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) وفيها يعظ ويبيّن فضل القرآن وينهى عن البدعة

Admonishing the people, expounding the excellences of the Qur’ān and forbidding innovation

[عظة الناس :] انْتَفِعُوا بِبَيَانِ اللهِ، وَاتَّعِظُوا بِمَوَاعِظِ اللهِ، وَاقْبَلُوا نَصِيحَةَ اللهِ، فَإنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى قَدْ أَعْذَرَ إلَيْكُمْ بِالْجَلِيَّةِ، وَاتَّخَذَ عَلَيْكُمْ الْحُجَّةَ، وَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ مَحَابَّهُ مِنَ الاْعْمَالِ، وَمَكَارِهَهُ مِنْهَا، لِتَتَّبِعُوا هذِهِ، وَتَجْتَنِبُوا هذِهِ، فَإنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) كَانَ يَقُولُ: «إنَّ الْجَنَّةَ حُفَّتْ بِالْمَكَارِهِ، وَإنَّ النَّارَ حُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ».

[Preaching :] (O creatures!) Seek benefit from the sayings of Allāh, be admonished of Allāh and accept the advice of Allāh because Allāh has left no excuse for you by providing clear guidance, has put before you the plea and clarified for you what acts He likes and what acts He hates, so that you may follow the one and avoid the other. The Prophet of Allāh used to say, “Paradise is surrounded by unpleasant things while Hell is surrounded by desires.”

وَاعْلَمُوا أنَّهُ مَا مِنْ طَاعَةِ اللهِ شَيْءٌ إلاَّ يَأْتي فِي كُرْه، وَمَا مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ شَيءٌ إلاَّ يَأْتِي فِي شَهْوَة. فَرَحِمَ اللهُ رَجُلاً نَزَعَ عَنْ شَهْوَتِهِ، وَقَمَعَ هَوَى نَفْسِهِ، فَإنَّ هذِهِ النَّفْسَ أَبْعَدُ شَيْء مَنْزِعاً، وَإنَّهَا لاَ تَزَالُ تَنْزِعُ إِلَى مَعْصِيَة فِي هَوىً.

You should know that every obedience to Allāh is unpleasant in appearance while every disobedience to Allāh has the appearance of enjoyment. Allāh may have mercy on the person who kept aloof from his desire and uprooted the appetite of his heart, because this heart has far-reaching aims and it goes on pursuing disobedience through desires.

وَاعْلَمُوا ـ عِبَادَ اللهِ ـ أَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لاَ يُصْبِحُ وَلاَ يُمْسِي إلاَّ وَنَفْسُهُ ظَنُونٌ عِنْدَهُ، فَلاَ يَزَالُ زَارِياً عَلَيْهَا وَمُسْتَزِيْداً لَهَا، فَكُونُوا كَالسَّابِقِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَالْمَاضِينَ أَمَامَكُمْ، قَوَّضُوا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا تَقْوِيضَ الرَّاحِلِ، وَطَوَوْهَا طَيَّ الْمَنَازلِ.

You should know, O creatures of Allāh, that a believer should be distrustful of his heart every morning and evening. He should always blame it (for shortcomings) and ask it to add to (its good acts). You should behave like those who have gone before you and the precedents in front of you. They left this world like a traveller and covered it as distance is covered.

[فضل القرآن :] وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ هذَا الْقُرْآنَ هُوَ النَّاصِحُ الَّذِي لاَ يَغُشُّ، وَالْهَادِي الَّذِي لاَ يُضِلُّ، وَالْمحَدِّثُ الَّذِي لاَ يَكْذِبُ، وَمَا جَالَسَ هذَا الْقُرْآنَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ قَامَ عَنْهُ بِزِيَادَة أَوْ نُقْصَان: زِيَادَة فِي هُدىً، أَوْ نُقْصَان مِنْ عَمىً. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَى أَحَد بَعْدَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ فَاقَة، وَلاَ لاحَد قَبْلَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ غِنىً; فَاسْتَشْفُوهُ مِنْ أَدْوَائِكُمْ، وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِهِ عَلَى لاَوَائِكُمْ، فَإنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءً مِنْ أَكْبَرِ الدَّاءِ، وَهُوَ الْكُفْرُ وَالنِّفَاقُ، وَالْغَيُّ وَالضَّلاَلُ، فَاسْأَلُوا اللهَ بِهِ، وَتَوَجَّهُوا إِلَيْهِ بِحُبِّهِ، وَلاَ تَسْأَلُوا بِهِ خَلْقَهُ، إنَّهُ مَا تَوَجَّهَ الْعِبَادُ إلَى اللهِ بِمِثْلِهِ.

