Imam Ali (a.s.)
said:
Do not be among those
people who want to gain good returns without working hard for them, who have
long hopes and keep on postponing repentance and penance, who talk like pious
persons but run after vicious pleasures. Do not be among those who are not
satisfied if they get more in life and are not content if their lot in life’s
pleasures is less (they are never satisfied), who never thank Allah for what
they get and keep on constantly demanding increase in what is left with them:
who advise others for such good deeds that they themselves refrain from; who
appreciate good people but do not follow their ways of life; who on account of
their excessive sins hate death but do not give up the sinful ways of life; who,
if fallen ill, repent their ways of life and on regaining their health fearlessly readopt the same frivolous
ways; who get despondent and lose all
hopes, but on gaining health, become arrogant and careless; who, if faced with
misfortunes, dangers or afflictions, turn to Allah and keep on beseeching Him for
relief and when relieved or favored with comfort and ease, they are deceived by the comfortable
conditions they found themselves in, forget Allah and forsake prayers ; whose
minds are allured by day dreams and forlorn hopes and who abhor to face
realities of life; who fear for others the enormous repercussions of vices and sins
but for their own deeds expect very high rewards or very light disciplinary
actions. Riches make such people arrogant, rebellious and wicked, and poverty
makes them despondent and lethargic. If they have to work, they work lazily and
if they put up a demand they do it stubbornly.
Under the influence
of inordinate cravings, they commit sins in quick succession and keep on
postponing repentance. Calamities and adversities make them give up
the distinguished characteristics of Muslims (patience, hope in future and work
for improvement of circumstances). They advise people with narrations of events
and facts but do not take any lesson from it. They are good at teachings but
bad at practice, therefore they always talk of lofty deeds but their actions
belie their words. They are keen to acquire temporal pleasures but are careless
and slow to achieve permanent (Divine) benefits. They think good for themselves
the things which are actually injurious to them and regard harmful the things
which really benefit them. They are afraid of death but waste their time and do
not resort to good deeds before death overtakes them. The vices which they regard
as enormous sins for others, they consider as minor shortcomings for
themselves. Similarly, they attach great importance to their obedience to the
orders of Allah and belittle similar actions in others. Therefore, they often criticize
others and speak very highly of their own deeds. They are happy to spend time
in society of rich persons, wasting it in luxuries and vices but are averse to
employing for useful purposes in the company of poor and pious people: They are
quick and free to pass verdicts against others but they never pass a verdict
against their own vicious deeds. They force others to obey them but they never
obey Allah. They collect their dues carefully but they never pay the dues they
owe. They are not afraid of Allah but
fear powerful men.
These are the Golden Words of the man who was born in the
House of Allah and was martyred in the House of Allah, who was nurtured by “The
Perfect Intellect”, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s), who named him as “The
Gateway of Knowledge”, who attained perfection in every walk of life. We should
review his invaluable pearls of wisdom frequently!
Reproduced from “The Peak of Eloquence”
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