Misplaced Pages

#421578

155-494: Nahj al-balagha is an eleventh-century collection of more than two-hundred sermons, nearly eighty letters, and almost five-hundred sayings, all attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib , who was the fourth Rashidun caliph ( r.  656–661 ) and the first Shia imam . The sermons and letters in Nahj al-balagha offer a commentary on the political career of Ali, and have served as an ideological basis for Islamic governance. In particular,

310-801: A raid on her house during the succession crisis. The descendants of Hasan and Husayn are known as the Hasanids and the Husaynids , respectively. As the progeny of Muhammad, they are honored in Muslim communities by nobility titles such as sharif and sayyid . Ali and Fatima also had two daughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum . After Fatima's death in 632, Ali remarried multiple times and had more children, including Muhammad al-Awsat and Abbas ibn Ali . In his life, Ali fathered seventeen daughters, and eleven, fourteen, or eighteen sons, among whom, Hasan, Husayn, and Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya played

465-455: A century ago." The need for academic research about the book, independent of its authenticity, is a view championed by the philosopher Henry Corbin ( d.  1978 ) and by Shah-Kazemi. The sermons and letters in Nahj al-balagha offer a commentary on the political career of Ali as the fourth Rashidun caliph, succeeding Uthman ( r.  644–656 ), Umar ( r.  634–644 ), and Abu Bakr ( r.  632–634 ), who established

620-616: A critical edition of Abu'l-Fida (أبو الفداء)'s Arabic geography, Taqwīm al-Buldān (تقويم البلدان) - "Locating the Lands" (1321). This was published in 1840. Between 1843 and 1846 he was sent on a mission by the French Government to catalogue important documents in the libraries of Algiers and Constantine . During this time he also served as an Interpreter of Arabic in the French African Army and in 1846 he

775-678: A failed arbitration process that alienated some of Ali's supporters. These formed the Kharijites , who later terrorized the public and were crushed by Ali in the Battle of Nahrawan in 658. Ali was assassinated in 661 by the Kharijite dissident Ibn Muljam , which paved the way for Mu'awiya to seize power and found the dynastic Umayyad Caliphate . Ali is revered for his courage, honesty, unbending devotion to Islam, magnanimity, and equal treatment of all Muslims. For his admirers, he has thus become

930-405: A few of which are given below. The rest of the aphorisms below are quoted from Nahj al-balagha by different authors. Nahj al-balagha has been translated from Arabic into many languages. A few of these translations are listed below: Ali Ali ibn Abi Talib ( Arabic : عَلِيُّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب , romanized :  ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ; c.  600–661  CE )

1085-683: A group of the Ansar (Medinan natives, lit.   ' helpers ' ) gathered at the Saqifa to discuss the future of Muslims or to retake control of their city, Medina. Abu Bakr and Umar were among the few representatives of the Muhajirun (Meccan converts, lit.   ' migrants ' ) at the Saqifa. The case of Ali was unsuccessfully brought up at the Saqifa in his absence, and, ultimately, those present there appointed Abu Bakr to leadership after

1240-541: A hadith about prophetic inheritance , the authenticity of which has been doubted partly because it contradicts Quranic injunctions. In the absence of popular support, Ali eventually accepted the temporal rule of Abu Bakr, probably for the sake of Muslim unity. In particular, Ali turned down proposals to forcefully pursue the caliphate. He nevertheless viewed himself as the most qualified candidate for leadership by virtue of his merits and his kinship with Muhammad. Evidence suggests that Ali further considered himself as

1395-462: A heated debate that is said to have become violent. Clan rivalries at the Saqifa played a key role in favor of Abu Bakr, and the outcome may have been different in a broad council ( shura ) with Ali as a candidate. In particular, the Quraysh tradition of hereditary succession strongly favored Ali, even though his youth weakened his case. By contrast, the succession (caliphate) of Abu Bakr

1550-511: A historical role. Descendants of Ali are known as the Alids . Mu'awiya succeeded Ali in 661 and founded the dynastic Umayyad Caliphate, during which Alids were severely persecuted. After Ali, his followers ( shi'a ) recognized his eldest son Hasan as their imam. When he died in 670, likely poisoned at the instigation of Mu'awiya, the Shia community followed Hasan's younger brother Husayn, who

1705-428: A mere statement of friendship and rapport. When Muhammad died in the same year, a group of Muslims met in the absence of Ali and appointed Abu Bakr ( r.  632–634 ) as their leader. Ali later relinquished his claims to leadership and resigned from public life during the reigns of Abu Bakr and his successor, Umar ( r.  634–644 ). Even though his advice was occasionally sought, the conflicts between Ali and

SECTION 10

#1732765879422

1860-463: A new, much smaller, Syria campaign. But he postponed the expedition, and instead marched to Nahrawan with his army, when he learned that the Kharijites were interrogating and executing civilians. They killed many, apparently not even sparing women. Ali convinced many of the Kharijites to separate from their army, leaving about 1,500–1,800, or 2,800, out of about 4,000 fighters. The rest of

2015-569: A pact of brotherhood with him. Ali served as Muhammad's secretary and deputy in this period, and was the flag bearer of his army. Numerous sayings of Muhammad praise Ali, the most controversial of which was uttered in 632 at the Ghadir Khumm , "Whoever I am his mawla , this Ali is his mawla ." The interpretation of the polysemous Arabic word mawla is disputed: For Shia Muslims , Muhammad thus invested Ali with his religious and political authority, while Sunni Muslims view this as

2170-468: A peace treaty with Muhammad. The envoy also debated with Muhammad the nature of Jesus , human or divine. Linked to this episode is verse 3:61 of the Quran, which instructs Muhammad to challenge his opponents to mubahala ( lit.   ' mutual cursing ' ), perhaps when their debate had reached a deadlock. Even though the delegation ultimately withdrew from the challenge, Muhammad appeared for

2325-567: A pejorative by his enemies. William McGuckin de Slane William McGuckin (also Mac Guckin and MacGuckin ), known as Baron de Slane ( Belfast , Ireland, 12 August 1801 – Paris, France, 4 August 1878) was an Irish orientalist. He became a French national on 31 December 1838. and held the post of the Principal Interpreter of Arabic of the French Army from 1 September 1846 until his retirement on 28 March 1872. He

2480-454: A portion from your public funds, and a portion of the produce of what is taken as booty by the Muslims in every region; for those who are furthest have the same rights as those nearest. Apportion a part of your time to those who have special needs, making yourself free to attend to them personally, sitting with them in a public assembly with all due humility before God, your Creator. Dominate

2635-563: A renowned Shia scholar who lived over three hundred years after Ali. A poet of some merit, al-Radi came from a distinguished Shia family in Baghdad and had connections to the Buyids , the Shia dynasty that ruled the area at the time. His intentions in compiling the book are described as "literary, ethical, and spiritual," and he does not provide isnad s , that is, chains of transmission for his texts. In view of its sometimes sensitive content,

2790-413: A restraining influence on Uthman. Some supporters of Ali were part of the opposition movement, joined in their efforts by Talha and Zubayr, both senior companions of Muhammad, and by his widow Aisha . Among such supporters of Ali were Malik al-Ashtar and other religiously learned qurra ( lit.   ' Quran readers ' ). These supporters wanted to see Ali as the next caliph but there

2945-475: A second time when they intercepted an official letter ordering their punishment. They demanded the caliph's abdication but he refused and maintained his innocence about the letter, for which Marwan is often blamed in the early sources. Ali also sided with Uthman, but the caliph apparently accused him about the letter. This is probably when Ali refused to further intercede for Uthman, who was assassinated soon afterward by Egyptian rebels. Ali played no role in

