The Fadak sermon of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.

اَلْحَمْدُللَّـهِ عَلی ما اَنْعَمَ، وَ لَهُ الشُّكْرُ عَلی ما اَلْهَمَ،

Praise be to Allah for His bounties (upon us) and thanks be to Him for all that He inspired;

وَ الثَّناءُ بِما قَدَّمَ، مِنْ عُمُومِ نِعَمٍ اِبْتَدَاَها،

and commended is His name for all the bounties He created before our own creation,

وَ سُبُوغِ الاءٍ اَسْداها، وَ تَمامِ مِنَنٍ اَوْلاها،

for all the common bounties that He bestowed (upon us) from His Ownself without even (our) asking for it, and abundant and complete bounties,

جَمَّ عَنِ الْاِحْصاءِ عَدَدُها، وَ نَأی عَنِ الْجَزاءِ اَمَدُها،

such plenteous and unlimited bounties whose numbers cannot be computed, and thanks cannot be offered for the duration and commencement (of the bounties),

وَ تَفاوَتَ عَنِ الْاِدْراكِ اَبَدُها، وَ نَدَبَهُمْ لاِسْتِزادَتِها بِالشُّكْرِ لاِتِّصالِها،

and whose perpetuity is beyond comprehension. He invited (His servants) to offer praise, thus resulting in an increase and perpetuity (in their blessings),

وَ اسْتَحْمَدَ اِلَی الْخَلائِقِ بِاِجْزالِها، وَ ثَنی بِالنَّدْبِ اِلی اَمْثالِها.

and in lieu of this abundance (of bounties), Allah desired that His creatures praise Him. Again, He invited you (to perform good deeds) resulting in bounties of this world as well as for the hereafter.

وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لااِلهَ اِلاَّ اللَّـهُ وَحْدَهُ لاشَریكَ لَهُ، كَلِمَةٌ جَعَلَ الْاِخْلاصَ تَأْویلَها،

I bear witness that there is no other deity (worthy of worship) except Allah - He is Unique and Unparalleled. Certainly interpretation (and result) of this witness (of monotheism) is sincerity,

وَ ضَمَّنَ الْقُلُوبَ مَوْصُولَها، وَ اَنارَ فِی التَّفَكُّرِ مَعْقُولَها، الْمُمْتَنِعُ عَنِ الْاَبْصارِ رُؤْیتُهُ،

and it’s comprehension has been placed in the hearts, and the mind is illuminated by its (profound) understanding. He (Allah) cannot be seen with the eyes,

وَ مِنَ الْاَلْسُنِ صِفَتُهُ، وَ مِنَ الْاَوْهامِ كَیفِیّتُهُ.

nor can He be described with the tongues, and His state cannot be perceived.

اِبْتَدَعَ الْاَشْیاءَ لامِنْ شَیءٍ كانَ قَبْلَها، وَ اَنْشَاَها بِلاَاحْتِذاءِ اَمْثِلَةٍ اِمْتَثَلَها،

He is the One Who created all things without any past prototype, and originated them without having any past image and equals.

كَوَّنَها بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَ ذَرَأَها بِمَشِیّتِهِ، مِنْ غَیرِ حاجَةٍ مِنْهُ اِلی تَكْوینِها،

Rather He created them with His Might and dispersed them according to His Will, He did not create them for a need,

وَ لافائِدَةٍ لَهُ فی تَصْویرِها،

nor did He shape them for a benefit (for Himself),

اِلاَّ تَثْبیتاً لِحِكْمَتِهِ وَ تَنْبیهاً عَلی طاعَتِهِ، وَ اِظْهاراً لِقُدْرَتِهِ وَ تَعَبُّداً لِبَرِیّتِهِ،

but rather (He did all of this) to establish His Wisdom and to bring their (the creature’s) attention to His obedience, and manifest His Might and (so that) His creatures may venerate Him,

وَ اِعْزازاً لِدَعْوَتِهِ، ثُمَّ جَعَلَ الثَّوابَ عَلی طاعَتِهِ، وَ وَضَعَ الْعِقابَ عَلی مَعْصِیتِهِ،

and (He created to) strengthen His invitation by dispatching His prophets and friends. Thus He provided recompense for His obedience and granted punishment for His disobedience,

ذِیادَةً لِعِبادِهِ مِنْ نِقْمَتِهِ وَ حِیاشَةً لَهُمْ اِلی جَنَّتِهِ.

(He informed) His slaves from performing such acts that invite His wrath, and thus would gather them in His Paradise.

وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ اَبی مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ، اِخْتارَهُ قَبْلَ اَنْ اَرْسَلَهُ،

And I bear witness that my father Muhammad, is His slave and His Messenger, while Allah the Almighty chose him and selected him before bestowing prophethood upon him,

وَ سَمَّاهُ قَبْلَ اَنْ اِجْتَباهُ، وَ اصْطَفاهُ قَبْلَ اَنْ اِبْتَعَثَهُ، اِذ الْخَلائِقُ بِالْغَیبِ مَكْنُونَةٌ،

and named him before selecting him, and chose him before sending him (for the mission of Islam), when the whole of creation was concealed in the hidden world,

وَ بِسَتْرِ الْاَهاویلِ مَصُونَةٌ، وَ بِنِهایةِ الْعَدَمِ مَقْرُونَةٌ، عِلْماً مِنَ اللَّـهِ تَعالی بِمائِلِ الْاُمُورِ،

and they were in awe, and were in the extinction of nothingness. Almighty Allah was certainly aware of the consequences of all the tasks,

وَ اِحاطَةً بِحَوادِثِ الدُّهُورِ، وَ مَعْرِفَةً بِمَواقِعِ الْاُمُورِ.

and was acquainted with the occurrences of the ages, and conscious of the position of the destined.

