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 صفة النبي وأهل بيته وأتباع دينه وفيها يعظ بالتقوى

[الرسول و أهله و أتباع دينه :] ابْتَعَثَهُ بِالنُّورِ الْمُضِىءِ، وَالْبُرهَانِ الْجَليِّ، وَالْمِنْهَاجِ الْبَادِي، وَالْكِتَابِ الْهَادِي. أُسْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ أُسْرَة، وَشَجَرَتُهُ خَيْرُ شَجَرَة، أَغصَانُهَا مُعْتَدِلَةٌ، وَثِمَارُهَا مُتَهَدِّلَةٌ. مَوْلِدُهُ بِمَكَّةَ، وَهِجْرَتُهُ بِطَيْبَةَ، عَلا بِهَا ذِكْرُهُ، وَامْتَدَّ مِنْهَا صَوْتُهُ.

Allāh deputed the Prophet with a sparkling light, a clear argument, an open path and a guiding book. His tribe is the best tribe and his lineal tree the best lineal tree whose branches are in good proportion and fruits hanging (in plenty). His birth-place was Mecca, and the place of his immigration Ṭaybah (Medina), from where his name rose high and his voice spread far and wide.

أَرْسَلَهُ بِحُجَّة كَافِيَة، وَمَوْعِظَة شَافِية، وَدَعْوَة مُتَلافِيَة . أَظْهَرَ بِهِ الشَّرائِعَ الْـمَجْهُولَةَ، وَقَمَعَ بِهِ الْبِدَعَ الْمَدْخُولَةَ، وَبَيَّنَ بِهِ الاْحْكَامَ الْمَفْصُولَةَ. فَـ﴿مَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا﴾ تَتَحَقَّقْ شِقْوَتُهُ، وَتَنْفَصِمْ عُرْوَتُهُ، وَتَعْظُمْ كَبْوَتُهُ، وَيَكُنْ مَآبُهُ إلَى الْحُزْنِ الطَّوِيلِ وَالْعَذَابِ الْوَبيلِ.

Allāh sent him with a sufficing plea, a convincing discourse and a rectifying annoucement. Through him Allāh disclosed the ways that had been forsaken, and destroyed the innovations that had been introduced. Through him He explained the detailed commands. Now, whoever adopts a religion other than Islam, his misery is definite, his stick (of support) will be cracked, his fate will be serious, his end will be long grief and distressing punishment.

وَأَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَى اللهِ تَوَكُّلَ الانَابَةِ إلَيْهِ، وَأَسْتَرْشِدُهُ السَّبِيلَ المُؤَدِّيَةَ إلى جَنَّتِهِ، الْقَاصِدَةَ إلى مَحَلِّ رَغْبَتِهِ.

I trust in Allāh, the trust of bending towards Him, and I seek His guidance for the way that leads to His Paradise and takes to the place of His pleasure.

[النصح بالتّقوى :] أُوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَاللهِ، بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَطَاعَتِهِ، فَإنَّهَا النَّجَاةُ غَداً، وَالْمَنْجَاةُ أَبَداً. رَهَّبَ فَأبْلَغَ، وَرَغَّبَ فَأَسْبَغَ، وَوَصَفَ لَكُمُ الدُّنْيَا وَانْقِطَاعَهَا، وَزَوَالَهَا وَانْتِقَا لَهَا. فَأَعْرِضُوا عَمَّا يُعْجِبُكُمْ فِيهَا لِقِلَّةِ مَا يَصْحَبُكُمْ مِنْهَا، أَقْرَبُ دَار مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ، وَأَبْعَدُهَا مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ!

[Drawing lessons from this world :] I advise you, O creatures of Allāh, to exercise fear of Allāh and to obey Him because it is salvation tomorrow and deliverance for ever. He warned (you of chastisement) and did so thoroughly. He persuaded (you towards virtues) and did so fully. He described this world, its cutting away from you, its decay and its shifting. Therefore keep aloof from its attractions, because very little of it will accompany you. This house is the closest to the displeasure of Allāh and the remotest from the pleasure of Allāh.

