THE BOOK
This book is a translation of the sermons, letters, orders and some of the sayings of Hazrath Ali (A.S.) as compiled by Syed Razi and named 'Nahjul Balagha'.
These sermons and preaching’s of Hazrath Ali (A.S.) were so highly valued and venerated in the Islamic world that within a century of his death they were taught and read as the last word on the Philosophy of mono-theism, as the best lectures for character building, as exalted sources of inspiration, as very persuasive sermons towards piety, as guiding beacons towards truth and justice, as marvelous eulogies of the Holy prophet (A.S.) and the Holy Quran, as convincing discourses on the spiritual values of Islam, as awe inspiring discussions about the attributes of God. as master-piece of literature, and as models of the art of rhetoric’s.
1st CENTURY
According to the famous book of biographies Rejal-e-Kabeer, the first person to collect these sermons in a book form was Zaid Ibne Wahab Jehny, who died in 90 A.H. and who was regarded as a narrator of Ahaadees (Traditions). Thus within thirty years of Hazrath Ali's death and during the first century of Hijrath his sermons, letters, sayings, Ahadees etc. were collected quoted and preserved.
2nd CENTURY
With the dawn of 2nd Century Ibne Wahab's example was followed by (1) the famous calligraphist of the early Abbasites regime, Abdul Hameed-bin-Yahyah (132 A.H.), (2) and then Ibne-ul-Moqquffa (142 A.H.) took up this work of compilation. Jahiz-e-Oosmanee says Ibn-ul-Moqquffa had very carefully studied these sermons and used to say that he had saturated himself from the Fountains head of knowledge and wisdom and was daily getting fresh inspirations from these sermons (3) Ibne-Nadeem in his biographies "The Fahirst" says that Hushsham Ibne Saaeb-e-Kalbee (146 A.H.) had also collected these sermons (Fahrist-e-Ibne-Nadeem, section VII page 25 1).
Thence onward century after century Muslim scholars, theologians, historians and mohaddiseen were citing these sermons, quoting them, discussing the meanings of the words and phrases used by Hazrath Ali (A.S.), and referring them when they needed an authority on theology, ethics, the teaching of the Holy prophet (A.S.) and the Holy Quran or on literature and rhetoric’s.
3rd CENTURY
During the third century five famous men took up this work.
1. Abu Oosman Omero-ibn-Bahr-ul-Jahiz, who died in 255 A.14. (868 A.D.), quoted many sermons in his book Al-bayan-wo-Tabyan.
2. Ibne-Quateeba-e-Daynoori, who died in 276 A.H., in his books O' Yoon-ul-Akhbar and Ghareeb-ul-Hadees quoted many sermons and discussed meanings of many words and phrases used by Hazrath Ali (A.S.).
3. Ibne Wazeh-e-Yaquoobee, who died in 278 A.H., cited many sermons and saying of Hazrath Ali (A.S.) in his history.
4. Abu Haneefa-e-Daynoori (280 A.H.) in his history Akhbar-e-Tawal quoted many sermons and sayings.
5. Abul Abbas Almobard (286 A.H.) in his book Kitab-ul-Mobard collected many sermons and letters.
4th CENTURY
1. The famous historian lbne Jurair-e-Tabaree who died in 3lOA.H. quoted some of these sermons in his Tareekh-e-Kabeer.
2. Abu Mohammed Hussan-Ibne-Ali-Ibne-Shoba-e-Halbee (320 A.H.) had collected some sermons in his book "Thohfath-ul-Oquool". This book was later printed in Persia.
The following writers have also extensively quoted the sermons and sayings of Hazrath Ali in their respective books.
3. Ibne-Wareed (321 A.H.) in his book Almoojthabnee.
4. Ibne-Abd Rabbahoo (328 A.H.) in Aqud-ul-Fareed.
5. Siquathul Islam Koolaynee (329 A.H.) in Kaafee.
6. Ali Ibne Mohammed Ibne Abdullah-e-Madance (335 A.H.) collected sermons,letters and sayings of Hazrath in his book. Yaqooth-e-Hameveene mentions of this book in Mojam-ul-Addiba page 313 Volume V.
