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) وهي في بيان صفات المتقين وصفات الفساق والتنبيه إلى مكان العترة الطيبة والظن الخاطىء لبعض الناس

عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّ عِبَادِ اللهِ إِلَيْهِ عَبْداً أَعَانَهُ اللهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، فَاسْتَشْعَرَ الْحُزْنَ، وَتَجَلْبَبَ الْخَوْفَ فَزَهَرَ مِصْبَاحُ الْهُدَى فِي قَلْبِهِ، وَأَعَدَّ الْقِرَى لِيَوْمِهِ النَّازِلِ بِهِ، فَقَرَّبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الْبَعِيدَ، وَهَوَّنَ الشَّدِيدَ، نَظَرَ فَأَبْصَرَ، وَذَكَرَ فَاسْتَكْثَرَ، وَارْتَوَى مِنْ عَذْبٍ فُرَاتٍ سُهِّلَتْ لَهُ مَوَارِدُهُ، فَشَرِبَ نَهَلاً وَسَلَكَ سَبِيلاً جَدَداً قَدْ خَلَعَ سَرَابِيلَ الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَتَخَلَّى مِنَ الْهُمُومِ، إِلاَّ هَمّاً وَاحِداً انْفَرَدَ بِهِ، فَخَرَجَ مِنْ صِفَةِ الْعَمَى، وَمُشَارَكَةِ أَهْلِ الْهَوَى، وَصَارَ مِنْ مَفَاتِيحِ أَبْوَابِ الْهُدَى، وَمَغَالِيقِ أَبْوَابِ الرَّدَى.

O creatures of Allāh! the most beloved of Allāh is he whom Allāh has given power (to act) against his passions, so that his inner side is (submerged in) grief and the outer side is covered with fear. The lamp of guidance is burning in his heart. He has provided entertainment for the day that is to befall him. He regards what is distant to be near himself and takes the hard to be light. He looks at and perceives; he remembers (Allāh) and enhances (the tempo of his) actions. He drinks sweet water to whose source his way has been made easy. So he drinks to satisfaction and takes the level path. He has put off the clothes of desires and got rid of worries except one worry peculiar to him. He is safe from misguidance and company of people who follow their passions. He has become the key to the doors of guidance, and the lock for the doors of destruction.

قَدْ أبْصَرَ طَرِيقَهُ، وَسَلَكَ سَبِيلَهُ، وَعَرَفَ مَنَارَهُ، وَقَطَعَ غِمَارَهُ وَاسْتَمْسَكَ مِنَ الْعُرَى بِأَوْثَقِهَا، وَمِنَ الْحِبَالِ بِأَمْتَنِهَا، فَهُوَ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ عَلَى مِثْلِ ضَوْءِ الشَّمْسِ، قَدْ نَصَبَ نَفْسَهُ للهِ ـ سُبْحَانَهُ ـ فِي أَرْفَعِ الاْمُورِ، مِنْ إِصْدَارِ كُلِّ وَارِدٍ عَلَيْهِ، وَتَصْيِيرِ كُلِّ فَرْعٍ إِلى أَصْلِهِ. مِصْبَاحُ ظُلُمَاتٍ، كَشَّافُ غَشَوَاتٍ، مِفْتَاحُ مُبْهَمَاتٍ، دَفَّاعُ مُعْضِلاَتٍ، دَلِيلُ فَلَوَاتٍ يَقُولُ فَيُفْهِمُ، وَيَسْكُتُ فَيَسْلَمُ. قَدْ أَخْلَصَ للهِ فَاسْتَخْلَصَهُ فَهُوَ مِنْ مَعَادِنِ دِينِهِ، وَأَوْتَادِ أَرْضِهِ.

He has seen his way and is walking on it. He knows his pillar (of guidance) and has crossed over his deep water. He has caught hold of the most reliable supports and the strongest ropes. He is on that level of conviction which is like the brightness of the sun. He has set himself for Allāh, the Glorified, for performance of the most sublime acts by facing all that befalls him and taking every step needed for it. He is the lamp in darkness. He is the dispeller of all blindness, key to the obscure, remover of complexities, and a guide in vast deserts. When he speaks he makes understand whereas when he remains silent then it is safe to do so. He did everything only for Allāh and so Allāh also made him His own. Consequently, he is like the mines of His faith, and as stump in His earth.

