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) يحذر من الفتن

The condition of the people during disorder, and advice against oppression and unlawful earning

[اللّه ورسوله :] وَأَحْمَدُ اللهَ وَأَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى مَدَاحِرِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَزَاجِرِهِ، وَالاعْتِصَامِ مِنْ حَبَائِلِهِ وَمَخَاتِلِهِ. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَنَجِيبُهُ وَصَفْوَتُهُ، لاَ يُؤَازَى فَضْلُهُ، وَلاَ يُجْبَرُ فَقْدُهُ، أَضَاءَتْ بِهِ الْبِلاَدُ بَعْدَ الضَّلاَلَةِ الْمُظْلِمَةِ، وَالْجَهَالَةِ الْغَالِبَةِ، وَالْجَفْوَةِ الْجَافِيَةِ، وَالنَّاسُ يَسْتَحلُّونَ الْحَرِيمَ، وَيَسْتَذِلُّونَ الْحَكِيمَ، يَحْيَوْنَ عَلَى فَتْرَة، وَيَمُوتُونَ عَلَى كَفْرَةِ!

I praise Allāh and seek His help from (what led to the) punishment of Satan and his deceitful acts, and (I seek His) protection from Satan’s traps and way-layings. I stand witness that there is no god but Allāh and I stand witness that Muḥammad is His slave and His Prophet — peace be upon him and his progeny — and his chosen and his selected one. Muḥammad’s (S) distinction cannot be paralleled nor can his loss be made good. Populated places were brightened through him when previously there was dark misguidance, overpowering ignorance and rude habits, and people regarded unlawful as lawful, humiliated the the man of wisdom, passed lives when there were no prophets and died as unbelievers.

[التحذير من الفتن :] ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ أَغْرَاضُ بَلاَيَا قَدِ اقْتَرَبَتْ، فَاتَّقُوا سَكَرَاتِ النِّعْمَةِ، وَاحْذَرُوا بِوَائِقَ النِّقْمَةِ، وَتَثَبَّتُوا فِي قَتَامِ الْعِشْوَةِ، وَاعْوِجَاجِ الْفِتْنَةِ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ جَنِينِهَا، وَظُهُورِ كَمِينِهَا، وَانْتِصَابِ قُطْبِهَا، وَمَدَارِ رَحَاهَا. تَبْدَأُ فِي مَدَارِجَ خَفِيَّة، وَتَؤُولُ إِلَى فَظَاعَة جَلِيَّة، شِبَابُهَا كَشِبَابِ الْغُلاَمِ، وَآثَارُهَا كَآثَارِ السِّلاَمِ

You, O people of Arabia, will be victims of calamities which have come near. You should avoid the intoxication of wealth, fear the disasters of chatisement, keep steadfast in the darkness and crookedness of mischief when its hidden nature discloses itself, its secrets become manifest and its axis and the pivot of its rotation gain strength. It begins in imperceptible stages but develops into great hideousness. Its youth is like the youth of an adolescent and its marks are like the marks of beating by stone.

يَتَوَارَثُهَا الظَّلَمَةُ بالْعُهُودِ! أَوَّلُهُمْ قَائِدٌ لاِخِرِهِمْ، وَآخِرُهُمْ مُقْتَد بأَوَّلِهِمْ، يَتَنَافَسُونَ في دُنْيا دَنِيَّة، وَيَتَكَالَبُونَ عَلى جِيفَة مُرِيحَة، وَعَنْ قَلِيل يَتَبَرَّأُ التَّابِعُ مِنَ الْمَتْبُوعِ، وَالْقَائِدُ مِنَ الْمَقُودِ، فَيَتَزَايَلُونَ بِالْبِغْضَاءِ، وَيَتَلاَعَنُونَ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ. ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ ذلِكَ طَالِعُ الْفِتْنَةِ الرَّجُوفِ، وَالْقَاصِمَةِ الزَّحُوفِ، فَتَزِيغُ قُلُوبٌ بَعْدَ اسْتِقَامَة، وَتَضِلُّ رِجَالٌ بَعْدَ سَلاَمَة، وَتَخْتَلِفُ الاَهْوَاءُ عِنْدَ هُجُومِهَا، وَتَلْتَبِسُ الاْرَاءُ عِنْدَ نُجُومِهَا.

