Religiousness and Worldliness in Nahj al-Balaghah
Soosan
Al-i Rasoul
. Associate Professor, Islamic Azad University of Karaj
author
Fatemeh
Masjedi
M.A. in the Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Karaj
author
text
article
2014
per
‘World’ is among the concepts that have been interpreted differently, and there are extremist and pacifist viewpoints regarding it. The present paper aims to study the relationship between religiousness and attainment of worldly blessings from the viewpoint of Imam Ali (PBUH) in Nahj al-Balaghah. While he describes the sordid characteristics of the world and warns about the consequences of worldliness, he emphasizes on using the world rightly as he sees a religious man’s worldly life as a prologue to his hereafter. That is what he calls ‘religious worldliness’, the prerequisite of which is asceticism, i.e. preference of religion over the world.
Imam Ali ΄s Studies
Institute For Humanities And Cultural Studies
2383-0859
4
v.
8
no.
2014
1
19
https://alavi.ihcs.ac.ir/article_1056_0227fa8ef998d6e9bb91c8c4904947bf.pdf
The Lessons of History from the Viewpoint of Imam Ali (PBUH)
Akram
Ahmadian Ahmadabadi
M.A. in Knowledge of Nahj al-Balaghah, University of Kashan
author
Mohammad
Akhavan
Professor of Islamic Sciences, University of Kashan
author
text
article
2014
per
The present paper aims to study the lessons of history from the viewpoint of Imam Ali (PBUH). Oral history, history as a science or scientific history are all treasuries of truths and information about human past lives. Given this description of history, can it be of any benefit to future generations? Can one make a path from past to future by learning the lessons of history? If so, what are the reasons? What are the main factors that generalize the historical traditions and turn them into rules? This library study aims to answer such questions. It was found out that according to monotheistic worldview, the world and thus man has a creator, and that society is of no function and man is of no independence without God’s will. Therefore, it is necessary to obey the rules set by Him for human life. History, as a result how man and the world behave, can be regarded as a valuable source of learning. Nahj al-Balaghah, which is an important treasury of Imam Ali’s sayings, as well as other Alavi sources contain invaluable lessons of history some of which were discussed in the present paper. Keywords: Imam Ali (PBUH), Law, Tradition, Society, Past, Lesson, Accident.
Imam Ali ΄s Studies
Institute For Humanities And Cultural Studies
2383-0859
4
v.
8
no.
2014
19
40
https://alavi.ihcs.ac.ir/article_1057_391918df5d4216394147b97c8c510b17.pdf
Democracy in the Rule of Imam Ali (PBUH)
Ahmad
Bakhshayesh Ardestani
Associate Professor, Faculty of Political Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch
author
Farzaneh
Dashti
Ph.D Candidate, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch
author
text
article
2014
per
From Imam Ali’s (PBUH) viewpoint, the political arena of a truth-oriented government is a meritocratic are in which all members of society should have the opportunity to participate. The government, in fact, is based on people’s will and presence. Imam Ali (PBUH) considers a government as a means to serve people. The prominent characteristics of his government were avoiding tyranny and emphasis on consultation with people. People in such a government are regarded as the bases of ruling body and solid shields against enemies. According to Imam Ali (PBUH), getting people’s good intentions is extremely essential and since political power arises from people, they have the right to monitor the process of execution of Islamic principles and rules. Government policy-makings are focused on the mass of people, since they always assist the government in hard times. Political awareness of people plays a significant role in continuity, persistence, and acceleration of reaching goals. The area of ruling is not a realm of secrecy and all people must be notified about the measures taken by the government so that the grounds for political transparency are prepared. Any kind of discrimination and inequality, whether political or economic or social, is rejected, so that a safe environment for optimum flourishing and prosperity of society is created. All of such principles, including the right to express one’s opinions, political participation, tolerance for people, serving the public, making efforts to realize public interests, accountability, transparency, equality, and justice, are characteristics of an Islamic government today. It is noteworthy that these principles were executed in the truth-oriented government of Imam Ali (PBUH).
Imam Ali ΄s Studies
Institute For Humanities And Cultural Studies
2383-0859
4
v.
8
no.
