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) علّم فيها الناس الصلاة على رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) [وفيها بيان صفات الله سبحانه وصفة النبي والدعاء له]

Herein Amīr al-mu’minīn tells people how to pronounce “aṣ-Ṣalāt” (to invoke Divine blessing) on the Prophet.

[صفات الله] اللَّهُمَّ دَاحِيَ الْمَدْحُوَّاتِ، وَدَاعِمَ الْمَسْمُوكَاتِ، وَجَابِلَ الْقُلُوبِ عَلَى فِطْرَتِهَا : شَقِيِّهَا وَسَعِيدِهَا.

My Allāh, the Spreader of the surfaces (of earth) and Keeper (intact) of all skies, Creator of hearts on good and evil nature,

[صفة النبي] اجْعَلْ شَرَائِفَ صَلَوَاتِكَ، وَنَوَامِيَ بَرَكَاتِكَ، عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ، الْخَاتمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ، وَالْفَاتِحِ لِمَا انْغَلَقَ، وَالْمُعْلِنِ الْحَقَّ بِالْحَقِّ، وَالدَّافِعِ جَيْشَاتِ الْأَباطِيلِ، وَالدَّامِغِ صَوْلاَتِ الْأَضَالِيلِ، كَمَا حُمِّلَ فَاضْطَلَعَ، قَائِماً بِأَمْرِكَ، مُسْتَوْفِزاً فِي مَرْضَاتِكَ، غَيْرَ نَاكِلٍ عَنْ قُدُمٍ، وَلاَ وَاهٍ فِي عَزْمٍ، وَاعِياً لِوَحْيِكَ، حَافِظاً لِعَهْدَكَ، مَاضِياً عَلَى نَفَاذِ أَمْرِكَ; حَتَّى أَوْرَى قَبَسَ الْقَابِسِ، وَأَضَاءَ الطَّرِيقَ لِلْخَابِطِ، وَهُدِيَتْ بِهِ الْقُلُوبُ بَعْدَ خَوْضَاتِ الْفِتَنِ، وَالْآثَامِ وَأَقَامَ بِمُوضِحاتِ الْأَعْلاَمِ، وَنَيِّرَاتِ الْأَحْكَامِ، فَهُوَ أَمِينُكَ الْمَأْمُونُ، وَخَازِنُ عِلْمِكَ الَْمخْزُونِ، وَشَهِيدُكَ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ، وَبَعِيثُكَ بِالْحَقِّ، وَرَسُولُكَ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ.

Send Thy choicest blessings and growing favours on Muḥammad Thy servant and Thy Prophet who is the last of those who preceded (him) and an opener for what is closed, proclaimer of truth with truth, repulser of the forces of wrong and crusher of the onslaughts of misguidance. As he was burdened (with responsibility of prophethood) so he bore it standing by Thy commands, advancing towards Thy will, without shrinking of steps or weakness of determination, listening to Thy revelation, preserving Thy testament, proceeding forward in the spreading of Thy commands till he lit fire for its seeker and lighted the path for the groper in the dark. Hearts achieved guidance through him after being ridden with troubles. He introduced clearly guiding signs and shining injunctions. He is Thy trusted trustee, the treasurer of Thy treasured knowledge, Thy witness on the Day of Judgement, Thy envoy of truth and Thy Messenger towards the people.

[الدعاء للنبي] اللَّهُمَّ افْسَحْ لَهُ مَفْسَحاً فِي ظِلِّكَ، وَاجْزِهِ مُضَاعَفَاتِ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ. اللَّهُمَّ أَعْلِ عَلَى بِنَاءِ الْبَانِينَ بِنَاءَهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ لَدَيْكَ مَنْزِلَتَهُ، وَأَتْمِمْ لَهُ نُورَهُ، وَاجْزِهِ مِنَ ابْتِعَاثِكَ لَهُ مَقبُولَ الشَّهَادَةِ، مَرْضِيَّ الْمَقالَةِ، ذا مَنْطِقٍ عَدْلٍ، وخُطْبَةٍ فَصْلٍ. اللَّهُمَّ اجْمَعْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ فِي بَرْدِ الْعَيشِ، وَقَرَارِ النِّعْمَةِ، وَمُنَى الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَأَهْوَاءِ اللَّذَّاتِ. وَرَخَاءِ الدَّعَةِ وَمُنْتَهَى الْطُّمَأْنِينَةِ، وَتُحَفِ الْكَرَامَةِ.

My Allāh prepare large place for him under Thy shade and award him multiplying good by Thy bounty. My Allāh give height to his construction above all other constructions, heighten his position with Thee, grant perfection to his effulgence and perfect for him his light. In reward for his discharging Thy prophetship, grant him that his testimony be admitted and his speech be liked for his speech is just, and his judgements are clearcut. My Allāh put us and him together in the pleasures of life, continuance of bounty, satisfaction of desires, enjoyment of pleasures, ease of living, peace of mind and gifts of honour.

Extrait d’un discours où il enseigne les gens à prier sur le Prophète et ceux de sa maison et expose les attributs de Dieu et les qualités du Prophète qu’il implore.

O Dieu qui a étendu les continents et soutenu les deux; qui a crée les cœurs dans leur nature originelle tendant au malheur et au bonheur!

[Qualités du Prophète] Fais descendre tes nobles prières et tes complètes bénédictions sur Mouhammad, Ton serviteur et Envoyé, le dernier des Prophètes, celui qui a déclaré Tes secrets en toute vérité et qui a repoussé les armées de l’erreur et de l’ignorance. Il a assumé la responsabilité de la Révélation selon Tes ordres, se pressant pour Te faire plaisir, sans lâcheté dans la guerre et sans faiblesse dans ses décisions. Il était conscient de Ta Révélation, fidèle à Ta promesse et strict dans l'exécution de Tes ordres. Ce faisant, il a dessiné le chemin de la lumière, l’éclairant pour ceux qui se débattaient dans les ténèbres et guidant les cœurs perdus dans le labyrinthe des discordes et des péchés. Il a établi de même les repères clairs de la guidance et les sentences bien éclairées. Il est donc Ton homme fidèle, le trésorier de Ta science uniquement révélée à Tes envoyés. Il est Ton témoin au Jour de la Résurrection, Ton envoyé proclamant la vérité à la création.

[Prière sur le Prophète] O Seigneur, fais qu’il occupe sa place auprès de Ta présence! Récompense-le pour les bienfaits multiples qu’il a gracieusement reçus de Toil Seigneur, fais qu’il occupe la première place à l’instar de Ta Loi qu’il a propagée! Que sa lumière soit complète! Gratifie-le d’une récompense égale à ses efforts le jour où il sera Ton témoin par ses paroles et la justesse de ses dires et ses discours! Notre seigneur, unis-nous à lui dans une vie paisible, une vie de grâce permanente et de jouissances licites, une vie d’humble aisance, de complète tranquillité et d’exaltante dignité.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 72