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 خطبه له (عليه السلام) في صفات الضالين والغافلين وفيها يعظ الناس

About negligent persons and the characteristics of beasts, carnivores and women

[صفة الضال :] وَهُوَ فِي مُهْلَة مِنَ اللهِ يَهْوِي مَعَ الْغَافِلِينَ، وَيَغْدُومَعَ الْمُذْنِبِينَ، بلاَ سَبِيل قَاصِد، وَلاَ إِمَام قَائِد.

He has been allowed time by Allāh. He is falling into error along with negligent persons and goes early in the morning with sinners, without any road to lead or any Imām to guide.

[منها في صفات الغافلين :] حَتَّى إِذَا كَشَفَ لَهُمْ عَنْ جَزَاءِ مَعْصِيَتِهِمْ، وَاسْتَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْ جَلاَبِيبِ غَفْلَتِهِمُ، استَقْبَلُوا مُدْبِراً، وَاسْتَدْبَرُوا مُقْبِلاً، فَلَمْ يَنْتَفِعُوا بَمَا أَدْرَكُوا منْ طَلِبَتِهِمْ، وَلاَ بِمَا قَضَوْا مِنْ وَطَرِهِمْ.

[A part of the same sermon :] At last when Allāh will make clear to them the reward for their sins, and take them out from the veils of their neglectfulness they will proceed to what they were running away from, and run away from what they were proceeding to. They will not benefit from the wants they will satisfy or the desires they would fulfil.

إِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكُمْ، وَنَفْسِي، هذِهِ الْمَنْزِلَةَ، فَلْيَنْتَفِعِ امْرُؤٌ بِنَفْسِهِ، فَإِنَّمَا الْبَصِيرُ مَنْ سَمِعَ فَتَفَكَّرَ، وَنَظَرَ فَأَبْصَرَ، وَانْتَفَعَ بِالْعِبَرِ، ثُمَّ سَلَكَ جَدَداً وَاضِحاً يَتَجَنَّبُ فِيهِ الصَّرْعَةَ فِي الْمَهَاوِي، وَالضَّلاَلَ في الْمَغَاوِي، وَلاَ يُعِينُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الْغُوَاةَ بِتَعَسُّف فِي حَقٍّ، أَوْ تَحَرِيف في نُطْق، أَوْ تَخَوُّف مِنْ صِدْق.

I warn you and myself from this position. A man should derive benefit from his own self. Certainly, prudent is he who hears and ponders over it, who sees and observes and who benefits from instructive material and then treads on clear paths wherein he avoids falling into hollows and straying into pitfalls, and does not assist those who misguide him by turning away from truthfulness, changing his words, or fearing truth.

[عظة الناس :] فَأَفِقْ أَيُّهَا السَّامِعُ مِنْ سَكْرَتِكَ، وَاسْتَيْقِظْ مَنْ غَفْلَتِكَ، وَاخْتَصِرْ مِنْ عَجَلَتِكَ، وَأَنْعِمِ الْفِكْرَ فِيَما جَاءَكَ عَلَى لِسَانِ النَّبِيِّ الاْمِّيِّ (صلى الله عليه وآله) مِمَّا لاَ بُدَّ مِنْهُ وَلاَ مَحِيصَ عَنْهُ، وَخَالِفْ مَنْ خَالَفَ ذلِكَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ، وَدَعْهُ وَمَا رَضِيَ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَضَعْ فَخْرَكَ، وَاحْطُطْ كِبْرَكَ، وَاذكُرْ قَبْرَكَ، فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ مَمَرَّكَ، وَكَمَا تَدِينُ تُدَانُ، وَكَمَا تَزْرَعُ تَحْصُدُ، وَمَا قَدَّمْتَ الْيَوْمَ تَقْدَمُ عَلَيْهِ غَداً، فَامْهَد لِقَدَمِكَ، وَقَدِّمْ لِيَوْمِكَ. فَالْحَذَرَ الْحَذَرَ أَيُّهَا الْمُسْتَمِعُ! وَالْجِدَّ الْجِدَّ أَيُّهَا الْغَافِلُ! ﴿وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ﴾.

[Exhorting the people :] O my listener! be cured from your intoxication, wake up from your slumber, decrease your hasty activity and ponder over what has come to you through the Holy Prophet, the Ummī [1] which is inevitable and inescapable. You should turn away from him who opposes him and leave him and leave whatever he has adopted for himself. Put off your vanity, drop your haughtiness and recall your grave because your way passes over it. You will be dealt with as you deal with others, you will reap what you sow, and what you send today will meet you tomorrow. So provide for your future and send (some good acts) for your day (of reckoning). Fear, fear, O listener! Act, act, O careless! No one will warn you like him who knows.

