الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 4, page 201

2. It is narrated that ’Amir al-Mu’minin once said in his sermon the following: “’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that if Allah, Glorious is whose praise, wanted, He could have opened to His prophets the treasures of gold (stored), mines of pure growing gold, placed at their disposal, gardens of plantations, flocks of birds from the skies and animals on land. Had He done so, trial and testing system would have failed as well, the system of reward; the news (about the hereafter) vanished, people resting would have been the same as those under trial and assessment. The believers would not receive any reward as people of good deeds, nor do any name and terminology make any clear sense. In addition, if Allah were to send from the sky miracles to force their neck down to submission, He could have done so, but trial and test would have remained without basis in the case of all people. However, Allah, Glorious is whose praise, made His messengers to possess determination in their intentions, but weak to the eyes of people. “It is due to such determination that their (prophet’s) ability to exercise moderation fills up the hearts and eyes with satisfaction, with feeling of self-sufficiency and their exercising of self-abnegation fills up the ears and eyes (without question). Had the prophets been powerful beyond the power of others, had they had incompatible might and a kingdom that every man desired, and every one sought to achieve, it would have been easy to examine the creatures and far for the creatures to assume arrogance. They (people) would believe them for crushing fear from them or for the attractive interest found with them (the prophets). In such case, the intentions and good deeds remained subject to equal division and distribution. Allah, however, wanted that following of His messengers, acknowledgement of His books, expressing humbleness before Him, seeking comfort with His commands, submission to His orders, remain especially for Him alone, without any confusion or doubts to affect its purity of being just for Him. The more there is trial and greater test, the reward and compensation is worthier and appreciable. Have you not noticed that Allah, Glorious is whose praise, has tried and tested from Adam to the last ones of this world by means of stones that do not harm anyone or benefit them, do not see or hear? Thus, He has made it His sacred house, which He has made for people a place of worship. He then has made its location in a most barren land with rocks, the least in terms of fertility, the narrowest of valleys and means of living, the most difficult in availability of water for Muslims. It is among the rough hills, fine sands, fountains of very little water and towns that are cut off from each other, with very little traces of the drops from the sky which do not even reach anyone’s shoes or cloven-hoofs or hooves. He then commanded Adam and his offspring to ready themselves to turn to it. It then became the turning point for the destination of their journey, the final destination for them to rest. To this destination, the fruits of hearts fall from the wilderness, and vast extended land, from the cut off island in the oceans, from the deep valley of faraway places. They move their shoulders with humbleness, declaring around it (the House) that no one except Allah deserves worship. They walk on sand, on foot, dusty and tired for His sake. (One can see them) without head covering and (normal) dress, their heads shaven for the great trial, and tremendous test, intense examination, slow purification and sifting and with clear appeals. Allah has made it a means to achieve His kindness, a connection and means to reach His paradise, a reason to gain His forgiveness. It is a trial for His creatures through His kindness. The reward would have been very little and small if the trial had been of a certain lesser degree. This could happen if Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, were to place His Sacred House and other great monumental landmarks among the gardens, canals, open flat lands, thick groves of trees, easily accessible fruits, plentiful grass, connected towns, with brown colored fields, green gardens, countryside houses surrounded with beautiful yards, delightful farms, well built roads and many gardens. “The trial would turn into ease and comfort if the foundations on which it is carried, the stones with which it is raised were of green emerald, red ruby, lights and rays. This would reduce the creeping of doubts in the chests, make the struggle of Satan against the hearts very weak, nullify the pricking of doubts and hesitation by the people. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, however, tests and examines His servants by various kinds of difficult examinations. He makes them to prove their loyalty as worshippers by a hard struggle. He tries by means of hardships to expel arrogance from their hearts and settle humbleness in their souls, so that it can open the door to His favors and provide easy means for His forgiveness and His trial, as He has said, ’Do people think that they will be left without trial just because they have said, “We have believed?” We certainly placed under test and trial those who lived before them so that Allah would find who was truthful and who were the liars.’” (29:1-2)

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.