2014
40
60
https://alavi.ihcs.ac.ir/article_1058_435ed2b974269acc41aebb3945616b84.pdf
Rejection of Visibility and Proving Spiritual
Perception of God in Imam Ali’s Sayings
Samad
Abdollahi Abed
Associate Professor, Shahid Madani University of Azerbaijan
author
text
article
2014
per
Man, due to his nature, is always seeking his God. However, this search sometimes leads to some deviations. An example is to consider God as a worldly physical creature who is visible and has corporeal organs. According to The Holy Qur’an, it is impossible to see God with our eyes. Moreover, Imams, Imam Ali (PBUH) in particular, have made valuable remarks in this regard. In some of his sayings, Imam Ali (PBUH) rejects the possibility of physical perception of God whether with our eyes or other senses. He also refers to the prime evidence of perception and, accordingly, finds it impossible to see God. However, he states that the impossibility of seeing God cannot be a reason to deny Him. In some of his sayings, Imam Ali (PBUH) not only rejects the possibility of physically seeing God, but also denies the feasibility of perception of His essence. But he considers it sometimes possible to spiritually perceive God through faith, reason, wisdom, science, and signs of His power. The difference between the two viewpoints lies in the fact that the former is based on the impossibility of perception of God, while the latter regards it possible through contemplation on His traces and attributes.
Imam Ali ΄s Studies
Institute For Humanities And Cultural Studies
2383-0859
4
v.
8
no.
2014
60
80
https://alavi.ihcs.ac.ir/article_1059_a0b3f9983ed4ebc167d518ec493d7d43.pdf
The Methodology Employed by Allameh Ja’fari in the Interpretation of Nahj al-Balaghah:
With an Emphasis on Interpretive Sources and References
Fat’hieh
Fattahizadeh
Associate Professor and Faculty Member, Alzahra University
author
La’ya
Moradi
Ph.D Candidate of the Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Shahre Qods
author
text
article
2014
per
Allameh Mohammad-Taqi Ja’fari, one of the prominent contemporary scholars, has several compilations among which is Translation and Interpretation of Nahj al-Balaghah. Methodological study of this work reveals the greatness of Imam Ali’s (PBUH) sayings as well as skillfulness of the exegete. The present research is based on the interpretive sources and references. Verses of The Holy Qur’an, the narratives of the Infallibles, and the commentaries of the exegetes of Nahj al-Balaghah are the most important means to understand the words of Imam Ali (PBUH). The Qur’an, as the most significant resource for understanding of the narratives, and at the next level, the narratives by other Imams as well as Imam Ali’s words, were used as verbal evidence. Using various approaches to study the references-such as comparative or confirmatory approaches-and also comprehensive review of the verses and narratives were effective in explaining the references.
Imam Ali ΄s Studies
Institute For Humanities And Cultural Studies
2383-0859
4
v.
8
no.
2014
80
100
https://alavi.ihcs.ac.ir/article_1060_d75da70523338ed5b4ece3c4bd6c8247.pdf
Intratextual Evidence of Authenticity of Nahj al-Balaghah
Rouhollah
Mohammadi
. Ph.D Candidate of the Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, University of Tehran
author
text
article
2014
per
A misgiving concerning Nahj al-Balaghah, claimed shortly after its compilation and fuelled by some people whether intentionally or inadvertently, was the reliability of the information and its reference to Imam Ali (PBUH). The present paper aims to show that even if no strong evidence is found, still it can be firmly claimed that all the words and sentences in this book have been set forth by Imam Ali (PBUH). The reason is a set of evidence proving that the truths and knowledge presented in such innovative and attractive forms cannot be stated by an ordinary man. The evidence includes the eminence and comprehensiveness of the content, innovative forms, great effectiveness and attractiveness, eloquence and rhetoric, referring to seeing angels as well as seeing and hearing signs of nature (Āfāq) and soul (Anfus), announcement of the invisible world and predicting the future, the challenging aspect in the field knowledge, and consistency of the events in Nahj al-Balaghah with history. This paper shows that the text of Nahj al-Balaghah, in spite of being silent, testifies its authenticity and reference to Imam Ali (PBUH).
Imam Ali ΄s Studies
Institute For Humanities And Cultural Studies
2383-0859
4
v.
8
no.
2014
100
120
https://alavi.ihcs.ac.ir/article_1061_0dc00fe54133f5baf6e79ebf0833473e.pdf