7. The Historian Massodee (346 A.H.), in Morravj-ul-Zahab, has quoted some of the letters and sermons of Hazrath.
8. Abul Farj Ispahanee (356 A.H.) in Aaghanee,
9. Abu Ali Quali (356 A.H.) in Nawadir, and
10. Shaikh Sadook (381 A.H.) in Kitab-ul-Taoheed, have extensively quoted these sermons, letters and sayings.
5th CENTURY
1. Shaikh Moofeed (413 A.H.) in Irshad has quoted many sermons, Ahaadees (traditions) sayings and letters of Hazrath.
2. Syed Razi (420 A.H.) compiled the book Nahjul Balagha.
3. Shaikh-ul-Taa'ye'fa Abu Jaffer Mohammed ibne-Hussan-e-Toosee (460 A.H.) was a contemporary of Syed Razi and had collected some of these sermons etc., long before Syed took up his work.
What Syed Razi could compile in Nahjul Balagha does not contain all the sermons letters and sayings of Hazrath Ali (A.S.). Masoodi (346 A.H.) in his famous history Morravejul-Zahab (Vol. 11 page 33 printed at Cairo) says that only sermons of Hazrath Ali, which have been preserved by various people, number more than four hundred and eighty. These were extempore orations, people have copied them one from another and have compiled them in book forms; they have cited them and have quoted passages from them in their books.
Apparently out of these four hundred and eighty sermons some were lost and Syed Razi could lay hand on only about 245 sermons, besides them he collected about 75 letters and more than 200 sayings. Almost everyone of the sermons, letters and sayings collected in Nahjul Balagha is to be found in books of Authors who died long before Syed Razi was born, while some are found in works of such authors who, though his comp temporaries, yet were older to him and had written their books before Nahjul Balagha was compiled. In the Index No. 2:A,B and C, I have given a list of the names of these authors, books and the number of sermons, etc. found in those books.
If I quote all of what has been said by the Muslim and the Christian Arab scholars, Theologians, Philosophers and Historians in praises of these sermons, sayings and Letters it will cover a volume as big as this book, therefore I shall briefly quote only a few of them.
1. Abu Sa'adath Mubarak Majdud din-Ibne-Aseer Jazaree (606 A.H.) is recognized even today only as a narrator of Ahaadees (tradition) but also as a lexicologist of great eminence. His book "Nehaya", is a study of the history and meanings of the difficult words of Holy Quran and the traditions. In this book he has at great length discussed many words, phrases and the sentences of Hazrath Ali's sermons from the book Nahjul Balagha. He says that so far as comprehensiveness is concerned Ali's words come not only to the Quran.
2. Allama Shaikh KamaIludin-Ibne-Mohammed-Ibne-Talha-e-Shafayee (who died in 652 A.H.) in his famous book "Mothaleb-ul-Soaol" writes:-
"The fourth attribute of Hazrath Ali (A.S.)was his eloquence and rhetoric’s. He was such an Imam in these arts that none can aspire to rise up to the level of the dust of his shoes. One who has studied Nahjul Balagha can form some idea of his supreme eminence in this sphere"
3. Allama Abu Harnid Abdul Hameed-Ibne-Hibathulah, known as Ibne-Abil Hadeed-e-Moathazalee, who died in 655 A.H., and who has written a really great commentary on these sermons says:
(i) His speeches, letters and sayings are so supremely eminent that they are above the sayings of man and below only to the words of God. None can surpass it but the Holy Quran.
(ii) At another place he says that "His (Hazrath Ali) sayings are miracle of the Holy prophet (A.S.). His prophecies show that his knowledge was superhuman".
4. Allama Sa'ddudin Thafthazanee(791A.H.)in"Sharah-e-Maquasid"saysthat "Ali had supreme command over language, over ethics and over tenets of religion, at the same time he was a great orator, his sermons compiled in Nahjul Balagha bear witness to these facts."
