Sermon 008 – Said about az-Zubayr at a time for which it was appropriate
He asserts that he swore allegiance to me with his hand but did not swear with his heart. (1) So he does admit allegiance. As regards his claiming it otherwise than with his heart he should come forward with a clear argument for it. Otherwise, he should return to wherefrom he has gone out. (2) […]
Nahjul Balagha Letter 005 – Ash’ath bin Qays was a hypocrite and time-sever. For sometime he attached himself to Imam Ali (a) pretending to be his sincere follower.
The ulterior motive behind this was to amass wealth and to grasp power. Imam Ali (a) had appointed him as the Governor of Azarbaijan. He started collecting and procuring wealth by every means possible. When this was reported to Imam Ali (a), he wrote the following letter to Ash’ath: On receipt of this letter he […]
Sermon 006 – Delivered on being advised not to chase Talhah ibn `Ubaydilláh and az-Zubayr ibn al-`Awwám for fighting. [1]
By Alláh I shall not be like the badger, which feigns sleep on continuous (sound of) stone-throwing till he who is in search of it finds it or he who is on the look out for it overpowers it. Rather, I shall ever strike the deviators from truth with the help of those who […]
Sermon 007 – About the hypocrites
They (1) have made Satan the master of their affairs, and he has taken them as partners. He has laid eggs and hatched them in their bosoms. He creeps and crawls in their laps. He sees through their eyes, and speaks with their tongues. In this way he has led them to sinfulness and […]
Sermon 004 – Amír al-mu’minín’s far-sightedness and his staunch conviction in Belief
Through us you got guidance in the darkness and secured high position, and through us you got out of the gloomy night. The ears which do not listen to the cries may become deaf. How can one who remained deaf to the loud cries (of the Qur’án and the Prophet) listen to (my) feeble voice. […]
Sermon 018 – Amír al-mu’minín said in disparagement of the differences of view among the theologians.
When (1) a problem is put before anyone of them he passes judgement on it from his imagination. When exactly the same problem is placed before another of them he passes an opposite verdict. Then these judges go to the chief who had appointed them and he confirms all the verdicts, although their Alláh […]
Sermon 005 – Delivered when the Holy Prophet died and `Abbás ibn `Abd al-Muttalib and Abú Sufyán ibn Harb offered to pay allegiance to Amír al-mu’minín for the Caliphate
O’ People! (1) Steer clear through the waves of mischief by boats of deliverance, turn away from the path of dissension and put off the crowns of pride. Prosperous is one who rises with wings (i.e. when he has power) or else he remains peaceful and others enjoy ease. It (i.e. the aspiration for […]
Sermon 003 – Known as the Sermon of ash-Shiqshiqiyyah
Beware! By Alláh the son of Abú Quháfah (Abú Bakr)(2) dressed himself with it (the caliphate) and he certainly knew that my position in relation to it was the same as the position of the axis in relation to the hand-mill. The flood water flows down from me and the bird cannot fly upto me. […]
Sermon 001 – In this sermon he recalls the creation of Earth and Sky and the birth of Adam.
Praise is due to Alláh whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose bounties cannot be counted by calculators and whose claim (to obedience) cannot be satisfied by those who attempt to do so, whom the height of intellectual courage cannot appreciate, and the divings of understanding cannot reach; He for whose description no limit […]
Sermon 002 – Delivered on return from Siffín Arabia before proclamation of Prophethood
I praise Alláh seeking completion of His Blessing, submitting to His Glory and expecting safety from committing His sins. I invoke His help being in need of His Sufficiency (of protection). He whom He guides does not get astray, He with whom He is hostile gets no protection. He whom He supports does not […]