[The greatness of the Holy Qur’ān :] And know that this Qur’ān is an adviser who never deceives, a leader who never misleads and a narrator who never speaks a lie. No one will sit beside this Qur’ān but that when he rises he will achieve one addition or one diminution — addition in his guidance or elimination in his (spiritual) blindness. You should also know that no one will need any thing after (guidance from) the Qur’ān and no one will be free from want before (guidance from) the Qur’ān. Therefore, seek cure from it for your ailments and seek its assistance in your distresses. It contains a cure for the biggest diseases, namely unbelief, hypocricy, revolt and misguidance. Pray to Allāh through it and turn to Allāh with its love. Do not ask the people through it. There is nothing like it through which the people should turn to Allāh, the Sublime.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ شَافِعٌ مُشَفَّعٌ، وَقَائِلٌ مُصَدَّقٌ، وَأَنَّهُ مَنْ شَفَعَ لَهُ الْقُرْآنُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شُفِّعَ فِيهِ، وَمَنْ مَحَلَ بِهِ الْقُرْآنُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صُدِّقَ عَلَيْه، فَإنَّهُ يُنَادِي مُنَاد يَوْمَ الْقِيَامةِ: أَلاَ إنَّ كُلَّ حَارِث مُبْتَلىً فِي حَرْثِهِ وَعَاقِبَةِ عَمَلِهِ، غَيْرَ حَرَثَةِ الْقُرآنِ; فَكُونُوا مِنْ حَرَثَتِهِ وَأَتْبَاعِهِ، وَاسْتَدِلُّوهُ عَلى رِّبِّكُمْ، وَاسْتَنْصِحُوهُ عَلى أَنْفُسِكُمْ، وَاتَّهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ آرَاءَكُمْ، وَاسْتَغِشُّوا فِيهِ أَهْوَاءَكُمْ.

Know that it is an interceder and its intercession will be accepted. It is a speaker who is testified. For whoever the Qur’ān intercedes on the Day of Judgement, its intercession for him would be accepted. He about whom the Qur’ān speaks ill on the Day of Judgement shall testify to it. On the Day of Judgement an announcer will announce, “Beware, every sower of a crop is in distress except the sowers of the Qur’ān.” Therefore, you should be among the sowers of the Qur’ān and its followers. Make it your guide towards Allāh. Seek its advice for yourselves, do not trust your views against it, and regard your desires in the matter of the Qur’ān as deceitful.

[الحث على العمل :] الْعَمَلَ الْعَمَلَ، ثُمَّ النِّهَايَةَ النِّهَايَةَ، وَالاسْتَقَامَةَ الاسْتِقَامَةَ، ثُمَّ الصَّبْرَ الصَّبْرَ، وَالْوَرَعَ الْوَرَعَ! إنَّ لَكُمْ نِهَايَةً فَانْتَهُوا إلى نِهَايَتِكُمْ، وَإنَّ لَكُمْ عَلَماً فَاهْتَدُوا بِعَلَمِكُمْ، وَإنَّ لِلاْسْلاَمِ غَايَةً فانْتَهُوا إلى غَايَتِهِ، وَاخْرُجُوا إلَى اللهِ بِمَا افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّهِ، وَبَيَّنَ لكُمْ مِنْ وَظَائِفِهِ. أَنَا شَاهِدٌ لَكُمْ، وَحَجِيجٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَنْكُمْ.

