Creation of Universe

Age of Ignorance, Household of Muhammad, hypocrites

Shaqshaqiya (literally, "roar of the camel"), in which Alī lays out his claim to the caliphate and his superiority over his predecessors

His far-sightedness and his steadfastness in Islam

When Abbas and Abu Sufyan offered to pay allegiance to him for the caliphate after Muhammad''s death

On being advised not to chase Talha and Zubayr for fighting

The hypocrites

About Zubayr at a time for which it was appropriate

Cowardice of his enemies in the Battle of the Camel

Talha and Zubayr

When he gave the standard of the Battle of the Camel to his son Mohammad

When, after his victory in the Battle of the Camel, one of his comrades said, "I wish my brother had been present and he too would have seen what success and victory God had given you"

Condemning the people of Basra

Also in condemnation of the people of Basra

After resuming the land grants made by Uthman

Delivered when the people of Madina swore allegiance to him

About those who sit for dispensation of justice among people but are not fit for it

In disparagement of contradictory views among Muslim jurists

Treachery and hypocrisy of al-Ashath al-Kindi

Death and taking lessons from it

Advice to keep light in this world

About those who accused him of killing Uthman

Keeping aloof from envy, and good behavior towards kin

Exhorting people for jihad

When his men were overpowered by Muawiya''s men

People after Muhammad''s death, the settlement between Muawiya and Amr ibn al-As

The transient nature of this world and importance of the next world

About those who found pretexts at the time of jihad

In connection with Uthman''s killing

Before the Battle of the Camel, he sent Ibn Abbas to Zubayr to advise him back to obedience

Disparagement of the world and categories of people

At the time of setting for the Battle of the Camel

Exhorting people to fight against the people of Syria

After arbitration

Warning the people of Nahrawan of their fate

His steadfastness and precedence in Islam

In disparagement of those in doubt

In disparagement of those who shrink from fighting

In response to the slogan of Kharijites: "Judgment belongs to God alone"

In condemnation of treason

Heart''s desires and hopes

In response to a suggestion of war

When Masqala defected to Syria

The greatness of God and the lowliness of this world

When he decided to march towards Syria

Calamities befalling Kufa

At the time of marching towards Syria

God''s greatness and sublimity

Admixture of right and wrong

When his men were prevented from taking water from the River Euphrates

Reward and punishment in the next world

On the description of the Day of Sacrifice

On the swear of allegiance

When his men showed impatience on his delay in giving them permission to fight in Siffin

Steadiness on the battlefield

Muawiya swallows whatever he gets and craves for what he does not get

Addressing the Kharijites

When he was told that the Kharijites had crossed the bridge of Nahrawan

When he was told that the Kharijites had been totally annihilated

Do not fight the Kharijites after me!

When he was warned of being killed by deceit

Transience of this world

Decline and destruction of this world

Attributes of God

Ways of fighting

On hearing the account of what took place in Saqifah of Bani-Sa''ida

When Mohammad ibn Abi Bakr, governor of Egypt, was overpowered and killed

Admonishing his companions for careless behavior

In the morning of the day he was fatally struck with a sword

In condemnation of the people of Iraq

Praise for Muhammad

When Hasan and Husayn interceded on behalf of Marwan

When the elective committee (or shura) decided to swear allegiance to Uthman

When he learned that the Umayyads blamed him for killing Uthman

Preaching and counseling

Banu Umayyad

One of his supplications

Prophecy of astrologers

Shortcomings of women

Way of preaching and counseling

World and its people

Al-Gharra (literally, "the brilliant"), in which Ali enjoined people to piety

Amr ibn al-As

Perfection of God and counseling

Preparing for the hereafter by following God''s commandments

Faithful and unfaithful believers

Factions of community

Holy Prophet

God''s attributes and some advice

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

When people decided to swear allegiance to him after the murder of Uthman

Annihilation of the Kharijites, mischief mongering of the Umayyads, vastness of his own knowledge

God''s praise and eulogy of the prophets

Age of Ignorance and Muhammad''s efforts to disseminate God''s message

In eulogy of Muhammad

Admonishing his companions

Oppression of the Umayyads

Abstinence of the world and vicissitudes of time

Muhammad and his descendants

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) في بعض صفات الرسول الكريم وتهديد بني أمية وعظة الناس

[لرسول الكريم ] حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللهُ مُحَمَّداً(صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)، شَهِيداً، وَبَشِيراً، وَنَذِيراً، خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّةِ طِفْلاً، وَأَنْجَبَهَا كَهْلاً، أَطْهَرَ الْمُطَهَّرِينَ شِيمَةً، وَأَجْوَدَ الْمُسْتَمْطَرِينَ دِيمَةً.