3100-541: A similar religious authority in the Quran as the latter. In Medina, Ali acted as Muhammad's secretary and deputy. He was also one of the scribes tasked with committing the Quran to writing. In 628, Ali wrote down the terms of the Treaty of al-Hudaybiya , the peace treaty between Muslims and Meccan pagans. In 630, divine orders pushed Muhammad to replace Abu Bakr with Ali for a key Quranic announcement in Mecca, according to

3255-560: A solemn agreement, or if he obtains from you the right of protection ( dhimma ), then faithfully abide by what you have promised, and honorably uphold your obligation of protection. Then–O God, O God!–[pay particular attention to] the lowest class, those who have no wherewithal, the destitute, the needy, the afflicted, the disabled. Within this class are those who beg, and those whose state of poverty calls out for relief, but they do not beg. Be mindful of God in regard to their rights, for He has entrusted these rights to your care. Assign to them

SECTION 20

#1732765879422

3410-498: A state register ( diwan ) to distribute excess state revenues according to Islamic precedence, but Ali held that those revenues should be equally distributed among Muslims, following the practice of Muhammad and Abu Bakr. Ali was also absent from the strategic meeting of notables near Damascus . Ali did not participate in Umar's military expeditions, although he does not seem to have publicly objected to them. Umar likely opposed

3565-485: A successful boycott on the Banu Hashim, who eventually abandoned their support for Ali. Most likely, Ali himself did not pledge his allegiance to Abu Bakr until Fatima died within six months of her father, Muhammad. In Shia sources, the death (and miscarriage) of the young Fatima are attributed to an attack on her house to subdue Ali by the order of Abu Bakr. Sunnis categorically reject these reports, but there

3720-471: Is a major destination for Shia pilgrimage. The legacy of Ali is collected and studied in numerous books, the most famous of which is Nahj al-balagha . Ali was born in Mecca to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib and his wife Fatima bint Asad around 600 CE . His date of birth is possibly 13 Rajab , which is the occasion celebrated annually by Shia Muslims . Ali may have been the only person born inside

3875-499: Is a non-extant collection of prophetic sayings gathered by Ali. The book may have concerned matters of lawfulness ( halal ) and unlawfulness ( haram ), including a detailed penal code. Kitab Ali is also often linked to al-Jafr , which is said to contain the esoteric teachings of Muhammad for his household. Copies of Kitab Ali were likely available until the early eighth century, and parts of it have survived in later Shia and Sunni works. The Du'a' Kumayl

4030-515: Is a popular Shia supplication attributed to Ali, transmitted by his companion, Kumayl ibn Ziyad . Also attributed to Ali is Kitab al-Diyat on Islamic law, fully quoted in the Shia hadith collection Man la yahduruhu al-faqih . The judicial decisions and executive orders of Ali during his caliphate have also been recorded. Other extant works attributed to Ali are collected in Kitab al-Kafi and other Shia sources. The standard recitation of

4185-512: Is addressed to Uthman ibn Hunayf , the governor of Ali in Basra , who is said to have attended a lavish banquet, one which "rudely rebuffed the needy, and warmly embraced the wealthy," the letter adds. Do you [Uthman ibn Hunayf] not see that, as regards his world, your imam is satisfied with two simple pieces of cloth, and as regards his food, with two loaves of bread? Doubtless, this is beyond your capacity, but at least lend me your help in realizing

4340-467: Is evidence in their early sources that a mob entered Fatima's house by force and arrested Ali, an incident that Abu Bakr regretted on his deathbed. Likely a political move to weaken the Banu Hashim, Abu Bakr had earlier confiscated from Fatima the rich lands of Fadak, which she considered her inheritance (or a gift) from her father. The confiscation of Fadak is often justified in Sunni sources with

4495-432: Is his mawla ." Musnad Ibn Hanbal , a canonical Sunni source, adds that Muhammad repeated this statement three or four more times and that Umar congratulated Ali after the sermon, "You have now become the mawla of every faithful man and woman." Muhammad had earlier alerted Muslims about his impending death. Shia sources describe the event in greater detail, linking the announcement to verses 5:3 and 5:67 of

4650-575: Is known for publishing and translating a number of important medieval Arabic texts. De Slane was born in Belfast, the son of James McGuckin and Euphemia Hughes. After graduating from Trinity College Dublin , in 1822 he moved to Paris and studied oriental languages under Silvestre de Sacy . In 1828 he was admitted to the Société Asiatique , a French learned society . The society financed Joseph Toussaint Reinaud and de Slane to prepare

4805-437: Is no evidence that he coordinated with them. Ali also rejected the requests to lead the rebels, although he probably sympathized with their grievances. He was therefore considered a natural focus for the opposition, at least morally. As their grievances mounted, provincial dissidents poured into Medina in 656. The Egyptian opposition sought the advice of Ali, who urged them to negotiate with Uthman. Ali similarly asked

Nahj al-balagha - Misplaced Pages Continue

4960-541: Is often justified on the basis that he led some of the prayers in Muhammad's final days, but the veracity and political significance of such reports have been questioned. While the appointment of Abu Bakr was met with little resistance in Medina, the Banu Hashim and some companions of Muhammad soon gathered in protest at Ali's house. Among them were Zubayr and Muhammad's uncle Abbas . These protestors held Ali to be

5115-467: Is that Muhammad had already designated Ali as his successor. When tipped off about an assassination plot in 622, Muhammad escaped to Yathrib, now known as Medina , but Ali stayed behind as his decoy. That Ali risked his life for Muhammad is said to be the reason for the revelation of the Quranic passage, "But there is also a kind of man who gives his life away to please God." This emigration marks

5270-470: Is the Shia philosopher al-Bahrani ( d.  1299 ), who also authored a commentary of Nahj al-balagha . This lack of tawatur leaves the possibility that some sensitive words in the sermon were not uttered by Ali, according to the Islamic author Reza Shah-Kazemi . Alternatively, Jafri suggests that the sermon is authentic for it was also quoted in earlier works, including Kitab al-Mahasin by

5425-635: The qurra , were likely disillusioned with the arbitration process. Their slogan was, "No judgment but that of God," highlighting their rejection of arbitration (by men) in reference to the Quranic verse 49:9. Ali called this slogan a word of truth by which the seceders sought falsehood because he viewed the ruler as indispensable in the conduct of religion. The two arbitrators met together in Dumat al-Jandal , perhaps in February 658. There they reached

5580-788: The Abbasids , who toppled the Umayyads in 750. Some of the Alids thus revolted, while some established regional dynasties in remote areas. In particular, through imprisonment or surveillance, the Abbasids removed the imams of the Imamites from public life, and they are thought to be responsible for the imams' deaths. Mainstream Imamites were the antecedents of the Twelvers , who believe that their twelfth and final imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi ,

5735-551: The Euphrates River , numbering perhaps at 100,000 and 130,000, respectively. Many of Muhammad's companions were present in Ali's army, whereas Mu'awiya could only boast a handful. The two sides negotiated for a while, to no avail, after which the main battle took place from Wednesday, 26 July 657, until Friday or Saturday morning. Ali probably refrained from initiating hostilities, and later fought alongside his men on

5890-523: The Expedition of Tabuk in 630, during which Ali was left behind in charge of Medina. The hadith of the position is linked to this occasion, "Are you not content, Ali, to stand to me as Aaron stood to Moses , except that there will be no prophet after me?" This statement appears in the canonical Sunni sources Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim , among others. For the Shia, this hadith signifies Ali's usurped right to succeed Muhammad. In