[About the believers and their good deeds; and the hypocrites and their bad deeds :] Action! action! Then (look at) the end; the end, and (remain) steadfast; steadfast. Thereafter (exercise) endurance, endurance, and piety, piety. You have an objective. Proceed towards your objective. You have a sign. Take guidance from your sign. Islam has an objective. Proceed towards its objective. Proceed towards Allāh’s by fulfilling His rights which He has enjoined upon you. He has clearly stated His demands for you. I am a witness for you and shall plead excuses on your behalf on the Day of Judgement.

[نصائح للناس :] أَلاَ وَإنَّ الْقَدَرَ السَّابِقَ قَدْ وَقَعَ، وَالْقَضَاءَ الْمَاضِيَ قَدْ تَوَرَّدَ، وَإنِّي مُتَكَلِّمٌ بِعِدَةِ اللهِ وَحُجَّتِهِ، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّـهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ﴾،

[Counselling people :] Beware! what had been ordained has occurred and that which had been destined has come into play. I am speaking to you with the promise and pleas of Allāh. Allāh the Sublime, has said : “Verily, those who say: Our Lord is Allāh! and persevere aright, the angels descend upon them (saying): ‘Fear ye not, nor be grieved, and receive the glad tidings of the Garden which ye were promissed’.” (Qur’ān, 41:30)

وَقَدْ قُلْتُمْ «رَبُّنَا اللهُ»، فَاسْتَقِيمُوا عَلَى كِتَابِهِ، وَعَلَى مِنْهَاجِ أَمْرِهِ، وَعَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ الصَّالِحَةِ مِنْ عِبَادتِهِ، ثُمَّ لاَ تَمْرُقُوا مِنْهَا، وَلاَ تَبْتَدِعُوا فِيهَا، وَلاَ تُخَالِفُوا عَنْهَا; فَإنَّ أَهْلَ الْمُرُوقِ مُنْقَطَعٌ بِهمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

You have said, ‘“Our Lord is Allāh.” Then keep steadfast to His Book, to the way of His command and to the virtuous course of His worship. Thereafter do not go out of it, do not introduce innovations in it, and do not turn away from it, because those who go away from this course will be cut off from (the mercy of) Allāh on the Day of Judgement.

ثُمَّ إيَّاكُمْ وَتَهْزِيعَ الاْخْلاَقِ وَتَصْرِيفَهَا، وَاجْعَلُوا اللِّسَانَ وَاحِداً، وَلْيَخْتَزِنَ الرَّجُلُ لِسَانَهُ، فَإنَّ هذَا اللِّسَانَ جَمُوحٌ بِصَاحِبِهِ، وَاللهِ مَا أَرَى عَبْداً يَتَّقِي تَقْوَى تَنْفَعُهُ حَتَّى يَخْتَزِنَ لِسَانَهُ، وَإنَّ لِسَانَ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ وَرَاءِ قَلْبِهِ، وَإنَّ قَلْبَ الْمُنَافِقِ مِنْ وَرَاءِ لِسَانِهِ: لاِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بَكَلاَم تَدَبَّرَهُ فِي نَفْسِهِ، فَإنْ كَانَ خَيْراً أَبْدَاهُ، وَإنْ كَانَ شَرّاً وَارَاهُ، وَإنَّ الْمُنَافِقَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا أَتَى عَلَى لِسَانِهِ لاَ يَدْرِي مَاذَا لَهُ، وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِ،

Beware from destroying your manners and changing them, maintain one tongue. A man should control his tongue because the tongue is obstinate with its master. By Allāh, I do not find that fear of Allāh benefits a man who practises it unless he controls his tongue. Certainly the tongue of a believer is at the back of his heart while the heart of a hypocrite is at the back of his tongue; because, when a believer intends to say anything, he thinks it over in his mind. If it is good he discloses it, but if it is bad he lets it remain concealed. While a hypocrite speaks whatever comes to his tongue, without knowing what is in his favour and what goes against him.

وَلَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله): «لاَ يَسْتَقِيمُ إيمَانُ عَبْد حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ قَلْبُهُ، وَلاَ يَسْتَقِيمُ قَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ لِسَانُهُ»؛ فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَلْقَى اللهَ سُبْحانَهُ وَهُوَ نَقِيُّ الرَّاحَةِ مِنْ دِمَاءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ، سَلِيمُ اللِّسَانِ مِنْ أَعْرَاضِهِمْ، فَلْيَفْعَلْ.

The Prophet of Allāh — peace and blessing of Allāh be upon him and his descendants — said: “The belief of a person cannot be firm unless his heart is firm, and his heart cannot be firm unless his tongue is firm.” So whoever of you can manage to meet Allāh, the Sublime, in such a position that his hands are unsmeared with the blood of Muslims and their property and his tongue is safe from exposing them, he should do so.

[تحريم البدع :] وَاعْلَمُوا عِبَادَ اللهِ أَنَّ الْمُؤمِنَ يَسْتَحِلُّ الْعَامَ مَا اسْتَحَلَّ عَاماً أَوَّلَ، وَيُحَرِّمُ الْعَامَ مَا حَرَّمَ عَاماً أَوَّلَ، وَأَنَّ مَا أَحْدَثَ النَّاسُ لاَ يُحِلُّ لَكُمْ شَيْئاً مِمَّا حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَلكِنَّ الْحَلاَلَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللهُ، وَالْحَرَامَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللهُ، فَقَدْ جَرَّبْتُمُ الاْمْورَ وَضَرَّسْتُمُوهَا، وَوُعِظْتُمْ بِمَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَضُرِبَتِ الاْمْثَالُ لَكُم، وَدُعِيتُمْ إلَى الاْمْرِ الْوَاضِحِ; فَلاَ يَصَمُّ عَنْ ذلِكَ إلاَّ أَصَمُّ، وَلاَ يَعْمَى عَنْهُ إلاَّ أَعْمَى.

[Following the sunnah and refraining from innovation :] Know, O creatures of Allāh, that a believer should regard lawful this year what he regarded lawful in the previous year, and should consider unlawful this year what he considered unlawful in the previous year. Certainly people’s innovation cannot make lawful for you what has been declared unlawful; rather, lawful is that which Allāh has made lawful and unlawful is that which Allāh has made unlawful. You have already tested the matters and tried them; you have been preached by those before you. Illustrations have been drawn for you and you have been called to clear fact. Only a deaf man can remain deaf to all this, and only a blind man can remain blind to all this.

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ اللهُ بِالْبَلاَءِ وَالتَّجَارِبِ لَمْ يَنْتَفِعْ بِشَيْء مِنَ الْعِظَةِ، وَأَتَاهُ الْتَّقْصِيرُ مِنْ أَمَامِه، حَتَّى يَعْرِفَ مَا أَنْكَرَ، وَيُنْكِرَ مَا عَرَفَ. وَإنَّمَا النَّاسُ رَجُلاَنِ: مُتَّبِعٌ شِرْعَةً، وَمُبْتَدِعٌ بِدْعَةً، لَيْسَ مَعَهُ مِنَ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ بُرْهَانُ سُنَّة، وَلاَ ضِياءُ حُجَّة.

He whom Allāh does not allow benefit from trials and experience cannot benefit from preaching. He will be faced with losses from in front, so that he will approve what is bad and disapprove what is good. People are of two categories - the follower of the sharī‘ah (religious laws), and the follower of the innovations to whom Allāh has not given any testimony by way of sunnah or the light of any plea.

