|
Nahjul Balagha (Peak of Eloquence)
Sermons, Letters, and Sayings of Ameer
al-Mu'mineen, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)
- Download an MS
Word 6.0 file that contains both the Sermon by Sermon
References and the Bibliography for those references.
Sermons
- Download Sermons 1-239
with embedded font that preserves
special transliterated characters (MS Word 6.0). Or, view the sermons below.
- 1. Praise belongs to God,
Whose Glory lies beyond ...
- 2. I praise Him, seeking
the completion of His bounty...
- 3. By God, so and so (Ibn
Abi Quhafah)....
- 4. Through us you were
guided ...
- 5. O people, tear the
waves of ...
- 6. By God, I shall not be
like the badger that ...
- 7. They have taken Satan
to be the sovereign ...
- 8. He claims that he swore
allegiance ...
- 9. They thundered and ...
- 10. Lo, Satan has brought
together ...
- 11. Mountains shift, yet
you shouldn't ...
- 12. Does your brother love
us? ...
- 13. You are a woman's army
...
- 14. Your land is close to
the sea ...
- 15. By God, even if I had
found that ...
- 16. My word is the
guarantee of my promise ...
- 17. The most detestable of
creatures ...
- 18. When a case is put
before ...
- 19. What know ye what is
against me ... ?
- 20. Indeed, if you could
see ...
- 21. Your ultimate goal is
before you ...
- 22. Lo, Satan has begun
encouraging ...
- 23. Verily, the command
descends ...
- 24. By my life, ...
- 25. It is only Kufah ...
- 26. Verily, God sent
Muhammad (S) ...
- 27. Indeed, jihad is one
of the doors of Paradise ...
- 28. Surely, the world has
turned its back ...
- 29. O people, who are
together with their bodies, but ...
- 30. If I had ordered it,
...
- 31. Don't meet Talhah ...
- 32. O people, we have been
born in ...
- 33. Verily, God sent
Muhammad (S) ...
- 34. Woe to you! I am tired
of rebuking you ...
- 35. Praise belongs to God,
even though ...
- 36. I warn you ...
- 37. I took up the task ...
- 38. Doubt is called doubt
because ...
- 39. I am faced with such
who do not obey ...
- 40. A true statement to
which a false meaning ...
- 41. O people, loyalty and
truthfulness are twins ...
- 42. O people, what I fear
most for you ...
- 43. My preparations for
war with the Syrians ...
- 44. May God disgrace
Masqalah, ...
- 45. Praise belongs to God,
Whose mercy ...
- 46. My God, I seek Thy
refuge ...
- 47. 0 Kufah! It is as if I
see you ...
- 48. Praise belongs to God
when night ...
- 49. Praise belongs to God,
Who knows the inside ...
- 50. Verily, the source of
misguidance lies in ...
- 51. They ask you to feed
them ...
- 52. Lo, the world has ...
- 53. Rush towards me ...
- 54. As to your statement
that ...
- 55. In the company of the
Prophet (S)
- 56. Soon after me, a man
...
- 57. The sand-storms struck
you ...
- 58. The place they shall
fall ...
- 59. Certainly not. By God,
they are yet sperm ...
- 60. Do not fight the
Khawarij after me ...
- 61. There is a protective
shield of God ...
- 62. Lo, this world is a
place ...
- 63. Fear God, O servants
of God! ...
- 64. Praise belongs to God
...
- 65. O Muslims! ...
- 66. Why didn't you argue
...
- 67. I had intended to make
Hashim ...
- 68. How long shall I
accord to you the consideration ...
- 69. I fell asleep as I sat
...
- 70. O people of Iraq ...
- 71. My God, Who art the
spreader ...
- 72. Didn't he give me his
allegiance after ...
- 73. You know for certain
that ...
- 74. Didn't the knowledge
of Banu Umayyah ...
- 75. May God have mercy
upon him who ...
- 76. The Banu Umayyah ...
- 77. My God, forgive me ...
- 78. Do you claim that ...
- 79. O people, women are
...
