Al-Ashbaah (literally, "the skeletons"), in which Ali talked about the creation of the universe

This sermon is known as the Sermon of Skeletons [1] (Khuṭbatu ’l-Ashbāḥ) and it holds one of the highest positions among the sermons of Amīr al-mu’minin.

Amīr al-mu’minin delivered this sermon from the pulpit of (the mosque of) Kūfah when someone asked him, ‘O Amīr al-mu’minin! describe Allāh for us in such a way that we may imagine that we see Him with eyes so that our…

[Description of Allāh] Praise be to Allāh whom refusal to give away and stinginess do not make rich and Whom munificence and generosity do not make poor, although everyone who gives away loses (to that extent) except He,…

He is the First for whom there was no ‘before’ so that there could be anything before Him. He is the Last for whom there is no ‘after’ so that there could be anything after Him. He prevents the pupils of the eyes from…

[Attributes of Allāh as described in the Holy Qur’ān] Then look on questioner, be confined to those of His attributes which the Qur’ān has described and seek light from the effulgence of its guidance. Leave to Allāh that…

He is Powerful, such that when imagination shoots its arrows to comprehend the extremity of His power, and mind, making itself free of the dangers of evil thoughts, tries to find Him in the depth of His realm, and hearts…

[About Allāh’s creation] He originated the creation without any example which He could follow and without any specimen prepared by any known creator that was before Him. He showed us the realm of His Might, and such…

(O Allāh) I stand witness that he who likens Thee with the separateness of the limbs or with the joining of the extremities of his body did not acquaint his innerself with knowledge about Thee, and his heart did not…

They are wrong who liken Thee to their idols, and dress Thee with apparel of the creatures by their imagination, attribute to Thee parts of body by their own thinking and consider Thee after the creatures of various…

I stand witness that whoever equated Thee with anything out of Thy creation took a match for Thee, and whoever takes a match for Thee is an unbeliever, according to what is stated in thy unambiguous verses and indicated…

[A part of the same sermon about the greatest perfection in Allāh’s creation] He has fixed limits for every thing He has created and made the limits firm, and He has fixed its working and made the working delicate. He…

[A part of the same sermon, containing description of the sky] He has arranged the depressions and elevations of the openings of the sky. He has joined the breadths of its breaches, and has joined them with one another.…

He commanded it to remain stationary in obedience to His commands. He made its sun the bright indication for its day, and moon the gloomy indication for its night. He then put them in motion in their orbits and ordained…

[A part of the same sermon, containing description of Angels] Then Allāh, the Glorified, created for inhabiting of His skies and populating the higher strata of his realm new (variety of) creatures namely the angels.…

He has made them the trustees of His revelation and sent them to Prophets as holders of His injunctions and prohibitions. He has immunised them against the waviness of doubts. Consequently no one among them goes astray…

Among them are those who are in the frame of heavy clouds, or in the height of lofty mountains, or in the gloom of over-powering darkness. And there are those whose feet have pierced the lowest boundaries of the earth.…

The length of the humility, and extreme nearness has not removed from them the rope of their fear. They do not entertain pride so as to make much of their acts. Their humility before the glory of Allāh does not allow…

They regard the Master of the Throne (Allāh) as the store for the day of their need. Because of their love (for Him) they turn to Him even when others turn to the creatures. They do not reach the ending limit of His…

They did not differ (among themselves) about their Sustainer as a result of Satan's control over them. The vice of separation from one another did not disperse them. Rancour and mutual malice did not overpower them. Ways…

[A part of the same sermon, in description of earth and its spreading on water] Allāh spread the earth on stormy and tumultuous waves and the depths of swollen seas, where waves clashed with each other and high surges…

When the excitement of water subsided under the earth's sides and under the weight of the high and lofty mountains placed on it shoulders Allāh flowed springs of water from its high tops and distributed them through…

He made a big cloud by collecting together small clouds and when water collected in it and lightning began to flash on its sides and the flash continued under the white clouds as well as the heavy ones He sent it raining…

[On the Creation of Man and the sending of the Prophet] When He has spread out the earth and enforced His commands He chose Adam (peace be upon him) as the best in His creation and made him the first of all creation. He…

He ordained livelihoods [3] with plenty and with paucity. He distributed them narrowly as well as profusely. He did it with justice to test whomever He desired, with prosperity or with destitution, and to test through it…

He [4] knows the secrets of those who conceal them, the secret conversation of those who engage in it, the inner feelings of those who indulge in guesses, the established certainties, the inklings of the eyes, the inner…

[He also knows] small rising clouds and the big giant ones, the drops of rain in the thick clouds, the particles of dust scattered by whirlwinds through their skirts, the lines erased by rain floods, the movements of…

On all this He suffers no trouble, and no impediment hampers Him in the preservation of what he created nor any languor or grief hinders Him from the enforcement of commands and management of the creatures, His knowledge…

O my Allāh! thou deservest handsome description and the highest esteem. If wish is directed towards Thee, Thou art the best to be wished for. If hope is reposed in Thee, Thou art the Most Honoured to be hoped from.

O my Allāh! Thou hast bestowed on me such power that I do not praise any one other than Thee, and I do not eulogise any one save Thee. I do not direct my praise towards others who are sources of disappointment and…

O my Allāh! every praiser has on whom he praises the right of reward and recompense. Certainly, I have turned to Thee with my eye at the treasures of Thy Mercy and stores of forgiveness.

O my Allāh! here stands one who has singled Thee with Oneness that is Thy due and has not regarded any one deserving of these praises and eulogies except Thee. My want towards Thee is such that nothing except Thy…