Abstract:
A masterpiece of Shi’i Islam literature, Nahjul Balaghah, or The Peak of Eloquence, is a celebrated collection of sermons, letters, tafsirs, and narrations attributed to Imam Ali – the cousin and son- in-law of Prophet Muhammad – and compiled by Sharif al-Razi, a Shi‘a scholar in the tenth century. Among the 245 sermons, Deenparvar touches upon the ‘Sermon of Disparagement’, in which the Imam condemns Satan for his arrogance – a quality that lures people to committing a myriad of other immoral actions – and warns people not to fall into Satan’s trap. This paper offers a glance into the reasons for Divine trials, qualities of Satan, and the effects and consequences of arrogance and following one’s desires.
Machine summary:
"1 In truth, the scarcity and abundance in sustenance based on God’s wisdom and justice is for people’s growth and transformation so that they progress and come to understand that both are to his benefit; just as seen in narrations: (رجوع شود به تصویر صفحه) There some people whom if reach great livelihood and sustenance, will become corrupt; therefore their best interest and welfare lies in the shortening of livelihood.
Even clearer than the aforementioned evidence is the following passage: (رجوع شود به تصویر صفحه) To understand this test and trial so that ‘humble’ (ﲍIﻌﺿاﻮ>ﻣ) be distinguished from the ‘arrogant’ (ﻦL=ﻜﺘ5ﺴﻣ), God the glorified, who knows that which is hidden in the hearts and that which is unseen within, announced: "Indeed I am about to create a human being out of clay.
Imam Ali says: "ﻪﻌﻓ#ﺑ ﻪﻌﺿو و BCﻜﺘﺑ ﷲ Bﺮﻐﺻ" It was arrogance and vanity that brought this calamity upon himself, and not God. The Divine Secrets of Trial (رجوع شود به تصویر صفحه) If Allah had wanted to create Adam from a light whose glare would have dazzled the eyes, whose handsomeness would have amazed the wits and whose fragrance would have caught the breath, He could have done so; and if He had done so, people would have bowed to him in humility and the trial of the angels through him would have become easier."
(
, 
, 
)