- 80. O people, zuhd lies in
...
- 81. How should I describe
this house ...
- 82. Praise belongs to God,
Who is high ...
- 83. How strange of the son
of al-Nabighah ...
- 84. I bear witness that
there is no god except Allah ...
- 85. He knows the secrets
...
- 86. O servants of God, the
most beloved of God's ...
- 87. God didn't crush any
tyrant before ...
- 88. He sent him after a
period ...
- 89. Praise belongs to God,
Who is ...
- 90. Praise belongs to God,
Who is not enriched by ...
- 91. Leave me and find
someone else ...
- 92. I have pulled out the
eyes of ...
- 93. Blessed is God, who is
not attained by ...
- 94. He sent him when the
people ...
- 95. Praise belongs to God,
Who is the First ...
- 96. If He gives respite to
the oppressor ...
- 97. By God, they will
continue ...
- 98. We praise Him ...
- 99. Praise be to God, who
spreads ...
- 100. Praise be to God, the
First ...
- 101. On that day God will
collect ...
- 102. O people, look at the
world ...
- 103. God Almighty sent
Muhammad ...
- 104. Until God sent
Muhammad ...
- 105. Praise belongs to
God, Who laid down ...
- 106. I have seen ...
- 107. Praise belongs to
God, Who is Manifest ...
- 108. Everything humbles
itself ...
- 109. The best means by
which ...
- 110. I warn you ...
- 111. Do you feel it when
he enters ...
- 112. I warn you ...
- 113. Praise belongs to
God, Who ...
- 114. My God, our hands
have ...
- 115. He sent him as a
caller unto ...
- 116. You spent no wealth
...
- 117. You are supporters of
the truth ...
- 118. What is wrong with
you? ...
- 119. By God, I have known
...
- 120. This is the
punishment ...
- 121. Were all of you with
us ...
- 122. Whoever among you ...
- 123. Place the armoured at
the fore ...
- 124. We did not make
persons arbiters ...
- 125. Do you ask me to seek
...
- 126. If you refuse to stop
claiming ...
- 127. O Ahnaf, ...
- 128. O servants of God,
...
- 129. O Abu Dharr, ...
- 130. O those of differing
minds ...
- 131. We praise Him for
whatever ...
- 132. The world and the
Hereafter have ...
- 133. God has taken upon
Himself ...
- 134. O son of the accursed
...
- 135. Your allegiance ...
- 136. By God, they did not
...
- 137. He will made desires
conform to ...
- 138. No one overtook me
...
- 139. Verily, it befits
those who are saved ...
- 140. O people, one who
knows his brother ...
- 141. One who lays goodness
where it is not ...
- 142. Lo, the earth which
bears you ...
- 143. God sent His apostles
...
- 144. O people, you are in
this world ...
- 145. The victory in this
matter ...
- 146. God sent Muhammad (S)
...
- 147. Each of the two ...
- 148. O people, every man
shall meet ...
- 149. They took to the
right and to the left ...
- 150. I praise God and seek
His help ...
- 151. Praise is God's, Who
proves ...
- 152. He has been allowed a
respite ...
- 153. The enlightened heart
...
- 154. Praise belongs to
God, Whom epithets ...
- 155. Whoever can ...
- 156. Praise belongs to
God, Who has made ...
- 157. He sent him at a time
...
- 158. I was a goodly
neighbour unto you ...
- 159. His command is
judicious and wise ...
- 160. He sent him with a
brilliant light ...
- 161. O brother of Banu
Asad, ...
- 162. Praise belongs to
God, the Creator ...
- 163. The people are behind
me ...
- 164. He originated them
...
- 165. The young among you
...
- 166. God Almighty sent
down the Book ...
- 167. O brothers, I am not
ignorant of ...
- 168. Verily, God sent the
Prophet ...
- 169. Do you see, those who
have sent you ...
- 170. O God, the Lord of
the roof raised high ...
- 171. Praise belongs to
God, from Whom one heaven ...
- 172. The trustee of His
revelations, ...
- 173. As for me, I am not
intimidated by war ...
