Sermons from Nahjul Balagha

                The basis of the occurrence of evils are those desires which are acted upon and the orders that are innovated. They are against the Book of Alláh. People co-operate with each other about them even though it is against the Religion of Alláh. If wrong had been pure and unmixed it would not be […]

                Praise be to Alláh Who lies inside all hidden things, and towards Whom all open things guide. He cannot be seen by the eye of an onlooker, but the eye which does not see Him cannot deny Him while the mind that proves His existence cannot perceive Him. He is so high in sublimity

                Praise is due to Alláh when night spreads and darkens, and praise be to Alláh whenever the star shines and sets. And praise be to Alláh whose bounty never misses and whose favours cannot be repaid.                 Well, I have sent forward my vanguard (1) and have ordered them to remain in camp on

                O’ Kúfah, as though I see you being drawn like the tanned leather of `Uká~í (1) in the market, you are being scraped by calamities and being ridden by severe troubles. I certainly (2) know that if any tyrant intends evil for you Alláh will afflict him with worry and fling him with a

                My Alláh, I seek Thy protection from the hardships of journey, from the grief of returning and from the scene of devastation of property and men. O’ Alláh, Thou art the companion in journey and Thou art one who is left behind for (protection of the) family. None except Thee can join these two

                Praise is due to Alláh from Whose mercy no one loses hope, from Whose bounty no one is deprived, from Whose forgiveness no one is disappointed and for Whose worship no one is too high. His mercy never ceases and His bounty is never missed.                 This world is a place for which destruction

When Masqalah (1) ibn Hubayrah ash-Shaybáni fled to Mu`áwiyah because he had purchased some prisoners of Banú Nájiyah from an executive of Amír al-mu’minín, but when he demanded the price the latter avoided and ran to Syria, Amír al-mu’minín said:                 Alláh may be bad to Masqalah. He acted like the noble but fled away

After Amír al-mu’minín had sent Jarír ibn `Abdilláh al-Bajalí to Mu`áwiyah (for securing his allegiance) some of his companions suggested preparation to fight with him then he said:                 My preparation for war with the people of Syria (ash-Shám) while Jarír ibn `Abdilláh al-Bajalí is still there would be closing the door for Syria and

                O’ people what I fear most about you are two things – acting according to desires and extending of hopes. As regards acting according to desires, this prevents from truth; and as regards extending of hopes, it makes one forget the next world. You should know this world is moving rapidly and nothing has

                O’ people! Surely fulfilment of pledge is the twin of truth. I do not know a better shield (against the assaults of sin) than it. One who realises the reality of return (to the next world) never betrays. We are in a period when most of the people regard betrayal as wisdom. In these