[القرآن :] وَإِنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ لَمْ يَعِظْ أَحَداً بِمِثْلِ هذَا الْقُرْآنِ، فَإِنَّهُ حَبْلُ اللهِ الْمَتِينُ، وَسَبَبُهُ الاْمِينُ، وَفِيهِ رَبِيعُ الْقَلْبِ، وَيَنَابِيعُ الْعِلْمِ، وَمَا لِلْقَلْبِ جَلاَءٌ غَيْرُهُ، مَعَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ الْمُتَذَكِّرُونَ، وَبَقِيَ النَّاسُونَ أَوِ الْمُتَنَاسُونَ. فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ خَيْراً فَأَعِينُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ شَرّاً فَاذْهَبُوا عَنْهُ، فَإنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) كَانَ يَقُولُ: «يَابْنَ آدَمَ، اعْمَلِ الْخَيْرَ وَدَعِ الشَّرَّ، فَإِذَا أَنْتَ جَوَادٌ قَاصِدٌ»

[Guidance from the Holy Qur’ān :] Allāh the Glorified, has not counselled anyone on the lines of this Qur’ān, for it is the strong rope of Allāh and His trustworthy means. It contains the blossoming of the heart and springs of knowledge. For the heart there is no other gloss than the Qur’ān although those who remembered it have passed away while those who forgot or pretended to have forgotten it have remained. If you see any good give your support to it, but if you see evil evade it, because the Messenger of Allāh used to say: “O son of Adam, do good and evade evil; by doing so you will be treading correctly.”

[انواع الظلم :] أَلاَ وَإنَّ الظُّلْمَ ثَلاَثَةٌ: فَظُلْمٌ لاَ يُغْفَرُ، وَظُلْمٌ لاَ يُتْرَكُ، وظُلْمٌ مَغْفُورٌ لاَ يُطْلَبُ. فَأَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي لاَ يُغْفَرُ فَالشِّرْكُ بِاللهِ، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ﴾ وَأَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي يُغْفَرُ فَظُلْمُ الْعَبْدِ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ الْهَنَاتِ. وَأَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي لاَ يُتْرَكُ فَظُلْمُ الْعِبَادِ بَعْضِهِمْ بَعْضاً. الْقِصَاصُ هُنَاكَ شَدِيدٌ، لَيْسَ هُوَ جَرْحاً بِالْمُدَى وَلاَ ضَرْباً بِالسِّيَاطِ، وَلكِنَّهُ مَا يُسْتَصْغَرُ ذلِكَ مَعَهُ. فَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالتَّلَوُّنَ فِي دِينِ اللهِ، فَإِنَّ جَمَاعَةً فِيَما تَكْرَهُونَ مِنَ الْحَقّ، خَيْرٌ مِنْ فُرْقَة فِيَما تُحِبُّونَ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ، وَإِنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ لَمْ يُعْطِ أَحَداً بِفُرْقَة خَيْراً مِمَّنْ مَضَى، وَلاَ مِمَّنْ بَقِيَ.

[Categories of oppression :] Know that injustice is of three kinds — one, the injustice that will not be forgiven, another, that will not be left unquestioned, and another that will be forgiven without being questioned. The injustice that will not be forgiven is duality of Allāh. Allāh has said: Verily Allāh forgiveth not that (anything) be associated with Him . . . (Qur’ān, 4:48, 116). The injustice that will be forgiven is the injustice a man does to himself by committing small sins; and the injustice that will not be left unquestioned is the injustice of men against other men. The retribution in such a case is severe. It is not wounding with knives, nor striking with whips, but it is so severe that all these things are small against it. You should therefore avoid change in the matter of Allāh’s religion for your unity in respect of a right which you dislike is better than your scattering away in respect of a wrong that you like. Certainly, Allāh the Glorified has not given any person, whether among the dead or among those who survive, any good from separation.

[لزوم الطاعة :] يَا أيُّهَا النَّاسُ طُوبى لِمَنْ شَغَلَهُ عَيْبُهُ عَنْ عُيُوبِ النَّاسِ، وَطُوبى لِمَنْ لَزِمَ بَيْتَهُ، وَأَكَلَ قُوتَهُ، وَاشْتَغَلَ بِطَاعَةِ رَبِّهِ، وَبَكَى عَلَى خَطِيئَتِهِ، فَكَانَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فِي شُغُل، وَالنَّاسُ مِنْهُ فِي رَاحَة!