اِبْتَعَثَهُ اللَّـهُ اِتْماماً لِاَمْرِهِ، وَ عَزیمَةً عَلی اِمْضاءِ حُكْمِهِ،

Allah sent His Prophet so as to complete His commands, to execute His rulings,

وَ اِنْفاذاً لِمَقادیرِ رَحْمَتِهِ، فَرَأَی الْاُمَمَ فِرَقاً فی اَدْیانِها،

and to deliver His decisive ordinances. He saw the nation divided into various religions,

عُكَّفاً عَلی نیرانِها، عابِدَةً لِاَوْثانِها، مُنْكِرَةً للَّـهِ مَعَ عِرْفانِها.

devoted to their fires, worshipping their idols, denying Allah despite their knowledge of Him.

فَاَنارَ اللَّـهُ بِاَبی مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلَیهِ و الِهِ ظُلَمَها، وَ كَشَفَ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ بُهَمَها،

Then Allah illuminated their darkness (misguidance) through the medium of my father Muhammad and lifted the veils of obscurity from their hearts,

وَ جَلی عَنِ الْاَبْصارِ غُمَمَها، وَ قامَ فِی النَّاسِ بِالْهِدایةِ، فَاَنْقَذَهُمْ مِنَ الْغِوایةِ،

and removed ignorance from their eyes. He (the Prophet) stood up among them for their guidance; delivered them from misguidance,

وَ بَصَّرَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِمایةِ، وَ هَداهُمْ اِلَی الدّینِ الْقَویمِ، وَ دَعاهُمْ اِلَی الطَّریقِ الْمُسْتَقیمِ.

enlightened their eyes from blindness, guided them towards the ‘Straight Path’, and invited them towards ‘the Right Path’.

ثُمَّ قَبَضَهُ اللَّـهُ اِلَیهِ قَبْضَ رَأْفَةٍ وَ اخْتِیارٍ، وَ رَغْبَةٍ وَ ایثارٍ، فَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلَیهِ و الِهِ مِنْ تَعَبِ هذِهِ الدَّارِ فی راحَةٍ،

Then, Allah took away his soul with affection and by his choice, willingness and submission. Thus, Muhammad was relieved of the toils of this world and entered (the world of) comfort.

قَدْ حُفَّ بِالْمَلائِكَةِ الْاَبْرارِ وَ رِضْوانِ الرَّبِّ الْغَفَّارِ، وَ مُجاوَرَةِ الْمَلِكِ الْجَبَّارِ،

There, he lives in ease among the righteous angels, and in the Paradise of the forgiving Lord, and in the neighborhood of the Mighty King.

صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلی أَبی نَبِیهِ وَ اَمینِهِ وَ خِیرَتِهِ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ وَ صَفِیهِ، وَ السَّلامُ عَلَیهِ وَ رَحْمَةُاللَّـهِ وَ بَرَكاتُهُ.

May Allah’s mercy be upon my father, His messenger and the trustworthy one regarding His revelation, His friend, the best among His creations, His favorite one; and peace upon him and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings.

اَنْتُمْ عِبادَ اللَّـهِ نُصُبُ اَمْرِهِ وَ نَهْیهِ، وَ حَمَلَةُ دینِهِ وَ وَحْیهِ، وَ اُمَناءُ اللَّـهِ عَلی اَنْفُسِكُمْ،

You are the slaves of Allah and you are the establishers of His commands and prohibitions. You are the possessors of His religion and His revelation, the trustworthy ones with regards to yourselves

وَ بُلَغاؤُهُ اِلَی الْاُمَمِ، زَعیمُ حَقٍّ لَهُ فیكُمْ، وَ عَهْدٍ قَدَّمَهُ اِلَیكُمْ، وَ بَقِیةٍ اِسْتَخْلَفَها عَلَیكُمْ:

and you should propagate it (Islam) to other nations, while you deem yourselves worthy of all this? A pledge had been taken from you in advance by Allah and there is among you His remembrance

كِتابُ اللَّـهِ النَّاطِقُ وَ الْقُرْانُ الصَّادِقُ، و النُّورُ السَّاطِعُ وَ الضِّیاءُ اللاَّمِعُ،

and that is the book of Allah (Qurʾan), the speaking one. It is a book of complete truthfulness and a bright light,

بَینَةً بَصائِرُهُ، مُنْكَشِفَةً سَرائِرُهُ، مُنْجَلِیةً ظَواهِرُهُ، مُغْتَبِطَةً بِهِ اَشْیاعُهُ،

the brilliant light. Its imminence is evident, its secrets are revealed, its apparent aspects are clear, its adherents become reasons for others to envy,

قائِداً اِلَی الرِّضْوانِ اِتِّباعُهُ، مُؤَدٍّ اِلَی النَّجاةِ اسْتِماعُهُ، بِهِ تُنالُ حُجَجُ اللَّـهِ الْمُنَوَّرَةُ،

it leads its adherents to the status of paradise (or the pleasure of Allah), its listeners are guided towards salvation and through it are gained the illuminated evidences of Allah.

وَ عَزائِمُهُ الْمُفَسَّرَةُ، وَ مَحارِمُهُ الْمُحَذَّرَةُ، وَ بَیّناتُهُ الْجالِیةُ، وَ بَراهینُهُ الْكافِیةُ،

It determines the ordinances and prohibitions (of Allah), its evidences are illuminated and its proofs are sufficient,

وَ فَضائِلُهُ الْمَنْدُوبَةُ، وَ رُخَصُهُ الْمَوْهُوبَةُ، وَ شَرائِعُهُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ.

it contains the virtues of the recommendable acts (mustahabbat), freedom with regards to performing the lawful things (mubah) and (informs about the) discouraged (makruh) acts, and in it are written down other legal laws (of Islam).

