The eighth sermon of Nahj al-Balagha
The summary of The eighth sermon of Nahj al-Balagha:
. Imam Ali (AS), introduces this world as a transient and fleeting place.
. a warning to worldly people and the ones who are captivated by the material joys and glamor.
. inviting to abstention of the world and pietism.
. the significance of piousness and simple living as the way of rescue from lures of this world.
. stating that all of this world wealth, state and joys are temporary.
. insisting on this point that this world is a medium for experiment and it should not be the main goal of the life.
. remembering being close of the death and mortality of the human being.
. insisting on this point that the finale of the human being is auditorship at the judgmental day.
The time of performing the sermon:
The age of caliphate of Imam Ali (AS); between 35 and 40 A.H.
The audiences of the sermon:
The publicity of Muslims; specially people of Kufa
The purpose of the sermon:
Blame of being worldly: Imam Ali (AS) strongly criticizes captivation of people to this world and remembers this world is a mirage which disappears quickly.
Invitation to pious and piousness: the aim of Imam Ali (AS) from performing this sermon, was to invite people to piousness, simple life and abnegation of glamor of this world; in order to they, instead of dealing with this world issues, think about the other world and divine pietism.
Remembrance of the death and the other world: Imam Ali (AS) reminds people of the death and perishability of this world and insists this world is the place of passing and eventually, everybody will go to the other world; where people should be responsive about their own deeds.
This sermon, was performed to warn the worldly people and encouraging people to have piety and abnegate the lures of this world.
The chosen sentences:
. this world is like a shadow which passes quickly and is like a mirage which disappears.
. the wealth and state of this world is like a passing cloud which soon will disappear.
.be aware! Death is lurking for you and there is no escape way from it.
.do have piety and abandon this world! The other world is your eternal dwelling.
