Nahj al-balagha (book): Difference between revisions

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'''''Nahj al-Balaghah'''''(Arabic: نهج البلاغه) is an anthology of sayings and writings of [[Imam Ali (a)]] which have been compiled by [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]] in late 4th century AH (finished in [[400]]/1009-1010). The criteria for selecting the sayings has been the eloquence of speech. The eloquence in this compilation is at such a high level that even though al-Sayyid al-Radi was a great poet and distinguished man of literature and had great works, regarded this compilation an honor for himself.

In the introduction of ''Nahj al-Balaghah'', al-Sayyid al-Radi wrote:

:"In my early age at the dawn of youth I commenced writing ''[[Khasa'is al-a'imma]]'' on the characteristics of the [[Imams]] covering the account of their virtues and masterpieces of their utterances. The purpose of the compilation was stated by me in the beginning of the book. Therein I completed the portion relating to the account of [[Amir al-mu'minin]] Ali (peace be upon him) but I could not complete that part concerning the other Imams due to impediments of the time and obstacles of the days. I divided the book into several chapters and sections, in a manner for its last section to comprise whatever had been related to Ali's (a) short utterances such as counsels, maxims arid, proverbs but not long lectures and detailed discourses.

In his preface on ''Nahj al-balaghah'', [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]] writes in the categorization of topics that,

"In my view [[Amir al-mu'minin]]'s utterances are divisible in three categories;

He then continues, "Within this compilation, some repetition of words or subject matter are to be expected, as the utterances of [[Amir al-mu'minin]] have been known to be related in numerous forms. Sometimes it happened that a particular utterance was found in a particular form in a tradition and was taken down in that very form. There-after, the same utterance was found in some other tradition either with acceptable addition or in a more attractive style of expression. In such a case with a view to further the object of compilation and to preserve the beautiful utterance from being lost it was decided to repeat it elsewhere. It has also happened that a particular utterance had appeared earlier but due to remoteness it has been entered again. This is through omission, not by intent.

Throughout these counsels, he (a) sometimes looked at his companions and thought about their destiny and suddenly a pile of sadness and grief fell on his heart and that is when he (a) turned his eyes from people back to the past when at the time of [[the Prophet (s)]] and his sincere [[:category:sahabas|Companion]]s, they prioritized their success in religion over worldly advantages through their beliefs in God and the [[Day of Resurrection]]. He (a) would then turn to his audience again and saw that just less than thirty years after those times, what happened that in such a short time, Muslim-like ones sat in the seat of true Muslims? People who forget God and disobeyed their Imam when this world attracted at them. Where did those go who kept their heads up and mention their honor that their relatives were martyred on the way of God? Why do these people who have gathered around me prefer comfort over being martyred on the way of religion and try to pass this religious task over to another? He (a) regarded equality and Muslims' sacrifice in the early Islam when people prioritized others over themselves and tried to keep themselves away from being attracted by worldly wealth. Now why are these people have become treasure keepers and worldly? These and tens of other points comprise the content of [[Imam Ali (a)]]'s sermons.

{{mani|List of Commentaries of Nahj al-Balagha}}

# ''Ma'arij Nahj al-balagha'' by Zahir al-Din Abi al-Hasan Ali b. Zayd al-Biyyhaqi (d. 565 AH) by Muhammad Taqi Danish Pazhuh.

# ''[[Sharh Nahj al-balagha (Ibn Abi al-Hadid)|Sharh Nahj al-balagha]] li [[Ibn Abi al-Hadidi]]''; researched by Muhammad Abu al-Fadl Ibrahim

# ''Sharh Nahj al-balagha'' by [[Kamal al-Din Meytham b. Ali b. Miytham al-Bahrani]]

# ''Ikhtiyar misbah al-salikin: min kalam mawlana wa imamina Amir al-Mu'minin Ali b. Abi Talib (a)'' (Sharh Nahj al-balagha al-wasit), Miytham b. Ali b. Meytham al-Bahrani researched and written marginal notes by Muhammad Hadi al-Amini

# ''Nukhbat al-sharhayn fi sharh Nahj al-balagha'' by [[Abd Allah Shubbar]] (1774 – 1826) a selection of commentaries by Ibn Meytham and Ibn Abi al-Hadid

:"disagreements have been found among people about ''Nahj al-balagha'', compiled of the sayings of [[Imam Ali (a]]) over whether al-[[Sayyid al-Murtada]] compiled it or his brother [[al-Sayyid al-Radi|al-Radi]]; they also say that they are not sayings of Imam Ali (a) or they belong to the one who compiled them; and [[God]] knows better."

Similarly, Ibn Khalkan talks about people's doubt. Also after his commentary on the [[Shiqshiqiyya sermon]], [[Ibn Abi al-Hadid]] (d. 656 AH) tells a story which has roots in such doubts among people for which Ibn Abi al-Hadid himself gives definite answers. He says,

Ibn Abi al-Hadid continues that,

In addition to above definite answers among commentaries of ''Nahj al-balagha'', such as Ibn Abi al-Hadid's answer, many scholars have tried to write independent books about the references of all sayings of ''Nahj al-Balagha''. These references list Imam Ali's (a) sayings in books before [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]] and [[al-Sayyid al-Murtada]], contemporary with them or after them and this way it has become clear that the mentioned doubts are baseless the same as doubts about the compiler of the sayings, whether it has been al-Sayyid al-Radi or al-Sayyid al-Murtada. Some works which have collected references for ''Nahj al-Balagha'' are listed below:

Before [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]], Jahiz selected 100 sayings of Imam Ali (a) about which later Rashid Watwat and [[Ibn Miytham al-Bahrani]] and others wrote commentaries. He describes these sayings as, "every which of these equals a thousand sayings of most beautiful Arabic sayings." A book called ''Mi'at-u min amthal Ali (a)'' is mentioned among the works of Jahiz which seems to be the one he refers to.

=== Ibn Abi al-Hadid ===