Text:Sermon of al-Gharra

This sermon is called the al-Gharra’ and it is one of the most wonderful sermons of Amir al-mu’minin	وَ مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ علیه‌السلام وَ تُسَمّی بِالْغَرّاءِ وَ هِی مِنَ الْخُطَبِ الْعَجیبَةِ
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.	بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ
Praise be to Allah who is High above all else, and is Near (the creation) through His bounty. He is the Giver of all reward and distinction, and Dispeller of all calamities and hardships.	اَلْحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذی عَلا بِحَوْلِهِ، وَ دَنا بِطَوْلِهِ، مانِحِ كُلِّ غَنیمَة وَ فَضْل، وَ كاشِفِ كُلِّ عَظیمَة وَ اَزْل.
I praise Him for His continuous mercy and His copious bounties. I believe in Him as He is the First of all and He is Manifest. I seek guidance from Him as He is Near and is the Guide. I seek His succour as He is Mighty and Subduer. I depend upon Him as He is Sufficer and Supporter.	اَحْمَدُهُ عَلی عَواطِفِ كَرَمِهِ، وَ سَوابِغِ نِعَمِهِ، وَ اُومِنُ بِهِ اَوَّلاً بادِیاً، وَ اَسْتَهْدیهِ قَریباً هادِیاً، وَ اَسْتَعینُهُ قاهِراً قادِراً وَ اَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَیهِ كافیاً ناصِراً.
And I stand witness that Muhammad (blessing of Allah be on him and his progeny) is His slave and His Prophet. He sent him for enforcement of His commands, for exhausting His pleas and for presenting warnings (against eternal punishment).	وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّی اللهُ عَلَیهِ وَ آلِهِ عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ، اَرْسَلَهُ لاِِنْفاذِ اَمْرِهِ، وَ اِنْهاءِ عُذْرِهِ، وَ تَقْدیمِ نُذُرِهِ.
O creatures of Allah I advise you to have fear of Allah Who has furnished illustrations and Who has timed for you your lives.	اُوصیكُمْ عِبادَ اللهِ بِتَقْوَی اللهِ الَّذی ضَرَبَ لَكُمُ الْاَمْثالَ، وَ وَقَّتَ لَكُمُ الْاجالَ،
He has given you covering of dress and He has scattered for you livelihood. He has surrounded you with His knowledge.	وَاَلْبَسَكُمُ الرِّیاشَ، وَ اَرْفَعَ لَكُمُ الْمَعاشَ، وَ اَحاطَ بِكُمُ الْاحْصاءَ،
He has ordained rewards. He has bestowed upon you vast bounties and extensive gifts.	وَ اَرْصَدَ لَكُمُ الْجَزاءَ، وَ آثَرَكُمْ بِالنِّعَمِ السَّوابِغِ وَالرِّفَدِ الرَّوافِغِ،
He has warned you through far reaching arguments, and He has counted you by numbers. He has fixed for you ages (to live) in this place of test and house of instruction.	وَ اَنْذَرَكُمْ بِالْحُجَجِ الْبَوالِغِ، وَ اَحْصاكُمْ عَدَداً، وَ وَظَّفَ لَكُمْ مُدَداً فی قَرارِ خِبْرَةٍ وَ‌ دارِ عِبْرَةٍ،
You are on test in this world and have to render account about it.	اَنْتُمْ مُخْتَبَرُونَ فیها وَ مُحاسَبُونَ عَلَیها،،
Certainly this world is a dirty watering place and a muddy source of drinking. ts appearance is attractive and its inside is destructive. It is a deception, a vanishing reflection and a bent pillar.	فَاِنَّ الدُّنْیا رَنِقٌ مَشْرَبُها، رَدِغٌ مَشْرَعُها، یونِقُ مَنْظَرُها، وَ یوبِقُ مَخْبَرُها. غُرُورٌ حائِلٌ، وَ ضَوْءً آفِلٌ، وَ ظِلٌّ زائِلٌ، وَ سِنادٌ مائِلٌ.
