Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons Sermon 94: Exalted is Allah Whom heights of daring cannot approach... Allah's praise and eulogy of the prophets ومن خطبة له(عليه السلام وفيها يصف الله تعالى ثمّ يبين فضل الرسول الكريم وأهل بيته ثمّ يعظ الناس Exalted is Allah Whom heights of daring cannot approach and fineness of intelligence cannot find.
He is such First that there is no extremity for Him so that He be contained within it, nor is there an end for Him where would cease. فَتَبَارَكَ اللهُ الَّذِي لاَ تَبْلُغُهُ بُعْدُ الْهِمَمِ، وَلاَ يَنَالُهُ حَدْسُ الْفِطَنِ، الاْوَّلُ الَّذِي لاَ غَايَةَ لَهُ فَيَنْتَهِيَ، وَلاَ آخِرَ لَهُ فَيَنْقَضِيَ. A part of the same sermon about the Prophet منها: [في وصف الانبياء] Allah kept the Prophets in deposit in the best place of deposit and made them stay in the best place of stay.
He moved them in succession from distinguished fore-fathers to chaste wombs. Whenever a predecessor from among them died the follower stood up for the cause of the religion of Allah. فَاسْتَوْدَعَهُمْ فِي أَفْضَلِ مُسْتَوْدَع، وَأَقَرَّهُمْ فِي خَيْرِ مُسْتَقَرّ، تَنَاسَخَتْهُمْ كَرَائِمُ الاْصْلاَبِ إِلَى مُطَهَّرَاتِ الاْرْحَامِ; كُلَّمَا مَضَى سَلَفٌ، قَامَ مِنْهُمْ بِدِينِ اللهِ خَلَفٌ.
About the Holy Prophet and his Descendants (`Itrah) رسول الله وأهل بيته Until this distinction of Allah, the Glorified, reached Muhammad - peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his descendants. Allah brought him out from the most distinguished sources of origin and the most honourable places of planting, namely from the same (lineal) tree from which He brought forth other Prophets and from which He selected His trustees.
Muhammad's descendants are the best descendants, his kinsmen the best of kin and his lineal tree the best of trees. It grew in esteem and rose in distinction. It has tall branches and unapproachable fruits. حَتَّى أَفْضَتْ كَرَامَةُ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إِلَى مُحَمَّد(صلى الله عليه وآله)، فَأَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الْمَعَادِنِ مَنْبِتا، وَأَعَزِّ الاْرُومَاتِ مَغْرِساً، مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي صَدَعَ مِنْهَا أَنْبِيَاءَهُ، وَانْتَجَبَ مِنْهَا أُمَنَاءَهُ.
عِتْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الْعِتَرِ، وَأُسْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الاْسَرِ، وَشَجَرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الشَّجَرِ; نَبَتَتْ فِي حَرَم، وَبَسَقَتْ فِي كَرَم، لَهَا فُرُوعٌ طِوَالٌ، وَثَمَرٌ لاَيُنَالُ. He is the leader (Imam) of all who exercise fear (of Allah) and a light for those who seek guidance.