فَجَعَلَ اللَّـهُ الْایمانَ تَطْهیراً لَكُمْ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ، وَ الصَّلاةَ تَنْزیهاً لَكُمْ عَنِ الْكِبْرِ،

Faith has been set so as to cleanse you of polytheism; salat (prayers) are prescribed to keep you away from pride,

وَ الزَّكاةَ تَزْكِیةً لِلنَّفْسِ وَ نِماءً فِی الرِّزْقِ، وَ الصِّیامَ تَثْبیتاً لِلْاِخْلاصِ،

zakat (charity) has been prescribed to purify one’s self and results in the increase of sustenance; sawm (fasting) has been prescribed so that genuineness may be reinforced;

وَ الْحَجَّ تَشْییداً لِلدّینِ، وَ الْعَدْلَ تَنْسیقاً لِلْقُلُوبِ،

hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) has been prescribed to establish the religion; justice is prescribed to establish proper harmony in the hearts;

وَ طاعَتَنا نِظاماً لِلْمِلَّةِ، وَ اِمامَتَنا اَماناً لِلْفُرْقَةِ،

the obligation to obey us (the Ahlul Bayt) has been prescribed to set up the order in the community, and our authority (imamah) has been prescribed to save the people from differences.

وَ الْجِهادَ عِزّاً لِلْاِسْلامِ، وَ الصَّبْرَ مَعُونَةً عَلَی اسْتیجابِ الْاَجْرِ

Jihad (struggle) is the honour of Islam and a humiliation for the people of polytheism and hypocrisy; patience has been made a medium for recompense to be bestowed;

وَ الْاَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مَصْلِحَةً لِلْعامَّةِ، وَ بِرَّ الْوالِدَینِ وِقایةً مِنَ السَّخَطِ،

Enjoining good has been prescribed for the general welfare (of the society); righteousness with one’s parents is a safeguard against His (Allah’s) wrath;

وَ صِلَةَ الْاَرْحامِ مَنْساءً فِی الْعُمْرِ وَ مَنْماةً لِلْعَدَدِ، وَ الْقِصاصَ حِقْناً لِلدِّماءِ،

kindness with one’s relatives is a medium of increasing one’s age and results in an increase of friends and relations; retribution has been prescribed so that people’s lives may be safe-guarded;

وَ الْوَفاءَ بِالنَّذْرِ تَعْریضاً لِلْمَغْفِرَةِ، وَ تَوْفِیةَ الْمَكائیلِ وَ الْمَوازینِ تَغْییراً لِلْبَخْسِ.

fulfillment of vows leads to forgiveness; consideration of accuracy in measurement in weighing commodities saves one from loss.

وَ النَّهْی عَنْ شُرْبِ الْخَمْرِ تَنْزیهاً عَنِ الرِّجْسِ، وَ اجْتِنابَ الْقَذْفِ حِجاباً عَنِ اللَّـعْنَةِ،

Prohibition of intoxicants has been prescribed so that humanity may remain away from filth; the prohibition of defaming (of adultery) has been prescribed so as to keep oneself away from the curse of Allah;

وَ تَرْكَ السِّرْقَةِ ایجاباً لِلْعِصْمَةِ، وَ حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ الشِّرْكَ اِخْلاصاً لَهُ بِالرُّبوُبِیةِ.

robbery has been prohibited so that the hands may be pure; and polytheism has been prohibited so that sincerity may be established in Allah’s Divinity

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقاتِهِ، وَ لاتَمُوتُنَّ اِلاَّ وَ اَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ،

Thus fear Allah as you should, and (see that) you die not but as Muslims.

وَ اَطیعُوا اللَّـهَ فیما اَمَرَكُمْ بِهِ وَ نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ، فَاِنَّهُ اِنَّما یخْشَی اللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبادِهِ الْعُلَماءُ.

Obey Allah with regards to His orders and prohibitions for surely only those of His servants are conscious of Allah who are endowed with knowledge

اَیهَا النَّاسُ! اِعْلَمُوا اَنّی فاطِمَةُ وَ اَبی مُحَمَّدٌ، اَقُولُ عَوْداً وَ بَدْءاً،

O people! Know that I am Fatima and my father was Muhammad. I say and I will repeat this again and again

وَ لااَقُولُ ما اَقُولُ غَلَطاً، وَ لااَفْعَلُ ما اَفْعَلُ شَطَطاً،

and I do not utter any falsehood, and whatever I do shall not be wrong.

لَقَدْ جاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ اَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزیزٌ عَلَیهِ ما عَنِتُّمْ حَریصٌ عَلَیكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنینَ رَؤُوفٌ رَحیمٌ.

Indeed an Apostle from among yourselves has come to you, grievous to him is your falling into distress, (he is) solicitous regarding your welfare, towards the faithful (he is) compassionate, (and) merciful.

فَاِنْ تَعْزُوهُ وَتَعْرِفُوهُ تَجِدُوهُ اَبی دُونَ نِسائِكُمْ،

If you look and understand, you will find that this Apostle is my father and not the father of any one of your women;

وَ اَخَا ابْنِ عَمّی دُونَ رِجالِكُمْ، وَ لَنِعْمَ الْمَعْزِی اِلَیهِ صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلَیهِ وَ الِهِ.

he is the brother of my cousin (Imam ʿAli) and not the brother of any one of your men and how fortunate is the one related to him (the Prophet).