When its despiser begins to like it and he who is not acquainted with it feels satisfied with it, then it raises and puts down its feet (in joy), entraps him in its trap, makes him the target of its arrows and puts round his neck the rope of death	حَتّی اِذا اَنِسَ نافِرُها، وَ اطْمَاَنَّ ناكِرُها، قَمَصَتْ بِاَرْجُلِها، وَ قَنَصَتْ بِاَحْبُلِها، وَ اَقْصَدَتْ بِاَسْهُمِها، وَ اَعْلَقَتِ الْمَرْءَ اَوْهاقَ الْمَنِیةِ،
taking him to the narrow grave and fearful abode in order to show him his place of stay and the recompense of his acts.	قائِدَةً لَهُ اِلی ضَنْكِ الْمَضْجَعِ، وَ وَحْشَةِ الْمَرْجِعِ، وَ مُعاینَةِ الْمَحَلِّ، وَ ثَوابِ الْعَمَلِ.
This goes on from generation to generation. Neither death stops from cutting them asunder nor do the survivors keep aloof from committing of sins.	وَ كَذلِكَ الْخَلَفُ یعْقُبُ السَّلَفَ، لاتُقْلِعُ الْمَنِیةُ اخْتِراماً، وَلایرْعَوِی الْباقُونَ اجْتِراماً،
They are emulating each other and proceeding in groups towards the final objective and the rendezvous of death,	یحْتَذُونَ مِثالاً، وَ یمْضُونَ اَرْسالاً اِلی غایةِ الانْتِهاءِ، وَ صَیورِ الْفَناءِ.
till when matters come to a close, the world dies and resurrection draws near. Allah would take them out from the corners of the graves,	حَتّی اِذا تَصَرَّمَتِ الْاُمُورُ، وَ تَقَضَّتِ الدُّهُورُ، وَ اَزِقَ النُّشُورُ، اَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْ ضَرائِحِ الْقُبُورِ،
the nests of birds. the dens of beasts and the centres of death. They hasten towards His command and run towards the place fixed for their final return	وَ اَوْكارِ الطُّیورِ، وَ اَوْجِرَةِ السِّباعِ، وَ مَطارِحِ الْمَهالِكِ، سِراعاً اِلی اَمْرِهِ، مُهْطِعینَ اِلی مَعادِهِ،
group by group, quiet, standing and arrayed in rows. They will be within Allah’s sight and will hear every one who would call them.	رَعیلاً صُمُوتاً، قِیاماً صُفُوفاً، ینْفِذُهُمُ الْبَصَرُ، وَ یسْمِعُهُمُ الدَّاعی،
They will have the dress of helplessness and covering of submission and indignity.	عَلَیهِمْ لَبُوسُ الاِسْتِكانَةِ، وَ ضَرَعُ الاِسْتِسْلامِ وَ الذِّلَّةِ
(At this time) contrivances would disappear, desires would be cut, hearts would sink quietly, voices would be curbed down, sweat would choke the throat,	قَدْ ضَلَّتِ الْحِیلُ، وَ انْقَطَعَ الاَمَلُ، وَ هَوَتِ الاَفْئِدَةُ كاظِمَةً، وَخَشَعَتِ الْاصْواتُ مُهَینِمَةً، وَاَلْجَمَ الْعَرَقُ،
fear would increase and ears would resound with the thundering voice of the announcer calling towards the final judgement, award of recompense, striking of punishment and paying of reward.	وَ عَظُمَ الشَّفَقُ، وَ اُرْعِدَتِ الْاسْماعُ لِزَبْرَةِ الدّاعی اِلی فَصْلِ الْخِطابِ، وَ مُقایضَةِ الْجَزاءِ، وَ نَكالِ الْعِقابِ، وَ نَوالِ الثَّوابِ.
People have been created as a proof of (His) power, have been brought up with authority, they are made to die through pangs,	عِبادٌ مَخْلُوقُونَ اقْتِداراً، وَ مَرْبُوبُونَ اقْتِساراً، وَ مَقْبُوضُونَ احْتِضاراً، وَ مُضَمَّنُونَ اَجْداثاً،
and placed in graves where they turn into crumbs. Then they would be resurrected one by one, awarded their recompense and would have to account for their actions, each one separately.	وَ كائِنُونَ رُفاتاً، وَ مَبْعُوثُونَ اَفْراداً، وَ مَدینُونَ جَزاءً، وَ مُمَیزُونَ حِساباً.