- 174. O negligent people,
...
- 175. Draw benefit from
God's ...
- 176. You have all agreed
to select ...
- 177. An engagement does
not ...
- 178. Eyes perceive Him
not, ...
- 179. I praise God for what
He has ordained ...
- 180. Away with them ...
- 181. Praise belongs to
God, towards Whom ...
- 182. Praise belongs to
God, Who is known ...
- 183. Keep silent. May God
disgrace you ...
- 184. Praise belongs to God
Whom senses cannot perceive ...
- 185. He who attributes to
Him states ...
- 186. May my father and my
mother ...
- 187. O people, I advise
you to fear God ...
- 188. One kind of faith is
one which is fixed ...
- 189. I praise Him in
gratitude for His ...
- 190. Praise belongs to God
Who has ...
- 191. Praise belongs to God
Who has donned ...
- 192. God Almighty created
the creatures ...
- 193. We praise Him for
succouring ...
- 194. Praise belongs to
God, Who has made manifest ...
- 195. He sent him (the
Prophet) when there wasn't ...
- 196. Those Companions of
Muhammad (S) ...
- 197. He knows the criest
of the beasts in wilderness ...
- 198. Commit yourselves to
prayer ...
- 199. By God, Mu`awiyah is
not smarter than me ...
- 200. O people, don't be
averse to ...
- 201. O Messenger of God,
may peace be upon you ...
- 202. O people, verily this
world is a ...
- 203. May God's mercy be
upon you, procure provision ...
- 204. Addressed to Talhah
and al-Zubayr ...
- 205. I dislike that you
should be abusers ...
- 206. Hold back this young
man ...
- 207. O people, matters
between you and me ...
- 208. What will you do with
this spacious house ...
- 209. Verily, that which is
in the people's hands ...
- 210. It was through the
sway of His power ...
- 211. My God, whoever of
Thy servants ...
- 212. Praise belongs to
God, Who is above ...
- 213. I bear witness that
He is First ...
- 214. Praise belongs to
God, Who ...
- 215. God Almighty has
given me a right ...
- 216. My God, I beseech
Thee to avenge Quraysh ...
- 217. Abu Muhammad lies a
stranger ...
- 218. He revived his
intellect ...
- 219. How far-fetched are
his hopes ...
- 220. Indeed, God Almighty
has made His remembrance ...
- 221. The addressee is
without any excuse ...
- 222. By God, if I were to
spend a night on the thorns
- 223. My God, save my face
...
- 224. It is a house
surrounded by tribulations ...
- 225. My God, Thou art the
friendliest of the friendly ...
- 226. So and so did good
for God's sake ...
- 227. You drew my hand and
I held it back ...
- 228. Verily, God-fearing
is the key ...
- 229. He discharged
whatever he was commanded to do ...
- 230. The property is
neither mine nor yours ...
- 231. Beware that the
tongue is a part ...
- 232. The difference
between them ...
- 233. My father and my
mother ...
- 234. I began following ...
- 235. Act while there is
respite ...
- 236. About the two
arbitrators ...
- 237. They are life for
knowledge ...
- 238. O lbn-`Abbas ...
- 239. God requires you to
be grateful ...
Letters
- Download Letters
1-79 with embedded font that preserves special transliterated characters (MS Word
6.0). Or, view the letters below.
- To the
people of Kufa before proceeding for the Battle of Jamal.
- To the
people of Kufa after the conquest of Basra.
- To the
Qadhi of Kufa, Shurayh b. Haarith when he purchased a costly house.
- To one
of the commanders of his army.
- To the
hypocrite Ash'ath bin Qays when he usurped public funds.
- To
Mu'awiya on his (Ali's) right to the caliphate.
- To
Mu'awiya, on receiving letters from him based on hypocritical advice and false
accusations.
- Jarir
bin Abdullah Bajali was sent to Damascus. He was carrying a letter for Mu'awiya. Some
delay occurred in his return. Imam Ali (a) felt anxious about his safety and wrote the
following letter to him.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- Part
of instructions to his marshal when Imam Ali (a) sent him to a battle.
