In response to a man’s request, the Commander of the
Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) said:
Do not be like him who, hopes for (Bliss in) the next
life without action, and delays repentance by lengthening desires, who utters
words like ascetics in this world but acts like those who are eager for it; if
he is allowed something from it he does not feel satisfied, if he is denied he
is not content ; he is not grateful for what he gets and covets for increase in
whatever remains with him; he refrains others but not himself, he commands
others for what he himself does not do; he loves the virtuous but does not
behave like them, he hates the vicious but himself is one of them; he dislikes
death but because of the excess of his sins but adheres to that for which he is
afraid of death.
If he falls ill he is remorseful; if he is healthy he
feels secure and indulges in amusements; when he recovers from illness he feels
vain about himself; when he afflicted he loses hope; if distress befalls him he
prays like a bewildered man; when he feels ease of life he falls into deceit he
turns his face away; his heart overpowers him
by means of imaginary things while he cannot control his heart by his
conviction; for others he is concerned about small sins, but for himself he expects
more reward than his performance; if he
becomes wealthy he becomes self-conceited and falls into vice; if he becomes poor he despairs
and becomes weak; he falls short when doing a good thing but goes too far when
he is begging; when passion overtakes him he is quick in committing sin but
delays repentance; if hardship befalls him he goes beyond the cannons of the
(Islamic) community; he describes instructive events but does not take instruction
himself; he preaches at length but does not accept any preaching for himself;
he is tall in speaking but short in action; he aspires for things that will
perish and ignore things that will last for good; he regards profit as loss and
loss as profit; he fears death but does nothing in its anticipation.
He regards sins of others as big but considers the same thing
for himself as small; if he does something in obedience to Allah he considers
it much but if others do the same thing he
considers it small; he therefore rebukes others but flatters himself;
entertainment in the company of the wealthy is dearer to him than remembrance (of
Allah ) with the poor; he passes
verdicts against others for his own
interest and does do so against himself for others interests; he guides others but
misguides himself;; he is obeyed by others but he himself disobeys (Allah); he
seeks fulfillment (of obligations towards himself); he fears the people (and
acts) for other than his Lord (Allah) and does not fear his Lord in his
dealings with the people.
Source: Nahjul Balagha by Ayatullah Sharif Razi (r.a.)
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