They had been allowed time to seek deliverance, had been shown the right path and had been allowed to live and seek favours, the darkness of doubts had been removed,	قَدْ اُمْهِلُوا فی طَلَبِ الْمَخْرَجِ، وَ هُدُوا سَبیلَ الْمَنْهَجِ، وَ عُمِّرُوا مَهَلَ الْمُسْتَعْتِبِ، وَ كُشِفَتْ عَنْهُمْ سُدَفُ الرِّیبِ،
and they had been let free in this period of life as a training place in order to make preparation for the race on the Day of Judgement, to search for the objective with thoughtfulness, to get time necessary to secure benefits and provide for the next place of stay.	وَ خُلُّوا لِمِضْمارِ الْجِیادِ، وَ رَوِیةِ الْارْتِیادِ، وَ اَناةِ الْمُقْتَبِسِ الْمُرْتادِ فی مُدَّةِ الْاجَلِ وَ مُضْطَرَبِ الْمَهَلِ.
How appropriate are these illustrations and effective admonitions provided they are received by pure hearts, open ears, firm views and sharp wits.	فَیا لَها اَمْثالاً صائِبَةً، وَ مَواعِظَ شافِیةً، لَوْ صادَفَتْ قُلُوباً زاكِیةً، وَ اَسْماعاً واعِیةً، وَ آراءً عازِمَةً، وَاَلْباباً حازِمَةً.
Fear Allah like him who listened (good advice) and bowed before it, when he committed sin he admitted it, when he felt fear he acted virtuously, when he apprehended he hastened (towards good acts), when he believed he performed virtuous acts,	فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ تَقِیةَ مَنْ سَمِعَ فَخَشَعَ، وَ اقْتَرَفَ فَاعْتَرَفَ، وَ وَجِلَ فَعَمِلَ، وَ حاذَرَ فَبادَرَ، وَ اَیقَنَ فَاَحْسَنَ،
when he was asked to take lesson (from the happenings of this world) he did take the lesson, when he was asked to desist he abstained (from evil),	وَ عُبِّرَ فَاعْتَبَرَ، وَ حُذِّرَ فَحَذِرَ، وَ زُجِرَ فَازْدَجَرَ، .
when he responded to the call (of Allah) he leaned (towards him), when he turned back (to evil) he repented, when he followed he almost imitated and when he was shown (the right path) he saw it.	وَ اَجابَ فَاَنابَ، وَ رَجَعَ فَتابَ، وَ اقْتَدی فَاحْتَذی، وَ اُرِی فَرَأی
Such a man was busy in search of truth and got rid (of the worldly evils) by running away. He collected provision (of good acts) for himself, purified his inner self, built for the next world,	فَاَسْرَعَ طالِباً، وَ نَجا هارِباً، فَاَفَادَ ذَخیرَةً، وَ اَطابَ سَریرَةً، وَ عَمَّرَ مَعاداً،
and took with himself provision for the day of his departure, keeping in view his journey, his requirement and the position of his need. He sent ahead of him for the abode of his stay (in the next world).	وَ اسْتَظْهَرَ زاداً لِیوْمِ رَحیلِهِ، وَ وَجْهِ سَبیلِهِ، وَ حالِ حاجَتِهِ، وَ مَوْطِنِ فاقَتِهِ، وَ قَدَّمَ اَمامَهُ لِدارِ مُقامِهِ.
O creatures of Allah, fear Allah keeping in view the reason why He created you and be afraid of Him to the extent He has advised you to do.	فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عِبادَ اللهِ جِهَةَ ما خَلَقُكُمْ لَهُ، وَ احْذَرُوا مِنْهُ كُنْهَ ما حَذَّرَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ،
Make yourself deserve what He has promised you, by having confidence in the truth of His promise and entertaining fear for the Day of Judgement.	وَ اسْتَحِقُّوا مِنْهُ ما اَعَدَّ لَكُمْ بِالتَّنَجُّزِ لِصِدْقِ میعادِهِ، وَالْحَذَرِ مِنْ هَوْلِ مَعادِهِ.
