إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى بَعَثَ رَسُولاً هَادِياً بِكِتَاب نَاطِق وَأَمْر قَائم،
There is no doubt that Allah sent down the Prophet (S) as a guide with an eloquent Book and a standing command.
لاَ يَهْلِكُ عَنْهُ إلاَّ هَالِكٌ،
No one will be ruined by it except one who ruins himself.
وَإنَّ الْمُبْتَدَعَاتِ الْمُشَبَّهَاتِ هُنَّ الْمُهْلِكَاتُ إلاَّ مَا حَفِظَ اللهُ مِنْهَا،
Certainly, only doubtful innovations cause ruin except those from which Allah may protect.
وَإنَّ فِي سُلْطَانِ اللهِ عِصْمَةً لاِمْرِكُمْ،
In Allah's authority lies the safety of your affairs.
فَأَعْطُوهُ طَاعَتَكُمْ غَيْرَ مُلَوَّمَة وَلاَ مُسْتَكْرَه بِهَا.
Therefore, render Him such obedience as is neither blameworthy nor insincere.
وَاللهِ لَتَفْعَلُنَّ أَوْ لَيَنْقُلَنَّ اللهُ عَنْكُمْ سُلْطَانَ الاْسْلاَمِ،
By Allah, you must do so, otherwise Allah will take away from you the power of Islam,
ثُمَّ لاَ يَنْقُلُهُ إلَيكُمْ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَأْرِزَ الاْمْرُ إلَى غَيْرِكُمْ.
and will never thereafter return it to you till it reverts to others.
إنَّ هؤُلاَءِ قَدْ تَمَالاُوا عَلَى سَخْطَةِ إمَارَتِى،
Certainly, these people are in agreement in disliking my authority.
وَسَأَصْبِرُ مَا لَمْ أَخَفْ عَلَى جَمَاعَتِكُمْ;
I will carry on till I perceive disunity among you;
فَإنَّهُمْ إنْ تَمَّمُوا عَلَى فَيَالَةِ هذَا الرَّأْي انْقَطَعَ نِظَامُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ،
because if, in spite of the unsoundness of their view, they succeed, the whole organisation of the Muslims will be shattered.
وَإنَّمَا طَلَبُوا هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَداً لِمَنْ أَفَاءَهَا اللهُ عَلَيْهِ،
They are hankering after this world out of jealousy against him on whom Allah has bestowed it.
فَأَرَادُوا رَدَّ الاْمُورِ عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا.
So they intend reverting the matters on their backs (pre-Islamic period),
وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا الْعَمَلُ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ وَسِيرَةِ رَسُولِهِ،
while on us it is obligatory, for your sake, to abide by the Book of Allah (Qur'an), the Sublime, and the conduct of the Prophet of Allah,
وَالْقِيَامُ بِحَقِّهِ،
to stand by His rights
وَالْنَّعْشُ لِسُنَّتِهِ.
and the revival of his sunnah.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 169: Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, VI, 163
