John Shaqi

وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَمَامَكَ عَقَبَةً كَئُوداً، الْمُخِفُّ فِيهَا أَحْسَنُ حَالًا مِنَ الْمُثْقِلِ، وَالْمُبْطِئُ عَلَيْهَا أَقْبَحُ حَالًا مِنَ الْمُسْرِعِ، وَأَنَّ مَهْبِطَكَ بِهَا لَا مَحَالَةَ إِمَّا عَلَى جَنَّةٍ أَوْ عَلَى نَارٍ، فَارْتَدْ لِنَفْسِكَ قَبْلَ نُزُولِكَ، وَوَطِّئِ الْمَنْزِلَ قَبْلَ حُلُولِكَ، فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ مُسْتَعْتَبٌ، وَلَا إِلَى الدُّنْيَا مُنْصَرَفٌ.


Translation

Know that in front of you lies an impassable valley wherein the light-burdened man will be in a better condition than the heavy-burden one, and the slow-paced would be in a worse condition than the swift-paced. Your terminating point at the other end of this passage will necessarily be either Paradise or Hell. Therefore, investigate for yourself before alighting, and prepare the place before getting down, because after death there can be no preparation nor return to this world.


Chapter (Bab)Instructions for Hasan, when returning from Siffin
CollectionNahj al-Balagha

Compiled by al-Sharif al-Radi

Source

License: Free for educational and research use (Thaqalayn Data API)

Provided for research and educational purposes. Original source: Thaqalayn Project. Open License.