6045-532: The Iraqi opposition to refrain from violence, which they heeded. He also repeatedly mediated between Uthman and the dissidents, to address their economical and political grievances. In particular, Ali negotiated and guaranteed the agreement that ended the first siege. He then convinced Uthman to publicly repent, but the caliph soon retracted his statement, possibly pressed by his secretary Marwan ibn al-Hakam . Egyptian rebels laid siege to Uthman's residence for

6200-566: The Ka'ba , the holiest site of Islam , which is located in Mecca. Ali's father was a leading member of the Banu Hashim , a clan within the Meccan tribe of Quraysh . Abu Talib also raised his nephew Muhammad after his parents died. Later, when Abu Talib fell into poverty, Ali was taken in at the age of about five and raised by Muhammad and his wife Khadija . Aged about eleven, Ali was among

6355-474: The assassination of Uthman in 656. When the Muslim community favored him, however, Ali probably no longer considered the caliphate as his right, but also as his duty. People swore allegiance to me, not by force or compulsion, but obediently and out of free will. Your allegiance to me [after the assassination of Uthman] was not without thinking ( falta ), nor is my and your position the same. I seek you for God's sake, but you seek me for your own benefits. Let

Nahj al-balagha - Misplaced Pages Continue

6510-588: The sovereignty of God and the essence of the Quran and the prophethood. Among them, the letter of life advices addressed to Hasan , the eldest son of Ali, has received considerable attention. Recognized as an example of the most eloquent Arabic , Nahj al-balagha is said to have significantly influenced the Arabic literature and rhetoric. The book has been the focus of numerous commentaries, translations, and studies by both Sunni and Shia authors. In particular,

6665-492: The 'partisans of God': "Verily the partisans of God, they are the successful ones!" (verse 58:22 of the Quran). A letter of life advices in Nahj al-balagha is addressed to Hasan , the eldest son of Ali. I admonish you to have constant awareness of God ( taqwa ), O my son, to abide by His commandments, to fill your heart with His remembrance ( dhikrihi ), and to cling to the rope He has held out to you [see verse 3:103 of

6820-524: The Abbasids, that is, the descendants of Muhammad's uncle Abbas. On the other hand, the Imamites were led by quiescent descendants of Husayn, through his only surviving son, Ali Zayn al-Abidin ( d.  713 ). An exception was Ali's son Zayd , who led a failed uprising against the Umayyads around 740. For his followers, known as the Zaydites , any learned Hasanid or Husaynid who rose against tyranny qualified as imam. Alids were also persecuted under

6975-564: The Battle of Khaybar has been attributed to his courage, where he is said to have torn off the iron gate of the enemy fort. Ali also defeated the pagan champion Amr ibn Abd Wudd in the Battle of the Trench in 627. According to al-Tabari, Muhammad reported hearing a divine voice at Uhud, "[There is] no sword but Zulfiqar [Ali's sword], [there is] no chivalrous youth ( fata ) but Ali." Ali and another companion, Zubayr , apparently oversaw

7130-400: The Battle of Nahrawan, Ali could not muster enough support for a second Syria campaign. Perhaps his soldiers were demoralized, or perhaps they were recalled by their tribal leaders, many of whom had been bribed and swayed by Mu'awiya. By contrast, Ali did not grant any financial favors to tribal chiefs as a matter of principle. At any rate, the secession of so many of the qurra and

7285-470: The Battle of Nahrawan. Ali died from his wounds about two days later, aged sixty-two or sixty-three. By some accounts, he had long known about his fate by premonition or through Muhammad. Before his death, Ali requested either a meticulous application of lex talionis to Ibn Muljam or his pardon. At any rate, Ibn Muljam was later executed by Hasan, the eldest son of Ali. Fearing that his body might be exhumed and profaned by his enemies, Ali's burial place

7440-493: The Ghadir Khumm as the investiture of Ali with Muhammad's religious and political authority, while Sunnis regard it as a statement about the rapport between the two men, or that Ali should execute Muhammad's will. Shias point to the extraordinary nature of the announcement, give Quranic and textual evidence, and argue to eliminate other meanings of mawla in the hadith except for authority, while Sunnis minimize

7595-486: The Islamicist Husain M. Jafri ( d.  2019 ) to confirm the attribution of Nahj al-balagha to Ali. Similarly, the orientalist Laura Veccia Vaglieri ( d.  1989 ) verified the attribution of 'a large portion' of Nahj al-balagha to Ali. Muktar Djebli, another expert, traced back 'a considerable number of passages' to Ali with their isnad s. Some recent Shia works have similarly tracked

7750-459: The Kharijites then attacked and were crushed by Ali's army of about 14,000 men. The battle took place either on 17 July 658, or in 657. Ali has been criticized by some for killing his erstwhile allies, many of whom were outwardly pious Muslims. For others, subduing the Kharijites was necessary, for they were violent and radicalized rebels who posed a danger to Ali's base in Kufa. Following

7905-486: The Muslim civil war, Ali forbade his soldiers from looting, and instead paid them from tax revenues. He also pardoned his enemies in victory. Both of these practices were later enshrined in Islamic law . Ali also advised his commander al-Ashtar not to reject any calls to peace, not to violate any agreements, and ordered him not to commence hostilities. Ali similarly barred his troops from disturbing civilians, killing

SECTION 50

#1732765879422

8060-537: The Muslim community but also as its exclusive religious authority. He thus laid claim to the religious authority to interpret the Quran and Sunna . Some supporters of Ali indeed held him as their divinely-guided leader who deserved the same type of loyalty that Muhammad did. They felt an absolute and all-encompassing bond of spiritual loyalty ( walaya ) to Ali that transcended politics. For instance, many of them publicly offered Ali their unconditional support circa 658. They justified their absolute loyalty to Ali on

8215-415: The Quran has been traced back to Ali, and his written legacy is dotted with Quranic commentaries. Ibn Abbas , a leading early exegete, credited Ali with his interpretations of the Quran. Ali also related several hundred prophetic hadiths. He is further credited with the first systematic evaluations of hadiths, and is often considered a founding figure for hadith sciences. Ali is also regarded by some as

8370-450: The Quran on their lances, shouting, "Let the Book of God be the judge between us." Since Mu'awiya had for long insisted on battle, this call for arbitration suggests that he now feared defeat. By contrast, Ali exhorted his men to fight, telling them that raising Qurans was for deception, but to no avail. Through their representatives, the qurra and the ridda tribesmen of Kufa,

8525-420: The Quran, "They wish that thou might compromise and that they might compromise." Some instead suggest that Ali's decisions were actually justified on a practical level. For instance, the removal of unpopular governors was perhaps the only option available to Ali because injustice was the main grievance of the rebels. As evident from his public speeches, Ali viewed himself not only as the temporal leader of

8680-484: The Quran. The authenticity of the Ghadir Khumm is rarely contested, as its "among the most extensively acknowledged and substantiated" reports in classical Islamic sources. However, mawla is a polysemous Arabic word and its interpretation in the context of the Ghadir Khumm is split along sectarian lines. Shia sources interpret mawla as 'leader', 'master', and 'patron', while Sunni sources interpret it as love or support for Ali. Shias, therefore, view

8835-453: The Quran]; for no protection is greater than that which extends from Him to you–provided you take hold of His rope [with an absolute trust]. Enliven your heart with exhortation ( maw'iza ), mortify it by renunciation ( zahada ), empower it with certainty ( yaqin ), enlighten it with wisdom, humble it by the remembrance of death ( dhikr al-mawt ), establish it in [constant awareness of]

8990-427: The Quraysh similarly turned against Ali, who even withheld public funds from his relatives, whereas his archenemy Mu'awiya readily offered bribes. Ali instructed his officials to collect tax payments on a voluntary basis and without harassment, and to prioritize the poor when distributing public funds. A letter attributed to Ali directs his governor to pay more attention to land development than taxation. During