O people, blessed is the man whose own shortcomings keep him away from (looking into) the shortcomings of others, and also blessed is the man who is confined to his house, eats his meal, buries himself in obeying his Allāh, and weeps over his sins, so that he is engaged in himself and people are in safety from him.

Extrait d’un discours où il prêche, montre le mérite du Coran et interdit le sectarisme

[La prêche :] Profitez de la déclaration de Dieu, recevez Ses avis, écoutez Ses exhortations et Ses conseils. Dieu vous a exposé ses arguments, les couvres que vous devez exécuter sans excuses, celles qu’il aime que vous fassiez et celles qu'il hait et que vous devez éviter. Le Prophète disait: «Le Paradis est entouré de contrariétés et le Feu de passions».

Sachez que tout acte d’obéissance à Dieu se fait à contrecœur, et tout acte de désobéissance est dicté par la passion. Que Dieu ait pitié de quiconque surmonte ses passions et freine les désirs de son cœur, car ceux-ci incitent violemment aux péchés et sont toujours en quête des plaisirs.

Sachez aussi, serviteurs de Dieu, que le croyant, du matin au soir, ressent la faiblesse de l’esprit, dresse ses défauts et dompte son cœur. Soyez donc comme ceux qui vous ont devancés et frayés le chemin. Ceux-ci avaient démonté puis plié leurs tentes comme font les nomades.

[Le mérite du Coran :] Sachez que ce Coran est un conseiller sincère et loyal qui ne trompe pas, un conducteur qui ne mène pas à Terreur, et un raconteur qui ne profère pas de mensonge. Nul ne l’a approché sans en tirer une augmentation de guidance ou une diminution d’aveuglement. Sachez aussi que, grâce à lui, nul ne se trouve en état de besoin et que, avant lui, nul n’était assez riche, Utilisez-le comme remède à vos maux et comme aide à vos difficultés. Le Coran vous guérit des plus grandes maladies: l’athéisme, l'hypocrisie, l’égarement et Terreur. Implorez Dieu par le Coran et dirigez-vous vers Lui en l’aimant Ne demandez rien à Ses créatures car, pour les adorateurs de Dieu, rien n’égale le Coran comme moyen de s’en rapprocher.

Apprenez que le Coran est un intercesseur qui agrée vos demandes, et un discours digne de foi. Celui qui, le Jour de Jugement, a le Coran qui intercède pour lui, sera sauvé. Et quiconque sera accusé par le Coran connaîtra fatalement la perdition. Car, ce jour-là, un héraut lèvera la voix en disant: «tout laboureur qui travaille contrairement aux préceptes du Coran subira les séquelles de son travail». Labourez donc dans le champ du Coran, qu’il vous guide vers votre Seigneur, vous conseille dans vos actions et vos opinions et qu’il vous aide à surmonter vos passions.

[Incitation au travail :] Adonnez-vous au travail qui assure le salut. Travaillez avec beaucoup de loyauté, de patience et de piété! «Vous êtes créés pour une fin à laquelle vous devez tendre», et vous avez une bannière [le Coran] par laquelle vous devez vous guider. L’Islam a un but que vous devez atteindre , Livrez-vous à Dieu en accomplissant vos devoirs envers Lui et en assumant les obligations qu’il vous a imposées...

[Conseils aux gens :] Le décret préalable est pris et la décision s’est accomplie successivement, Je vous parle de la promesse et de l’argument de Dieu qui dit: «Ceux qui disent: «Notre Seigneur est Allah»» et qui se tiennent dans le droit chemin» les Anges descendent sur eux. «N’ayez pas peur et ne soyez pas affligés, mais ayez la bonne nouvelle du Paradis qui vous était promis» (Les Versets Détaillés, 30).

Et vous aviez dit: «Notre Seigneur est Allah», persévérez-vous alors à lire Son Livre, à suivre Ses ordres et le chemin de sa juste adoration. Ne vous en écartez pas par des hérésies ou des désobéissances, car les héértiques seront coupées de Dieu au Jour de la Résurrection.