فَبَلَّغَ الرِّسالَةَ صادِعاً بِالنَّذارَةِ، مائِلاً عَنْ مَدْرَجَةِ الْمُشْرِكینَ،

The Prophet proclaimed the message and prevented the people from ignorance and polytheism and worked at opposing the customs of the polytheists.

ضارِباً ثَبَجَهُمْ، اخِذاً بِاَكْظامِهِمْ، داعِیاً اِلی سَبیلِ رَبِّهِ بِالْحِكْمَةِ و الْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ،

He broke their backs while their breath was entrapped in their chests. He called to the way of his Lord with wisdom and kind exhortation.

یجُفُّ الْاَصْنامَ وَ ینْكُثُ الْهامَّ، حَتَّی انْهَزَمَ الْجَمْعُ وَ وَ لَّوُا الدُّبُرَ.

He broke the idols and crushed the heads (of rebellion) of the polytheists until they were eradicated and taken to flight.

حَتَّی تَفَرَّی اللَّـیلُ عَنْ صُبْحِهِ، وَ اَسْفَرَ الْحَقُّ عَنْ مَحْضِهِ،

Then, the darkness of the night passed and it dawned and the truth became manifest in its true form.

و نَطَقَ زَعیمُ الدّینِ، وَ خَرَسَتْ شَقاشِقُ الشَّیاطینِ، وَ طاحَ وَ شیظُ النِّفاقِ،

When the leader of the religion (the Prophet) spoke, the foaming voices of the devils were struck dumb; the degraded group of the hypocrites was annihilated

وَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقَدُ الْكُفْرِ وَ الشَّقاقِ،

and pledges between disbelief and animosity broke.

وَ فُهْتُمْ بِكَلِمَةِ الْاِخْلاصِ فی نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْبیضِ الْخِماصِ.

You all started uttering words of sincerity (Monotheism) and you were among a group consisting of illuminated countenances

وَ كُنْتُمْ عَلی شَفا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ، مُذْقَةَ الشَّارِبِ،

Indeed, you were on the brink of the pit of the hellfire, You were a mere mouthful for the drinker

وَ نُهْزَةَ الطَّامِعِ، وَ قُبْسَةَ الْعِجْلانِ، وَ مَوْطِیءَ الْاَقْدامِ، تَشْرَبُونَ الطَّرْقَ،

and were a tool in the hands of the avaricious. You were similar to the place where hasty men came to take the fire (for their own benefit) and were being trampled under the feet while at that time, your state was such that you would drink water from the wayside gutter

وَ تَقْتاتُونَ الْقِدَّ، اَذِلَّةً خاسِئینَ، تَخافُونَ اَنْ یتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِكُمْ،

and your food was the unclean hides (of animals) or leaves. You were the humiliated and degraded ones from among the masses, fearing that people may carry you away by force!

فَاَنْقَذَكُمُ اللَّـهُ تَبارَكَ وَ تَعالی بِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلَیهِ وَ الِهِ بَعْدَ اللَّـتَیا وَ الَّتی،

Thus Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime, delivered you through the medium of my father Muhammad, while you attained this deliverance after he (the Prophet) had to face numerous difficulties

وَ بَعْدَ اَنْ مُنِی بِبُهَمِ الرِّجالِ، وَ ذُؤْبانِ الْعَرَبِ، وَ مَرَدَةِ اَهْلِ الْكِتابِ.

and fight with the stubborn polytheists, the beasts among the ʿArabs, and after that with the People of the Book (the Christians and the Jews).

كُلَّما اَوْقَدُوا ناراً لِلْحَرْبِ اَطْفَأَهَا اللَّـهُ، اَوْ نَجَمَ قَرْنُ الشَّیطانِ،

Whenever the polytheists kindled the fire of wars, Allah would put it out; and when the adherents of Satan would manifest themselves

اَوْ فَغَرَتْ فاغِرَةٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكینَ، قَذَفَ اَخاهُ فی لَهَواتِها، فَلاینْكَفِیءُ حَتَّی یطَأَ جِناحَها بِأَخْمَصِهِ،

or the beastly ones among the polytheists opened their mouths of envy, he (the Prophet) would dispatch his brother (Imam ʿAli) towards them.

وَ یخْمِدَ لَهَبَها بِسَیفِهِ، مَكْدُوداً فی ذاتِ اللَّـهِ، مُجْتَهِداً فی اَمْرِ اللَّـهِ، قَریباً مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّـهِ،

He (Imam ʿAli) would crush them and extinguish the blaze of their fire with his sword and he (Imam ʿAli) bore extreme brutality in the way of Allah and strove to obey the commands of Allah. He was the nearest to the Prophet of Allah

سَیداً فی اَوْلِیاءِ اللَّـهِ، مُشَمِّراً ناصِحاً مُجِدّاً كادِحاً، لاتَأْخُذُهُ فِی اللَّـهِ لَوْمَةَ لائِمٍ.

and the master of the friends of Allah. He was always ready to serve the creations (of Allah), looking over the welfare of the people, endeavoring and toiling (in this way) and he was not affected with the censure of any censurer.

وَ اَنْتُمَ فی رَفاهِیةٍ مِنَ الْعَیشِ، و ادِعُونَ فاكِهُونَ آمِنُونَ،

While you were living a life of pleasure and peace, and were far away from the severity of battle, (you were in) enjoyment and security.

تَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا الدَّوائِرَ، وَ تَتَوَكَّفُونَ الْاَخْبارَ، وَ تَنْكُصُونَ عِنْدَ النِّزالِ، وَ تَفِرُّونَ مِنَ الْقِتالِ.

Then you waited that we, the Ahlul Bayt, may be engulfed in the severity of trials and waited to hear this news, and in the heat of the battle, you retreated and fled from the battlefield!