قَدْ أَلْزَمَ نَفْسَهُ الْعَدْلَ، كَانَ أَوَّلَ عَدْلِهِ نَفْيُ الْهَوَى عَنْ نَفْسِهِ، يَصِفُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ، لاَ يَدَعُ لِلْخَيْرِ غَايَةً إِلاَّ أَمَّهَا وَلاَ مَظِنَّةً إِلاَّ قَصَدَهَا، قَدْ أَمْكَنَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ زِمَامِهِ فَهُوَ قَائِدُهُ وَإِمَامُهُ، يَحُلُّ حَيْثُ حَلَّ ثَقَلُهُ وَيَنْزِلُ حَيْثُ كَانَ مَنْزِلُهُ.

He has enjoined upon himself (to follow) justice. The first step of his justice is the rejection of desires from his heart. He describes right and acts according to it. There is no good which he has not aimed at nor any likely place (of virtue) of the Qurā'n. Therefore the Qur’ān is his guide and leader. He gets down when the Qur’ān puts down his weight and he settles where the Qur’ān settles him down.

[صفات الفساق] وَآخَرُ قَدْ تَسَمَّى عَالمِاً وَلَيْسَ بِهِ، فَاقْتَبَسَ جَهَائِلَ مِنْ جُهَّالٍ وَأَضَالِيلَ مِنْ ضُلاَّلٍ، وَنَصَبَ لِلنَّاسِ أَشْرَاكاً مِنْ حبالِ غُرُورٍ، وَقَوْلِ زُورٍ، قَدْ حَمَلَ الْكِتَابَ عَلَى آرَائِهِ، وَعَطَفَ الْحَقَّعَلى أَهْوَائِهِ، يُؤْمِنُ مِنَ الْعَظَائِمِ، وَيُهَوِّنُ كَبِيرَ الْجَرَائِمِ، يَقُولُ: أَقِفُ عِنْدَ الشُّبُهَاتِ، وَفِيهَا وَقَعَ، وَيَقُولُ: أَعْتَزِلُ الْبِدَعَ، وَبَيْنَهَا اضْطَجَعَ فَالصُّورَةُ صُورَةُ إِنْسَانٍ، وَالْقَلْبُ قَلْبُ حَيَوَانٍ، لاَ يَعْرِفُ بَابَ الْهُدَى فَيَتَّبِعَهُ، وَلاَ بَابَ الْعَمَى فيَصُدَّ عَنْهُ، فَذلِكَ مَيِّتُ الاْحْيَاءَ!

The Characteristics of an unfaithful) believer : While the other (kind of) man is he who calls himself learned but he is not so. He has gleaned ignorance from the ignorant and misguidance from the misguided. He has set for the people a trap (made) of the ropes of deceit and untrue speech. He takes the Qur’ān according to his own views and right after his passions. He makes people feel safe from big sins and takes light the serious crimes. He says that he is waiting for (clarification) doubts but he remains plunged therein, and that he keeps aloof from innovations but actually he is immersed in them. His shape is that of a man, but his heart is that of a beast. He does not know the door of guidance to follow nor the door of misguidance to keep aloof therefrom. These are living dead bodies.

[عترة النبي] ﴿فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ﴾؟ و ﴿أَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ﴾؟ وَالاْعْلاَمُ قَائِمَةٌ، وَالاْيَاتُ وَاضِحَةٌ، وَالْمَنَارُ مَنْصُوبَةٌ، فَأَيْنَ يُتَاهُ بِكُمْ؟ بَلْ كَيْفَ تَعْمَهُونَ وَبَيْنَكُمْ عِتْرَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ؟ وَهُمْ أَزِمَّةُ الْحَقِّ، و أعلام الدِّين وَأَلْسِنَةُ الصِّدْقِ! فأَنْزِلُوهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَنَازِلِ القُرْآنِ، وَرِدُوهُمْ وُرُودَ الْهِيمِ الْعِطَاشِ.