9145-423: The Quraysh, two camps opposed Ali: the Umayyads, who believed that the caliphate was their right after Uthman, and those who wished to restore the caliphate of Quraysh on the same principles laid by Abu Bakr and Umar. This second group was likely the majority within the Quraysh. Ali was indeed vocal about the divine prerogative of Muhammad's kin to leadership, which would have jeopardized the political ambitions of

9300-463: The Shia counterargument is that Ali was a gifted orator, known for his saj' , that is, improvised speech with rhyming prose. Nevertheless, some parts of Nahj al-balagha were likely copy-edited, and gauging the authenticity of its sensitive passages has proved challenging. As for the Shiqshiqiya sermon, in which the predecessors of Ali are sharply criticized, Sunni authorities reject it as

9455-486: The Shia traditionist Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Ash'ari  [ ar ] ( d.  887 ), Kitab al-Gharat by the Shia historian Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi  [ ar ] ( d.  896 ), and Kitab al-Insaf by the Mu'tazilite theologian Abu al-Qasim al-Balkhi ( d.  1108 ). Sarwar and Mohamed recently used computational methods, mainly stylometric analysis and machine learning , to examine

SECTION 60

#1732765879422

9610-488: The Shia-leaning historian al-Ya'qubi ( d.  897–898 ), Tarikh al-Tabari by the Sunni historian al-Tabari ( d.  923 ), al-Bayan wa'l tabyin by the Sunni author al-Jahiz ( d.  869 ), al-Kamil by the Sunni historian al-Mubarrad ( d.  898 ), and al-Ansab by the Sunni historian al-Baladhuri ( d.  892 ). These authors considerably predate al-Radi, which led

9765-424: The Sunni historian al-Waqidi ( d.  823 ). Finally, the linguistic style does not seem to change throughout the book, a style that has been highly praised for its eloquence ( balagha ) and rhetoric by some authorities, including al-Jahiz and the poet Ibn Nubata ( d.  1366 ). Indeed, one argument for the fabrication of Nahj al-balagha is that its rhyming prose is too precise and polished, while

9920-403: The absence of Muhammad, Ali commanded the expedition to Fadak in 628. Ali was renowned for his bravery on the battlefield, and for his magnanimity towards his defeated enemies. He was the standard-bearer in the Battle of Badr (624) and the Battle of Khaybar (628). He vigorously defended Muhammad in the Battle of Uhud (625) and the Battle of Hunayn (630), and Muslims' victory in

10075-450: The agreement strengthened Mu'awiya's position, who was now an equal contender for the caliphate. Some of Ali's men left him in protest to the arbitration agreement. Many of them eventually rejoined Ali, while the rest gathered in the town of al-Nahrawan . They became known as the Kharijites ( lit.   ' seceders ' ), who later took up arms against Ali in the Battle of Nahrawan . The Kharijites, many of whom belonged to

10230-698: The antecedents of the Isma'ilites , who found political success at the turn of the tenth century, as the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt and the Qarmatians in Bahrain . Most of the works attributed to Ali were first delivered as speeches and later committed to writing by others. There are also supplications, such as Du'a Kumayl , which he may have taught others. Nahj al-balagha ( lit.   '

10385-520: The archetype of uncorrupted Islam and pre-Islamic chivalry. Sunni Muslims regard him as the last of the rashidun ( lit.   ' rightly-guided ' ) caliphs, while Shia Muslims venerate him as their first imam , that is, the rightful religious and political successor to Muhammad. Ali's place is said to be second only to Muhammad in Shia Muslim culture . The shrine of Ali in Najaf , Iraq,

10540-490: The attribution of this book to Ali or al-Radi has long been a subject of polemic debates, as with the majority of the works about Shia theology. The authenticity of Nahj al-balagha was first challenged over two centuries after al-Radi, perhaps indicating that his sources were well known during his lifetime but were lost gradually. Indeed, it was the Sunni historian Ibn Khallikan ( d.  1282 ) who first suggested that

10695-483: The authenticity of Nahj al-balagha by analyzing the 'morphological segmentation' of its text. They compared the book against the works of al-Radi and his brother, and concluded that the book is internally consistent, which suggests that it can be attributed to a single author, that the book was not authored by al-Radi or by his brother, Sharif al-Murtada. The authors thus conclude that the content of Nahj al-balagha can indeed be attributed to Ali. The debates about

10850-452: The authenticity of Nahj al-balagha may nevertheless be irrelevant to its value as a source of spiritual and ethical teachings, particularly among the Shias. In this vein, when asked to prove the attribution of Nahj al-balagha to Ali, the Shia philosopher Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai ( d.  1981 ) responded, "For us the person who wrote Nahj al-balagha is Ali, even if he lived

11005-479: The basis of his merits, precedent in Islam, his kinship with Muhammad, and also the announcement by the latter at the Ghadir Khumm. Many of these supporters also viewed Ali as the rightful successor to Muhammad after his death, as evidenced in the poetry from that period, for instance. Ali opposed centralized control over provincial revenues. He equally distributed excess taxes and booty among Muslims, following

11160-630: The beginning of the Islamic calendar (AH). Ali too escaped Mecca after returning the goods entrusted to Muhammad there. Later in Medina, Muhammad selected Ali as his brother when he paired Muslims for fraternity pacts . Around 623–625, Muhammad gave his daughter Fatima to Ali in marriage, aged about twenty-two at the time. Muhammad had earlier turned down marriage proposals for Fatima by some of his companions , notably, Abu Bakr and Umar . A Christian envoy from Najran , located in South Arabia , arrived in Medina circa 632 and negotiated

11315-450: The book was authored, rather than compiled, by al-Radi or by his brother Sharif al-Murtada ( d.  1044 ), another prominent Shia theologian. Yet elsewhere Ibn Khallikan cited the book without hesitation. The Sunni theologians Ibn Taymiyyah ( d.  1328 ) and al-Dhahabi ( d.  1348 ) have similarly rejected most of Nahj al-balagha , and this has been the prevalent Sunni view to date. Among Western scholars, this view

11470-401: The bounty of such a course of action, being detached from that to which you people aspire: the adornments and trappings [of political power]. Yet there is also evidence in Nahj al-balagha that Ali regarded public endorsement as necessary for a legitimate rule. On this basis, Mavani speculates that Ali would have not sought the title of caliph had Muslims withheld their support from him after

11625-410: The caliphate after the death of Muhammad in 632. Some sermons outlines the obligations of a leader, perhaps in response to the criticism from the Kharijites , a faction of Ali's army that abandoned him after the inconclusive Battle of Siffin in 657 against his archenemy Mu'awiya . Through the ruler tax is collected, the enemy is fought, roadways are protected, and the right of the weak is taken from

11780-400: The caliphate of Ali in return for Syria and Egypt, which Ali rejected. Mu'awiya then formally declared war, charging Ali with regicide, demanding his removal, and a Syrian council thereafter to elect the next caliph. Contemporary authors tend to view Mu'awiya's call for revenge as a pretext for a power grab. In the summer of 657, the armies of Ali and Mu'awiya camped at Siffin, west of

11935-458: The caliphate to another person [Umar] after him. You [the council members] are all well aware that I am the most entitled ( ahaqqu ) to this [the caliphate]. But by God, I shall resign myself [to the caliphate of Uthman] for as long as the affairs of the Muslims are being soundly governed, and for as long as there be no injustice except in relation to me alone. I do this, seeking the reward and

12090-399: The caliphate, also gave their pledges to Ali, most likely willingly, but later broke their oaths. Ali probably did not force anyone to pledge, and there is little evidence of any violence, even though many broke with Ali later, claiming that they had pledged under duress. At the same time, the supporters, who were in majority in Medina, might have intimidated others. Ali thus filled

