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) يذكر فيها بديع خلقة الخفاش

[حمد الله وتنزيهه :] ألْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي انْحَسَرَتِ الاَوْصَافُ عَنْ كُنْهِ مَعْرِفَتِهِ، وَرَدَعَتْ عَظَمَتُهُ الْعُقُولَ، فَلَمْ تَجِدْ مَسَاغاً إِلَى بُلُوغِ غَايَةِ مَلَكُوتِهِ!

[In Praise of Allāh :] Praise be to Allāh who is such that it is not possible to describe the reality of knowledge about Him, since His greatness has restrained the intellects, and therefore they cannot find the way to approach the extremity of His realm.

هَوَ اللهُ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ، أَحَقُّ وَأَبْيَنُ مِمَّا تَرَى الْعُيُونُ، لَمْ تَبْلُغْهُ الْعُقُولُ بِتَحْدِيد فَيَكُونَ مُشَبَّهاً، وَلَمْ تَقَعْ عَلَيْهِ الاْوْهَامُ بِتَقْدِير فَيَكُونَ مُمَثَّلاً . خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ عَلَى غَيْرِ تَمْثِيل، وَلاَ مَشُورَةِ مُشِير، وَلاَ مَعُونَةِ مُعِين، فَتَمَّ خَلْقُهُ بِأَمْرِهِ، وَأَذْعَنَ لِطَاعَتِهِ، فَأَجَابَ وَلَمْ يُدَافِعْ، وَانْقَادَ وَلَمْ يُنَازِعْ.

He is Allāh, the True, the Manifester of Truth. He is more True and more manifest than eyes can see. Intellects cannot comprehend Him by fixing limits for Him since in that case to Him would be attribute shape. Imagination cannot catch Him by fixing quantities for Him for in that case to Him would be attributed body. He created creatures without any example, and without the advice of a counsel, or the assistance of a helper. His creation was completed by His command, and bowed to His obedience. It responded (to Him) and did not defy (Him). It obeyed and did not resist.

[خلقة الخفاش :] وَمِنْ لَطَائِفِ صَنْعَتِهِ، وَعَجَائِبِ خِلْقَتِهِ، مَا أَرَانَا مِنْ غَوَامِضِ الْحِكْمَةِ فِي هذِهِ الْخَفَافِيشِ الَّتِي يَقْبِضُهَا الضِّيَاءُ الْبَاسِطُ لِكُلِّ شَيْء، وَيَبْسُطُهَا الظَّلاَمُ الْقَابِضُ لِكُلِّ حَيٍّ، وَكَيْفَ عَشِيَتْ أَعْيُنُهَا عَنْ أَنْ تَسْتَمِدَّ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ الْمُضِيئَةِ نقُوراً تَهْتَدِي بِهِ فِي مَذَاهِبِهَا، وَتَتَّصِلُ بِعَلاَنِيَةِ بُرْهَانِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى مَعَارِفِهَا.

[The Creation of the Bat :] An example of His delicate production, wonderful creation and deep sagacity which He has shown us is found in these bats which keep hidden in the daylight although daylight reveals every thing else, and are mobile in the night although the night shuts up every other living being; and how their eyes get dazzled and cannot make use of the light of the sun so as to be guided in their movements and so as to reach their known places through the direction provided by the sun.

وَرَدَعَهَا بِتَلاَلُؤِ ضِيَائِهَا عَنِ الْمُضِيِّ فِي سُبُحَاتِ إِشْرَاقِهَا، وَأَكَنَّهَا فِي مَكَامِنِهَا عَنِ الذَّهَابِ فِى بُلَجِ ائْتِلاَقِهَا، فَهِيَ مُسْدَلَةُ الْجُفُونِ بَالنَّهَارِ عَلَى حِدَاقِهَا، وَجَاعِلَةُ اللَّيْلِ سِرَاجاً تَسْتَدِلُّ بِهِ في الْـتِماسِ أَرْزَاقِهَا; فَلاَ يَرُدُّ أَبْصَارَهَا إِسْدَافُ ظُلْمَتِهِ، وَلاَ تَمْتَنِعُ مِنَ الْمُضِيِّ فِيهِ لِغَسَقِ دُجُنَّتِهِ فَإِذَا أَلْقَتِ الشَّمْسُ قِنَاعَهَا، وَبَدَتْ أَوْضَاحُ نَهَارِهَا، وَدَخَلَ مِنْ إِشْرَاقِ نُورِهَا عَلَى الضِّبَابِ فِي وِجَارِهَا، أَطْبَقَتِ الاْجْفَانَ عَلَى مَآقِيهَا وَتَبَلَّغَتْ بِمَا اكْتَسَبَتْهُ مِنَ الْمَعَاشِ فِي ظُلَمِ لَيَالِيهَا.

Allāh has prevented them from moving in the brightness of the sun and confined them to their places of hiding instead of going out at the time of its shining. Consequently they keep their eyelids down in the day and treat night as a lamp and go with its help in search of their livelihood. The darkness of night does not obstruct their sight nor does the gloom of darkness prevent them from movement. As soon as the sun removes its veil and the light of morning appears, and the rays of its light enter upon the lizzards in their holes, the bats pull down their eyelids on their eyes and live on what they had collected in the darkness of the night.