فَلَمَّا اِختارَ اللَّـهُ لِنَبِیهِ‌دار اَنْبِیائِهِ وَ مَأْوی اَصْفِیائِهِ،

Thus when Allah the Almighty exalted his Prophet from this perishable world towards the abode of His prophets and His chosen ones,

ظَهَرَ فیكُمْ حَسْكَةُ النِّفاقِ، وَ سَمَلَ جِلْبابُ الدّینِ، وَ نَطَقَ كاظِمُ الْغاوینَ، وَ نَبَغَ خامِلُ الْاَقَلّینَ،

the thorns of hypocrisy became manifest in you and the mantle of your religion gave, and the astray ones, who were silent until yesterday, suddenly started shrieking; the degraded and mean ones came out of their burrows into the open ground,

وَ هَدَرَ فَنیقُ الْمُبْطِلینَ، فَخَطَرَ فی عَرَصاتِكُمْ، وَ اَطْلَعَ الشَّیطانُ رَأْسَهُ مِنْ مَغْرَزِهِ، هاتِفاً بِكُمْ،

and the stallion of the people of falsehood started roaring. Now, these very people have taken the reins of authority into their hands and Satan has raised his head from the place of his concealment, inviting you towards evil

فَأَلْفاكُمْ لِدَعْوَتِهِ مُسْتَجیبینَ، وَ لِلْغِرَّةِ فیهِ مُلاحِظینَ، ثُمَّ اسْتَنْهَضَكُمْ فَوَجَدَكُمْ خِفافاً،

thus he found you to be among those accepting his invitation and you held him (in esteem) with the intention of securing position or being deceived. Satan invited you to rebel and found you to be (among the) base and meanest of people

وَ اَحْمَشَكُمْ فَاَلْفاكُمْ غِضاباً، فَوَسَمْتُمْ غَیرَ اِبِلِكُمْ، وَ وَرَدْتُمْ غَیرَ مَشْرَبِكُمْ.

and he incited your rage and thus you became enraged. Then you started to snatch the rights of others and entered the spring that did not belong to you

هذا، وَ الْعَهْدُ قَریبٌ، وَالْكَلْمُ رَحیبٌ، وَ الْجُرْحُ لَمَّا ینْدَمِلُ،

And you did all of this when not much time had passed since the passing of the Prophet and the wound (of his death) was deep and our hearts had not yet healed,

وَ الرَّسُولُ لَمَّا یُقْبَرُ، اِبْتِداراً زَعَمْتُمْ خَوْفَ الْفِتْنَةِ،

and the corpse of the Prophet was not even laid to rest in the grave! You hastened, claiming that you feared sedition.

اَلا فِی الْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا، وَ اِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحیطَةٌ بِالْكافِرینَ.

Surely into trial have they already fallen, and verily hell encompasses the infidels

فَهَیهاتَ مِنْكُمْ، وَ كَیفَ بِكُمْ، وَ اَنَّی تُؤْفَكُونَ، وَ كِتابُ اللَّـهِ بَینَ اَظْهُرِكُمْ، اُمُورُهُ ظاهِرَةٌ،

Far be it away from you! What has happened to you? Where are you wandering while the book of Allah (The Qurʾan) is amongst you; whose orders are apparent

وَ اَحْكامُهُ زاهِرَةٌ، وَ اَعْلامُهُ باهِرَةٌ، و زَواجِرُهُ لائِحَةٌ، وَ اَوامِرُهُ واضِحَةٌ،

and judgements are illuminated; its emblems dazzling and whose enjoinments and prohibitions are straightforward.

وَ قَدْ خَلَّفْتُمُوهُ وَراءَ ظُهُورِكُمْ، أَرَغْبَةً عَنْهُ تُریدُونَ؟ اَمْ بِغَیرِهِ تَحْكُمُونَ؟

Did you not leave it behind your backs and then turned your faces away from it in disgust and turned to something else for judgement?

بِئْسَ لِلظَّالمینَ بَدَلاً، وَ مَنْ یبْتَغِ غَیرَ الْاِسْلامِ دیناً فَلَنْ یقْبَلَ مِنْهُ، وَ هُوَ فِی الْاخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخاسِرینِ.

Evil for the unjust will be the exchange; and whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the next world he will be among the losers

ثُمَّ لَمْ تَلْبَثُوا اِلی رَیثَ اَنْ تَسْكُنَ نَفْرَتَها، وَ یسْلَسَ قِیادَها،ثُمَّ اَخَذْتُمْ تُورُونَ وَ قْدَتَها،

You did not even wait that the tempest may calm down! Rather, you hastened to take the reins (of the caliphate) into your hands. After having acquired it (the caliphate),

وَ تُهَیجُونَ جَمْرَتَها، وَ تَسْتَجیبُونَ لِهِتافِ الشَّیطانِ الْغَوِی، وَ اِطْفاءِ اَنْوارِالدّینِ الْجَلِی،

you started to ignite the fire of mutiny and you became engrossed in inciting the fire. You responded to the call of Satan, the seducer, and you intended to put out the light of the glorious religion.

وَ اِهْمالِ سُنَنِ النَّبِی الصَّفِی، تُسِرُّونَ حَسْواً فِی ارْتِغاءٍ، وَ تَمْشُونَ لِاَهْلِهِ وَ وَلَدِهِ فِی الْخَمَرِ وَ الضَّرَّاءِ،

You started to destroy the practices of the chosen Prophet, then you delighted in suckling the delicacies of the caliphate and opposed the Ahlul Bayt in secret and in the open.

وَ نَصْبِرُ مِنْكُمْ عَلی مِثْلِ حَزِّ الْمَدی، وَ وَخْزِ السنان فی الحشا.