12245-707: The canonical Sunni source Sunan al-Nasa'i . Ali also helped ensure that the Conquest of Mecca in 630 was bloodless and later destroyed the idols housed in Ka'ba. In 631, Ali was sent to preach Islam in Yemen , as a consequence of which the Hamdanids peacefully converted. Ali also peacefully resolved a blood feud between Muslims and the Banu Jadhima . Ali accompanied Muhammad in all of his military missions except

12400-651: The city. Among the Egyptians, Talha enjoyed some support, but the Iraqis and most of the Ansar supported Ali. The majority of the Muhajirun, and key tribal figures also favored Ali at this time. The caliphate was offered by these groups to Ali, who, after some hesitation, publicly took the oath of office. Malik al-Ashtar might have been the first to pledge his allegiance to Ali. Talha and Zubayr, who both aspired to

12555-620: The combination of prophethood and caliphate in the Banu Hashim, and he thus prevented Muhammad from dictating his will on his deathbed, possibly fearing that he might expressly designate Ali as his successor. Nevertheless, perhaps realizing the necessity of Ali's cooperation in his collaborative scheme of governance, Umar made some limited overtures to Ali and the Banu Hashim during his caliphate. For instance, Umar returned Muhammad's estates in Medina to Ali, but kept Fadak and Khayber. By some accounts, Umar also insisted on marrying Ali's daughter Umm Kulthum , to which Ali reluctantly agreed when

12710-543: The comprehensive commentary of the Mu'tazilite scholar Ibn Abil-Hadid ( d.  1258 ) may have amplified the influence of Nahj al-balagha on theological speculation, philosophical thought, and literary scope. In it, he describes Nahj al-balagha as "below the speech of the Creator but above the speech of creatures ." The compilation of Nahj al-balagha is often credited to Sharif al-Radi ( d.  1015 ),

12865-472: The continuation of prophetic teachings. Ali is known by many honorifics in the Islamic tradition, some of which are especially used by Shias. His main kunya (teknonym) was ʾAbū al-Ḥasan ("father of al-Hasan"). His titles include al-Murtaḍā ( lit.   ' one with whom [God] is pleased ' or ' one who is chosen and contented ' ), Asad Allāh ( lit.   ' lion of God ' ), Ḥaydar ( lit.   ' lion ' ,

13020-551: The coolness of the tribal leaders weakened Ali. Ali consequently lost Egypt to Mu'awiya in 658. Mu'awiya also began dispatching military detachments, which targeted civilians along the Euphrates river, near Kufa, and most successfully, in the Hejaz and Yemen. Ali could not mount a timely response to these assaults. He eventually found sufficient support for a second Syria offensive, set to commence in late winter 661. His success

13175-405: The correct chronological order. All extant manuscripts of Nahj al-balagha also introduce al-Radi as the compiler of the material from Ali. Another evidence that supports the compilation of the book by ar-Radi is that he refers to his other works in the margins of Nahj al-balagha and vice versa, and discloses some of his sources, namely, al-Bayan , Tarikh al-Tabari , and Jamal by

13330-411: The deadly attack, and his son Hasan was injured while guarding Uthman's besieged residence at the request of Ali. He also convinced the rebels to deliver water to Uthman's house during the siege. When Uthman was assassinated in 656 by Egyptian rebels, the potential candidates for caliphate were Ali and Talha. The Umayyads had fled Medina, leaving the provincial rebels and the Ansar in control of

13485-404: The designated successor of Muhammad, probably referring to Muhammad's announcement at the Ghadir Khumm . Soon after his death, however, it became clear that Ali did not enjoy popular support, which is perhaps why he resigned himself to the caliphate of Abu Bakr, likely for the sake of the unity of a nascent Islam. Mavani and Maria M. Dakake , another Islamicist, nevertheless suggest that Ali viewed

13640-536: The designated successor of Muhammad. Unlike Muhammad's lifetime, Ali retired from public life during the caliphates of Abu Bakr and his successors, Umar and Uthman . Ali did not participate in the Ridda wars and the early Muslim conquests , though he remained an advisor to Abu Bakr and Umar on government and religious matters., However, their conflicts with Ali is also well-documented, but largely ignored in Sunni sources. These tensions were epitomized during

13795-406: The dust; [I] kept swallowing saliva despite [the suffocation of] grief, and endured pangs of anger although it was more bitter than colocynth and more grievous than the bite of knives. So I adopted patience, although there was a mote rankling in my eye and a bone sticking in my throat on seeing my heritage [the caliphate] being plundered, till the first one [Aba Bakr] died and handed over the reins of

13950-399: The earth as his bed, using his hand as his pillow, doing so in the company of those whose eyes are rendered sleepless by the awesome anticipation of their return [to God]; whose bodies stay away from their beds [see verse 32:16 of the Quran]; whose lips are ever-humming with the invocation of the name of their Lord; whose sins have been dissolved through prolonged cries for forgiveness. They are

14105-445: The evanescence ( fana' ) [of all things other than God],... My dear son, take your soul as the criterion when you want to judge deeds which take place between you and others–then desire for others what you desire for yourself, and help others to avoid what you avoid yourself. Do not be cruel, as you do not want to receive cruelty. Do good to others as you would like others to do good to you. What you consider ugly in others, consider it

14260-406: The first to accept Muhammad's teachings and profess Islam. Ali did so either after Khadija or after Khadija and Muhammad's successor, Abu Bakr . While, the precise order here is debated among Shia and Sunni scholars, the earliest sources place Ali before Abu Bakr. Muhammad's call to Islam in Mecca lasted from 610 to 622, during which Ali assiduously supported the small Muslim community, especially

14415-534: The first two caliphs are epitomized by his refusal to follow their practices. This refusal cost Ali the caliphate to the benefit of Uthman ( r.  644–656 ), who was thus appointed to succeed Umar by the electoral council. Ali was also highly critical of Uthman, who was widely accused of nepotism and corruption. Yet Ali also repeatedly mediated between the caliph and the provincial dissidents angered by his policies. Following Uthman's assassination in June 656, Ali

14570-477: The former enlisted public support for his demand. Before his death in 644, Umar tasked a small committee with choosing the next caliph among themselves. Ali and Uthman were the strongest candidates in this committee, whose members were all early companions of Muhammad from the Quraysh tribe. Another member, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf , was given the deciding vote either by the committee or by Umar. After deliberations, Ibn Awf appointed his brother-in-law Uthman as

14725-522: The founder of Islamic theology , and his sayings contain the first rational proofs of the unity of God ( tawhid ) in Islam. In later Islamic philosophy , Ali's sayings and sermons were mined for metaphysical knowledge. In particular, Nahj al-balagha is a vital source for Shia philosophical doctrines, after the Quran and Sunna. As a Shia imam, statements and practices attributed to Ali are widely studied in Shia Islam, where they are viewed as

14880-425: The frontline, whereas Mu'awiya led from his pavilion, and rejected a proposal to settle the matters in a personal duel with Ali. Among those killed fighting for Ali was Ammar. In canonical Sunni sources, a prophetic hadith predicts Ammar's death at the hands of al-fi'a al-baghiya ( lit.   ' rebellious aggressive group ' ) who call to hellfire. Fighting stopped when some Syrians raised pages of

15035-409: The historian Ibn al-Nadim ( d.   c.  995 ), and Khutab Ali by al-Mada'ini ( d.  843 ), a Sunni historian. There is also strong circumstantial evidence that al-Radi was the compiler of the book: It appears that he included fragments of passages as he found them instead of combining them, thus presenting variants of the same sermon. In particular, the passages are not in