He has made for you ears to preserve what is important, eyes to have sight in place of blindness	جَعَلَ لَكُمْ اَسْماعاً لِتَعِی ما عَناها، وَ اَبْصاراً لِتَجْلُوَ عَنْ عَشاها،
and limbs which consist of many (smaller) parts, whose curves are in proportion with the moulding of their shapes and lengths of their ages,	وَ اَشْلاءً جامِعَةً لِاَعْضائِها، مُلائِمَةً لِاَحْنائِها، فی تَرْكیبِ صُوَرِها، وَ مُدَدِ عُمُرِها،
and also bodies that are sustaining themselves and hearts that are busy in search of their food, besides other big bounties, obliging bestowings and fortresses of safety.	بِاَبْدان قائِمَة بِاَرْفاقِها، وَ قُلُوب رائِدَة لِاَرْزاقِها، فی مُجَلِّلاتِ نِعَمِهِ، وَ مُوجِباتِ مِنَنِهِ، وَ حَواجِزِ عافِیتِهِ.
He has fixed for you ages that are not known to you. He has retained for you remains of the past people for your instruction. Those people enjoyed themselves fully and were completely unhampered.	وَ قَدَّرَ لَكُمْ اَعْماراً سَتَرَها عَنْكُمْ، وَ خَلَّفَ لَكُمْ عِبَراً مِنْ آثارِ الْماضینَ قَبْلَكُمْ: مِنْ مُسْتَمْتَعِ خَلاقِهِمْ، وَ مُسْتَفْسَحِ خِناقِهِمْ،
Death overtook them before (satisfaction of) their desires, from which the hands of death separated them. They did not provide for themselves during health of their bodies, and did not take lesson during their youth.	اَرْهَقَتْهُمُ الْمَنایا دُونَ الْامالِ، وَ شَذَّبَهُمْ عَنْها تَخَرُّمُ الْاجالِ. لَمْ یمْهَدُوا فی سَلامَةِ الْابْدانِ، وَ لَمْ یعْتَبِرُوا فی اُنُفِ الْاوانِ.
Are these people who are in youth waiting for the backbending old age?	فَهَلْ ینْتَظِرُ اَهْلُ بَضاضَةِ الشَّبابِ اِلاّ حَوانِی الْهَرَمِ؟
and those enjoying fresh health waiting for ailments? and these living persons looking for the hour of death?	وَ اَهْلُ غَضارَةِ الصِّحَّةِ اِلاَّ نَوازِلَ السَّقَمِ؟ وَ اَهْلُ مُدَّةِ الْبَقاءِ اِلاّ آوِنَةَ الْفَناءِ؟
When the hour of departure will be close and the journey at hand, with pangs of grief and trouble, suffering of sorrows and suffocation of saliva,	مَعَ قُرْبِ الزِّیالِ، وَ اُزُوفِ الْانْتِقالِ، وَ عَلَزِ الْقَلَقِ، وَ اَلَمِ الْمَضَضِ، وَ غُصَصِ الْجَرَضِ،
and the time would arrive for calling relations and friends for help and changing sides on the bed.	وَ تَلَفُّتِ الْاسْتِغاثَةِ بِنُصْرَةِ الْحَفَدَةِ وَالْاقْرِباءِ وَ الْاعِزَّةِ وَ الْقُرَناءِ.
