Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons
Sermon 112: Do you feel it when the Angel of Death enters….
About the Angel of Death and departure of spirit [and man’s incapacity to describe Allah]
ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)
ذكر فيها ملك الموت وتوفية الانفس
]وعجز الخلق عن وصف الله[
Do you feel it when the Angel of Death enters a house, or do you see him when he takes out life of anyone? How does he take out the life of an embryo in the womb of his mother? Does he reach it through any part of her body or the spirit responded to his call with the permission of Allah? Or does he stay with him in the mother's interior? How can he who is unable to describe a creature like this, describe Allah?
هَلْ تُحِسُّ بِهِ إِذَا دَخَلَ مَنْزِلاً؟ أَمْ هَلْ تَرَاهُ إِذَا تَوَفَّى أَحَداً؟ بَلْ كَيْفَ يَتَوَفَّى الْجَنِينَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ؟! أَيَلِجُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ بَعْضِ جَوَارِحِهَا؟ أَمِ الرُّوحُ أَجَابَتْهُ بَإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا؟ أَمْ هُوَ سَاكِنٌ مَعَهُ فِي أَحْشَائِهَا؟ كَيْفَ يَصِفُ إِلهَهُ مَنْ يَعْجَزُ عَنْ صِفَةِ مَخْلُوق مِثْلِهِ؟!
Alternative Sources for Sermon 112
(1) Al-Wasiti, `Uyun al-hikam, see al-Majlisi, Bihar, vol.77, p. 430.