This article is an introduction to the al-Muttaqin Sermon; to read its text see text:al-Muttaqin Sermon.
Al-Muttaqīn sermon (Arabic: خطبة المتّقین, the pious sermon) is one of the most famous sermons of Imam 'Ali (a) in which he describes pious Muslims. The sermon characterizes the pious so well in their personal and social life that at the end of the sermon, Hammam, the Imam's companion who had asked about the characteristics of the pious, loses consciousness and passes away.
| Other names | Hammam Sermon |
|---|---|
| Subject | Description of the pious |
| Issued by | Imam Ali (a) |
| Main narrator | Hammam |
| Shi'a sources | Nahj al-balagha |
| Version's Name | Sermon num. |
| Al-Mu'jam al-mufahras, Subhi Salih | 193 |
| Fayd al-Islam, Ibn Maytham | 184 |
| Minhaj al-bara'a (al-Khoei), Mulla Salih | 192 |
| Ibn Abi l-Hadid, 'Abduh | 186 |
| Mulla Fath Allah | 221 |
| Fi zilal | 191 |
Cause of Delivering
It is narrated that Hammam who was a devoted worshiper and one of the companions of Imam Ali (a) asked him to describe the pious:[1] "O, Amir al-Mu'minin, describe the pious for me as if I am looking at them." Imam Ali (a) tried to void answering and said, "O Hammam, be wary of Allah and perform good deeds because 'Indeed Allah is with those who are Godwary and those who are virtuous.'"[2]
Hammam, was not content with that and insisted on more details. Then the Imam praised Allah and extolled Him and sought His blessings on the Prophet (s) and started the sermon.[3]
It is narrated that after the sermon, Hammam lost consciousness and passed away. Imam 'Ali (a) said, "Verily, by God I feared this for him." Then he added: "Effective advice has such influence on its people (who have receptive ears)."
Someone said, "O Amir al-Mu'minin, why did not it affect you?" Amir al-Mu'minin (a) replied, "Woe to you! There is a fixed hour for each death that it will not exceed it, and a cause which does not change. Be silent and never repeat such talk, indeed Satan had put it on your tongue."[4]
Name
According to the content of the sermon which is a description of the pious, the sermon was called the pious (al-Muttaqin is plural of al-Muttaqi meaning pious). Also, it is called the sermon of Hammam, as he was the cause of the delivering of this sermon.
Content
As the name of the sermon implies, the main subject of the sermon is description of the pious. Imam 'Ali (a) characterizes them in their personal and social life, and their worships and connection with Allah. Here are some of these attributes: (Categories may have overlaps)
Attributes of the God-wary
Social
- Speaking properly,
- Moderation,
- Humility,
- Avoiding the forbidden,
- Listening to beneficial knowledge,
- Greed for knowledge,
- Endurance of hardships,
- Forgiving who did wrong to them,
- Avoiding indecent speech,
- Not misappropriating what they have been trusted with,
- Suppressing the anger,
- People are in ease from them,
- Good deeds are expected from them.
Personal
- Blaming themselves (being suspicious about themselves),
- Fear from being complemented,
- Having faith with certainty,
- Forbearance,
- Hoping the next life and renouncing this world.
Connection with God
- Night prayers with recitation of the Qur'an,
- Seeking cure for themselves in the Qur'an,
- Their hearts are influenced by the Qur'an,
- Humility in worship,
- Remembering and thanking God throughout the day.
Translations and Commentaries
In addition to translations of Nahj al-balagha, which include this sermon as well, the sermon has been solely translated to Farsi several times.
Moreover, more than 15 commentaries have been written about this sermon in addition to those of the whole Nahj al-balagha. Almost all of these commentaries are in Farsi.
Notes
References
- Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd b. Ḥibat Allah. Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha. Edited by Muḥammad Abū l-Faḍl Ibrāhīm. Qom: Ismāʿīlīyān, [n.d].
- Ṣhahīdī, Sayyid Jaʿfar. Tarjuma-yi Nahj al-balāgha. Teharn: Intishārāt-i ʿIlmī wa Farhangī, 1377 Sh.