Ayez soin de ne pas dissoudre et corrompre les mœurs. Que votre langue, encline à suivre sa fantaisie, soit retenue et attachée à la vérité. Par Dieu, je ne vois un serviteur qui cultive la piété sans avoir tenu sa langue. La langue du croyant interprète le contenu de son cœur et le cœur de l’hypocrite se révèle moyennant sa langue. En effet, le croyant s’inspire de la pondération avant de parler; il n’exprime que le bien seulement. Tandis que l’hypocrite en matière de religion parle à tort et à travers.

Le Messager de Dieu a dît: «La foi d’un serviteur ne sera droite que si son cœur est droit et vice-versa». Celui qui d’entre vous peut rencontrer Dieu étant innocent du sang et des biens des croyants et exempt de toute calomnie, qu’il se hâte de le faire.

[Prohibition des hérésies :] Sachez, adorateurs de Dieu, que la continuité est de rigueur en ce qui concerne le licite et l’illicite et que toute nouveauté ne rend pas licite ce qui ne l’est pas. C’est Dieu qui a instauré la dichotomie: licite-illicite. Vous avez éprouvé expérimentalement les affaires, vous avez été prêchés, on vous a exposé des paraboles et vous avez été appelés à voir clair dans cette question. Seulement un sourd et un aveugle ne sauraient pas distinguer entre ce qui est permis et ce qui ne l’est pas.

Et celui qui n’a pas tiré une leçon des épreuves envoyées par Dieu ne tirera aucun profit de la prêche et sera incapable de bien agir jusqu’à ce qu’il connaisse ce qu’il a dénié et dénie ce qu’il a connu. Car il y a deux catégories de gens: ceux qui suivent la Shari'a et ceux qui sont hérétiques n’ayant reçu de Dieu ni la preuve de la Sounna, ni réclairement d’une argumentation.

[Le Coran :] Dieu n’a prêché aucun peuple par un Coran similaire. C’est «la corde solide» de Dieu et sa raison fidèle. Il y a en lui le printemps du cœur et les sources de la connaissance. Bien que ceux qui avaient retenu le Coran fussent révolus et il n’en restât que ceux qui l’ont oublié ou feint de l’oublier, le cœur de l'homme n’est illuminé que par lui. Si vous voyez le bien aidez à le parfaire et si vous voyez le mal écartez-vous-en. Le Messager de Dieu disait: «O fils d’Adam, fais le bien, laisse le mal et tu seras un cheval gagnant».

[Les catégories de l’iniustice :] L’injustice se présente sous trois formes; celle qui est impardonnable, celle dont on aura à rendre compte et celle qu’on pardonne parce qu’elle est sans importance. L'association à Dieu relève de la première catégorie. En effet, Dieu dit: «Certes Allah ne pardonne pas qu’on Lui donne quelque associé» (Les Femmes, 48) L’injustice pardonnable est celle qui englobe les péchés véniels des serviteurs injustes envers eux-mêmes. Quant à Pinjustice dont on doit rendre compte, c’est celle commise par un serviteur contre un autre. Ici, la punition est grande: ce ne sont pas des blessures faites par les couteaux ou par la flagellation, mais des calamités plus affreuses encore. Evitez donc de changer de disposition envers la religion de Dieu. L’attachement au bien commun, même s'il lèse quelques droits de l'individu, est meilleur que le désaccord même si celui-ci lui rend son droit et lui procure un plaisir momentané. Car Dieu n’a fait du bien à aucun homme, de ceux qui sont morts ou restant en vie, lorsqu’ils étaient en état de désunion.

[Les impératifs de l’obéissance :] O gens, «bienheureux quiconque se préoccupe de ses propres défauts qui le distraient des défauts d’autrui». Bienheureux celui qui reste dans sa maison, mange son pain, travaille dans l’obéissance de son Seigneur et «pleure son péché». Il se consacre de la sorte à ses propres affaires, sans importuner les autres.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 176