- When
Imam Ali (a) sent an expedition of 3000 soldiers under Ma'qil bin Qays Riyahi against the
Syrians, he issued the following instructions.
- Instructions
to two of his commanders.
- To
his soldiers before the Battle of Siffin.
- His
invocation to Allah whenever he faced an enemy.
- His
advice to his followers during a battle.
- A
reply to a letter of Mu'awiya.
- When
Abdullah bin Abbas was the Governor of Basra, Imam Ali (a) wrote the following letter to
him. The cause of this letter was the behaviour of Ibn Abbas towards the clan of Bani
Tamim. Ibn Abbas hated them because some of them had sided with Talha and Zubayr in the
Battle of Jamal and therefore, he had on occasions treated them scornfully. They reported
this matter to Imam Ali (a) requesting that the whole clan should not be treated badly
because of the folly of a few. This letter shows what a kind rule it was that Imam Ali (a)
wanted to introduce.
- A
letter to one of his governors. It speaks volumes about the ways of Divine Rule. It shows
how Imam Ali (a) was training the Muslims to behave tolerantly towards other religions,
how minority was to be treated and what should those who hold a different creed, expect of
a Muslim ruler.
- To
Ziyad ibn Abih, who had been appointed as the Commissioner of Basra by Abdullah bin Abbas.
- Another
letter to Ziyad ibn Abih.
- An
advice to Abdullah b. Abbas, which the latter claimed, that except for the advice of the
Holy Prophet (s), no advice had been so beneficial to him as this.
- Instructions
to his family a little before his martyrdom.
- His
Will in which he has left instructions as to how to treat his property and estate. It was
written after his return from the Battle of Siffin.
- Directions
to assessors and collectors of Zakat.
- His
instructions to Zakat collectors.
- Instructions
to Muhammad b. Abu Bakr when he appointed him as the Governor of Egypt.
- A
famous reply to the letter of Mu'awiya. It throws ample light on many phases of the
history of Islam from the time of its dawn up to the time of Imam Ali (a).
- To
the people of Basra.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- Advice
to one of his sons after returning from the Battle of Siffin. Some historians consider him
to be Imam Hasan (a) while others are of the opinion that he was Muhammad Hanafiya. He
wrote them in the form of a will. They deal with almost every aspect of life which goes a
long way to make a man successful in life - brave, humane, generous, virtuous and pious.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- To
Qutham b. Abbas, the brother of Abdullah b. Abbas, who was the Governor of Imam Ali (a) in
the province of Hijaz.
- Muhammad,
son of Abu Bakr (the 1st caliph) was one of the favourite disciples and companions of Imam
Ali (a). Imam Ali (a) had treated and trained him like his own son and had appointed him
as the Governor of Egypt. Later on Imam Ali (a) called him back from Egypt and sent Maalik
Ashtar as the Governor. Muhammad thought that he was deposed and felt sad about it. When
Imam Ali (a) came to know of this he wrote the following letter to him.
- When
Muhammad bin Abi Bakr was killed in Egypt by the guerrillas of Mu'awiya through disloyalty
of his (Muhammad's) own companions and officers, Imam Ali (a) felt sad and wrote the
following letter to Abdullah b. Abbas.
- To
his brother Aqil. It so happened that Zahaak bin Qays Fahri was sent to Makkah by Mu'awiya
with a force of guerrillas to ravage the city. Imam Ali (a) had sent Hujr bin Adi Kindi to
defend the city of Makkah. Hujr defeated Zahaak. Aqil at that time was in Makkah. He wrote
to Imam Ali (a) offering his voluntary services saying that the Quraysh were not sincerely
serving the cause of Islam and were bent upon the enmity of Imam Ali (a). In reply Imam
Ali (a) wrote this letter.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- To
the people of Egypt, telling them about Maalik when Imam Ali (a) appointed him as their
Governor.
- To
Amr bin Aas.
- To a
commissioner of a province. It could not be ascertained as to whom it was addressed.