إِنَّ مِنْ عَزَائِمِ اللهِ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ، الَّتِي عَلَيْهَا يُثِيبُ وَيُعَاقِبُ، وَلَهَا يَرْضَى وَيَسْخَطُ، أَنَّهُ لاَ يَنْفَعُ عَبْداً ـ وَإِنْ أَجْهَدَ نَفْسَهُ، وَأَخْلَصَ فِعْلَهُ ـ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، لاَقِياً رَبَّهُ بِخَصْلَة مِنْ هذِهِ الْخِصَال لَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْهَا: أَنْ يُشْرِكَ بِالله فِيَما افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ عِبَادَتِهِ، أَوْ يَشْفِيَ غَيْظَهُ بِهَلاَكِ نَفْسِهِ، أَوْ يُقِرَّ بِأَمْر فَعَلَهُ غَيْرُهُ، أَوْ يَسْتَنْجِحَ حَاجَةً إِلَى النَّاسِ بِإِظْهَارِ بِدْعَة فِي دِينِهِ، أَوْ يَلْقَى النَّاسَ بِوَجْهَيْنِ، أَوْ يَمْشِيَ فِيهِمْ بِلِسَانَيْنِ. اعْقِلْ ذلِكَ فَإِنَّ الْمِثْلَ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى شِبْهِهِ.

One of the firm decisions of Allāh in the Wise Reminder (Qur’ān) upon which He bestows reward or gives punishment, and through which He likes or dislikes is that it will not benefit a man, even though he exerts himself and acts sincerely if he leaves this world to meet Allāh with one of these acts without repenting, namely that he believed in a partner with Allāh during his obligatory worship, or appeased his own anger by killing an individual, or spoke about acts committed by others, or sought fulfilment of his needs from people by introducing an innovation in his religion, or met people with a double face, or moved among them with a double tongue. Understand this because an illustration is a guide for its like.

إِنَّ الْبَهَائِمَ هَمُّهَا بُطُونُهَا، وَإِنَّ السِّبَاعَ هَمُّهَا الْعُدْوَانُ عَلَى غَيْرِهَا، وَإِنَّ النِّسَاءَ هَمُّهُنَّ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْفَسَادُ فِيهَا; إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُسْتَكِينُونَ، إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنينَ مُشْفِقُونَ، إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنينَ خَائِفُونَ.

Beasts are concerned with their bellies. Carnivores are concerned with assaulting others. Women are concerned with the adornments of this ignoble life and the creation of mischief herein. [2] (On the other hand) believers are humble, believers are admonishers and believers are afraid (of Allāh).

[Qualité de l’égaré :] Dieu lui a donné un délai durant lequel il chute avec les insouciants, s’en aille avec les pécheurs, sans avoir ni voie ni imam qui le guide.

[Description des insouciants :] Lorsque Dieu leur dévoile le châtiment de leur péché et les fait sortir de leur insouciance, iis acclament le premier venu puis s’en détournent, et ils ne tirent aucun profit de ce qu’ils avaient réclamé et réalisé.

Par mon âme, je vous préviens d’être insouciants. Que chacun profite de soi-même, car le clairvoyant est celui qui entend et contemple, qui regarde et voit, qui tire profit des leçons puis s’engage sur une voie claire où il évite de tomber dans les précipices et d’errer dans les illusions. Le clairvoyant n’aide pas contre ses intérêts les séducteurs en étant injuste, en intervertissant les mots ou en ayant peur de la vérité.

[Prêche :] Réveille-toi, toi qui m’écoutes, de ta torpeur, secoue ton insouciance, freine ton irréflexion et médite bien ce que le Prophète -qui ne savait pas écrire- t’a révélé; prends-en le strictement nécessaire, n’imite pas ceux qui font le contraire, et laisse-les à leur turpitude. Laisse tomber ta fierté, réprime ton orgueil et rappelle-toi ta tombe par où tu dois passer. Tu seras jugé conformément à tes propres jugements; tu récoltes ce que tu as semé; ce que tu donnes aujourd’hui te sera donné demain. Aplanis donc le terrain devant tes pas et prépares-toi pour le grand Jour. Toi qui m’écoutes, prends gare! Toi l’insouciant, travaille avec zèle. «Nul ne peut te donner des nouvelles commme Celui qui est parfaitement informé» (Le Créateur, 13).

D’après les devoirs prescrits par Dieu et qui sont liés à des récompenses en cas de satisfaction et à des châtiments en cas de courroux, un serviteur ne peut rencontrer la face de son Seigneur-après avoir quitté le monde dans lequel il s’était acharné à accomplir ses actes- s’il est entaché de l’une des fautes suivantes dont il ne se serait pas repenti: Avoir associé une autre divinité à Dieu qu’il doit adorer seul, avoir tué une personne par accès de colère, avoir diffamé une personne pour un acte fait par un autre, avoir demandé le succès auprès des foules en créant une secte dans sa religion ou avoir rencontré les gens par deux visages ou deux langues différentes [hypocrisie]. Retiens bien cela et sache qu’il existe des péchés semblables que tu connais par induction.

Les bêtes s’intéressent seulement à leurs estomacs, les fauves à leurs proies et les femmes à leurs parures et à la corruption, tandis que les croyants sont obéissants, touchés de piété et craignant Dieu.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 153