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67 67 Chapter 3 Counsel ʿAlī said: You have been created by God’s power and are ruled by his might. You will be placed in the grave and turn to dry bones. Every one of you will be resurrected alone and held accountable for your deeds. May God have mercy on the man who, having sinned, confesses. Fearful of punishment in the hereafter, he performs good deeds. Dreading it, he hastens to the straight path. Having been given a long life, he takes heed. warned, he is driven back from error. Answering, he comes back to God. when he wavers, he repents. when he emulates, he takes good people as an example. He hastens to seek knowledge. He flees from error and is saved. He gives away entire treasures. He purifies his heart. He prepares for the return, gathering provisions for his day of departure when he will set forth on his path, for his moment of need and for his time of want. He assembles supplies beforehand to take to his final abode. Prime your souls while your bodies are sound. Think: Do people fresh and youthful wait for anything but the humbling ravages of age? People of glowing health for anything but the hard blows of sickness? People still on earth for anything but the arrival of sudden annihilation? And the drawing nigh of death? And the approach of the passing? And the looming closeness of the end? And the piercing moans? And the sweating brow? And the dilating nostrils? And the insomnia of anxiety? And the snuffing out of the last spark of life? And the pain of burning grief? And the choke of the death rattle? Servants of God! You, and all things with you in this world, are on the path of those who have gone before—people who lived longer than you, who were stronger in battle, and who had more prosperous homes and longer lasting monuments. After a long run of power, their voices have become extinguished, their bodies decayed, their homes emptied, their monuments effaced. In exchange for fortified palaces and lavish thrones and cushions, 3.1 3.1.1 68 68 ‫ب‬ � �� � ‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬‫ب‬ �‫م‬���‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫س‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ي‬ � � �‫و‬��‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ي‬ ‫س‬ ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ي‬ ‫�ده‬ ّ‫ب‬ ‫��سس‬‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ � � ‫ح‬ �‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ر‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ � � ��‫ط‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫�ده‬ ّ ‫ش‬ � � ‫م�م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � � �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬�� ‫ب‬ ‫س‬��� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ر‬�‫ر‬���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ ‫�ده‬ ّ ‫ي‬ ‫س‬ � ‫��س‬‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ص‬� � ‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ا‬‫و‬��� � ‫�د‬‫ب‬ � َ ‫ي‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬ .‫ا‬�‫ش‬ �� ‫ء‬‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫ب‬ ‫�ل‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�د‬ ّ ‫ي‬ ‫س‬ � ‫�س‬�‫و‬�� ‫ا‬�� � ‫أ‬ ‫ل‬�‫ا‬�‫ب‬ � ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ � � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ � ّ ‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫�د‬‫ش‬ ‫ي‬ � � � ‫ي‬ � � ‫ي‬ ��� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ده‬�� َ � � ‫ل‬�� ُ ‫م‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ي‬ �� �� �‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬‫ر‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ ‫ص‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � 1 ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬�� ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�� ‫��س‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫م‬� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬� ّ ‫ل‬��� � ‫م‬� ‫ل‬���� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ش‬� ���� �‫و‬��� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ل‬���� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫ش‬‫ب‬ � �‫م‬� ‫ا‬�� � ‫ب‬ �‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬�‫س‬��‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫ش‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫م‬� ‫ا‬�� � ّ ‫ل‬��� � �� ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ � � ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ا‬�‫ش‬�� � � ‫ك‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ � � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ي‬ ��‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ � � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬���� �‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ي‬ ‫ص‬‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫و‬�‫ل‬���� �‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ي‬ ‫ص‬ َ ‫ي‬ ‫�ل‬ ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬��‫ع‬‫ش‬ � ��� � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ب‬ �‫و‬�‫س‬�� ‫ب‬ � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ‫��سس‬‫ي‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � .‫ر‬‫ا‬���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ّ ‫و‬� ‫ب‬ ��‫د‬‫و‬�� ‫ر‬‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ � � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ � � � ‫ب‬ �‫م‬� � � �‫ر‬ � ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ل‬� � ‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ‫ب‬� ‫ب‬ � � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�� � � ‫ك‬��َ ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � � �‫ب‬‫ل‬ ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ � � ‫ب‬ �‫ح‬ � � �� �‫�د‬‫ش‬ ‫ي‬ � � �‫و‬�� ‫ل‬���� �‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ي‬ �� ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ � � ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ب‬ �‫و‬�� � � �‫ي‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ب‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ب‬ ‫ص‬‫ك‬ � � ����‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬�� � ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ � �‫ب‬ ‫ل‬� ‫ع‬ � ‫ب‬ � � ُ ‫ب‬ � � � .‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ب‬ � � �ُ ‫ر‬ � ���‫ي‬ ��� ��� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬‫ر‬ ‫ا‬� ‫ب‬ �� � ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬ � ‫�د‬‫ش‬ � � ‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ا‬‫و‬��� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫�د‬‫ش‬ � �‫ب‬ �� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� �‫ب‬ ���� � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬� ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ا‬� َ � � ُ ‫ل‬��َ ‫أ‬ ‫ل‬� ‫آ‬ ‫ا‬� َ ‫ي‬ � � � َ ‫و‬� ُ ‫ه‬� ٌ ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬� َ ‫م‬َ ‫ل‬ �� َ ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬� َ � � َّ‫ب‬ ‫ل‬� َ ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ َّ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬� َ ‫{ك‬ ‫ي‬ �‫ا‬�� �‫ي‬ ��� ‫ي‬ �‫ا‬�� �‫ي‬ � َ �� . ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ � � ‫ل‬� � ���‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬�� ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ب‬ ‫ص‬� � ‫ب‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ط‬ �� �‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ .} َ‫ب‬ �‫و‬� ُ� ‫ص‬ َ � � ْ ‫ب‬ � ُ ‫ي‬ ‫�ل‬ َ ‫م‬ � ْ ‫و‬� َ ‫ي‬ �� ٰ � � ‫ك‬�� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ٌ ‫ب‬ ‫ح‬ �َ‫ب‬ ‫ر‬� ْ ‫ر‬ َ ‫ب‬ � ْ ‫م‬� َ ‫ع‬‫ش‬ � �َ ‫أ‬ ‫ل‬� ‫آ‬ ‫ا‬ َ ‫ر‬ َ ‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �َ ‫م‬�َ ‫و‬�� ‫ى‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ل‬ � ‫و‬�‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ر‬‫ا‬‫د‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ي‬ ‫�ده‬‫ش‬ � �‫و‬��� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� � � ‫ك‬��‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫م‬� ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ي‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬�� � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� � � ‫ك‬�� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬‫ي‬ ��‫ر‬�� � ‫�د‬ ‫ي‬ � � � ‫ب‬ � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ �‫�ع‬‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ‫�ل‬ ‫�د‬‫ش‬ ‫ي‬ � � � ‫و‬��� � ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ب‬‫ل‬ ‫ب‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ك‬ ‫ب‬ � � � . ‫ع‬ َ ‫د‬‫و‬� ‫ي‬ �‫��س‬‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ب‬ ‫د‬ ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � � ّ ‫�م‬‫ع‬‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ �� �‫و‬�� ‫ع‬ � َ ‫ب‬ � � ‫ب‬ ��‫ط‬ � َ ‫م‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ب‬ ‫د‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫م‬ � ‫ي‬ �‫ب‬ ‫�م‬ � ُ‫ي‬ ‫ل‬�‫ر‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ � � �‫�د‬‫ش‬‫ي‬ �� ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ل‬� ‫ي‬ �‫س‬‫�ص‬ � ‫ح‬ � ‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬�‫ل‬�� ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ ‫ي‬� ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬�‫ي‬ � � � ُ ‫و‬��‫و‬�� }َ ‫ور‬�� ُ ‫�د‬ ُ ّ ‫��ش‬ � ‫ل‬� �‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � �َ ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ا‬� َ ‫�ش‬� َ ‫ل‬� َ ّ ��� � ُ ‫ح‬ �َ ‫و‬��{ ‫ر‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ ‫ص‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ �‫ر‬ � ��‫ش‬ � � ُ ‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ر‬‫و‬��� ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ � ‫ب‬ � � ‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ب‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ي‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ي‬ � ُ ��‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫و‬� ‫ب‬ �� ‫ب‬ ���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫م‬� ‫ا‬�� � ‫ي‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� � ‫�م‬� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ب‬ �‫و‬�‫ل‬��‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ط‬� �� � ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ل‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬��‫ب‬ � � ‫ل‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ك‬�‫ل‬��‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ . ‫ي‬ � ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬�‫ل‬��‫س‬�� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬����� ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬�‫ب‬ ‫ل‬� ّ ‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬� � � �‫ب‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ � � ُ ‫ي‬ � ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ‫ب‬�‫ع‬� .‫ر‬‫ا‬‫ر‬��� ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫و‬�‫ي‬ ‫ص‬� ��� � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ب‬�‫م‬� ‫ي‬ �‫ر‬‫ه‬ � ‫ب‬ � �� �‫و‬�� ‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ‫�سس‬� ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� .