SERMON 132
Warning about death and counselling
We
praise Him for whatever He takes or gives or whatever He inflicts on us or
tries us with. He is aware of all that is hidden and He sees all that is
concealed. He knows all that breasts contain or eyes hide.
We
render evidence that there is no god except He and that Muhammad - peace
be upon him and his progeny - has been chosen by Him and deputised by Him
-evidence tendered both secretly and openly, by heart and by tongue.
A part of the same sermon
By
Allah, certainly it is reality not fun, truth not falsehood. It is none
else than death. Its caller is making himself heard and its dragsman is
making haste. The majority of the people should not deceive you. You have
seen those who lived before you, amassed wealth, feared poverty and felt
safe from its (evil) consequences, the longevity of desires and the
(apparent) distance from death.
How,
then, death overtook them, turned them out of their homelands and took
them out of their places of safety.
They
were borne on coffins, people were busy about them one after another,
carrying them on their shoulders and supporting them with their hands.
Did
you not witness those who engaged in long-reaching desires, built strong
buildings, amassed much wealth but their houses turned to graves and their
collections turned into ruin. Their property devolved on the successors
and their spouses on those who came after them.
They
cannot (now) add to their good acts nor invoke (Allah's) mercy in respect
of evil acts. Therefore, whoever makes his heart habituated to fear Allah
achieves a forward position and his action is successful. Prepare yourself
for it and do all that you can for Paradise.
Certainly this world has not been made a place of permanent stay for you.
But it has been created as a pathway in order that you may take from it
the provisions of your (good) actions for the permanent house (in
Paradise). Be ready for departure from here and keep close your riding
animals for setting off.
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