Nahj al-Balagha (Peak of Eloquence)
نهج البلاغة
Letter #23
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) قاله قبيل موته على سبيل الوصية لما ضربه ابن ملجم لعنه الله
وَصِيَّتِي لَكُمْ: أَنْ لَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِاللهِ شَيْئاً، وَمُحَمَّدٌ (صلى الله عليه وآله) فَلاَ تُضَيِّعُوا سُنَّتَهُ، أَقِيمُوا هذَيْنِ الْعَمُودَينِ، وَأَوْقِدُوا هَذَيْنِ الْمِصْبَاحَيْنِ وَخَلَاكُمْ ذَمٌّ.
أَنَا بِالْأَمْسِ صَاحِبُكُمْ، وَالْيَوْمَ عِبْرَةٌ لَكُمْ، وَغَداً مُفَارِقُكُمْ، إِنْ أَبْقَ فَأَنَا وَلِيُّ دَمِي، وَإِنْ أَفْنَ فَالْفَنَاءُ مِيعَادِي، وَإِنْ أَعْفُ فَالْعَفْوُ لِي قُرْبَةٌ، وَهُوَ لَكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ، فَاعْفُوا ﴿أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لَكُمْ﴾.
وَاللهِ مَا فَجَأَنِي مِنَ الْمَوْتِ وَارِدٌ كَرِهْتُهُ، وَلَا طَالِعٌ أَنْكَرْتُهُ، وَمَا كُنْتُ إِلَّا كَقَارِب وَرَدَ، وَطَالِب وَجَدَ، ﴿وَمَا عِندَ اللهِ خَيْرٌ لِّلْأَبْرَارِ﴾
قال السيد الشريف رضي الله عته : أقول: وقد مضى بعض هذا الكلام فيما تقدّم من الخطب، إلّا أنّ فيه هاهنا زيادة أوجبت تكريره.
English Translation
Instructions made shortly before his death when he had been fatally wounded by a blow from the sword of (‘Abd ar-Raḥmān) Ibn Muljam (the curse of Allāh be upon him).
I enjoin upon you as my dying wish not to regard anything by way of partner with Allāh, not to disregard the sunnah of Muḥammad (may Allāh bless him and his descendants), establish these two pillars and light these two lamps. You will then be free from evil.
Yesterday I was your companion and today I am (just) a lesson for you, while tomorrow I shall be leaving you. If I survive I shall be the master of my blood (to avenge or not to avenge it), and if I die then death is a promised event. If I forgive, it is for me a means of nearness (to Allāh) and for you a good act. Therefore, do forgive. What! Love you not that Allāh should forgive you? (Qur’ān, 24:22)
By Allāh, this sudden death is not an event that I dislike, nor is it an accident that I hate. I am just like a night traveller who reaches the spring (in the morning) or like or seeker who secures (his aim): And whatever is with Allāh is the best for the righteous ones. (Qur’ān, 3:198)
as-Sayyid ar-Raḍī says: A part of this utterance has already appeared in the sermons but it was found necessary to record it again because of some additional matter.
اردو ترجمہ
امیر المؤمنین حضرت علی بن ابی طالبؑ کا مکتوبِ گرامی نمبر 23: مکتوب 23: His will shortly before his death۔
Topics & Themes:
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