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Concept
Nahj al-balagha
Summary
(نَهْج ٱلْبَلَاغَة) is the best-known collection of sermons, letters, and sayings attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib (661), the fourth Rashidun caliph (656-661), the first Shia imam, and the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The compilation of the book is often credited to Sharif al-Radi (1015), a prominent Shia scholar. Known for its moral aphorisms and eloquent content, is widely studied in the Islamic world and has considerably influenced the Arabic literature and rhetoric. In view of its sometimes sensitive content, the authenticity of the book has long been a subject of polemic debates, though recent academic research suggests that most of its contents can indeed be attributed to Ali by tracking the texts in sources that predate al-Radi.
is an eleventh-century collection of more than two-hundred sermons, nearly eighty letters, and almost five-hundred sayings, all attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was the fourth Rashidun caliph (656-661) and the first Shia imam. The sermons and letters in offer a commentary on the political career of Ali, and have served as an ideological basis for Islamic governance. In particular, the letter of instructions therein addressed at Malik al-Ashtar (657), a commander of Ali, has received much attention as a model for just and righteous Islamic governance. The book also includes detailed discussions about social responsibilities, emphasizing that greater responsibilities result in greater rights.
also contains more sensitive material, such as sharp criticism of the predecessors of Ali, and disapproval of the triumvirate who revolted against Ali in the Battle of the Camel in 656, namely, Talha and Zubayr, who were both senior companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and his widow Aisha. The book also remains relevant to the ongoing clerical debates about the role and status of women in Islamic societies. also contains passages about morality and doctrine, notably about the sovereignty of God and the essence of the Quran and the prophethood.
Official source
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