فَسُبْحَانَ مَنْ جَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ لَهَا نَهَاراً وَمَعَاشاً، وَجَعَلَ النَّهَارَ لَهَا سَكَناً وَقَرَاراً! وَجَعَلَ لَهَا أَجْنِحَةً مِنْ لَحْمِهَا تَعْرُجُ بِهَا عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ إِلَى الطَّيَرَانِ، كَأَنَّهَا شَظَايَا الاْذَانِ، غَيْرَ ذَوَاتِ رِيش وَلاَ قَصَب، إِلاَّ أَنَّكَ تَرَى مَوَاضِعَ الْعُرُوقِ بَيِّنَةً أَعْلاَماً، لَهَا جَنَاحَانِ لَمَّا يَرِقَّا فَيَنْشَقَّا، وَلَمْ يَغْلُظَا فَيَثْقُلاَ. تَطِيرُ وَوَلَدُهَا لاَصِقٌ بِهَا لاَجِيٌ إِلَيْهَا، يَقَعُ إِذَا وَقَعَتْ، وَيَرْتَفِعُ إِذَا ارْتَفَعَتْ، لاَيُفَارِقُهَا حَتَّى تَشْتَدَّ أَرْكَانُهُ، وَيَحْمِلَهُ لِلنُّهُوضِ جَنَاحُهُ، وَيَعْرِفَ مَذَاهِبَ عَيْشِهِ، وَمَصَالِحَ نَفْسِهِ. فَسُبْحَانَ الْبَارِىءِ لِكُلِّ شَيْء، عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَال خَلاَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ.

Glorified is He who has made the night as day for them to seek livelihood and made the day for rest and stay. He has given them wings of flesh with which, at the time of need, they rise upwards for flying. They look like the ends of ears without feathers or bones. Of course, you can see the veins quite distinctly. They have two wings which are neither too thin so that get turned in flying, nor too thick so that they prove heavy. When they fly their young ones hold on to them and seek refuge with them, getting down when they get down and rising up when they rise. The young does not leave them till its limbs become strong, its wings can support it for rising up, and it begins to recognize its places of living and its interest. Glorified is He who creates everything without any previous sample by someone else.

Extrait d’un discours où il décrit l’agencement merveilleux de la chauve-souris

[Louange à Dieu, éloigné de tout ce qui est mal :] Louange à Dieu dont la description n’aboutit point à connaître sa quiddité et dont la magnificence repousse les intelligences qui n’ont pas la permission d’atteindre la fin de son royaume.

Il est Dieu, la Vérité claire, plus vraie et plus claire que ce que les yeux voient. Les intelligences ne L’englobent pas par une définition basée sur la comparaison. Les conjectures ne peuvent pas lui appliquer une supposition pour l’assimiler à quelque chose. Il a créé l’univers sans un modèle, ni un conseil, ni une aide quelconque. La création a été comlète par son ordre et elle est soumise à son obéissance; elle répond sans refus et elle se fait conduire sans contestation.

[La création de la chauve-souris :] Parmi les aspects délicats et merveilleux de l’œuvre divine citons Sa sagesse qu’il nous montre dans la création de ces chauves-souris aveugles par la lumière qui s’étend sur toute chose et volant à l’aise dans les ténèbres qui retiennent tout vivant. Leurs veux sont incapables de demander de l’assistance à la lumière du soleil pour se diriger, connaître leur chemin et comprendre ce qui leur est utile.

Dieu les a empêchées de se déplacer lorsqu’elles sont éblouies par le rayonnement du soleil, et les a retenues prisonnières dans leurs caches. Elles ont les paupières closes durant le jour, mais la nuit est pour eux comme une lanterne qui les guide dans la quête de leur nourriture, sans que les ténèbres soient un obstacle pour leurs mouvements. Mais dès que le soleil commence à se débarrasser de sa voile, et à peine l’aube commence-t-il à paraître et à envoyer sa lumière à l’intérieur des trous des lézards, les chauves-souris referment leurs paupières sur les coins intérieurs de leurs yeux, se contentant d’avoir pu acquérir leur subsistance pendant la nuit obscure.

Louange donc à Celui qui fit de la nuit, pour les chauves-souris, jour et période d’alimentation, et qui fit du jour un temps de repos dans leurs demeures! Il leur a fait des ailes de chair, qui les aident à voler en cas de besoin, et qui sont semlables à des demi-oreilles dépourvues de plumes et de pennes. Tu vois certes dans ces ailes les conduits sanguins fortement transparents. Elles ne sont ni trop minces pour se scinder, ni trop épaisses pour alourdir le corps. Les chauves-souris volent en portant leurs petits adhérés à elles, qui tombent si elles tombent et s’élèvent si elles s’élèvent. Ils ne les quittent pas jusqu’au plein développement de leurs corps, lorsque leurs propres ailes deviennent capables de les porter et qu’ils acquièrent le savoir-vivre sans la dépendance de leurs mères. Loué soit Celui qui a crée toutes choses sans modèles antérieurs.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 155