5. Allama Alauddin Quoshiee (875 A.H.) in Sharah-e-Thujreed says that "The book Nahjul Balagha that is the sermons and sayings contained therein prove that none can surpass it on these lines but the Holy Quran.
6. Mufthi of Egypt, Shaikh Mohammed Abdahoo (1323 A.H.) has written a commentary on the book Nahjul Balagha. He was among those modern thinkers, who made the modern world realize the beauties of the teaching of Islam. His introduction on his own commentary of Nahjul Balagha deserves careful study.
In this introduction he says that everyone who fully understands Arabic language must agree that the sermons and sayings of Hazrath (A.S.) are not only to the words of God and the Holy prophet (A.S.). Ali's words are so full of meanings and they convey such great ideas that this book Nahjul Balagha should be very carefully studied, referred and quoted by students as well as teachers. This professor of Arabic literature and philosophy persuaded the Universities of Cairo and Beirut to include the book Nahjul Balagha in their courses for advance studies of literature and philosophy.
7. The famous author and orator Shaikh Mustafa Ghala' Aenee of Beirut, who is considered as an authority on commentaries (Tafseer) of the Quran and also on Arabic literature in his book, 'Areej-ul-Zahr' in chapter, "The styles of language" writes:-
"Who can write better than Ali except the Holy prophet (A.S.) and God. Those who want to study eminent standards of literature should study the book Nahjul Balagha. It contains such depth of knowledge and such wonderful advices on the subjects of ethics and religion that its constant study will make a man wise, pious and noble minded and will train him to be an orator of great standing".
8. Ustad Mohammed Mohiuddin, professor of the Arabic language, Alazhar University of Cairo says that the Nahjul Balagha is a collection of the works of Hazrath Ali. It is compiled by Syed Razi. It contains such examples of chaste language, noble eloquence and superior wisdom that none but Ali can produce such a work because next to the Holy prophet (A.S.), he was the greatest orator, the greatest authority on language and literature and the greatest source of wisdom of the religion (Islam). He was such a philosopher that from his words flow streams of knowledge and wisdom.
9. Ustad Abdul Wahab Hamodha, an authority on Arabic literature and the "traditions", and a professor of the Fuwad I University of Cairo, in 1951 writes, "The Book Nahjul Balagha contains all that great scholars, professor of ethics, philosophers, scientists, authorities on religions and politicians can say or write. The wonderful force of advices and the superfine way of presenting arguments and the depth of vision prove that it is the work of a super mind like that of Ali.
10. Abdul Maseeh-al-Anthakee the Christian editor of the Egyptian Magazine "Alamran" in his famous book "Sharah-e-Quasa'ed-e-Alwiya" writes "It cannot be denied that Ali was the Imam of speakers and orators, and he was the teacher and the leader of writers and philosophers. There is truth in this assertion that his sayings are superior to that of any man and are inferior only to the sayings of God the Almighty,. He undoubtedly was the man from writers, speakers, philosophers, theologians and poets have drawn inspirations, have improved their styles and have mastered their arts. The compilation of his work is named Nahjul Balagha, which should be read often.
I1. Fuwad Afram Al Basthanee, professor of Arabic literature in the Quadese Eusuf College of Beirut, is a Roman Catholic Christian. He has compiled a book containing selections from the works of philosophers, scientists, theologians and essayists. He starts this book with the following words, "I want to start this work of mine with the selections from the book Nahjul Balagha. It is a work of the greatest thinker of the world Imam Ali-Ibne-Abu-Talib.
12. The famous Christian moralist, author and poet, Polos Salamah in his famous book "Awal-lay-Mulhamah-e-Arabia" (printed at Alnaseer Press of Beirut) says, "The famous book Nahjul Balagha is the work which makes one realize the great mind of Ali Ibne Abu Talib. No book can surpass it but the Quran. In it you will find pearls of knowledge strung in beautiful chains, flowers of language making ones mind fragrant with sweet and pleasing smell of heroism and nobility, and streams of chaste language sweeter and cooler than the famous stream of the Kauser flowing constantly and refreshing minds of readers".
No comments:
Post a Comment