15190-437: The importance of the Quran and his ahl al-bayt ( lit.   ' people of the house ' , his family). Taking Ali by the hand, Muhammad then asked if he was not awla ( lit.   ' have more authority over ' or ' closer to ' ) the believers than themselves, this is evidently a reference to verse 33:6 of the Quran. When they affirmed, Muhammad then declared, "He whose mawla I am, Ali

15345-398: The importance of the Ghadir Khumm by casting it as a simple response to earlier complaints about Ali. During his caliphate , Ali is known to have asked Muslims to come forward with their testimonies about the Ghadir Khumm, presumably to counter challenges to his legitimacy. Muhammad died in 632 when Ali was in his early thirties. As he and other close relatives prepared for the burial,

15500-474: The incumbent governor of Syria, was deemed corrupt and unfit by Ali, who wrote to and removed him from his post. In turn, Mu'awiya, as Uthman's cousin, launched a propaganda campaign across Syria, blaming Ali for the regicide and calling for revenge. Mu'awiya also joined forces with Amr ibn al-As , a military strategist, who pledged to back the Umayyads against Ali in return for life-long governorship of Egypt. Yet Mu'awiya also secretly offered to recognize

15655-432: The instigation of Mu'awiya en route to Egypt to assume his post. Infuse your heart with mercy for the subjects, love for them, and kindness towards them. Be not like a ravenous beast of prey above them, seeking to devour them. For they are of two types: either your brother in religion or one like you in creation. Appoint as the commander of your soldiers the person whom you feel deeply is the most sincere in relation to God,

15810-512: The killing of the Banu Qurayza men for treachery in 626–627, though the historicity of this account has been doubted. On his return trip from the Hajj pilgrimage in 632 , Muhammad halted the large caravan of pilgrims at the Ghadir Khumm and addressed them after the congregational prayer . After the prayer, Muhammad delivered a sermon to a large number of Muslims in which he emphasized

15965-463: The largest bloc in Ali's army, both threatened Ali with mutiny if he did not answer the Syrians' call. Facing strong peace sentiments in his army, Ali accepted the arbitration proposal, most likely against his own judgment. Mu'awiya now proposed that representatives from both sides should find a Quranic resolution. Mu'awiya was represented by his ally Amr, whereas, despite Ali's opposition,

16120-403: The latter marched on Iraq with a large force. Mu'awiya thus founded the dynastic Umayyad Caliphate . Throughout his reign, he persecuted the family and supporters of Ali, and mandated regular public cursing of Ali . The first marriage of Ali was to Fatima, who bore him three sons, Hasan, Husayn, and Muhsin . Muhsin either died in infancy, or Fatima miscarried him when she was injured in

16275-416: The letter can be summarized as justice and compassion for all, regardless of class, creed, and color. The letter also advises Malik to view his rule as a means of encouraging religious awakening and spiritual well-being within the community, to be a role model for his staff and others, to strive for justice and monitor his staff for its enforcement, and to consult often with his staff. Malik was killed in 657 at

16430-409: The letter of instructions therein addressed at Malik al-Ashtar ( d.  657 ), a commander of Ali, has received much attention as a model for just and righteous Islamic governance. The book includes detailed discussions about social responsibilities , emphasizing that greater responsibilities result in greater rights. Nahj al-balagha contains sensitive material, such as sharp criticism of

16585-504: The majority in his camp pressed for the neutral Abu Musa, the erstwhile governor of Kufa. The arbitration agreement was written and signed on 2 August 657, stipulating that the two representatives should meet on neutral territory, adhere to the Quran and Sunna, and restore peace. Both armies left the battlefield after the agreement. The arbitration agreement thus divided Ali's camp, as many did not support his negotiations with Mu'awiya, whose claims they considered fraudulent. By contrast,

16740-522: The man [Abu Bakr] to swear him allegiance. O my God! I beseech You to take revenge on the Quraysh and those who are assisting them, for they have cut asunder my kinship and overturned my cup, and have joined together to contest a right to which I was entitled more than anyone else. I looked around but found no one to shield me, protect me or help me except the members of my family. I refrained from flinging them into death and therefore closed my eyes despite

16895-459: The most beloved of affairs to you be those most centered upon the right, the most comprehensive in justice, and the most inclusive of popular approval, for the disapproval of the common folk undermines the approval of the elite... The letter of instructions addressed to Malik al-Ashtar, the newly appointed governor of Ali in Egypt , outlines his conception of just and righteous governance. The theme of

17050-446: The most eloquent Arabic, Nahj al-balagha has significantly influenced the Arabic literature and rhetoric. Numerous commentaries have been written about the book, including the comprehensive work of the Mu'tazilite scholar Ibn Abil-Hadid ( d.  1258 ). Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim ( lit.   ' exalted aphorisms and pearls of speech ' ) was compiled by Abd al-Wahid al-Amidi ( d.  1116 ), who

17205-485: The name initially her mother gave him), Amīr al-Muʾminīn ( lit.   ' commander of the faithful' or 'prince of the faithful ' ), and Imām al-Muttaqin ( lit.   ' leader of the God-fearing ' ). In particular, Twelvers consider the title of Amir al-Mu'minin to be unique to Ali. He is also referred to as Abū Turāb ( lit.   ' father of dust ' ), which might have initially been

17360-625: The next caliph, when the latter promised to follow the precedent of the first two caliphs. By contrast, Ali rejected this condition, or gave an evasive answer. The Ansar were not represented in the committee, which was evidently biased toward Uthman. Both of these factors worked against Ali, who could have not been simply excluded from the proceedings. Uthman was widely accused of nepotism, corruption, and injustice. Ali too criticized Uthman's conduct, including his lavish gifts for his kinsmen. Ali also protected outspoken companions, such as Abu Dharr and Ammar , and overall acted as

17515-403: The occasion of mubahala , accompanied by Ali, his wife Fatima, and their two sons, Hasan and Husayn . The inclusion of these four by Muhammad in the mubahala ritual, as his witnesses and guarantors, likely raised their religious rank within the community. If the word 'ourselves' in the verse is a reference to Ali and Muhammad, as Shia authors argue, then the former naturally enjoys

17670-549: The one who calls others to fight is an oppressive rebel ( baghi ), and an oppressive rebel is one who will inevitably be laid low. The English translation of Nahj al-balagha by Ali Reza includes more than two-hundred sermons attributed to Ali, listed below after minor edits. The English translation of Nahj al-balagha by Ali Reza includes nearly eighty letters attributed to Ali, listed below after minor edits. The English translation of Nahj al-balagha by Ali Reza includes almost five hundred sayings attributed to Ali,

17825-421: The passages of the book in earlier sources, including Madarek-e Nahj al-balagha by Ostadi , Masadir Nahj al-balagha wa asaniduh by Abd al-Zahra al-Husayni al-Khatib, and Madarik Nahj al-balagha by Abd-Allah Nima. There are also other collections attributed to Ali that predate Nahj al-balagha , including Khutab Ali by the Sunni historian Ibn al-Kalbi ( d.  819 ), al-Fihrist by

17980-968: The path of eloquence ' ) is an eleventh-century collection of sermons, letters, and sayings, all attributed to Ali, compiled by Sharif al-Radi ( d.  1015 ), a prominent Twelver scholar. Because of its sometimes sensitive content, the authenticity of Nahj al-balagha has long been polemically debated. However, by tracking its content in earlier sources, recent academic research has attributed most of Nahj al-balagha to Ali. The book, particularly its letter of instructions addressed at al-Ashtar, has served as an ideological basis for Islamic governance. The book also includes detailed discussions about social responsibilities, emphasizing that greater responsibilities result in greater rights. Nahj al-balagha also contains sensitive material, such as sharp criticism of Ali's predecessors in its Shaqshaqiya sermon , and disapproval of Aisha, Talha, and Zubayr, who had revolted against Ali. Celebrated as an example of