Could then the near ones stop death, or the mourning women do any good?	فَهَلْ دَفَعَتِ الْاقارِبُ؟ اَوْ نَفَعَتِ النَّواحِبُ؟
Rather, he will be left in the graveyard, a hostage (to his sins) and alone in his constricted grave,	وَ قَدْ غُودِرَ فی مَحَلَّةِ الْامْواتِ رَهیناً، وَ فی ضیقِ الْمَضْجَعِ وَحیداً،
his skin pierced all over by reptiles, and his freshness destroyed by these tribulations. Storms have removed his traces and calamities have obliterated even his signs.	قَدْ هَتَكَتِ الْهَوامُّ جِلْدَتَهُ، وَ اَبْلَتِ النَّواهِكُ جِدَّتَهُ، وَ عَفَتِ الْعَواصِفُ آثارَهُ، وَ مَحَا الْحَدَثانُ مَعالِمَهُ،
Fresh bodies have turned thin and withered and bones have become rotten. The spirits are burdened with the weight of sins and have become conscious of the unknown things.	وَ صارَتِ الْاجْسادُ شَحِبَةً بَعْدَ بَضَّتِها، وَ الْعِظامُ نَخِرَةً بَعْدَ قُوَّتِها، وَ الْارْواحُ مُرْتَهَنَةً بِثِقَلِ اَعْبائِها، مُوقِنَةً بِغَیبِ اَنْبائِها،
But now neither the good acts can be added to nor can evil acts be atoned for by repentance.	لاتُسْتَزادُ مِنْ صالِحِ عَمَلِها، وَ لاتُسْتَعْتَبُ مِنْ سَییءِ زَلَلِها.
Are you not sons, fathers, brothers and relations of these dead? Are you not to follow their footsteps and pass by their paths?	اَوَلَسْتُمْ اَبْناءَ الْقَوْمِ وَ الْاباءَ؟ وَ اِخْوانَهُمْ وَ الْاقْرِباءَ؟ تَحْتَذُونَ اَمْثِلَتَهُمْ، وَ تَرْكَبُونَ قِدَّتَهُمْ، وَ تَطَؤُونَ جادَّتَهُمْ؟
But hearts are still unmoved, heedless of guidance and moving on wrong lines,	فَالْقُلُوبُ قاسِیةٌ عَنْ حَظِّها، لاهِیةٌ عَنْ رُشْدِها، سالِكَةٌ فی غَیرِ مِضْمارِها،
as though the addressee is someone else, and as though the correct way is to amass worldly gains.	كَاَنَّ الْمَعْنِی سِواها، و كَاَنَّ الرُّشْدَ فی اِحْرازِ دُنْیاها.
And know that you have to pass over the pathway (of Sirat) where steps waver, feet slip away and there are fearful dangers at every step.	وَ اعْلَمُوا اَنَّ مَجازَكُمْ عَلَی الصِّراطِ، وَ مَزالِقِ دَحْضِهِ، وَ اَهاویلِ زَلَلِهِ، وَ تاراتِ اَهْوالِهِ.
O creatures of Allah, fear Allah, like the fearing of wise man whom the thought (of next world) has turned away from other matters,	فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عِبادَاللهِ تَقِیةَ ذِی لُبٍّ شَغَلَ التَّفَكُّرُ قَلْبَهُ،
fear (of Allah) has afflicted his body with trouble and pain, his engagement in the night prayer has turned even his short sleep into awakening,	وَ اَنْصَبَ الْخَوْفُ بَدَنَهُ، وَ اَسْهَرَ التَّهَجُّدُ غِرارَ نَوْمِهِ،
hope (of eternal recompense) keeps him thirsty in the day, abstention has curbed his desires, and remembrance of Allah is ever moving his tongue. He entertains fear before dangers.	وَ اَظْمَاَ الرَّجاءُ هَواجِرَ یوْمِهِ، وَ ظَلَفَ الزُّهْدُ شَهَواتِهِ، وَ اَرْجَفَ الذِّكْرُ بِلِسانِهِ، وَ قَدَّمَ الْخَوْفَ لِاَمانِهِ،
He avoids uneven ways in favour of clear ones. He follows the shortest route to secure his purpose, wishfulness does not twist his thinking	وَ تَنَكَّبَ الْمَخالِجَ عَنْ وَضَحِ السَّبیلِ، وَ سَلَكَ اَقْصَدَ الْمَسالِكِ اِلَی النَّهْجِ الْمَطْلُوبِ، وَ لَمْ تَفْتِلْهُ فاتِلاتُ الْغُرُورِ،
and ambiguities do not blind his eyes. He enjoys deep sleep and passes his day happily because of the happiness of good tidings and pleasure of (eternal bounties).	وَ لَمْ تَعْمَ عَلَیهِ مُشْتَبِهاتُ الْامُورِ، ظافِراً بِفَرْحَةِ الْبُشْری، وَ راحَةِ النُّعْمی، فی اَنْعَمِ نَوْمِهِ، وَ آمَنِ یوْمِهِ،
He passes the pathway of this world in praiseworthy manner. He reaches the next world with virtues. He hastens (towards virtue) out of fear (for vice). He moves briskly during the short time (of life in this world).	قَدْ عَبَرَ مَعْبَرَ الْعاجِلَةِ حَمیداً، وَ قَدَّمَ زادَ الْاجِلَةِ سَعیداً، وَ بادَرَ مِنْ وَجَل، وَ اَكْمَشَ فی مَهَل،
He devotes himself in seeking (eternal good), he runs away from evil. During today he is mindful of tomorrow, and keeps the future in his view.	وَ رَغِبَ فی طَلَب، وَ ذَهَبَ عَنْ هَرَب، وَ راقَبَ فی یوْمِهِ غَدَهُ، وَ نَظَرَ قَدَماً اَمامَهُ.
