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 أوّل خلافته

إنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْزَلَ كِتَاباً هَادِياً بَيَّنَ فِيهِ الْخَيْرَ وَالْشَّرَّ; فَخُذُوا نَهْجَ الْخَيْرِ تَهْتَدُوا، وَاصْدِفُوا عَنْ سَمْتِ الشَّرِّ تَقْصِدُوا. الْفَرَائِضَ الْفَرائِضَ! أَدُّوهَا إلَى اللهِ تُؤَدِّكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ. إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى حَرَّمَ حَرَاماً غَيْرَ مَجْهُول، وَأَحَلَّ حَلاَلاً غَيْرَ مَدْخُول ، وَفَضَّلَ حُرْمَةَ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْحُرَمِ كُلِّهَا، وَشَدَّ بِالاْخْلاَصِ وَالتَّوحِيدِ حُقُوقَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي مَعَاقِدِهَا، فَالْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ، وَلاَ يَحِلُّ أَذَى الْمُسْلِمِ إِلاَّ بَمَا يَجِبُ.

[Fulfilment of rights and obligations, and advice to fear Allāh in all matters :] Allāh, the Glorified, has sent down a guiding Book wherein He has explained virtue and vice. You should adopt the course of virtue whereby you will have guidance, and keep aloof from the direction of vice so that you remain on the right way. (Mind) the obligations, (mind) the obligations. Fulfil them for Allāh and they will take you to Paradise. Surely, Allāh has made unlawful the things which are not unknown and made lawful the things which are without defect. He has declared paying regard to Muslims as the highest of all regards. He has placed the rights of Muslims in the same grade (of importance) as devotion (to himself and His oneness). Therefore, a Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand every (other) Muslim is safe save in the matter of truth. It is not, therefore, lawful to molest a Muslim except when it is obligatory.

بَادِرُوا أَمْرَ الْعَامَّةِ وَخَاصَّةَ أَحَدِكُمْ وَهُوَ الْمَوْتُ، فَإنَّ النَّاسَ أَمَامَكُمْ، وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ تَحْدُوكُمْ مِنْ خَلْفِكُمْ، تَخَفَّفُوا تَلْحَقُوا، فَإنَّمَا يُنْتَظَرُ بِأَوَّلِكُمْ آخِرُكُمْ. اتَّقُوا اللهَ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَبِلاَدِهِ، فَإنَّكُمْ مَسْؤُولُونَ حَتَّى عَنِ الْبِقَاعِ وَالْبَهَائِمِ، أَطِيعُوا اللهَ وَلاَ تَعْصُوهُ، وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْخَيْرَ فَخُذُوا بِهِ، وَإذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الشَّرَّ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْه

Hasten towards the most common matter which is peculiar to every one; and that is death. Certainly, people (who have already gone) are ahead of you while the hour (Day of Judgement) is driving you from behind. Remain light, in order that you may overtake them. Your backs are being awaited for the sake of the fronts. Fear Allāh in the matter of His creatures and His cities because you will be questioned even about lands and beasts. Obey Allāh and do not disobey Him. When you see virtue adopt it, and when you see vice avoid it.

Extrait d’un discours au début de son califat

Dieu, qu’il soit loué, a fait descendre un Livre directeur où II a montré le bien et le mal. Prenez le chemin du bien et vous serez bien guidés, éloignez-vous de la direction du mal et vous serez bien dirigés. Suivez les préceptes et les prescriptions divins! Us vous conduiront au Paradis. Dieu a prohibé ce qui est illicite -et vous le connaissez. Il a permis ce qui est licite et honorant. Il a préféré la non violabilité du musulman à toutes les choses sacrées inviolables. Il a consolidé les droits des musulmans qui sont sincères envers Lui et croient en son unicité. «Car le musulman est celui dont les musulmans échappent à la langue et à la main», sauf en ce qui concerne la justice qui permet leur châtiment.

Accourez vers le bien commun et spécialement vers votre mort personnelle. Les gens sont devant vous et l’Heure vous pousse de derrière. Allégez-vous des poids de ce monde pour atteindre le Jour du Jugement pendant lequel les premiers morts attendent rarrivée de derniers. Prenez garde de ne pas nuire aux serviteurs de Dieu et à Son pays, car vous êtes responsables des terres et des animaux. Obéissez à Dieu et n’enfreignez point Sa volonté. Si vous vovez le bien vous le ferez et le mai bous vous en détournerez.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 167