52 ومن خطبة له عليه السلام قد تقدّم مختارها برواية ونذكره

[52] ومن خطبة له عليه السلام قد تقدّم مختارها برواية ونذكرها هاهنا برواية أخرى لتغاير الروايتين [التزهيد في الدنيا] أَلاَ وَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدْ تَصَرَّمَتْ، وَآذَنَتْ بِانْقِضَاءٍ، وَتَنَكَّرَ مَعْرُوفُها وَأَدْبَرَتْ حَذَّاءَس، فَهِيَ تَحْفِزُبِالْفَنَاءِ سُكَّانَهَا، وَتَحْدُوبِالْمَوْتِ جِيرَانَهَا، وَقَدْ أَمَرَّ مِنْها مَا كَانَ حُلْواً، وَكَدِرَمِنْهَا ما كَانَ صَفْواً، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ سَمَلَةٌ كَسَمَلَةِ الاِِْدَاوَةِ أَوْ جُرْعَةٌ كَجُرْعَةِ الْمَقْلَةِ لَوْ تَمَزَّزَهَا الصَّدْيَانُلَمْ يَنْقَعْاًـ، فَأَزْمِعُواعِبَادَ اللهِ الرَّحِيلَ عَنْ هذِهِ الدَّارِ المَقْدُورِعَلَى أَهْلِهَا الزَّوالُ، وَلاَ يَغْلِبَنَّكُمْ فِيهَا الاََْمَلُ، وَلاَ يَطُولَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ الاََْمَدُ. [ثواب الزهاد] فَوَاللهِ لَوْ حَنَنْتُمْ حَنِينَ الْوُلَّهِ الْعِجَالِ وَدَعَوْتُمْ بِهَدِيلِ الْحَمَامِ وَجَأَرْتُمْ جُؤَارَ)ـ مُتَبَتِّلِيالرُّهْبَانِ، وَخَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى اللهِ مِنَ الاََْمْوَالِ وَالاََْوْلاَدِ، الِْتمَاسَ الْقُرْبَةِ إِلَيْهِ فِي ارْتِفَاعِ دَرَجَةٍ عِنْدَهُ، أوغُفْرَانِ سِيِّئَةٍ أَحْصَتْهَا كُتُبُهُ، وَحَفِظَتْهَا رُسُلُهُ، لَكَانَ قَلِيلاً فَيَما أَرْجُو لَكُم مِنْ ثَوَابِهِ، وَأَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ عِقَابِهِ. [نعم الله] وَتَاللهِ لَوِ انْمَاثَتْ قُلوبُكُمُ انْمِيَاثاً وَسَالَتْ عُيُونُكُمْ مِنْ رَغْبَةٍ إِلَيْهِ وَرَهْبَةٍ مِنْهُ دَماً، ثُمَّ عُمِّرْتُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا، مَا الدُّنْيَا بَاقِيَةٌ، مَا جَزَتْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ [عَنْكُمْ] ـ وَلَوْ لَمْ تُبْقُوا شَيْئاً مِنْ جُهْدِكُمْ ـ أَنْعُمَهُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعِظَامَ، وَهُدَاهُ إِيَّاكُمْ لِلاِِْيمَانِ.

(This sermon has already appeared earlier but due to the difference between the two versions we have quoted it again here). Its subject is the downfall of the world and reward and punishment in the next world.Beware, the world is wrapping itself up and has announced its departure. Its known things have become strangers and it is speedily moving backward. It is advancing its inhabitants towards destruction and driving its neighbours towards death. Its sweet things (enjoyments) have become sour, and its clear things have become polluted. Consequently, what has remained of it is just like the remaining water in a vessel or a mouthful of water in the measure. If a thirsty person drinks it his thirst is not quenched.
O' creatures of Allah get ready to go out of this world for whose inhabitants decay is ordained, and (beware) heart's wishes should overpower you, nor should you take your stay (in life) to be long. By Allah, if you cry like the she-camel that has lost its young one, call out like the cooing of pigeons, make noise like devoted recluses and turn to Allah leaving your wealth and children as a means to secure His nearness and high position with Him or the forgiveness of sins which have been covered by His books and recorded by His angels it would be less than His reward that I expect for you or His retribution that I fear about you.
By Allah, if your hearts melt down thoroughly and your eyes shed tears of blood either in hope for Him or for fear from Him and you are also allowed to live in this world all the time that it lasts even then your actions cannot pay for His great bounties over you and His having guided you towards faith.

A part of the same sermon on the description of the Day of Sacrifice (`Id al-Adha) and the qualities of the animal for sacrificeFor an animal to be fully fit for sacrifice it is necessary that both its ears should be raised upwards and its eyes should be healthy. If the ears and the eyes are sound the animal of sacrifice is sound and perfect, even though its horn be broken or it drags its feet to the place of sacrifice.
as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: Here place of sacrifice means place of slaughter.