Then Allāh deputed Muḥammad (S) as a witness, giver of good tidings and warner, the best in the universe as a child and the chastest as a grown up man, the purest of the purified in conduct, the most generous of those who are approached for generosity.

[بنو أمية ] فَمَا احْلَوْلَتْ الدُّنْيَا لَكُمْ فِي لَذَّتِهَا، وَلاَ تَمَكَّنْتُمْ مِنْ رَضَاعِ أَخْلاَفِهَا إِلاَّ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا صَادَفْتُمُوهَا جَائِلاً خِطَامُهَا قَلِقاً وَضِينُهَا ، قَدْ صَارَ حَرَامُهَا عِنْدَ أَقْوَامٍ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السِّدْر الْـمَخْضُودِ وَحَلاَلُهَا بَعِيداً غَيْرَ مَوْجُودٍ، وَصَادَفْتُمُوهَا، وَاللهِ، ظِلاًّ مَمْدُوداً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْدُودٍ، فَالاْرْضُ لَكُمْ شَاغِرَةٌ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ فِيهَا مَبْسُوطَةٌ، وَأَيْدِي الْقَادَةِ عَنْكُمْ مَكْفُوفَةٌ، وَسُيُوفُكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسَلَّطَةٌ، وَسُيُوفُهُمْ عَنْكُمْ مَقْبُوضَةٌ.

[About the Umayyads :] This world did not appear sweet to you in its pleasures and you did not secure milk from its udders except after having met it when its nose-rein was trailing and its leather girth was loose. For certain peoples its unlawful items were like bent branches (laden with fruit) while its lawful items were far away, not available. By Allāh, you would find it like a long shade upto a fixed time. So the earth is with you without let or hindrance and your hands in it are extended while the hands of the leaders are held away from you. Your swords are hanging over them while their swords are held away from you.

أَلاَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ دَم ثَائِراً، وَلَكُلِّ حَقٍّ طَالِباً، وَإِنَّ الثَّائِرَ فِي دِمَائِنَا كَالْحَاكِمِ في حَقِّ نَفْسِهِ، وَهُوَ اللهُ الَّذِي لاَ يُعْجِزُهُ مَنْ طَلَبَ، وَلاَ يَفُوتُهُ مَنْ هَرَبَ. فَأُقْسِمُ بِاللهِ، يَا بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، عَمَّا قَلِيل لَتَعْرِفُنَّهَا فِي أَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ وَفِي دَارِ عَدُوِّكُمْ! أَلاَ إِنَّ أبْصَرَ الاْبْصَارِ مَا نَفَذَ فِي الْخَيْرِ طَرْفُهُ! أَلاَ إِنَّ أَسْمَعَ الاْسْمَاعِ مَا وَعَى التَّذْكِيرَ وَقَبِلَهُ!

Beware that for every blood (that is shed) there is an avenger and for every right there is a claimant. The avenger for our blood is like the judge for his own claim, and it is Allāh who is such that if one seeks Him, then He does not disappoint him, and one who runs away from Him cannot escape Him. I swear by Allāh, O Bani Umayyah, shortly you will see it (i.e. your possession) in the hands of others and in the house of your enemy. Know that the best looking eye is that whose sight catches virtue and know that the best hearing ear is that which hears good advice and accept it.

[وعظ الناس ] أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، اسْتَصْبِحُوا مِنْ شُعْلَةِ مِصْبَاح وَاعِظ مُتَّعِظ، وَامْتَاحُوا مِنْ صَفْوِ عَيْن قَدْ رُوِّقَتْ مِنَ الْكَدَرِ. بَادَ اللهِ، لاَ تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى جَهَالَتِكُمْ، وَلاَ تَنْقَادُوا لاِهْوَائِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ النَّازِلَ بِهذَا الْمَنْزِلِ نَازِلٌ بِشَفَا جُرُف هَار، يَنْقُلُ الرَّدَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ مِنْ مَوْضِع إِلَى مَوْضَع، لِرَأْي يُحْدِثُهُ بَعْدَ رَأْي، يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُلْصِقَ مَا لاَ يَلْتَصِقُ، وَيُقَرِّبَ مَا لاَ يَتَقَارَبُ!

[About the functions of the Imams :] O people, secure light from the flame of lamps of the preacher who follows what he preaches and draw water from the spring which has been cleaned of dirt. O creatures of Allāh, do not rely on your ignorance, do not be obedient to your desires because he who stays at this place is like one who stays on the brink of a bank undermined by water carrying ruin on his back from one portion to the other following his opinion which he changes (one after the other). He wants to make adhere what cannot adhere and to bring together what cannot keep together.