Certainly Paradise is the best reward and achievement, while hell is appropriate punishment and suffering.	فَكَفی بِالْجَنَّةِ ثَواباً وَ نَوالاً، وَ كَفی بِالنّارِ عِقاباً وَ وَبالاً،
Allah is the best Avenger and Helper and the Qur’an is the best argument and confronter.	وَ كَفی بِاللهِ مُنْتَقِماً وَ نَصیراً، وَ كَفی بِالْكِتابِ حَجیجاً وَ خَصیماً.
I enjoin upon you fear of Allah Who has left no excuse against what He has warned, has exhausted argument (of guidance) about the (right) path He has shown.	وصیكُمْ بِتَقْوَی اللهِ الَّذی اَعْذَرَ بِما اَنْذَرَ، وَ احْتَجَّ بِما نَهَجَ،
He has warned you of the enemy that steals into hearts and stealthily speaks into ears,	وَ حَذَّرَكُمْ عَدُواًّ نَفَذَ فِی الصُّدُورِ خَفِیاً، وَ نَفَثَ فِی الْاذانِ نَجِیاً،
and thereby misguides and brings about destruction, makes (false) promises and keeps under wrong impression, he represents evil sins in attractive shape, and shows as light even serious crimes.	فَاَضَلَّ وَ اَرْدی، وَ وَعَدَ فَمَنّی، وَ زَینَ سَیئاتِ الْجَرائِمِ، وَ هَوَّنَ مُوبِقاتِ الْعَظائِمِ،
When he has deceived his comrades and exhausted the pledge he begins to find fault with what he presented as good, and considers serious what he had shown as light, and threatens from what he had shown as safe.	حَتّی اِذَا اسْتَدْرَجَ قَرینَتَهُ، وَ اسْتَغْلَقَ رَهینَتَهُ، اَنْكَرَ ما زَینَ، وَ اسْتَعْظَمَ ماهَوَّنَ، وَ حَذَّرَ ما اَمَّنَ.
Or look at man whom Allah has created in the dark wombs and layers of curtains	اَمْ هذَا الَّذی اَنْشَأَهُ فی ظُلُماتِ الْارْحامِ، وَ شُغُفِ الْاسْتارِ:
from what was overflowing semen, then shapeless clot, then embryo, then suckling infant, then child and then fully grown up young man.	نُطْفَةً دِهاقاً، وَ عَلَقَةً مُحاقاً، وَ جَنیناً وَ راضِعاً، وَ وَلیداً وَ یافِعاً.
hen He gave him heart with memory, tongue to talk and eye to see with, in order that he may take lesson (from whatever is around him) and understand it and follow the admonition and abstain from evil.	ثُمَّ مَنَحَهُ قَلْباً حافِظاً، وَ لِساناً لافِظاً، وَ بَصَراً لاحِظاً، لِیفْهَمَ مُعْتَبِراً، وَ یقْصِرَ مُزْدَجِراً.
