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) يومىء فيها إلى ذكر الملاحم

يَعْطِفُ الْهَوَى عَلَى الْهُدَى إِذَا عَطَفُوا الْهُدَى عَلَى الْهَوَى، وَيَعْطِفُ الرَّأْيَ عَلَى الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا عَطَفُوا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى الرَّأْيِ.

He will direct desires towards (the path of) guidance while people will have turned guidance towards desires, and he will turn their views to the direction of the Qur’ān while the people will have turned the Qur’ān to their views.

[ومنها :] حَتَّى تَقُومَ الْحَرْبُ بِكُمْ عَلَى سَاقٍ بَادِياً نَوَاجِذُهَا مَمْلُوءَةً أَخْلَافُهَا حُلْواً رَضَاعُهَا عَلْقَماً عَاقِبَتُهَا أَلَا وَفِي غَدٍ وَسَيَأْتِي غَدٌ بِمَا لَا تَعْرِفُونَ يَأْخُذُ الْوَالِي مِنْ غَيْرِهَا عُمَّالَهَا عَلَى مَسَاوِئِ أَعْمَالِهَا وَتُخْرِجُ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ أَفَالِيذَ كَبِدِهَا وَتُلْقِي إِلَيْهِ سِلْماً مَقَالِيدَهَا فَيُرِيكُمْ كَيْفَ عَدْلُ السِّيرَةِ وَيُحْيِي مَيِّتَ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ.

[A part of the same sermon :] (Before this Enjoiner of Good, [1] matters will deteriorate) till war will rage among you with full force, showing forth its teeth, with udders full of sweet milk but with a sour tip. Beware, it will be tomorrow and the morrow will come soon with things which you do not know. The Man in power, not from this crowd, will take to task all those were formerly appointed for their ill deeds and the earth will pour forth its iternal treasures and fling before him easily her keys. He will show you the just way of behaviour and revive the Qur’ān and sunnah which have become lifeless (among people).

[منها :] كَأَنِّي بِهِ قَدْ نَعَقَ بِالشَّامِ وَفَحَصَ بِرَايَاتِهِ فِي ضَوَاحِي كُوفَانَ فَعَطَفَ عَلَيْهَا عَطْفَ الضَّرُوسِ وَفَرَشَ الْأَرْضَ بِالرُّءُوسِ قَدْ فَغَرَتْ فَاغِرَتُهُ وَثَقُلَتْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَطْأَتُهُ بَعِيدَ الْجَوْلَةِ عَظِيمَ الصَّوْلَةِ.

[A part of the same sermon :] As if I see (him), he (the Enjoiner of Evil) [2] is shouting in Syria (ash-Shām) and is extending his banners to the outskirts of Kūfah. He is bent towards it like the biting of the she-camel. He has covered the ground with heads. His mouth is wide open and (the trampling of) his footsteps on the ground have become heavy. His advance is broad and his attacks are severe.

وَاللَّهِ لَيُشَرِّدَنَّكُمْ فِي أَطْرَافِ الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ كَالْكُحْلِ فِي الْعَيْنِ فَلَا تَزَالُونَ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى تَئُوبَ إِلَى الْعَرَبِ عَوَازِبُ أَحْلَامِهَا فَالْزَمُوا السُّنَنَ الْقَائِمَةَ وَالْآثَارَ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَالْعَهْدَ الْقَرِيبَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ بَاقِي النُّبُوَّةِ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّمَا يُسَنِّي لَكُمْ طُرُقَهُ لِتَتَّبِعُوا عَقِبَهُ.

By Allāh, he will disperse you throughout the earth till only a few of you remain, like kohl in the eye. You will continue like this till the Arabs return to their senses. You should therefore stick to established ways, clear signs and the early period which has the lasting virtues of the Prophethood. You should know that Satan makes his ways easy so that you may follow him on his heels.

Extrait d’un discours où il fait allusion aux épopées

Il joint la passion à la bonne guidance s’ils joignent celle-ci à la passion; il joint l’opinion au Coran s’ils joignent celui-ci à l’opinion.

Jusqu’à ce que la guerre s’acharne chez vous, avec ses mamelles pleines de lait doux à téter mais dont les conséquences sont amères. Dans un proche avenir, dont vous ignorez les péripéties, le calife demande des comptes aux gouverneurs des provinces qui avaient mal agi; le pays lui fournit de l’argent et lui livre pacifiquement ses rênes, et alors il vous montrera comment se conduire d’après la justice et vivifiera ce qui était mort dans le Livre et la sounna.

[Le maître de la sédition :] me paraît en train de croasser à Damas et d’examiner la situation militaire dans les environs de Koufa où il a sévi comme une chamelle aux désirs exacerbés et pavé la terre de cadavres. Il a certes ouvert la bouche et exercé tout son poids lourd sur la terre. Il se jette avec fureur sur ses ennemis dans ses tournées de grande envergure.

Par Dieu, il vous dispersera certes aux extrémités de la terre et il ne restera de vous qu’une poignée d’hommes. Vous stagnerez dans cette situation jusqu’à ce que les Arabes reprennent leurs raisons perdues. Attachez-vous aux règles de conduite [pluriel de Sounna] en vigueur, aux traditions claires et à l’alliance toute proche sur laquelle repose les séquelles de la prophétie. Et sachez que Satan vous facilite ses voies pour le suivre.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 138