We have no choice but to bear the cuts of your daggers and the piercing of your spears into the body.

وَ اَنْتُمُ الانَ تَزْعُمُونَ اَنْ لااِرْثَ لَنا أَفَحُكْمَ الْجاهِلِیةِ تَبْغُونَ،

Now you presume that we do not have any inheritance from the Prophet - do you follow the customs of the (age of) ignorance?

وَ مَنْ اَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّـهِ حُكْماً لِقَومٍ یوقِنُونَ، أَفَلاتَعْلَمُونَ؟

Who (else) can be better than Allah to judge for the people of assured faith?

بَلی، قَدْ تَجَلَّی لَكُمْ كَالشَّمْسِ الضَّاحِیةِ أَنّی اِبْنَتُهُ.

Indeed, it is as bright as the sun that I am the daughter of the Prophet of Allah.

اَیهَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ! أَاُغْلَبُ عَلی اِرْثی؟

O Muslims! Is it befitting that I am deprived of my inheritance?

یابْنَ اَبی‌قُحافَةَ! اَفی كِتابِ اللَّـهِ تَرِثُ اَباكَ وَ لااَرِثُ اَبی؟

O son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr)! Is it contained in the Glorious Qurʾan that one should inherit from their father; while in your opinion, I should not inherit from my father?

لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَیئاً فَرِیّاً، اَفَعَلی عَمْدٍ تَرَكْتُمْ كِتابَ اللَّـهِ وَ نَبَذْتُمُوهُ وَراءَ ظُهُورِكُمْ، إذْ یقُولُ «وَ وَرِثَ سُلَیمانُ داوُدَ»

Indeed you have come with an unusual thing (attributed) upon Allah and His Prophet. Did you then intentionally forsake the Book of Allah and leave it behind your backs? Allah says: And Sulayman inherited Dawud

وَ قالَ فیما اقْتَصَّ مِنْ خَبَرِ زَكَرِیا اِذْ قالَ: «فَهَبْ لی مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِیّاً یرِثُنی وَ یرِثُ مِنْ آلِ‌یعْقُوبَ»،

in regards to the life of Zakariyyah, He says:So grant me from Yourself an heir who shall inherit from me and inherit from the family of Yaʿqub

وَ قالَ: «وَ اوُلُوا الْاَرْحامِ بَعْضُهُمْ اَوْلی بِبَعْضٍ فی كِتابِ اللَّـهِ»،

‘Allah also says:And the blood relations are nearer to each other in the Book of Allah

وَ قالَ «یوصیكُمُ اللَّـهُ فی اَوْلادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْاُنْثَیینِ»،

Allah says:Allah enjoins upon you about your children - the male shall have the equal of the shares of two females

وَ قالَ «اِنْ تَرَكَ خَیراً الْوَصِیةَ لِلْوالِدَینِ وَالْاَقْرَبَینِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ حَقّاً عَلَی الْمُتَّقینَ».

and He also says, If he (the believer) leaves behind any goods that he makes a bequest for parents and (the nearest) kinsmen in goodness (this is) a duty upon the pious ones.

وَ زَعَمْتُمْ اَنْ لاحَظْوَةَ لی، وَ لااَرِثُ مِنْ اَبی، وَ لارَحِمَ بَینَنا، اَفَخَصَّكُمُ اللَّـهُ بِایةٍ اَخْرَجَ اَبی مِنْها؟

You claim that I have no share, that I do not inherit from my father, and that there is no tie of kinship between us. Has Allah singled you out with a verse from which He excluded my father?

اَمْ هَلْ تَقُولُونَ: اِنَّ اَهْلَ مِلَّتَینِ لایتَوارَثانِ؟

Or do you say that the people of two faiths do not inherit from one another?

اَوَ لَسْتُ اَنَا وَ اَبی مِنْ اَهْلِ مِلَّةٍ واحِدَةٍ؟

Are my father and I not a part and parcel of one community?

اَمْ اَنْتُمْ اَعْلَمُ بِخُصُوصِ الْقُرْانِ وَ عُمُومِهِ مِنْ اَبی وَابْنِ عَمّی؟

Then, are you more cognizant of understanding the general and particular verses of the Qurʾan than my father and my cousin (Imam ʿAli)?

فَدُونَكَها مَخْطُومَةً مَرْحُولَةً تَلْقاكَ یوْمَ حَشْرِكَ.

Then take it (Fadak) until we meet you on the Day of Judgement -

فَنِعْمَ الْحَكَمُ اللَّـهُ، وَ الزَّعیمُ مُحَمَّدٌ، وَ الْمَوْعِدُ الْقِیامَةُ، وَ عِنْدَ السَّاعَةِ یخْسِرُ الْمُبْطِلُونَ،

where Allah will be the Best Judge, and Muhammad will be the claimant on that day, and our destined time of meeting will be the Resurrection and on that promised day, the fallacious ones will be engulfed in deep loss

وَ لاینْفَعُكُمْ اِذْ تَنْدِمُونَ، وَ لِكُلِّ نَبَأٍ مُسْتَقَرٌّ،

and their regret (on that day) will be of no use to them, For every prophecy there is a [preordained] setting,

وَ لَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ یأْتیهِ عَذابٌ یخْزیهِ، وَ یحِلُّ عَلَیهِ عَذابٌ مُقیمٌ.

Soon you will know whom a disgraceful punishment will overtake and on whom a lasting punishment will descend.’