- To a
Governor who left Imam Ali (a) and ran away with Public Treasury, this man was a cousin of
Imam Ali (a) and was his confidant. Some historians say that he was Abdullah b. Abbas who
was Imam's cousin and had once behaved in this way.
- To
Umar bin Abi Salama Mukhzumi when Imam Ali (a) called him back from the Governorship of
Bahrain and appointed Nu'man bin Ajlan Zuraqi in his place.
- To
Masqala bin Hubayra al-Shaybani who was the governor of Ardshir Khurra (Iran).
- To
Ziyad ibn Abih when Imam Ali (a) came to know that Mu'awiya was secretly corresponding
with Ziyad, inviting him to leave the side of Imam Ali (a) and to join him, offering him
the bribe of being declared the son of Abu Sufyan.
- To
Uthman bin Hunayf, the Governor of Basra, when he attended a feast given by a rich man of
Basra.
- To
one of his governors.
- To
Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a) after he was wounded by Abd al-Rahman b. Muljam whilst
offered the morning prayers in the mosque of Kufa.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- A
circular to the chiefs of his army.
- To
the collectors of taxes and revenues.
- A
circular about prayers to the governors of all the provinces.
- An
order to Maalik al-Ashtar.
- To
Talha and Zubayr (sent to them through Imran bin Hasin Khuza'i, a pious companion of the
Holy Prophet (s)).
- To
Mu'awiya.
- Instructions
to Shuray bin Hani when he was appointed as the commanding officer of the vanguard of his
army, which was marching towards Syria.
- To
the people of Kufa while leaving Madina for Basra. It is a wonderful epistle. It invites
people to judge his intentions and actions.
- To
the people of various provinces, giving them the causes of the Battle of Siffin.
- To
Aswad bin Qatiba, the Governor of Hulwan.
- A
circular sent to those governors and State officers, through whose territory the armies of
Imam Ali (a) were to pass.
- To
Kumayl bin Ziyad Nakha'i, expressing his displeasure and rebuking him in leaving his
province unguarded and allowing the army of the enemy to enter and carry on loot. He was
the Governor of Hayit and had not properly defended the province against the Syrian
guerrillas. After their attack and loot he wanted permission of Imam Ali (a) to take
revenge upon the Syrian province of Kirkisiya. Imam Ali (a) replied to him in the
following letter.
- To
the Egyptians. The letter was handed over to Maalik bin Haarith Ashtar to take with him
when he was appointed as the Governor of that province.
- To
the Abdullah bin Qays, better known in history as Abu Musa Ash'ari, for his weak-faith and
double-standards.
- A
reply to Mu'awiya's letter.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- To
Abdullah b. Abbas. Ibn Abbas said that except the advice and sayings of the Holy Prophet
(s) no other advice benefited him more than this.
- To
Qutham b. Abbas (brother of Abdullah b. Abbas), who was the Governor of Makkah.
- To
Salman al-Farsi, before his (Ali's) caliphate.
- To
Harith Hamdani.
- To
Suhayl b. Hunayf, the Governor of Madina (and brother of Uthman b. Hunayf) about some
Madinites who had left him and gone over to Mu'awiya.
- To
Munzir b. Jarud Abdi when he misappropriated something which he had been entrusted with.
- To
Abdullah b. Abbas.
- To
Mu'awiya.
- A
treaty which Imam Ali (a) has worded for the Bani Rabi'a tribe and the Yemenites to agree
upon.
- After
the Muslims took oath of allegiance to Imam Ali (a), he wrote the following letter to
Mu'awiya.
- Instructions
to Abdullah b. Abbas when he sent him as his representative to Basra.
- Instructions
to Abdullah b. Abbas when he sent him for discussions with the Kharijites.
- Abu
Musa Ash'ari (Abdullah b. Qays) wrote a letter to Imam Ali (a) from the place where the
decision of the arbitration (after Siffin) took place. Imam Ali (a) wrote to him the
following letter in reply.
- An
order issued to his generals when he took over rulership of the Muslim State.
Sayings
Sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.)
|