13 Facts About Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha is the best-known collection of sermons, letters, and sayings attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib, fourth Rashidun Caliph, first Shia Imam and the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.

Ibn Abil-Hadid, the author of an in-depth commentary on the book, believes that Nahj al-Balagha is "above the words of men and below the words of God.

Nahj al-Balagha is a collection of more than 200 sermons, nearly 80 letters, and almost 500 sayings.

Sermons and letters in Nahj al-Balagha offer a commentary on Ali's political career and have served as an ideological basis for Islamic governance.

Nahj al-Balagha contains more sensitive material, including criticism of Ali's predecessors in its Shaqshaqiya Sermon, and disapproval of Talha and Zubayr, who took up arms against Ali in the Battle of the Camel.

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Nahj al-Balagha remains at the heart of the ongoing clerical debate about the role and status of women in modern societies.

Nahj al-Balagha contains passages about morality and doctrine, notably about the sovereignty of God and the significance of the Quran and Muhammad.

Nahj al-Balagha has been the focus of numerous commentaries, translations, and studies by both Sunni and Shia scholars.

Compilation of Nahj al-Balagha is often credited to al-Sharif al-Razi, a renowned tenth-century Shia scholar, over three hundred years after Ali.

In support of Ali's authorship, some of the material in Nahj al-Balagha is listed in al-Fihrist or can be found in earlier works attributed to Ali.

Nahj al-Balagha was most likely compiled by al-Sharif, who referred to it in his later works.

Nahj al-Balagha answered by saying that neither al-Sharif nor anyone else was capable of producing such an eloquent sermon.

Nahj al-Balagha continued, "We have studied al-Sharif's writings and are familiar with his style.