Oppressors inherit it by (mutual) agreement. The first of them serves as a leader for the latter one and the latter one follows the first one. They vie with each other in (the matter of) this lowly world, and leap over this stinking carcass. Shortly the follower will denounce his connection with the leader, and the leader with the follower. They will disunite on account of mutual and curse one another when they meet. Then after this there will appear another arouser of mischief who will destroy ruined things. The heart will become wavering after being normal, men will be misled after safety, desires will multiply and become diversified and views will become confused.

مَنْ أَشْرَفَ لَهَا قَصَمَتْهُ، وَمَنْ سَعَى فِيهَا حَطَمَتْهُ، يَتَكَادَمُونَ فِيهَا تَكَادُمَ الْحُمُرِ فِي الْعَانَةِ! قَدِ اضْطَرَبَ مَعْقُودُ الْحَبْلِ، وَعَمِيَ وَجْهُ الاَْمْرِ، تَغِيضُ فِيهَا الْحِكْمَةُ، وَتَنْطِقُ فِيهَا الظَّلَمَةُ، وَتَدُقُّ أَهْلَ الْبَدْوِ بِمِسْحَلِهَا، وَتَرُضُّهُمْ بِكَلْكَلِهَا! يَضِيعُ فِي غُبَارِهَا الْوُحْدَانُ، وَيَهْلِكُ فِي طَرِيقِهَا الرُّكْبَانُ، تَرِدُ بِمُرِّ الْقَضَاءِ، وَتَحْلُبُ عَبِيطَ الدِّمَاءِ، وَتَثْلِمُ مَنَارَ الدِّينَ، وَتَنْقُضُ عَقْدَ الْيَقِينِ، يَهْرُبُ مِنْهَا الاْكْياسُ، وَيُدَبِّرُهَا الاْرْجَاسُ، مِرْعَادٌ مِبْرَاقٌ، كَاشِفَةٌ عَنْ سَاق! تُقْطَعُ فِيهَا الاَرْحَامُ، وَيُفَارَقُ عَلَيْهَا الاِسْلاَمُ! بَرِيُّهَا سَقِيمٌ، وَظَاعِنُهَا مُقِيمٌ!

Whoever proceeds towards this mischief will be ruined and whoever strives for it will be annihilated. They will be biting each other during it as the wild asses bite each other in the herd. The coils of the rope will be disturbed and the face of affairs will be blinded. During it sagacity will be on the ebb, and the oppressors will (get the opportunity to) speak. This mischief will smash the Bedouins with its hammers and crush them with its chest. In its dust the single marchers will be lost, and in its way the horsemen will be destroyed. It will approach with the bitterness of destiny and will give pure blood (instead of milk). It will breach the minarets of faith and shatter the ties of firm belief. The wise will run away from it while the wicked will foster it. It will thunder and flash (like lightning). It will create a severe disaster. In it kinship will be forsaken and Islam will be abandoned. He who declaims it will also be affected by it, and he who flees from it will (be forced to) stay in it.

منها : بَيْنَ قَتِيل مَطْلُول، وَخَائِف مُسْتَجِير، يَخْتِلُونَ بِعَقْدِ الاَيمَانِ وَبِغُرُورِ الاْيمَانِ; فَلاَ تَكُونُوا أَنْصَابَ الْفِتَنِ، وَأَعْلاَمَ الْبِدَعِ، وَالْزَمُوا مَا عُقِدَ عَلَيْهِ حَبْلُ الْجَمَاعَةِ، وَبُنِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْكَانُ الطَّاعَةِ، وَاقْدَمُوا عَلَى اللهِ مَظْلُومِينَ، وَلاَ تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ ظَالِمِينَ، وَاتَّقُوا مَدَارِجَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَهَابِطَ الْعُدْوَانِ، وَلاَ تُدْخِلُوا بُطُونَكُمْ لُعَقَ الْحَرَامِ، فَإِنَّكُمْ بِعَيْنِ مَنْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُم الْمَعْصِيَةَ، وَسَهَّلَ لَكُمْ سُبُلَ الطَّاعَةِ.

