This precious gem
of a book was compiled by Sayyid Razi which consists of sermons, letters,
epistles, and sayings of the Gateway of Knowledge, the Conqueror of the Khyber,
the “Nafse Rasool”, and Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.).
Nahjul Balagha
possessed the distinct merits of literary elegance (Fasaha) and matchless
eloquence (Balaghah). Nahjul Balagha enjoys a position in between the speech of
the human beings and the Word of God. Indeed, it is above the speech of the
creatures and below the Word of the Creator!
Ancient Scholars:
Sayyid Razi, the
compiler of Nahjul Balagha, remarks in appreciation and praise as: Amir al-Muminin Ali (a.s.) was the
reservoir and fountainhead of eloquence which derived its principles from his
speeches and revealed its secrets through him. Every orator of mark tried to
imitate him and every preacher learned from him the art of eloquence.
Nevertheless, they lagged far behind him while he excelled them all! His speech
alone bears the imprint of Divine Wisdom and the fragrance of the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.)’s eloquence.
Ibne Hadid
al-Mu’tazili was a masterly writer and an adept poet of 7th
Century A.H. was an adorer of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s discourse. He expressed his
profound admiration for Imam Ali (a.s.) through his book. In the introduction
of his famous Commentary on Nahjul Balagha, he writes: “Rightly has Ali’s discourse been regarded as being only inferior to
that of the Creator and superior to that of all creatures.”
Modern
Perspectives:
Shaykh Muhammad
Abduh, formerly Mufti of Egypt, while writing a commentary on Nahjul Balagha
said: “Among all those who speak Arabic
language, there is not a single man who does not believe that Ali (a.s.)’s
discourses, after the (Glorious) Qur’an and the discourses of the (Noble)
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) are the noblest, the most eloquent, the most profound and
the most comprehensive.”
Ali al-Jundi, the
dean of the faculty of sciences at the Cairo University, in his book “Ali ibn Abi Talib, Shiruhu wa Hikamuh”
writing about (Imam) Ali (a.s.)’s prose, says: “A certain musical rhythm which
moves the inner most depths of the soul is characteristics of these discourses.
The phrases are so rhymed that it can be called ‘prose-poetry’
Taha Husayn, a
renowned contemporary Egyptian writer, in his book ‘Ali wa Banuh’ (Ali and his sons), recounts the
story of a man during the Battle of Jamal (Camel). He says to himself, “How is
it possible that such personalities like Talha and Zubayr be at fault”. He
informs about this to Imam Ali (a.s.). Ali (a.s.) answers: “You are seriously
mistaken and reversed the measure! Truth and falsehood are not measured by the
worth of persons .Firstly find out what is truth and which is falsehood, then
you will see who stands by truth and who with falsehood. After quoting
(Imam) Ali (a.s.)’s reply, Taha Husayn
says: “After the revelation and Word of
God, I have never seen a more glorious and admirably expressed view then this
reply of (Imam) Ali (a.s.)
Shakib Arsalan
nicknamed “Amir al-bayan” (the master
of speech), is another celebrated contemporary writer. Once, in a gathering
held in his honor, in Egypt, one of the speakers, during the course of his
address, remarked: “There are two individuals in the history of Islam who can
truly be named amir al-bayan: one of them is Ali ibn Abi Talib and the other is
Shakib.” At which Shakib Arsalan (1871-1946), irritated, left his seat, walked
to the rostrum. Deploring the comparison his friend had made between Ali (a.s.)
and himself, he said: “What comparison is there between Ali (a.s.)
and me! I am not worth even the strap of Ali (a.s.)’s sandals.”
Michael Nai’mah, a
contemporary Lebanese Christian writer, in the introduction to the book al-Imam
Ali by George Jordaq, also a Lebanese writer, writes: “Ali was not only a champion on the battle field but also a hero in all
other fields: in sincererity of heart, in purity of conscience, in the spellbinding
magic of speech, in true humanitarianism, in fineness and warmth of faith, in
the height of tranquility, in readiness to help the oppressed and the wronged,
and in total submission to truth, wherever it may lie and whichever form it
assumes. He was a hero in all these fields.
Source:
Selections from the Glimpses of Nahjul Balagha by Ayatullah
Murtadha Mutahhari
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