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 الشهادة و التقوى وقيل إنه خطبها بعد مقتل عثمان في أول خلافته

Praise of Allāh, transience of this world, and causes of the decline of Allāh’s blessings. (Delivered at the beginning of his caliphate after the killing of ‘Uthmān)

[اللّه و رسوله :] لاَ يَشْغَلُهُ شَأْنٌ، وَلاَ يُغَيِّرُهُ زَمَانٌ، وَلاَ يَحْوِيهِ مَكَانٌ، وَلاَ يَصِفُهُ لِسَانٌ، وَلاَ يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ عَدَدُ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ، وَلاَ نُجُومِ السَّماءِ، وَلاَسَوَافِي الرِّيحِ فِي الْهَوَاءِ، وَلاَ دَبِيبُ الـنَّمْلِ عَلَى الصَّفَا، وَلاَ مَقِيلُ الذَّرِّ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ. يَعْلَمُ مَسَاقِطَ الاْوْرَاقِ، وَخَفِيَّ طَرْفِ الاْحْدَاقِ.

One condition does not prevent Him from (getting into) another condition, time does not change Him, place does not locate him and the tongue does not describe Him. The number of drops of water, of stars in the sky, or of currents of winds in the air are not unknown to Him, nor the movements of ants on rocks, or the resting place of grubs in the dark night. He knows the places where leaves fall, and the secret movements of the pupils of the eyes.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إلهِ إِلاَّ اللهُ غَيْرَ مَعْدُول بِهِ، وَلاَ مَشْكُوك فِيهِ، وَلاَ مَكْفُور دِينُهُ، وَلاَ مَجْحُود تَكْوِينُهُ، شَهَادَةَ مَنْ صَدَقَتْ نِيَّتُهُ، وَصَفَتْ دِخْلَتُهُ، وَخَلَصَ يَقِينُهُ، وَثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ.

I stand witness that there is no god but Allāh, Who has no parallel, Who is not doubted, Whose religion is not denied and Whose creativeness is not questioned. My witnessing is like that of a man whose intention is free, whose conscience is clear, whose belief is pure and whose loads (of good actions) are heavy.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، الْـمُجْتَبَى مِنْ خَلاَئِقِهِ، وَالْمُعْتَامُ لِشَرْحِ حَقَائِقِهِ، وَالْـمُخْتَصُّ بِعَقَائِلِ كَرَامَاتِهِ، وَالْمُصْطَفَى لِكَرَائِمِ رِسَالاَتِهِ، وَالْمُوَضَّحَةُ بِهِ أَشْرَاطُ الْهُدَى، وَالْـمَجْلُوُّ بِهِ غِرْبِيبُ الْعَمَى.

I also stand witness that Muḥammad — the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him and his progeny — is His slave and His Messenger, chosen from His creations, selected for detailing His realities, picked for His selected honours and chosen for His esteemed messages. Through him the signs of guidance have been lighted and the gloom of blindness (misguidance) has been dispelled.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إنَّ الدُّنْيَا تَغُرُّ الْمُؤَمِّلَ لَهَا وَالْـمُخلِدَ إِلَيْهَا، وَلاَ تَنْفَسُ بِمَنْ نَافَسَ فِيهَا، وَتَغْلِبُ مَنْ غَلَبَ عَلَيْهَا. وَايْمُ اللهِ، مَا كَانَ قَوْمٌ قَطُّ فِي غَضِّ نِعْمَة مِنْ عَيْش فَزَالَ عَنْهُمْ إِلاَّ بِذُنُوب اجْتَرَحُوهَا، لِ «أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ» وَلَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ حِينَ تَنْزِلُ بِهِمُ النِّقَمُ، وَتَزُولُ عَنْهُمُ النِّعَمُ، فَزِعُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ بِصِدْق مِنْ نِيَّاتِهمْ، وَوَلَه مِنْ قُلُوبِهمْ، لَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ كُلَّ شَارِد، وَأَصْلَحَ لَهُمْ كُلَّ فَاسِد،

O people, surely this world deceives him who longs for it and who is attracted towards it. It does not behave niggardly with him who aspires for it and overpowers him who overpowers it. By Allāh, no people are deprived of the lively pleasures of life after enjoying them, excepts as a result of sins committed by them, because certainly Allāh is not unjust to His creatures. Even then, when calamities descend upon people and pleasures depart from them, they turn towards Allāh with true intention and the feeling in their hearts that He will return them everything that has fled from them and cure all their ills.

وَإنِّي لاَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونُوا فِي فَتْرَة، وَقَدْ كَانَتْ أُمُورٌ مَضَتْ، مِلْتمْ فِيهَا مَيْلَةً، كُنْتُمْ فِيهَا عِندِي غَيْرَ مَحْمُودِينَ، وَلَئِنْ رُدَّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَمْرُكُمْ إنَّكُمْ لَسُعَدَاءُ، وَمَا عَلَيَّ إلاَّ الْجُهْدُ، وَلَوْ أَشاءُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَقُلْتُ: عَفَا اللهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ!

I fear about you lest you fall into ignorance (that prevailed before the appearance of the Prophet). In the past there were certain matters in which you were deflected, and in my view you were not worthy of admiration; but if your previous position could be returned to you then you would become virtuous. I can only strive; but if I were to speak I would (only) say may Allāh forgive your past actions.

Extrait d’un discours sur le martyre et la piété, proféré -dît-on- après le meurtre de ‘Ottthman, au début de son califat

[Dieu et son Envoyé :] Rien ne préoccupe Dieu que n’affecte le temps, ni L’englobe le lieu, ni Le décrit la langue. Il connaît le nombre des gouttes de pluie, des étoiles du ciel et des composants du vent. Ne Lui sont cachés ni la marche des fourmis sur les roches lisses, ni le lieu de repos des petites fourmis pendant la nuit obscure. Il connaît d’où tombent les feuilles des arbres et les mouvements minimes des yeux.

Je témoigne qu’il n’y a de dieu que Dieu, que je ne compare à rien d'autre,et dont je ne dénie ni l’existence, ni la religion. Je ne conteste non plus sa création du monde. Mon témoignage procède d’une intention sincère, d’un for intérieur limpide, d’une croyance pure et d’une conviction pondérée.

Je témoigne que Mouhammad est Son serviteur et Son Envoyé choisi parmi Ses créatures pour expliquer Ses vérités, Ses miracles généreux et Ses messages bienveillants, pour clarifier les conditions de la guidance et pour sauver les hommes des ténèbres de l’erreur.

O vous les gens, le monde séduit celui qui place son espérance en lui, n’est pas avare envers celui qui rivalise avec les autres dans la poursuite de ses biens et vainc celui qui le combat. Par Dieu, nul n’a été privé des bienfaits du monde qu’à cause de péchés commis de sa part, car Dieu «n’est pas injuste envers ses serviteurs». Si les hommes privés des grâces et voués aux malheurs se réfèrent à leur Seigneur avec des intentions véridiques et des sentiments amoureux, Il leur rectifiera toute errance et leur fera éviter tout ce qui est mauvais.

J’ai peur que vous ne soyez dans une illusion trompeuse. Durant des jours passés vous vous étiez déviés de moi et vous n’étiez pas dignes d’éloges de ma part. Sentez-vous heureux maintenant parce que les affaires se sont normalisées. Quant à moi, je m’efforcerai de vous pardonner en vous disant: que Dieu pardonne les actes antérieurs!

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 178