When he attained the normal growth and his structure gained its average development he fell in self-conceit and got perplexed.	حَتّی اِذا قامَ اعْتِدالُهُ، وَ اسْتَوی مِثالُهُ، نَفَرَ مُسْتَكْبِراً، وَخَبَطَ سادِراً،
He drew bucketfuls of his desires, got immersed in fulfilling his wishes for pleasures of the world and his (sordid) aims. He did not fear any evil nor got frightened of any apprehension.	ماتِحاً فی غَرْبِ هَواهُ، كادِحاً سَعْیاً لِدُنْیاهُ، فی لَذّاتِ طَرَبِهِ، وَ بَدَواتِ اَرَبِهِ، لایحْتَسِبُ رَزِیةً، وَلایخْشَعُ تَقِیةً،
He died infatuated with his vices. He spent his short life in rubbish pursuits. He earned no reward nor did he fulfil any obligation.	فَماتَ فی فِتْنَتِهِ غَریراً، وَ عاشَ فی هَفْوَتِهِ یسیراً، لَمْ یفِدْ عِوَضاً، وَلَمْ یقْضِ مُفْتَرَضاً.
Fatal illness overtook him while he was still in his enjoyments and perplexed him. He passed the night in wakefulness in the hardships of grief and pricking of pains	دَهِمَتْهُ فَجَعاتُ الْمَنِیةِ فی غُبَّرِ جِماحِهِ، وَ سَنَنِ مِراحِهِ، فَظَلَّ سادِراً، وَ باتَ ساهِراً، فی غَمَراتِ الْالامِ،
and ailments in the presence of real brother, loving father, wailing mother, crying sister,	وَ طَوارِقِ الْاوْجاعِ وَالْاسْقامِ، بَینَ اَخ شَقیق، وَ والِد شَفیق، وَ داعِیة بِالْوَیلِ جَزَعاً، وَلادِمَة لِلصَّدْرِ قَلَقاً،
while he himself was under maddening uneasiness, serious senselessness, fearful cries, suffocating pains, anguish of suffocating sufferings and the pangs of death.	وَالْمَرْءُ فی سَكْرَة مُلْهِیة، وَ غَمْرَة كارِثَة، وَ اَنَّة مُوجِعَة، وَ جَذْبَة مُكْرِبَة، وَ سَوْقَة مُتْعِبَة.
Thereafter he was clad in the shroud while he remained quiet and thoroughly submissive to others.	ثُمَّ اُدْرِجَ فی اَكْفانِهِ مُبْلِساً، وَ جُذِبَ مُنْقاداً سَلِساً،
Then he was placed on planks in such a state that he had been down-trodden by hardships and thinned by ailments.	ثُمَّ اُلْقِی عَلَی الْاعْوادِ، رَجیعَ وَصَب وَ نِضْوَ سَقَم،
The crowd of young men and helping brothers carried him to his house of loneliness where all connections of visitors are severed.	تَحْمِلُهُ حَفَدَةُ الْوِلْدانِ وَ حَشَدَةُ الْاخْوانِ، اِلی‌دار غُرْبَتِهِ، وَ مُنْقَطَعِ زَوْرَتِهِ.
Thereafter those who accompanied him went away and those who were wailing for him returned and then he was made to sit in his grave for terrifying questioning and slippery examination.	حَتّی اِذَا انْصَرَفَ الْمُشَیعُ، وَ رَجَعَ الْمُتَفَجِّعُ، اُقْعِدَ فی حُفْرَتِهِ نَجِیاً لِبَهْتَةِ السُّؤالِ وَ عَثْرَةِ الْامْتِحانِ.
The great calamity of that place is the hot water and entry into Hell, flames of eternal Fire and intensity of blazes.	وَ اَعْظَمُ ما هُنالِكَ بَلِیةً نُزُولُ الْحَمیمِ، وَ تَصْلِیةُ الْجَحیمِ، وَ فَوْراتُ السَّعیرِ، وَ سَوْراتُ الزَّفیرِ.
There is no resting period, no gap for ease, no power to intervene, no death to bring about solace and no sleep to make him forget pain. He rather lies under several kinds of deaths and moment-to-moment punishment.	لا فَتْرَةٌ مُریحَةٌ، وَ لادَعَةٌ مُزیحَةٌ، وَ لاقُوَّةٌ حاجِزَةٌ، وَ لامَوْتَةٌ ناجِزَةٌ، وَ لاسِنَةٌ مُسْلِیةٌ، بَینَ اَطْوارِ الْمَوْتاتِ، وَ عَذابِ السّاعاتِ.