یا مَعْشَرَ النَّقیبَةِ وَ اَعْضادَ الْمِلَّةِ وَ حَضَنَةَ الْاِسْلامِ! ما هذِهِ الْغَمیزَةُ فی حَقّی وَ السِّنَةُ عَنْ ظُلامَتی؟

“O group of valorous men! The aides of the nation! The helpers of Islam! What is this slackness (that you display) in regards to me while you are witnessing the oppression being meted upon me? but you still lie in a deep sleep!

اَما كانَ رَسُول‌اللَّـهِ صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلَیهِ وَ الِهِ اَبی یقُولُ: «اَلْمَرْءُ یحْفَظُ فی وُلْدِهِ»،

Did my father not say that the rights of a father for his children must be considered?

سَرْعانَ ما اَحْدَثْتُمْ وَ عَجْلانَ ذا اِهالَةٍ، وَ لَكُمْ طاقَةٌ بِما اُحاوِلُ، وَ قُوَّةٌ عَلی ما اَطْلُبُ وَ اُزاوِلُ.

How soon have you changed tracks, even though you possess the strength to stand up for my rights and are capable of supporting me regarding my claim!

اَتَقُولُونَ ماتَ مُحَمَّدٌ؟

Do you then say that Muhammad has passed away and there remains no responsibility upon us?

فَخَطْبٌ جَلیلٌ اِسْتَوْسَعَ وَ هْنُهُ، وَاسْتَنْهَرَ فَتْقُهُ، وَ انْفَتَقَ رَتْقُهُ،

His loss is great and the crack that has appeared (in Islam) is severe and the division is immense. Unity has been shattered,

وَ اُظْلِمَتِ الْاَرْضُ لِغَیبَتِهِ،

the Earth is engulfed in darkness due to his concealment,

وَ كُسِفَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ الْقَمَرُ وَ انْتَثَرَتِ النُّجُومُ لِمُصیبَتِهِ،

the sun and the moon are eclipsed, and the stars have scattered away!

وَ اَكْدَتِ الْامالُ، وَ خَشَعَتِ الْجِبالُ، وَ اُضیعَ الْحَریمُ، وَ اُزیلَتِ الْحُرْمَةُ عِنْدَ مَماتِهِ.

Hopes have broken, mountains have crumbled, the family of the Prophet has been lost and their sanctity has been dishonored after his death!

فَتِلْكَ وَاللَّـهِ النَّازِلَةُ الْكُبْری وَ الْمُصیبَةُ الْعُظْمی، لامِثْلُها نازِلَةٌ، ،

This is, by Allah, a great calamity and a grand adversity, while this calamity is incomparable and there is no other greater calamity than the death of the Prophet!

وَ لابائِقَةٌ عاجِلَةٌ اُعْلِنَ بِها، كِتابُ اللَّـهِ جَلَّ ثَناؤُهُ فی اَفْنِیتِكُمْ،

This (the death of the Prophet) had already been conveyed to you in the Book of Allah, may He be glorified.

وَ فی مُمْساكُمْ وَ مُصْبِحِكُمْ، یهْتِفُ فی اَفْنِیتِكُمْ هُتافاً وَ صُراخاً وَ تِلاوَةً وَ اَلْحاناً،.

You were reading the Qurʾan day and night in a loud voice, lamentingly, in a normal tone and in a pleasant voice.

وَ لَقَبْلَهُ ما حَلَّ بِاَنْبِیاءِ اللَّـهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ، حُكْمٌ فَصْلٌ وَ قَضاءٌ حَتْمٌ

As for what happened in the past to Allah’s prophets and apostles - the command is decisive and destiny enjoined:

«وَ ما مُحَمَّدٌ اِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ اَفَاِنْ ماتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلی اَعْقابِكُمْ وَ مَنْ ینْقَلِبْ عَلی عَقِبَیهِ فَلَنْ یضُرَّ اللَّـهَ شَیئاً وَ سَیجْزِی اللَّـهُ الشَّاكِرینَ».

And Muhammad is not but an apostle, (other) apostles have already passed away prior to him, therefore if he dies or is killed, will you turn upon your heels? And he who turns upon his heels will by no means do harm to Allah in the least, and soon shall We reward the grateful ones.

اَیها بَنی قیلَةَ! ءَ اُهْضَمُ تُراثَ اَبی وَ اَنْتُمْ بِمَرْأی مِنّی وَ مَسْمَعٍ وَ مُنْتَدی وَ مَجْمَعٍ،

O sons of Qayla (the Ansar)! will I be usurped the inheritance of my father while you hear and see me?! (And while) You are sitting and gathered around me?

تَلْبَسُكُمُ الدَّعْوَةُ وَ تَشْمَلُكُمُ الْخُبْرَةُ، وَ اَنْتُمْ ذَوُو الْعَدَدِ وَ الْعُدَّةِ وَ الْاَداةِ وَ الْقُوَّةِ، وَ عِنْدَكُمُ السِّلاحُ وَ الْجُنَّةُ،

You hear my call, and are included in the (news of the) affair? (But) You are numerous and well equipped! (You have) the means and the power, and the weapons and the shields.

تُوافیكُمُ الدَّعْوَةُ فَلاتُجیبُونَ، وَ تَأْتیكُمُ الصَّرْخَةُ فَلاتُغیثُونَ، وَ اَنْتُمْ مَوْصُوفُونَ بِالْكِفاحِ،

Yet, the call reaches you but you do not answer; the cry comes to you but you do not come to help? (This) While you are characterized by struggle,

مَعْرُوفُونَ بِالْخَیرِ وَ الصَّلاحِ، وَ النُّخْبَةُ الَّتی انْتُخِبَتْ، وَ الْخِیرَةُ الَّتِی اخْتیرَتْ لَنا اَهْلَ الْبَیتِ

known for goodness and welfare, the selected group (which was chosen), and the best ones chosen by the Messenger for us, Ahl al-Bayt.

