I can almost see their wicked one [^1] who committed unlawful acts...

I can almost see their wicked one [^1] who committed unlawful acts, associated himself with them, befriended them and accorded with them till his hair grew grey and his nature acquired their tinge. He proceeded onward emitting foam like a torrential stream not caring whom he drowned, or, like fire in straw, without realising what he burnt.

آثَرُوا عَاجِلاً، وَأَخَّرُوا آجِلاً، وَتَرَكُوا صَافِياً، وَشَرِبُوا آجِناً، كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى فَاسِقِهِمْ وَقَدْ صَحِبَ الْمُنكَرَ فَأَلِفَهُ، وَبَسِىءَ بِهِ وَوَافَقَهُ، حَتَّى شَابَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَفَارِقُهُ، وَصُبِغَتْ بِهِ خَلاَئِقُهُ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ مُزْبِداً كَالتَّيَّارِ لاَ يُبَالِي مَا غَرَّقَ، أَوْ كَوَقْعِ النَّارِ في الْهَشيمِ لاَ يَحْفِلُ مَا حَرَّقَ! Where are the minds which seek light from the lamps of guidance, and the eyes which look at minarets of piety?

Where are the hearts dedicated to Allah, and devoted to the obedience of Allah? They are all crowding towards worldly vanities and quarrelling over unlawful issues. The ensigns of Paradise and Hell have been raised for them but they have turned their faces away from Paradise and proceeded to Hell by dint of their performances. Allah called them but they showed dislike and ran away. When Satan called them they responded and proceeded (towards him).

أَيْنَ الْعُقُولُ الْمُسْتَصْبِحَةُ بِمَصَابِيحِ الْهُدَى، وَالاْبْصَارُ اللاَّمِحَةُ إِلَى مَنَارِ التَّقْوَى؟! أَيْنَ الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي وُهِبَتْ للهِ، وَعُوقِدَتْ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللهِ؟! ازْدَحَمُوا عَلَى الْحُطَامِ، وَتَشَاحُّوا عَلَى الْحَرَامِ، وَرُفِعَ لَهُمْ عَلَمُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، فَصَرَفُوا عَنِ الْجَنَّةِ وُجُوهَهُمْ، وَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَى النَّارِ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ، دَعَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فَنَفَرُوا وَوَلَّوْا، وَدَعَاهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَاسْتَجَابُوا وَأَقْبَلُوا!

Alternative Sources for Sermon 144 (1) Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, see `Abd al-Zahra', II, 322. [^1]: Here the reference is to `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan who committed extreme atrocities through his officer al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf ath-Thaqafi. Previous…

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