[A part of the same sermon :] Among them some will be unavenged martyrs and some will be stricken with fear and seek protection. They will be deceived by pledges and fraudulent belief. You should not become landmarks of mischiefs and signs of innovations but should adhere to that on which the rope of the community has been wound and on which the pillars of obedience have been founded. Proceed towards Allāh as oppressed and do not proceed to Him as oppressors. Avoid the paths of Satan and the places of revolt. Do not put in your bellies unlawful morsels because you are facing Him Who has made disobedience unlawful for you, and made the path of obedience easy for you.

Extrait d’un discours où il avertit des séditions

[Dieu et Son Envoyé :] Je loue Dieu et demande Son aide pour repousser Satan et le chasser, et chercher refuge contre ses pièges et ses artifices. Je témoigne qu’il n’y a que Dieu seul, que Mouhammad est son serviteur et Envoyé, de famille noble et faisant parti de l’élite. Ses mérites n’ont pas de pairs et sa perte n’a pas d’égal. Il a illuminé le pays après l’errance obscurcissante et répandue et l’oppression cruelle, alors que les hommes trouvaient licite de déshonorer les femmes, avilissait le sage, vivaient en dehors des lois divines et mouraient athées.

[Faire prendre garde des séditions :] O vous les Arabes! Vous êtes les cibles d’épreuves imminentes. Gardez-vous des ivresses de l'abondance, méfiez-vous des malheurs du châtiment, ayez une connaissance certaine des faits assombris par la poussière du doute; soyez sagaces en face des tortuosités de la sédition qui pointe à l’horizon, fait révéler son embuscade, dresse son pôle et tourne ses meules. La sédition commence discrètement à gagner du terrain et aboutit à une horreur très claire. Comme un jeune à la fleur de l’âge, elle laisse un impact semblable aux rochers qui écrasent.

Les despotes se la transmettent d’une génération à l’autre, le premier conduisant le suivant et le dernier copiant le précédent. Ce sont les rivaux dans un monde vil, se jetant ensemble sur une charogne puante. Bientôt le successeur renie son prédécesseur, le subordonné son chef; quand ils se séparent l’un de l'autre, ils sont animés par la haine; et dès qu’ils se rencontrent ils maudissent l’un l’autre. Puis éclôt la sédition enragée, cassante, rampante avec force, faisant dévier des cœurs droits et errer des hommes tranquilles. En attaquant, elle déchaîne des passions contradictoires et sème la confusion dans les opinions.

Elle brise celui qui essaie de la contrecarrer et détruit celui qui marche avec elle. Les hommes se mordent mutuellement comme font les fauves. Les liens de la doctrine sont troublés, la face de la religion s’obscurcit, la sagesse décroît et la voix des oppresseurs s'élève. La sédition écrase les nomades par la lime et les meurtrit par sa lourde poitrine. Elle emporte dans sa poussière les solitaires et fait périr dans son chemin les cavaliers. Elle rend les destins amers, suce les sangs les plus purs, ébréche la phare de la religion et démolit le pacte de la certitude. Devant elle fuient les sages et les intelligents tandis que les pervers la dirigent. Semblable à l’éclair et à la foudre, elle dévoile ses jambes! Elle coupe les liens de parenté et éloigne les gens de l’Islam! Celui qui en guérit est toujours malade et celui qui s’en écarte reste à sa place!

Il existe des gens assassinés dont le sang n’a pas été vengé et des gens apeurés qui cherchent refuge. Mais il y a aussi ceux qui trompent les gens en usant des serments et en exhibant une toi fallacieuse. Ne soyez pas des signes auxquels tend la sédition, ni des enseignes pour les sectes. Tenez-vous à l’unité de la com- munauté et aux bases de l’obéissance. Présentez-vous devant Dieu plutôt en opprimés qu’en oppresseurs. Gardez-vous des sentiers de Satan et des pentes de l'agression. Abstenez-vous des bouchées illicites car vous êtes sous la vue de Celui qui vous interdit de désobéir et vous facilite les voies de la soumission.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 151