About the Descendents (‘Itrah) of the Holy Prophet : “So wither are you going to” (Qur’ān, 81:26) and “how are you then turned away?” (Qur’ān, 6:95; 10:34; 35:3; 40:62) Ensigns (of guidance) are standing, indications (of virtue) are clear, and the minarets (of light) have been fixed. Where are you being taken astray and how are you groping while you have among you the descendents of the Prophet? They are the reins of Right, ensigns of Faith and tongues of truth. According to them the same good position as you accord to the Qur’ān, and come to them (for quenching the thirst of guidance) as the thirsty camels approach the water spring.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، خُذُوهَا عَنْ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ (صلى الله عليه وآله): «إِنَّهُ يَمُوتُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنَّا وَلَيْسَ بِمَيِّت، وَيَبْلَى مَنْ بَلِيَ مِنَّا وَلَيْسَ بِبَال»، فَلاَ تَقُولُوا بِمَا لاَتَعْرِفُونَ، فَإنَّ أَكْثَرَ الْحَقِّ فِيَما تُنْكِرُونَ، وَاعْذِرُوا مَنْ لاَ حُجَّةَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ـ وَأَنَا هُوَ ـ أَلَمْ أَعْمَلْ فِيكُمْ بِالثَّقَلِ الاْكْبَرِ! وَأَتْرُكْ فِيكُمُ الثَّقَلَ الاْصْغَرَ! وَرَكَزْتُ فِيكُمْ رَايَةَ الاْيمَانِ، وَوَقَفْتُكُمْ عَلَى حُدُودِ الْحَلاَلِ وَالْحَرَامِ، وَأَلْبَسْتُكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ مِنْ عَدْلِي، وَفَرَشْتُكُمُ المَعْرُوفَ مِنْ قَوْلي وَفِعْلي، وَأَرَيْتُكُمْ كَرَائِمَ الاْخْلاَقِ مِنْ نَفْسِي؟ فَلاَ تَسْتَعْمِلُوا الرَّأْيَ فِيَما لاَ يُدْرِكُ قَعْرَهُ الْبَصَرُ، وَلاَ تَتَغَلْغَلُ إِلَيْهِ الْفِكَرُ.

O people take this saying [1] of the last of the Prophet that he who dies from among us is not dead, and he who decays (after dying) from among us does not really decay. Do not say what you do not understand, because most of the Right is in what you deny. Accept the argument of one against whom you have no argument. It is I. Did I not act before you on the greater thaqal (ath-thaqal al-akbar, i.e. the Qur’ān) and did I not retain among you smaller thaqal (ath-thaqal al-aṣghar, i.e. the descendents of the Prophet). [2] I fixed among you the standard of faith, and I taught you the limits of lawful and unlawful. I clothed you with the garments of safety with my justice and spread for you (the carpet of) virtue by my word and deed. I showed you high manners through myself. Do not exercise your imagination about what the eye cannot see or the mind cannot conceive.

[ومنها: في الظنّ الخاطىَ] حَتَّى يَظُنَّ الظَّانُّ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَعْقُولَةٌ عَلَى بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، تَمْنَحُهُمْ دَرَّهَا، وَتُورِدُهُمْ صَفْوَهَا، وَلاَ يُرْفَعُ عَنْ هذِهِ الاْمَّةِ سَوْطُهَا وَلاَ سَيْفُهَا، وَكَذَبَ الظَّانُّ لِذلِكَ. بَلْ هِيَ مَجَّةٌ مِنْ لَذِيذِ الْعَيْشِ يَتَطَعَّمُونَهَا بُرْهَةً، ثُمَّ يَلْفِظُونَهَا جُمْلَةً!

A part of the same sermon, about Banu Umayyah : Till people begin thinking that the world is attached to the Umayyads, would be showering its benefits on them, and lead them to its clear spring for watering, and that their whip and sword will not be removed from the people. Whoever thinks so is wrong. There are rather a few drops from the joys of life which they would suck for a while and then vomit out the whole of it.

Extrait d’un discours où il expose les qualités des pieux et celles des pervers et avertit les hommes de mauvaise intention.