فَاللهَ اللهَ أَنْ تَشْكُوا إِلَى مَنْ لاَ يُشْكِي شَجْوَكُمْ، وَلاَ يَنْقُضُ بِرَأْيِهِ مَا قَدْ أَبْرَمَ لَكُمْ. إِنَّهُ لَيسَ عَلَى الاْمَامِ إِلاَّ مَا حُمِّلَ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ: الاْبْلاَغُ فَي الْمَوْعِظَةِ، وَالاجْتِهَادُ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ، وَالاْحْيَاءُ لِلسُّنَّةِ، وَإِقَامَةُ الْحُدُودِ عَلَى مُسْتَحِقِّيهَا، وَإِصْدَارُ السُّهْمَانِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا. فَبَادِرُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِ تَصْوِيحِ نَبْتِهِ، وَمِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُشْغَلُوا بَأَنْفُسِكُمْ عَنْ مُسْتَثَارِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ، وَانْهَوْا عَنْ المُنْكَرِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنْهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُمْ بالنَّهْي بَعْدَ التَّنَاهِي!

So fear Allāh and do not place your complaints before him who cannot redress your grievance, nor undo with his opinion what has been made obligatory for you. Certainly, there is no obligation on the Imam except what has been devolved on him from Allāh, namely to convey warnings, to exert in good advice, to revive the Sunnah, to enforce penalties on those liable to them and to issue shares to the deserving. So hasten towards knowledge before its vegetation dries up and before you turn yourselves away from seeking knowledge from those who have it. Desist others from the unlawful and abstain from it yourself, because you have been commanded to abstain (yourself) before abstaining (others).

Extrait d’un discours où il traite des qualités du Prophète et de la menace des Omeyyades, et prêche les gens

[Le Prophète :] ...Jusqu’à ce que Dieu envoya Mouhammad... comme témoin, prédicateur et prophète. Enfant, il était le meilleur des hommes. Adulte, il était le plus intelligent le plus pur, vertueux et généreux.

[Les Omeyyades ] La vie ne fut agréable à vos yeux et vous ne fûtes capables de téter ses mamelles qu’après l’avoir vécue avec la bride mouvante et la sangle flasque; lorsque l'illicite fut devenu chez quelques gens comme un buisson de lotus sans épines, et le licite lointain et non existant; et lorsque vous l’eûtes rencontrée, pardi, comme une ombre étendue jusqu’à une certaine limite. La terre, à vos yeux, est vide, vos mains y sont tendues, les mains des vos dirigeants repoussées, vos épées y font la loi tandis que les leurs [ceux de ‘Ali] sont retenues.

A vrai dire, à chaque sang il y a, certes, un vengeur, et à chaque droit correspond quelqu’un qui le réclame. Et celui qui réclame la vengeance de nos sangs fait justice à Lui-même. Il s’agit de Dieu qu’aucune réclamation ne lui échappe et qu’aucun fuyeur ne peut se soustraire à sa justice. Je jure par Dieu, ô Omeyyades, bientôt le pouvoir passera en d’autres mains, ceux de vos ennemis! A bon entendeur, salut!

[Prêche du peuple ] O gens! Allumez vos lampes de la flamme d’un prêcheur avisé et abreuvez-vous d’une source limpide! O serviteurs de Dieu, ne fiez-vous pas à votre ignorance et ne laissez-vous pas conduire par vos passions. Celui qui demeure dans l’ignorance et les péchés est semblable à celui qui se tient devant un précipice mortel, portant sur son dos la damnation d’un endroit à l’autre; il change de croyance à tout moment, veut coller ce qui est incollable et rapprocher des choses naturellement disjointes!

Je vous demande, par Dieu, de porter plainte à Celui qui répond à vos vrais besoins et ne viole pas par son opinion les pactes conclus avec vous. Il n’est du devoir de l’Imam [‘Ali] que d’accomplir ce que son Seigneur lui a ordonné: la transmission du message par le prêche, l’ijtihad [1] dans les conseils, la vivification de la Sounna, l’établissement des obligations et de leurs limites [exécution des lois coraniques] et le devoir de donner à chacun son dû. Abordez donc la science avant que le bout de sa plante ne se dessèche et avant de vous occuper de vous-même. Interdisez ce qui est blâmable et ne le faites pas, car on vous a ordonné de s’en abstenir avant de rinterdire aux autres.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 105