Nahj al-Balagha

The Nahj al-Balagha (Arabic: نهج البلاغة‎‎ Nahj-ul Balāgha(h), Arabic pronunciation: ['nahdʒul bəˈlæːɣə]; "The Peak of Eloquence") is the most famous collection of sermons, letters, tafsirs and narrations attributed to Imam Ali , cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. It was collected by Sharif Razi, a Shi'i scholar in the Tenth century (fourth century AH) Known for its eloquent content, it is considered a masterpiece of literature in Shi'i Islam. It should be noted that there is content in Nahj al-Balagha whose authenticity can be debated. The Shi'i do not give it the same status as Sahih books in the schools of Ahlul Sunnah.

Nahj al-Balaghah comprises various issues that cover major problems of metaphysics, theology, fiqh, tafsir, hadith, prophetology, imamate, ethics, social philosophy, history, politics, administration, civics, science, rhetoric, poetry, and literature. The book not only reflects the spirit of early Islam and the teachings of the Qur'an and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, but also serves as a guide to traverse the future in the light of these teachings.

Nahj al Balagha is a collection of 241 sermons, 79 letters, and 489 utterances. As per each new publishing versus past volumes, the number of sermons, letters and utterances has varied from 238 to 241, 77 to 79, and 463 to 489, respectively.

The book narrates from Ali on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the creation of the World, the creation of Adam, end of the Universe and the arrival of Imam al-Mahdi.

I love the opinion of an old man more than the determination of a young man; (or according to another version) more than the martyrdom of a young man.

Since the book is a literary work meant to demonstrate Ali ibn Abi Talib's eloquence, it does not gather all of Ali's sermons. Instead, only segments deemed to possess greater literary value are included. introduces some of these. An alternative sourcing of the book's content by Muhammad Baqir al-Mahmudi represents all of ‘Ali's extant speeches, sermons, decrees, epistles, prayers, and sayings that are found in Nahj al-Balagha. Thus, except some aphorisms, the original source of all the content of Nahj al-Balaghah has been determined.

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