18135-428: The poor. Some three years after his first revelation, Muhammad gathered his relatives for a feast , invited them to Islam, and asked for their assistance. Aged about fourteen, Ali was the only relative there who offered his support, after which Muhammad told his guests that Ali was his brother and his successor, according to the Sunni historian al-Tabari ( d.  923 ). The Shia interpretation of this episode

18290-456: The power vacuum created by the regicide. His election, irregular and without a council, faced little public opposition in Medina, but the rebels' support for him left him exposed to accusations of complicity in Uthman's assassination. Even though underprivileged groups readily rallied around Ali, he had limited support among the powerful Quraysh, some of whom aspired to caliphate. Within

18445-575: The precedent of Muhammad and Abu Bakr. In comparison, Umar had distributed the state revenues according to perceived Islamic merit, and Uthman was widely accused of nepotism and corruption. The strictly egalitarian policies of Ali earned him the support of underprivileged groups, including the Ansar, the qurra , and the late immigrants to Iraq. By contrast, Talha and Zubayr were both Qurayshite companions of Muhammad who had amassed immense wealth under Uthman. They both revolted against Ali when he refused to grant them favors. Some other figures among

18600-496: The predecessors of Ali, and disapproval of the triumvirate who revolted against Ali in the Battle of the Camel in 656, namely, Talha and Zubayr , who were both senior companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , and his widow Aisha . The book remains relevant to the ongoing clerical debates about the role and status of women in Islamic societies. Nahj al-balagha contains passages about morality and doctrine, notably about

18755-410: The pretext of revenge for Uthman. Among them was Mu'awiya , the incumbent governor of Syria . Ali has therefore been criticized by some for political naivety and excessive rigorism, and praised by others for righteousness and lack of political expediency. His supporters identify similar decisions of Muhammad, and argue that Islam never allows for compromising on a just cause, citing verse 68:9 of

18910-426: The proceedings of the electoral council in 644 when Ali refused to be bound by the precedence of the first two caliphs. In contrast, Shia sources view Ali's pledge to Abu Bakr as a (coerced) act of political expediency ( taqiya ). The conflicts with Ali are probably magnified in Shia sources. Before his death in 634, Abu Bakr designated Umar as his successor. Ali was not consulted about this appointment, which

19065-504: The prophet, and your imam, the purest of heart, the one most excellent in forbearance ( hilm ); who is slow to anger, happy to pardon, kind to the weak, severe with the strong; one who is neither moved by violence nor held back by weakness. Cleave to those of noble descent, belonging to pious families of established name and repute, and to men known for their bravery, courage, generosity, and tolerance. Never reject any call to peace made to you by your enemy... If you and your enemy enter into

19220-496: The rest of the Quraysh. The caliphate of Ali was characterized by his strict justice. He implemented radical policies to restore his vision of prophetic governance, and dismissed nearly all of Uthman's governors, whom he considered corrupt. Ali also distributed the treasury funds equally among Muslims, following the practice of Muhammad, and is said to have shown zero tolerance for corruption. Some of those affected by Ali's egalitarian policies soon revolted against him under

19375-676: The rightful successor of Muhammad by virtue of his merits and his kinship with the prophet. Other speeches in Nahj al-balagha further indicate that he also saw the leadership as a prerogative of the Ahl al-Bayt , that is, the family of Muhammad. The legitimist view attributed to Ali in Nahj al-balagha , that he unequivocally considered the caliphate to be his right after Muhammad, is corroborated by some experts, including Mahmoud M. Ayoub ( d.  2021 ), Wilferd Madelung ( d.  2023 ), Hamid Mavani, Moojan Momen , and Shah-Kazemi. Some of these authors add that Ali also considered himself as

19530-401: The rightful successor to Muhammad, probably in reference to the Ghadir Khumm. Among others, al-Tabari reports that Umar then led an armed mob to Ali's residence and threatened to set the house on fire if Ali and his supporters did not pledge their allegiance to Abu Bakr. The scene soon grew violent, but the mob retreated after Ali's wife, Fatima, pleaded with them. Abu Bakr later placed

19685-455: The same in yourself. What you do not know, do not talk about it even though you know a little. Do not say to others what you would not like to be said about yourself. And know that selfishness is the squander of reason. Give away what you have gained and do not save it for others or yourself. And when you have reached such a stage of life, thank God for these things. Do not call people to fight; but if you are challenged to fight, then accept. Truly

19840-524: The son of Abu Quhafa [Abu Bakr] 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 handmill. By God, it never occurred to me, and I never imagined that after the prophet the Arabs would snatch away the caliphate from his Ahl al-Bayt [the members of the prophet's house], nor that they would take it away from me after him. But I suddenly noticed people surrounding

19995-419: The stage, however, he deposed Ali and appointed Mu'awiya as his successor. The Kufan delegation reacted furiously to Abu Musa's concessions, and the common view is that the arbitration failed, or was inconclusive. It nevertheless strengthened the Syrians' support for Mu'awiya and weakened the position of Ali. After the arbitration, Mu'awiya received the Syrians' pledge as caliph. Ali then organized

20150-573: The strong till the virtuous enjoy peace and protection from [the oppression of] the wicked. Certainly, there is no obligation on the imam except what has been devolved on him from God, namely, to convey warnings, to exert in good advice, to revive the Sunnah , to enforce penalties on those liable to them, and to issue shares to the deserving. While Veccia Vaglieri wrote that Ali shows no inclination to legitimism in Sunni reports, multiple sermons in Nahj al-balagha suggest instead that he viewed himself as

20305-507: The succession crisis. Some early Shia traditions also suggest differences with the standard Uthmanid codex , although now the prevalent Shia view is that Ali's recension matches the Uthmanid codex, save for the order of its content. Ali's codex is said to be in the possession of Muhammad al-Mahdi, who would reveal the codex (and its authoritative commentary by Ali) when he reappears. Kitab Ali ( lit.   ' book of Ali ' )

20460-411: The succession of Abu Bakr as a digression which turned into a full-blown deviation with the rebellion of Mu'awiya during his own caliphate. This matches the Shia view, as represented by the Shia jurist Ruhollah Khomeini ( d.  1989 ). By contrast, Ali mounts only a passing resistance to the caliphate of Abu Bakr (if any at all) in Sunni reports, which Ayoub describes as apologetic. Beware! By God

20615-516: The triumvirate had stirred up public opinion. The opposition failed to gain enough traction in Hejaz , and instead captured Basra in Iraq, killing many there. Ali raised an army from nearby Kufa , which formed the core of Ali's forces in the coming battles. The two armies soon camped just outside of Basra, both probably numbered around ten thousand men. After three days of failed negotiations,

20770-455: The two sides readied for battle. The battle took place in December 656. The rebels commenced hostilities, and Aisha was present on the battlefield, riding in an armored palanquin atop a red camel, after which the battle is named. Talha was soon killed by another rebel, Marwan, the secretary of Uthman. Zubayr, an experienced fighter, deserted shortly after the battle had begun, but

20925-448: The verdict that Uthman had been killed wrongfully and that Mu'awiya had the right to seek revenge. They could not agree on anything else. Rather than a judicial ruling, this was a political concession by Abu Musa, who probably hoped that Amr would later reciprocate this gesture. Ali denounced the conduct of the two arbitrators as contrary to the Quran and began organizing a second Syria campaign. Solely an initiative of Mu'awiya, there

