Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons
Sermon 236: Perform (good) acts while you are still in the vastness of life…
About collecting provision for the next world while in this world and performing good acts before death
ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)
في المسارعة إلى العمل
Perform (good) acts while you are still in the vastness of life, the books are open (for recording of actions), repentance is allowed, the runner away (from Allah) is being called and the sinner is being given hope (of forgiveness) before the (light of) action is put off, time expires, life ends, the door for repentance is closed and angels ascend to the sky.
فَاعْمَلُوا وَأَنْتُمْ فِي نَفَسِ الْبَقَاءِ وَالصُّحُفُ مَنْشُورَةٌ وَالتَّوْبَةُ مَبْسُوطَةٌ وَالْمُدْبِرُيُدْعَى، وَالْمُسِيءُ يُرْجَى، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْمُدَ العَمَلُ وَيَنَقَطِعَ الْمَهَلُ، وَتَنْقَضِيَ الْمُدَّةُ، وَتُسَدَّ أبْوابُ التَّوْبَةِ، وَتَصْعَدَ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ
Therefore a man should derive benefit from himself for himself, from the living for the dead, from the mortal, for the lasting and from the departer for the stayer. A man should fear Allah while he is given age to live upto his death, and is allowed time to act. A man should control his self by the rein and hold it with its bridle, thus by the rein he should prevent it from disobedience towards Allah, and by the bridle he should lead it towards obedience to Allah.
فَأخَذَ امْرُؤٌ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَأَخَذَ مِنْ حَيٍّ لِمَيِّتٍ، وَمِنْ فَانٍ لِبَاقٍ، وَمِنْ ذَاهِبٍ لِدَائِمٍ. امْرُءٌ خَافَ اللهَ وَهُوَ مُعَمَّرٌ إلَى أَجَلِهِ، وَمَنْظُورٌإلَى عَمَلِهِ. امْرُءٌ أَلْجَمَ نَفْسَهُ بِلِجَامِهَا، وَزَمَّهَا بِزِمَامِهَا فَأَمْسَكَهَا بِلِجَامِهَا عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللهِ، وَقَادَها بِزِمَامِهَا إِلَى طَاعَةِ اللهِ.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 236
(1) Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 54.