something is of no benefit to Him. Allah’s knowledge of those who died in the past is the same as His knowledge about the survivors remaining, And His knowledge of what there is in the high heavens is like His knowledge of what there is in the earth down below. لَمْ يَخْلُقِ الاْشْيَاءَ مِنْ أُصُول أَزَلِيَّة، وَلاَ مِنْ أَوَائِلَ أَبَدِيَّة، بَلْ خَلَقَ مَا خَلَقَ فَأَقَامَ حَدَّهُ، وَصَوَّرَ مَا صَوَّرَ فَأَحْسَنَ صُورَتَهُ، لَيْسَ لِشَيْء مِنْهُ امْتِنَاعٌ، وَلاَ لَهُ بِطَاعَةِ شَيْء انْتِفَاعٌ، عِلْمُهُ بِالاَْمْوَاتِ الْمَاضِينَ كَعِلْمِهِ بِالاْحْيَاءِ الْبَاقِينَ، وَعِلْمُهُ بِمَا فِي السماوَاتِ الْعُلَى كَعِلْمِهِ بِمَا فِي الاْرَضِينَ السُّفْلَى

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 157, Page 222 Ali: about Man #8 See next slide please Other sources: 1. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, II, 510 (sh.w.l); 2. al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 97; 3. al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam, see Bihar, vol. XVII, 113.

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man In Sermon 147, Ali: about Man #8 Know, O' servant of Allah! that yourself is a guard over you; the watchmen are your limbs and the Truthful Vigil ─ keepers who register your deeds and even the number of your breaths. Nothing conceals you from them, neither the gloom of the dark nor even a door behind which you hide. Surely tomorrow is not far from today. Today will depart with all deeds that it has and tomorrow will come in its wake. Soon it is as though you have reached that place on earth where you will be alone, the grave. So, what would you say of a house of loneliness, the place of solitary stay, and the lonesome exile. اعْلَمُوا، عِبَادَ اللهِ، أَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رَصَداً مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ، وَعُيُوناً مِنْ جَوَارِحِكُمْ، وَحُفَّاظَ صِدْق يَحْفَظُونَ أَعْمَالَكُمْ، وَعَدَدَ أَنْفَاسِكُمْ، لاَ تَسْتُرُكُمْ مِنْهُمْ ظُلْمَةُ لَيْل دَاج، وَلاَ يُكِنُّكُمْ مِنْهُمْ بَابٌ ذُورِتَاج، وَإِنَّ غَداً مِنَ الْيَوْمِ قَرِيبٌ. يَذْهَبُ الْيَوْمُ بِمَا فِيهِ، وَيَجِيءُ الْغَدُ لاَ حِقاً بِهِ، فَكَأَنَّ كُلَّ امْرِىء مِنْكُمْ قَدْ بَلَغَ مِنَ الاَْرْضِ مَنْزِلَ وَحْدَتِهِ، وَمَخَطَّ حُفْرَتِهِ، فَيَالَهُ مِنْ بَيْتِ وَحْدَة، وَمَنْزِلِ وَحْشَة، وَمُفْرَدِ غُرْبَة!

Nahjul Balaaghah about Man Be in Allah’s Care Thank you and May God Bless you. Dr. A.S. Hashim