فَغُضُّوا عَنْكُمْ ـ عِبَادَاللهِ ـ غُمُومَهَا وَأَشْغَا لَهَا، لِمَا قَدْ أَيْقَنْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ فِرَاقِهَا وَتَصَرُّفِ حَالاَتِهَا. فَاحْذَروُهَا حَذَرَ الشَّفِيقِ النَّاصِحِ، وَالْـمُجِدِّ الْكَادِحِ، وَاعْتَبِرُوا بِمَا قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْ مَصَارعِ الْقُرُونِ قَبْلَكُمْ: قَدْ تَزَايَلَتْ أَوْصَالُهُمْ، وَزَالَتْ أسْمَاعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَارُهُمْ، وَذَهَبَ شَرَفُهُمْ وَعِزُّهُمْ، وَانْقَطَعَ سُرُورُهُمْ وَنَعِيمُهُمْ؛ فَبُدِّلُوا بِقُرْبِ الاَوْلاَدِ فَقْدَهَا، وَبِصُحْبَةِ الاَزْوَاجِ مُفَارَقتَهَا. لاَ يَتَفَاخَرُونَ، وَلاَ يَتَنَاصَرُونَ، وَلاَ يَتَنَاسَلُونَ، وَلاَ يَتَزَاوَرُونَ، وَلاَ يَتَجَاوَرُونَ.

So close your eyes, O creatures of Allāh, from its worries and engagements, because you are sure about its separation and its changing conditions. Fear it like a sincere fearer and one who struggles hard, and take a lesson from what you have seen about the falling places of those before you, namely that their joints were made to vanish, their eyes and ears were destroyed, their honour and prestige disappeared and their pleasure and wealth came to an end. The nearness of their children changed into remoteness. The company of their spouses changed into separation with them. They do not boast over each other, nor do they beget children nor meet each other nor live as neighbours.

فَاحْذَروُا، عِبَادَاللهِ، حَذَرَ الْغَالِبِ لِنَفْسِهِ، الْمَانِعِ لِشَهْوَتِهِ، النَّاظِرِ بِعَقْلِهِ؛ فَإنَّ الاْمْرَ وَاضِحٌ، وَالْعَلَمَ قَائِمٌ، وَالطَّرِيقَ جَدَدٌ، وَالسَّبِيلَ قَصْدٌ.

Therefore, fear O creature of Allāh, like the fear of one who has control over himself, who can check his passions and perceive with his wisdom. Surely, the matter is quite clear, the banner is standing, the course is level and the way is straight.

[Le Prophète, ses parents et les adeptes de sa religion :] Dieu l’envoya avec la lumière éclairante, la preuve évidente, la voie apparente et le Livre guidant. Sa famille est la meilleure des familles, son arbre [généalogique] le meilleur des arbres; ses branches sont proportionnées et ses fruits sont mûrs. Il est né à la Mecque, il a émigré à Médine où il devint célèbre et vint à bout de ses entreprises.

Dieu l’envoya portant une preuve efficace, une prêche remédiante et une vocation salvatrice. Par lui, Il a divulgué les lois inconnues, subjugué les hérésies importées et montré les dogmes divins. Celui qui suit une religion autre que l’Islam aura sûrement un malheur, subit une grande chute [la face contre terre] et est voué à une longue tristesse et à un tourment très dur.

Je me confie à Dieu à Qui je reviens, je Lui demande de m'indiquer le chemin qui va vers Lui et qui mène à la réalisation de Ses désirs.

[Conseil en faveur de la piété :] Je vous conseille, serviteurs de Dieu, d’être pieux envers Dieu et de Lui obéir, car la piété et l’obéissance sont toujours le port de salut pour demain. Dieu a communiqué sa volonté en usant la menace du Feu d’une part et l’intéressement au Paradis d’autre part. Il vous a décrit la vie terrestre éphémère, vouée aux changements et à la disparition. Éloignez-vous de ce qui vous plaît en elle à cause du peu de temps que dure ce plaisir. Cette vie est la demeure la plus proche de la colère de Dieu et la plus éloignée de Son contentement!

Détournez-vous, adorateurs de Dieu, de ses chagrins et ses travaux tant que vous êtes sûrs de ses changements et de sa disparition. Méfiez-vous d’elle comme le feraient un vrai peureux et un bon travailleur. Tirez les leçons des épisodes des générations révolues qui ont été dissipées, dont les vues et les ouïes ont été anéanties, l’honneur et gloire disparus, le bien-être et la fortune coupés. Ils ont perdu la proximité de leurs enfants et la compagnie des épouses. Ils ont cessé de se glorifier, de se multiplier, de se visiter, d’entamer un dialogue entre eux.

Prenez donc garde, ô serviteurs de Dieu, vainquez votre égoïsme, contrôlez vos passions et considérez intelligemment les choses; tout est clair, la bannière est élevée, le chemin battu et droit.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 161