Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons
Sermon 72: My God, the Spreader of the surfaces...
Herein Amir al-mu'minin tells people how to pronounce "as-salawat" (to invoke Divine blessing) on the Prophet.
ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)
علّم فيها الناس الصلاة على رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله)
]وفيها بيان صفات الله سبحانه وصفة النبي والدعاء له[
My God, the Spreader of the surfaces (of earth) and Keeper (intact) of all skies, Creator of hearts on good and evil nature, send Thy choicest blessings and growing favours on Muhammad Thy servant and Thy Prophet who is the last of those who preceded (him) and an opener for what is closed, proclaimer of truth with truth, repulser of the forces of wrong and crusher of the onslaughts of misguidance.
As he was burdened (with responsibility of prophethood) so he bore it standing by Thy commands, advancing towards Thy will, without shrinking of steps of weakness of determination, listening to Thy revelation, preserving Thy testament, proceeding forward in the spreading of Thy commands till he lit fire for its seeker and lighted the path for the groper in the dark.
اللَّهُمَّ دَاحَيَ الْمَدْحُوَّاتِ، وَدَاعِمَ الْمَسْمُوكَاتِ، وَجَابِلَ الْقُلُوبِ عَلَى فِطْرَتِهَا: شَقِيِّهَا وَسَعِيدِهَا. اجْعَلْ شَرَائِفَ صَلَوَاتِكَ، وَنَوَامِيَ بَرَكَاتِكَ، عَلَى مُحَمَّد عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ، الْخَاتمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ، وَالْفَاتِحِ لِمَا انْغَلَقَ، وَالْمُعْلِنِ الْحَقَّ بِالْحَقِّ، وَالدَّافِعِ جَيْشَاتِ الاْباطِيلِ، وَالدَّامِغِ صَوْلاَتِ الاْضَالِيلِ، كَمَا حُمِّلَ فَاضْطَلَعَ، قَائِماً بِأَمْرِكَ، مُسْتَوْفِزاً فِي مَرْضَاتِكَ، غَيْرَ نَاكِل عَنْ قُدُم، وَلاَ وَاه فِي عَزْمِ، وَاعِياً لِوَحْيِكَ، حَافِظاً لِعَهْدَكَ، مَاضِياً عَلَى نَفَاذِ أَمْرِكَ; حَتَّى أَوْرَى قَبَسَ الْقَابِسِ، وَأَضَاءَ الطَّرِيقَ لِلْخَابِطِ
Hearts achieved guidance through him after being ridden with troubles. He introduced clearly guiding signs and shining injunctions. He is Thy trusted trustee, the treasurer of Thy treasured knowledge, Thy witness on the Day of Judgement, Thy envoy of truth and Thy Messenger towards the people.
وَهُدِيَتْ بِهِ الْقُلُوبُ بَعْدَ خَوْضَاتِ الْفِتَنِ، وَأَقَامَ مُوضِحاتِ الاْعْلاَمِ، وَنَيِّرَاتِ الاْحْكَامِ، فَهُوَ أَمِينُكَ الْمَأْمُونُ، وَخَازِنُ عِلْمِكَ الْمخْزُونِ، وَشَهِيدُكَ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ، وَبَعِيثُكَ بِالْحَقِّ، وَرَسُولُكَ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ.
My God prepare large place for him under Thy shade and award him multiplying good by Thy bounty. My God, give height to his construction above all other constructions, heighten his position with Thee, grant perfection to his effulgence and perfect for him his light. In reward for his discharging Thy prophetship, grant him that his testimony be admitted and his speech be liked for his speech is just, and his judgements are clear-cut. My God put us and him together in the pleasures of life, continuance of bounty, satisfaction of desires, enjoyment of pleasures. ease of living, peace of mind and gifts of honour.
اللَّهُمَّ افْسَحْ لَهُ مَفْسَحاً فِي ظِلِّكَ، وَاجْزِهِ مُضَاعَفَاتِ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ . اللَّهُمَّ أَعْلِ عَلَى بِنَاءِ الْبَانِينَ بِنَاءَهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ لَدَيْكَ مَنْزِلَتَهُ، وَأَتْمِمْ لَهُ نُورَهُ، وَاجْزِهِ مِنَ ابْتِعَاثِكَ لَهُ مَقبُولَ الشَّهَادَةِ، مَرْضِيَّ المَقالَةِ، ذا مَنْطِق عَدْل، وخُطّة فَصْل.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْمَعْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ فِي بَرْدِ الْعَيشِ، وَقَرَارِ النِّعْمَةِ، وَمُنَى الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَأَهْوَاءِ اللَّذَّاتِ، وَرَخَاءِ الدَّعَةِ وَمُنْتَهَى الْطُمَأْنِينَةِ، وَتُحَفِ الْكَرَامَةِ.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 72
(1) Ibn Qutaybah, Gharib al-hadith, see Ibn Abi al-Hadid, IV, 364;
(2) al-Thaqafi, al-Gharat, I, 159;
(3) al-Qali, Dhayl al-'Amali, 173;
(4) al-'Azhari, Tahdhib;
(5) Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah;
(6) al-Quda`i, Dustur, 119;
(7) Sibt, Tadhkirah, 136;
(8) al-Samahiji, al-Sahifat al-`Alawiyyah,
(9) al-Zamakhshari, al-Fa'iq; for the asnad of this Khutbah see al-Mahmudi, Nahj al-sa`adah, 286.