Sermons · Al-Ashbaah (literally, "the skeletons"), in which Ali talked about the creation of the universe

al-Sharif al-Radi (d. 406 AH) · Thaqalayn library edition, reproduced verbatim

2

Arabic text

قَدْ اتَّخَذُوا ذَا الْعَرْشِ ذَخِيرَةً لِيَومِ فَاقَتِهمْ، وَيَمَّمُوهُ عِنْدَ انْقِطَاعِ الْخَلْقِ إِلى الـمَخْلُوقِينَ بِرَغْبَتِهمْ، لاَ يَقْطَعُونَ أَمَدَ غَايَةِ عِبَادَتِهِ، وَلاَ يَرْجِعُ بِهمُ الاِسْتِهْتَارُ بِلُزُومِ طَاعَتِهِ، إِلاَّ إِلَى مَوَادَّ مِنْ قُلُوبِهمْ غَيْرِ مُنْقَطِعَة مِنْ رَجَائِهِ وَمَخَافَتِهِ، لَمْ تَنْقَطِعْ أَسْبَابُ الشَّفَقَةِ مِنْهُمْ، فَيَنُوا في جِدِّهِمْ، وَلَمْ تَأْسِرْهُمُ الاْطْمَاعُ فَيُؤْثِرُوا وَشِيكَ السَّعْىِ عَلَى اجْتِهَادِهِمْ. ولَمْ يَسْتَعْظِمُوا مَا مَضَى مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ، وَلَوِ اسْتَعْظَمُوا ذلِكَ لَنَسَخَ الرَّجَاءُ مِنْهُمْ شَفَقَاتِ وَجَلِهِمْ،

Translation

They regard the Master of the Throne (Allāh) as the store for the day of their need. Because of their love (for Him) they turn to Him even when others turn to the creatures. They do not reach the ending limit of His worship. Their passionate fondness for His worship does not turn them except to the springs of their own hearts, springs which are never devoid of His hope and His fear. Fear (of Allāh) never leaves them so that they might slacken in their efforts, nor have temptations entrapped them so that they might prefer this light search over their (serious) effort. They do not consider their past (virtuous) deeds as big, for if they had considered them big then fear would have wiped away hopes from their hearts.

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