28ـ ألا عامِلٌ لِنَفْسِهِ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ بُؤْسِهِ.
28ـ ألا عامِلٌ لِنَفْسِهِ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ بُؤْسِهِ. Act now, while the tongues are free, the bodies are healthy, the limbs can be flexed, there is room for change and the area of movement is vast; before all this is lost and death comes – so be certain about its coming and do not wait for it to overtake you.
29ـ ألا فَاعْمَلُوا والألْسُنُ مُطْلَقَةٌ، والأبْدانُ صَحيحَةٌ، والأعْضاءُ لُدْنَةٌ، وَالمُنْقَلَبُ فَسِيحٌ، والمَجالُ عَريضٌ، قَبْلَ إزْهاقِ الفَوْتِ، وحُلُولِ المَوْتِ، فَحَقِّقُوا عَلَيْكُمْ حُلُولَهُ، ولاتَنْتَظِرُوا قُدُومَهُ.
Act now, O servants of Allah, while the neck is free [from the noose] and the spirit is unfettered in the period of guidance, while the bodies are at ease and the rest of your life lies ahead, while you have the free will to act, the opportunity to seek repentance and chance to rectifying your misdeeds. [So act] before you are overtaken by straitened circumstances and distress, fear and weakness, and before the approach of the anticipated hidden one (i.e.
the Angel of Death) and the seizing of the Almighty, the Omnipotent. 30ـ ألا فَاعْمَلُوا عِبادَاللّهِ، والخَناقُ مُهْمَلٌ، والرُّوحُ مُرْسَلٌ في فِينَةِ الإرْشادِ، وراحَةِ الأجسادِ، ومَهَلِ البَقيَّةِ وأُنُفِ المَشِيَّةِ، وإنْظارِ التَّوبَةِ، وَانْفِساحِ الحَوْبَةِ، قَبْلَ الضَّنْكِ والمَضيقِ، والرَّدْعِ، والزُّهُوقِ، قَبْلَ قُدُومِ الغائِبِ المُنْتَظَرِ، وأخْذَةِ العَزيزِ المُقْتَدِرِ.
Indeed you are in the days of hope after which is death; so whoever acts in the days of his hope before the coming of his death, his action benefits him and his death does him no harm. 31ـ ألا وإنَّكُمْ في أيَّامِ أمَل مِنْ وَرائِهِ أجَلٌ، فَمَنْ عَمِلَ في أيّامِ أمَلِهِ قَبْلَ حُضُورِ أجَلِهِ، نَفَعَهُ عَمَلُهُ، ولَم يَضْرُرْهُ أجَلُهُ. Where are those who make their actions sincere for Allah and purify their hearts by the remembrance of Allah?!
32ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ أخْلَصُوا أعْمالَهُمْ لِلّهِ، وطَهَّرُوا قُلُوبَهُمْ بِمَواضِعِ ذِكْرِ (نَظَرِ) اللّهِ؟! The most honourable action is obedience [to Allah]. 33ـ أشْرَفُ الأعْمالِ اَلطّاعَةُ. The best action is that which is done with sincerity. 34ـ أفْضَلُ العَمَلِ ما أُخْلِصَ فيهِ. The best action is that by which the pleasure of Allah is sought. 35ـ أفْضَلُ العَمَلِ ما أُرِيْدَ بِهِ وَجْهُ اللّهِ. The most beneficial provision [for the hereafter] is good deeds.
36ـ أنْفَعُ الذَّخائِرِ صالِحُ الأعْمالِ. The closest people to the Prophets are those who act upon their commandments [and teachings] the most.
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