Peak of Eloquence Nahjul Balagha By Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib - English Translation - Sermon 32

#suntv #nahjulbalagha #nahjulbalaghaenglish
About the Disparagement of the World and Categories of its
People
O people! We have been born in such a wrongful and thankless
period wherein the virtuous is deemed vicious and the oppressor goes on
advancing in his excess. We do not make use of what we know and do not
discover what we do not know. We do not fear calamity till it befalls.
People are of four categories. Among them is one who is
prevented from mischief only by his low status, lack of means and paucity
of wealth.
Then there is he who has drawn his sword, openly commits
mischief, has collected his horsemen and foot-man and has devoted
himself to securing wealth, leading troops, rising on the pulpit and has
allowed his faith to perish. How bad is the transaction that you allow,
(enjoyment of) this world to be a price for yourself as an alternative for
what there is with Allah for you.
And among them is he who seeks (benefits of) this world through
actions meant for the next world, but does not seek (good of) the next
world through actions of this world. He keeps his body calm (in dignity),
raises small steps, holds up his clothe s, embellishes his body for
appearance of trust-worthiness and uses the status of Allah’s connivance
as a means of committing sins.
Then there is one whose weakness and lack of means have held
him back from conquest of lands. This keeps down his status and he has
named it contentment and he clothe s himself with the robe of
renunciation although he has never had any connection with these
qualities.
Then there remain a few people in whose case the remembrance
of their return (to Allah on the Last Day) keeps their eyes bent and the
fear of resurrection moves their tears. Some of them are scared away
(from the world) and dispersed. Some are frightened and subdued; some
are quiet as if muzzled; some are praying sincerely. Some are griefstricken
and pain-ridden whom fear has confined to namelessness and
disgrace has shrouded them, so they are in (The sea of) bitter water. Their
mouths are closed and their hearts are bruised. They preached till they
were tired, they were oppressed till they were disgraced and they were
killed till they remained few in number.
The world in your eyes should be smaller than the bark of the
acacia and the clippings of wool. Seek instruction from those who
preceded you before those who follow you take instruction from you and
keep aloof from it realizing its evil because it cuts off even from those
who were more attached to it than you.