The words and logic of Imam Ali\u2019s\n(PBUH) Nahj al-Balaghah, like its main source the Holy Quran, remains fresh and\nvibrant for the current world despite the passage of various political and\nmoral ideologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing that has been widely\ndiscussed among those studying the Nahjul Balagha \u2013 including Shia, Sunni, and\neven Christian scholars is the strong attraction of Nahj al-Balaghah in speech,\nand the ways it has impressed them. It is this attraction that a group of\nscholars focused their work on interpreting the Nahj al-Balaghah, and compiling\nbooks and articles about the characteristic of Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what really lies in this\nappeal? Perhaps the following can answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. \nIn the Nahj al-Balaghah there is a constant\nunderstanding towards lower class and oppressed people; there is numerous\ndiscussions towards fighting oppression and tyrannical injustices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a letter to Malik Ashtar, Imam Ali\n(PBUH) used the clearest phrases to inform him of the most comprehensive\nstrategies of ruling. In discussions\nabout the seven social groups, including their rights and responsibilities, the\ntone is continued with a gentle\ncalmness, however as it comes to the oppressed group of the society the tone\nchanges to a serious higher pitched one, suggesting a loud shout: \u201cAllah,\nAllah! O Malik Ashtar\u2026.about the lower class, the depraved, the oppressed, the\nneedy, the unable\u2026.\u201d(1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then commanded him to oversee the\nIslamic country personally without the intervention of others; that is to check\non them frequently and solve or work on people\u2019s problems towards justice. And\nnot only in this letter, but in many other sermons and letters Amir al-Mu\u2019minin\n(PBUH) has strongly advised about this matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. \nIn the area of man\u2019s freedom from the captivity of\ndesire, one which will lead him towards his doom, and the rule of tyrants and\nthe upper class, Imam Ali (PBUH) warns about the importance of returning the\nspirit of freedom, equality, and justice, that there should be no hesitance in\nthis area. He declares that he has\naccepted the governorship for these matters (2) and he who thinks Ali ibn Abu\nTalib (PBUH) is willing to negotiate on these issues has completely made\nmistake(3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. \nTopics discussed in the Nahj al-Balaghah are\ncomprehensive and exact, as though the speaker has devoted his entire life to\nthe research of the matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amir al-Mu\u2019minin\u2019s sermon about\nmonotheism begins with describing the names (Asma\u2019) and characteristics (Sifat)\nof Allah (SWT), thereby revealing the face of a great divine philosopher in the\neyes of reader, one which devoted his entire life towards studying\nmonotheism. The Imam does not aim to\nmanifest Allah (SWT), nor does he cancel out the learning of Allah\u2019s\nattributes. Instead he introduces Allah (SWT) in a manner that a person can see\nAllah (SWT) with his\/her heart in all places, in the heavens, the earth, and\nwithin him\/herself, such that his heart is filled with divine light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as we continue the Nahj\nal-Balaghah, we come upon the sermon of Jihad. \nHere we see a brave commander that has on the attire of war. He speaks\nof war strategies and techniques for his army in such a way that he spent his\nentire life dealing with war and the arts of fighting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we turn the pages of Nahj\nal-Balaghah, we see Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) in the position of the Ummah\u2019s\nleadership, teaching the laws of running a country to his subordinates,\nteaching the secrets and rise of civilizations, teaching the destinies of\noppressors, and teaching the path to attaining social, political, and military\npeace \u2013 all in the most mature terms, in such a way that one could say he did\nnot have any other focus than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We turn the pages once more, and we\nsee Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) on the seat of teaching ethics, morality, and\neducation. When he speaks of awakening\nsleeping souls, he speaks about death, the end of life, and the fate of\nprevious generations. His speech is so emotionally motivating for all attentive\nsouls, that it brings a painful, yet enjoyable awakening.(4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A devout man by the name of Hammam\nrequested a new lesson about the characteristics of the pious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Imam teaches him the\ncharacteristics of the pious in such depth, that one could say the Imam spent\nhis entire life teaching ethics and morality to people. The Imam teaches so far that Hammam faints\nafter hearing all he did. Indeed, the\nimpacts of such words have not been experienced in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The various scenes of Nahj\nal-Balaghah, each of which is exceptional are among the characteristics of this\ngreat book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the many interpretations of\nNahj al-Balaghah, and the works of great scholars, nonetheless, this book\ncontinues to need exploitation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The above is a\nselection taken from \u201cThe Message of the Imam\u201d, by Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website congratulates all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend, upon 13th of Rajab, the birthday\nanniversary of the Imam of eloquence and the leader of justice, and the first\nImam of Shiites, Amir al-Mu\u2019minin,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Letter 53 known as letter to Malik Ashtar<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Sermon 3, known as Shiqshiqieh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Letter 45, The letter to Uthman ibn Hunaif<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Sermons 109, 111, 113, and other sermons<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Sermon 184, known as Sermon of Muttaqin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The words and logic of Imam Ali\u2019s (PBUH) Nahj al-Balaghah, like its main source the Holy Quran, remains fresh and vibrant for the current world despite the passage of various political and moral ideologies. One thing that has been widely discussed among those studying the Nahjul Balagha \u2013 including Shia, Sunni, and even Christian scholars […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[63209,63207,63195],"class_list":["post-3994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-malek-ashtar","tag-nahjolbalaghe","tag-the-words-of-amir-al-muminin"],"yoast_head":"\n