Sermons from Nahjul Balagha

                Do not fight(1) the Khárijites after me, because one who seeks right but does not find it, is not like one who seeks wrong and finds it.                 as-Sayyid ar-Radí says: Amír al-mu’minín means Mu`áwiyah and his men.  (1).        The reason for stopping people from fighting the Khárijites was that Amír al-mu’minín was clearly […]

                By Alláh, no, not yet. They still exist in the loins of men and wombs of women. Whenever a chief would appear from among them, he would be cut down till the last of them would turn thieves and robbers. (1) (1)           This prophecy of Amír al-mu’minín also proved true word by word. Every

When Amír al-mu’minín showed his intention to fight the Khárijites he was told that they had crossed the bridge of Nahrawán and gone over to the other side. Amír al-mu’minín said:                 Their falling place is on this side of the river. By Alláh, not even ten of them will survive while from your side

                Storm may overtake you while there may be none to prick you (for reforms). Shall I be witness to my becoming heretic after acceptance of Faith and fighting in the company of the Prophet?! “In that case I shall be misguided and I shall not be on the right path.” (Qur’án, 6:56). So you

                Soon after me there would be put on you a man with a broad mouth and a big belly. He would swallow whatever he gets and would crave for what he does not get. You should kill him but (I know) you would not kill him. He would command you to abuse me and

In the company of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) we used to fight our parents, sons, brothers and uncles, and this continued us in our faith, in submission, in our following the right path, in endurance over the pangs of pain and in our fight against the enemy. A man from our side and one

Well, as for your idea whether this (delay) is due to my unwillingness for death, then by Alláh I do not care whether I proceed towards death or death advances towards me. As for your impression that it may be due to my misgivings about the people of Syria (ash-Sham) ,well by Alláh, I did

                They leapt upon me as the camels leap upon each other on their arrival for drinking water, having been let loose after unfastening of their four legs till I thought they would either kill me or kill one another in front of me. I thought over this matter in and out to the extent

(This sermon has already appeared earlier but due to the difference between the two versions we have quoted it again here). Its subject is the downfall of the world and reward and punishment in the next world.                 Beware, the world is wrapping itself up and has announced its departure. Its known things have become

When in Siffín the men of Mu`áwiyah overpowered the men of Amír al-mu’minín and occupied the bank of River Euphrates and prevented them from taking its water, Amír al-mu’minín said:                 They(1) are asking you morsels of battle. So either you remain in ignominy and the lowest position or drench your swords with blood and