Nah'jul Balagha - The Lamps of Guidance: A Reflection on Future Times

A Hadith from Nahjul Balagha - Sermon 103

In Nahjul Balagha, Imam Ali (A.S.) speaks of a future time where only the truly steadfast believers will remain safe. These individuals will be so removed from worldly distractions that they will not be recognized in public, nor will they be sought after in their absence. They are described as the "lamps of guidance" and the "banners of night journeys," illuminating the path for others while keeping themselves humble and unseen.

This passage speaks to the inner strength and spiritual resilience that can be found in those who remain steadfast in faith, even when the world around them may be in turmoil. It emphasizes the importance of humility, silence in the face of calumny, and the preservation of mercy and truth in an age where such qualities may be rare.

---

Arabic Text (With Translation):

وَذلِكَ زَمَانٌ لاَ يَنْجُو فِيهِ إِلاَّ كُلُّ مٌؤْمِنٍ نُوَمَةٍ إِنْ شَهِدَ لَمْ يُعْرَفْ، وَإِنْ غَابَ لَمْ يُفْتَقَدْ، أُولَئِكَ مَصَابِيحُ الْهُدَى، وَأَعْلاَمُ السُّرَى لَيْسُوا بِالْمَسَايِيحِ وَلاَ الْمَذَايِيعِ الْبُذُرِ أُولَئِكَ يَفْتَحُ اللهُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِهِ، وَيَكْشِفُ عَنْهُمْ ضَرَّاءَ نِقْمَتِهِ

"And that is a time in which only a sleeping believer will be safe. If he is present, he will not be recognized, and if he is absent, he will not be missed. They are the lamps of guidance and the banners of night journeys. They neither spread calumnies nor divulge secrets. These are the ones for whom Allah opens the doors of His mercy and protects them from the hardships of His punishment."