O serviteurs de Dieu, le serviteur le plus aimé de Dieu est celui que Dieu a aidé contre luimême. Celui-ci ressent alors la tristesse et se revêtit de la peur; la lampe de la bonne direction s’allume dans son cœur. Il se met à accomplir des actions bonnes chaque jour, fait rapprocher de soi-même ce qui est loin et facilite ce qui est difficile. Il regarde et considère, répète beaucoup le nom de Dieu. Il s’abreuve d’eau douce dont la source est à sa portée, en suivant un chemin battu. Il s’est débarrassé des passions et des soucis pour se préoccuper uniquement de son salut, laisse derrière lui son aveuglement et la fréquentation de ceux qui suivent leurs passions, ouvre les portes du chemin du salut et ferme celles de la perdition.

Il voit son chemin et s’y dirige, connaît son phare et s’en approche, distingue les choses précieuses et s’y attache, et s’aggrippe à la corde salvatrice la plus ferme, ta vérité sûre et indubitable Tillumine tel un soleil. Il se consacre à Dieu dans les affaires les plus sublimes. Toute chose qu’il fait afflue vers l’océan divin. Lampe au milieu des ténèbres, éclaireur des équivoques, clé des choses cachées, il résoud les questions difficiles et sert de guide aux désorientés. Il parle et l’on comprend, il se tait et reste paisible. Il offre à Dieu un culte sincère. Il compte parmi les métaux précieux et les jalons repères de la religion.

Il se charge de pratiquer la justice dont le premier acte est de se débarrasser de ses passions. Il définit la vérité tout en la pratiquant. U suit le bien là où il se trouve et recherche tout ce qui est utile. Il s’est rendu serviteur du Livre qui le conduit et le dirige ...

[Qualités des corrompus] Voici un autre qu’on appelle savant et il ne l’est pas. Celui-ci acquiert des ignorants et des égarés leur ignorance et leurs erreurs, tend aux gens des trappes tissée avec les cordes des vanités et des faussetés, fait accorder le Livre selon ses opinions, et la vérité selon ses passions, Il protège les gens contre les événements graves et facilité les grands crimes. Il dit: Je m’arrête devant les équivoques auxquels il succombe. Et il dit: Je m’éloigne des sectes entre lesquelles il dort. Il a l’aspect d’un homme et le cœur d’un animal. Il ignore la porte de la bonne direction pour le suivre, et la porte de la cécité pour s’en éloigner. Celui-ci est le mort d’entre les vivants.

[Les parents du Prophète] «Où allez-vous»? «Quel vent vous emporte» tandis que les indices de la vérité sont là, les versets sont clairs et les phares dressés? Où errez-vous et pourquoi êtes-vous perplexes si les descendants et les parents du Prophète sont parmi vous?! Ce sont eux les brides de la vérité, les drapeaux de la religion, les langues de la véracité! Faites-les descendre parmi les meilleures demeures du Coran, et allez puiser de leur science comme font les chameaux assoiffés.

O gens, voilà ce qu’a dit le dernier des prophètes: «Celui qui parmi nous meurt n’est pas mort et celui qui pourrit ne l’est pas». Ne dites donc pas ce que vous ne savez pas, car la plus grande part de la vérité est niée par vous. Excusez enfin celui contre qui vous n’avez aucun argument - moi-même-; ne vous ai-je pas laissé la chose la plus précieuse: J’ai installé parmi vous le drapeau de la foi, je vous ai montré les limites du licite et de l’illicite, j’ai été très équitable dans mes jugements, je vous ai exposé tout ce qui est connu concernant mes paroles et mes actes, je vous ai étalé la morale la plus précieuse qui guide mes pas? N'émettez donc pas une opinion sur une personne dont les profondeurs sont insondables et la pensée impénétrable.

[Soupçon erroné] L’on se forme une opinion selon laquelle tout le monde tourne autour des Omeyyades et leur obéit, et la vie leur offre son lait et les abreuve de son eau la plus pure. On croit que le fouet et l’épée des Omeyyades sont suspendus au-dessus du cou de cette nation. Une telle opinion est mensongère. Il s’agit pour eux d’une gorgée de dolce vita qu’ils avalent en ce moment et qu’ils dégorgeront tout d’un coup.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 87