We seek refuge with Allah. O creatures of Allah! Where are those who were allowed (long) ages to live and they enjoyed bounty? They were taught and they learnt;	اِنّا بِاللهِ عائِذُونَ. عِبادَ اللهِ! اَینَ الَّذینَ عُمِّرُوا فَنَعِمُوا، وَ عُلِّمُوا فَفَهِمُوا،
they were given time and they passed it in vain; they were kept healthy and they forgot (their duty). They were allowed long period (of life), were handsomely provided, were warned of grievous punishment and were promised big rewards.	وَ اُنْظِرُوا فَلَهَوْا، وَ سُلِّمُوا فَنَسُوا؟ اُمْهِلُوا طَویلاً، وَ مُنِحُوا جَمیلاً، وَ حُذِّرُوا اَلیماً، وَ وُعِدُوا جَسیماً؟!
You should avoid sins that lead to destruction and vices that attract wrath (of Allah). O people who possess eyes and ears and health and wealth!	اِحْذَرُوا الذُّنُوبَ الْمُوَرِّطَةَ، وَالْعُیوبَ الْمُسْخِطَةَ. اُولِی الْابْصارِ وَ الْاسْماعِ، وَالْعافِیةِ وَالْمَتاعِ!
Is there any place of protection, any shelter of safety, or asylum or haven, or occasion to run away or to come back (to this world)? If not,	هَلْ مِنْ مَناصٍ اَوْخَلاصٍ؟ اَوْ مَعاذٍ اَوْ مَلاذٍ؟ اَوْ فِرار اَوْ مَحار اَمْ لا؟
“How are you then turned away”	فَاَنّی تُؤْفَكُونَ؟
and whither are you averting? By what things have you been deceived?	اَمْ اَینَ تُصْرَفُونَ؟ اَمْ بِماذا تَغْتَرُّونَ،
Certainly, the share of every one of you from this earth is just a piece of land equal to his own stature and size where he would lie on his cheeks covered with dust.	وَ اِنَّما حَظُّ اَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الْارْضِ ذاتِ الطُّولِ وَ الْعَرْضِ قیدُ قَدِّهِ، مُتَعَفِّراً عَلی خَدِّهِ.
The present is an opportune moment for acting, O creatures of Allah, since the neck is free from the loop, and spirit is also unfettered, now you have time for seeking guidance: you are in ease of body;	اَلْانَ عِبادَ اللهِ، وَ الْخِناقُ مُهْمَلٌ، وَالرُّوحُ مُرْسَلٌ فی فَینَةِ الْارْشادِ، وَ راحَةِ الْاجْسادِ،
you can assemble in crowds, the rest of life is before you; you have opportunity of acting by will; there is opportunity for repentance, and peaceful circumstances.	وَ باحَةِ الْاحْتِشادِ، وَ مَهَلِ الْبَقِیةِ، وَ اُنُفِ الْمَشِیةِ، وَ اِنْظارِ التَّوْبَةِ، وَ انْفِساحِ الْحَوْبَةِ،
(But you should act) before you are overtaken by narrow circumstances and distress, or fear and weakness, before the approach of the awaited death and before seizure by the Almighty, the Powerful.	قَبْلَ الضَّنْكِ وَالْمَضیقِ، وَ الرَّوْعِ وَ الزُّهُوقِ، وَ قَبْلَ قُدُومِ الْغائِبِ الْمُنْتَظَرِ، وَ اَخْذَةِ الْعَزیزِ الْمُقْتَدِرِ.
al-Sayyid al-Radi says: It is related that when Amir al-mu’minin delivered this sermon people began to tremble, tears flowed from their eyes and their hearts were frightened. Some people call this sermon the Brilliant Sermon (al-Khutbatu’l-Gharra’)	قال الشريف: وفي الخبر: أنّه (عليه السلام) لمّا خطب بهذه الخطبة اقشعرت لها الجلود، وبكت العيون، ورجفت القلوب. ومن الناس من يسمي هذه الخطبة: «الغراء».