قاتَلْتُمُ الْعَرَبَ، وَ تَحَمَّلْتُمُ الْكَدَّ وَ التَّعَبَ، وَ ناطَحْتُمُ الْاُمَمَ، وَ كافَحْتُمُ الْبُهَمَ، لانَبْرَحُ اَوْ تَبْرَحُونَ، نَأْمُرُكُمْ فَتَأْتَمِرُونَ،

You fought the Arabs, bore with pain and exhaustion, struggled against the nations, and resisted their heroes. We did not cease, nor did you: we commanded you, and you obeyed.

حَتَّی اِذا دارَتْ بِنا رَحَی الْاِسْلامِ، وَ دَرَّ حَلَبُ الْاَیامِ، وَ خَضَعَتْ نُعْرَةُ الشِّرْكِ، وَ سَكَنَتْ فَوْرَةُ الْاِفْكِ،

So that Islam became triumphant, the accomplishment of the days came near, the fort of polytheism was subjected, the outburst of fabrication subsided,

وَ خَمَدَتْ نیرانُ الْكُفْرِ، وَ هَدَأَتْ دَعْوَةُ الْهَرَجِ، وَ اسْتَوْسَقَ نِظامُ الدّینِ، فَاَنَّی حِزْتُمْ بَعْدَ الْبَیانِ،

the flames of infidelity calmed down, and the system of religion was well-ordered. Thus, (why have you) become confused after clearness?

وَاَسْرَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ الْاِعْلانِ، وَ نَكَصْتُمْ بَعْدَ الْاِقْدامِ، وَاَشْرَكْتُمْ بَعْدَ الْایمانِ؟

Conceal matters after announcing them? Turned on your heels after daring? Associated (others with Allah) after believing?

بُؤْساً لِقَوْمٍ نَكَثُوا اَیمانَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ، وَ هَمُّوا بِاِخْراجِ الرَّسُولِ وَ هُمْ بَدَؤُكُمْ اَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ،.

Woe to a people who broke their oaths after their covenant, and plotted to expel the Apostle, and they were the first to attack you!

اَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ فَاللَّـهُ اَحَقُّ اَنْ تَخْشَوْهُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤمِنینَ

Do ye fear them? Nay, it is Allah whom you should more justly fear, if you believe!

اَلا، وَ قَدْ أَری اَنْ قَدْ اَخْلَدْتُمْ اِلَی الْخَفْضِ، وَ اَبْعَدْتُمْ مَنْ هُوَ اَحَقُّ بِالْبَسْطِ وَ الْقَبْضِ،

Nevertheless, I see that you are inclined to easy living; dismissed he who is more worthy of guardianship (Ali);

وَ خَلَوْتُمْ بِالدَّعَةِ، وَ نَجَوْتُمْ بِالضّیقِ مِنَ السَّعَةِ، فَمَجَجْتُمْ ما وَعَبْتُمْ،

you secluded yourselves with meekness and dismissed that which you accepted.

وَ دَسَعْتُمُ الَّذی تَسَوَّغْتُمْ، فَاِنْ تَكْفُرُوا اَنْتُمْ وَ مَنْ فِی الْاَرْضِ جَمیعاً فَاِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَغَنِی حَمیدٌ.

Yet, if you show ingratitude, you and all on earth together, yet, Allah free of all wants worthy of all praise.

اَلا، وَ قَدْ قُلْتُ ما قُلْتُ هذا عَلی مَعْرِفَةٍ مِنّی بِالْخِذْلَةِ الَّتی خامَرْتُكُمْ،

Surely I have said all that I have said with full knowledge of the forsaking that has seeped into you,

وَ الْغَدْرَةِ الَّتِی اسْتَشْعَرَتْها قُلُوبُكُمْ، وَ لكِنَّها فَیضَةُ النَّفْسِ، وَ نَفْثَةُ الْغَیظِ، وَ حَوَزُ الْقَناةِ، وَ بَثَّةُ الصَّدْرِ، وَ تَقْدِمَةُ الْحُجَّةِ،

and knowing the betrayal which your hearts sensed. But, it is the state of soul, the effusion of fury, the dissemination of (what is) the chest and the presentation of the proof Hence, Here it is!

فَدُونَكُمُوها فَاحْتَقِبُوها دَبِرَةَ الظَّهْرِ، نَقِبَةَ الْخُفِّ، باقِیةَ الْعارِ،

Take it then (the leadership and Fadak), and carry it on your backs: a she-camel with a sore back and a worn-through hoof, bearing everlasting disgrace,

مَوْسُومَةً بِغَضَبِ الْجَبَّارِ وَ شَنارِ الْاَبَدِ، مَوْصُولَةً بِنارِ اللَّـهِ الْمُوقَدَةِ الَّتی تَطَّلِعُ عَلَی الْاَفْئِدَةِ.

marked with the wrath of Allah, and the blame of ever (which leads to) the Fire of (the wrath of) Allah kindled (to a blaze), that which doth mount (right) to the hearts;

فَبِعَینِ اللَّـهِ ما تَفْعَلُونَ، وَ سَیعْلَمُ الَّذینَ ظَلَمُوا اَی مُنْقَلَبٍ ینْقَلِبُونَ،

For, Allah witnesses what you do, and soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!!

وَ اَنَا اِبْنَةُ نَذیرٍ لَكُمْ بَینَ یدَی عَذابٌ شَدیدٌ، فَاعْمَلُوا اِنَّا عامِلُونَ، وَ انْتَظِرُوا اِنَّا مُنْتَظِرُونَ.

And I am the daughter of a Warner (the Prophet) to you against a severe punishment. So, act and so will we, and wait, and we shall wait.