}� � َ‫ب‬� ْ ‫���ش‬ ُ � � ْ ‫ل‬�‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬�َ ‫ب‬ �� ْ ‫ا‬‫و‬� ُ‫ب‬ � َ ‫��س‬ ْ � � َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ َ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ �َ ‫ب‬ ��� َّ ‫ل‬� �‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬ َ ‫ي‬ � � � َ ‫ب‬ ‫ر‬ ْ ‫ب‬ � � َ‫ي‬ � َ ‫و‬�� ْ ‫ا‬‫و‬� ُ ‫ل‬��َ ‫م‬� َ ‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬� َ ‫��ش‬َ ‫ب‬� ْ ‫ا‬‫و‬��ُ‫ء‬‫ا‬� َ ‫��ش‬� َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ َ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ �َ ‫ب‬ ��� َّ ‫ل‬� �‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬ َ ‫ي‬ � � � َ ‫ب‬ ‫ر‬ ْ ‫ب‬ � � َ ‫ي‬ �َ ‫ل‬‫ل‬�� { ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫ي‬ ��‫ي‬ ‫ل‬� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ّ‫ب‬ � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ . ‫م‬ �‫�د‬‫ش‬ ‫ب‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� ‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�‫ي‬ ‫ص‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ر‬‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫م‬ �‫ر‬‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫ل‬� ‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ ‫س‬ � ‫��س‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫م‬�‫ع‬‫ش‬ ‫ي‬ ��‫م‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫ل‬� ‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬� ّ ‫ش‬ � � ��‫ط‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫ا‬� ّ ‫ي‬ �� ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫م‬�َ ‫ب‬ ‫س‬‫ي‬ � ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ 2 �� �‫ي‬ � ‫ب‬ � �‫ب‬ � ‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬�� ّ ‫ك‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫و‬��� ‫م‬ �‫ا‬� ّ ‫ي‬ �� ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ل‬��‫م‬� ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫�د‬‫ش‬ � �‫ي‬ ‫ل‬� ‫ل‬� ‫ب‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ّ‫ب‬ � ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ب‬ �� ‫ب‬ ‫ه‬ ��� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�‫ط‬ �� � � � ‫ك‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��� � ُ ‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � �ّ‫ب‬�‫ل‬�� ‫م‬�‫ح‬ � َ‫ي‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� . ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�ّ ‫ش‬‫ب‬�� � ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � �‫ي‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ ��‫ي‬ ‫ل‬�‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬ ّ ‫م�د‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�� � � �‫م‬�‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ط‬ �� �‫ي‬ � ‫ب‬ �� ُ‫ي‬ �� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ي‬ � � ‫ي‬ ��� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ ‫س‬‫ي‬ ‫ص‬‫ب‬ ‫ع‬ �‫ل‬��‫ل‬� � 3‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ ‫ر‬�َ ّ ‫ر‬ َ ‫ب‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬ ��‫و‬� َ ّ‫ب‬ ‫ص‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫ر‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ ‫�ص‬ � ‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬� ‫ب‬ �� ‫ي‬ ‫ك‬ � � ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�‫ي‬ ‫ص‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ه‬ ّٰ ‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫ك‬ � � ���� �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ر‬َ ‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬� ‫ب‬ ‫ك‬ � � . ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ � � ‫م‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�‫ط‬ �� �‫ب‬ ‫ل‬� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫س‬��‫م‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ا‬ ‫�د‬‫ش‬ � �‫ب‬ �� � � ‫ك‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ‫عص‬ � ‫ي‬ �‫�س‬� ‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬�‫ش‬‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� َ‫أ‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ .) ‫خ‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ل‬�� ‫خ‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ا‬�‫ث‬ ���‫ي‬ ‫م‬��‫م‬� ‫خ‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ا‬� ‫خ‬ � � ‫ل‬�‫ه‬� ‫ئ‬ ‫ا‬‫و‬ ‫خ‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ث‬ ���‫ح‬ �‫و‬‫�م‬ ‫ي‬ ‫�ه‬ ّ ‫ل‬��‫ح‬ � ‫م‬ ‫ل‬�‫ه‬� ‫ئ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫خ‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫خ‬ �( :‫�ہ‬ 1 .)�� ��‫ي‬ ‫�م‬‫ي‬ ‫�ه‬‫خ‬ � ‫ي‬ ‫م‬��‫خ‬ �( : ‫م‬ 2 .)‫ا‬‫و‬ ‫د‬ّ ‫و‬ ‫خ‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ �( : ‫م‬ 3 3.1.2 [3.141.2.96] Project MUSE (2024-04-26 05:17 GMT) 69 69 Counsel they have been given rocks and stones propped up in the crushing shelter of dug out graves. Ruination has revealed the annihilation of their palaces, and dust has covered their towering edifices. The grave is at hand. Its resident is like a stranger. He is with those who live together in one domicile and yet are lonely, who stay in one locale yet are too preoccupied to be concerned about each other. They have neither the comfort of a prosperous home, nor do they associate as neighbors and brothers. All this, despite their physical closeness and the proximity of their dwellings. How could there be association between them, when decay has crushed them, and stones and earth have eaten them up? when after being alive, they have become dead bodies? After having had fresh life, they are now dry bones? Their loved ones are shocked by their death, a death that has sent them to live in the dust, departed, never to return. woe! woe! «No indeed, it is but a word that he speaks, while behind them is a barrier till the day they are resurrected.»22 It is as though you have arrived at their destination: At the place of decay, solitary in the abode of the dead. It is as though you have already been yielded as collateral to that bed, and that depository has already enveloped you. How do you think it will be with you, when all affairs reach their end? when the contents of graves are scattered forth?23 when «what is in people’s breasts is reaped»?24 when you are made to stand in front of the mighty judge for your hearts to be reaped? Hearts will flutter from their dread of punishment for past sins. Veils and curtains will be rent. Faults and secrets will be revealed. In that place, each soul will be recompensed for what it has presented.25 God says: «He will recompense evil with its like, and good with good.»26 Take advantage of your days of health before the arrival of days of illness, of youth before the onset of old age. Hasten to repent before the time of regret. Do...

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