21080-565: The virtues of restraint, exertion, modesty, and propriety. Can I possibly allow myself to be called Commander of the Faithful ( Amir al-mu'minin ) if I do not share with them [i.e., with the faithful] the adversities of fate, if I do not give them a role-model to emulate when confronted with the hardships of life? Blessed be the person who discharges his obligations toward God; struggles courageously against all misfortune; abandons sleep at night, until, when slumber overpowers him, lies down on

21235-523: The work of al-Radi, in line with their tendency to neutralize the conflicts among the companions after Muhammad. By contrast, among others, the Shia traditionist Abdul Hosein Amini ( d.  1970 ) provided several chains of transmission for this sermon, some of which predate al-Radi. Other Shia scholars accept the authenticity of this sermon but do not claim tawatur , which is the highest level of credibility in hadith terminology . Among this last group

21390-423: The wounded and those who fled, mutilating the dead, entering homes without permission, looting, and harming women. He prevented the enslavement of women in victory, even though some protested. Before the Battle of Siffin with Mu'awiya, Ali did not retaliate and allowed his enemies to access drinking water when he gained the upper hand. Aisha publicly campaigned against Ali immediately after his accession. She

21545-446: The zeal of your pride, the vehemence of your castigation, the power of your hand, and the sharpness of your tongue. Guard against these vices by restraining all impulsiveness, and putting off all resort to force until your anger subsides and you regain self-control. But you cannot attain such self-domination without increasing your preoccupation with the remembrance of your return to your Lord. A letter of admonishment in Nahj al-balagha

21700-534: Was acknowledged as the next caliph in Kufa. As Ali's legatee, Hasan was the obvious choice for the Kufans, especially because Ali was vocal about the exclusive right of Muhammad's kin to leadership. Most surviving companions of Muhammad were in Ali's army, and they also pledged their allegiance to Hasan, but overall the Kufans' support for Hasan was likely weak. Hasan later abdicated in August 661 to Mu'awiya when

21855-454: Was also a second meeting in Udhruh . The negotiations there also failed, as the two arbitrators could not agree on the next caliph: Amr supported Mu'awiya, while Abu Musa nominated his son-in-law Abd Allah ibn Umar, who stood down. At its closure, Abu Musa publicly deposed both Mu'awiya and Ali and called for a council to appoint his successor per earlier agreements with Amr. When Amr took

22010-694: Was appointed as Principal Interpreter for the French African army. He served as Professor of Arabic at the École de langues orientales in Paris and from 1849 also taught Turkish. He was also commissioned by the Bibliothèque Nationale to catalogue their Arabic manuscripts. On 30 October 1826 he married Angadrème Sophie Félicité de la Barre de Mérona. She died seven years later on 24 September 1833. He then married Anne Elise Sutton de Clonard and together they had five children. De Slane

22165-436: Was authored by al-Radi. Alternatively, the Sunni historian Khatib al-Baghdadi ( d.  1071 ) rejected only the eschatological sermons found in the book. By contrast, the Shia regard Nahj al-balagha as authentic. Much of the content of Nahj al-balagha already exists in earlier historical works, including Waq'at Siffin by the Shia historian Nasr ibn Muzahim ( d.  827–828 ), Tarikh al-Ya'qubi by

22320-418: Was born around 868, but was hidden from the public in 874 for fear of persecution. He remains in occultation by divine will until his reappearance at the end of time to eradicate injustice and evil. The only historic split among the Imamites happened when their sixth imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq , died in 765. Some claimed that his designated successor was his son Isma'il , who had predeceased al-Sadiq. These were

22475-483: Was built by the Safavid monarch Safi ( r.  1629–1642 ), near which lies an immense cemetery for Shias who wished to be buried next to their imam . Najaf is also home to top religious colleges and prominent Shia scholars. Other sites for Ali's burial are claimed to be Baghdad , Damascus , Medina , Ray while a minority of Shias believe it be somewhere in the city of Kufa . When Ali died, his son Hasan

22630-423: Was either a Shafi'i jurist or a Twelver scholar. The book contains thousands of short sayings of Ali on piety and ethics. These aphorisms and other works attributed to Ali have considerably influenced the Islamic mysticism . Mushaf of Ali is a recension of the Quran compiled by Ali, who was one of its first scribes. By some Shia accounts, this codex ( mushaf ) of Ali was rejected for official use during

22785-498: Was elected caliph in Medina. He immediately faced two separate rebellions, both ostensibly to avenge Uthman: The triumvirate of Talha , Zubayr , both companions of Muhammad, and his widow Aisha captured Basra in Iraq but were defeated by Ali in the Battle of the Camel in 656. Elsewhere, Mu'awiya , whom Ali had just removed from the governorship of Syria , fought against Ali the inconclusive Battle of Siffin in 657, which ended in

22940-498: Was in part due to the public outrage over Syrian raids. However, plans for a second campaign were abandoned after the assassination of Ali . Ali was assassinated during the morning prayer on 28 January 661 (19 Ramadan 40 AH) at the Great Mosque of Kufa . The other given dates are 26 and 30 January. He was struck over his head by the Kharijite dissident Ibn Muljam with a poison-coated sword, in revenge for their defeat in

23095-430: Was initially resisted by some senior companions. Ali himself did not press any claims this time and kept aloof from public affairs during the caliphate of Umar, who nevertheless consulted Ali in certain matters. For instance, Ali is credited with the idea of adopting the migration to Medina ( hijra ) as the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Yet Ali's political advice was probably ignored. For example, Umar devised

23250-451: Was joined in Mecca by her close relatives, Talha and Zubayr, who thus broke their earlier oaths of allegiance to Ali. This opposition demanded the punishment of Uthman's assassins, and accused Ali of complicity in the assassination. They also called for the removal of Ali from office and for a Qurayshite council to appoint his successor. Their primary goal was likely the removal of Ali, rather than vengeance for Uthman, against whom

23405-516: Was kept a secret and remains uncertain. Several sites are mentioned as containing Ali's remains, including the shrine of Ali in Najaf and the shrine of Ali in Mazar . The former site was identified during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid ( r.  786–809 ) and the town of Najaf developed around it, which has become a major destination for Shia pilgrimage. The present shrine

23560-530: Was killed by Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala in 680, alongside many of his relatives. To revenge the Karbala massacre, soon followed in 685 the Shia uprising of al-Mukhtar , who claimed to represent Ibn al-Hanafiyya. The main movements that followed this uprising were the now-extinct Kaysanites and the Imamites. The Kaysanites mostly followed Abu Hashim , the son of Ibn al-Hanafiya. When Abu Hashim died around 716, this group largely aligned itself with

23715-443: Was pursued and killed. His desertion suggests he had serious moral misgivings about their cause. Ali won the day, and Aisha was respectfully escorted back to Hejaz. Ali then announced a public pardon, setting free all war prisoners, even Marwan, and prohibiting the enslavement of their women. Their seized properties were also returned. Ali then stationed himself in Kufa, which thus became his de facto capital. Mu'awiya,

23870-456: Was shared by Carl Brockelmann ( d.  1956 ) and Baron de Slane ( d.  1878 ), who apparently mistook the word 'Murtada' on the manuscript as the name of its author and thus attributed the book to Sharif al-Murtada, probably unaware that Murtada is a well-known epithet of Ali. The Mu'tazilite Ibn Abil-Hadid was nevertheless confident that Nahj al-balagha is the work of Ali, but suspected that its controversial Shaqshaqiya sermon

24025-565: Was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , and was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from 656  CE to 661, as well as the first Shia imam . Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Fatima bint Asad , young Ali was raised by his elder cousin Muhammad and was among the first to accept his teachings. Ali played a pivotal role in the early years of Islam when Muslims were severely persecuted in Mecca . After immigration ( hijra ) to Medina in 622, Muhammad gave his daughter Fatima to Ali in marriage and swore

#421578