Document Type : .
Authors
1
Graduate with a Master's Degree in Nahj al-Balagha, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran
2
Associate Professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran
10.30465/alavi.2025.50827.2694
Abstract
The wise sayings of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) have long attracted the attention of both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars, particularly Orientalists, and have served as a source of inspiration for numerous Western translations and academic inquiries. Among the early efforts to translate a selection of Imam Ali’s aphorisms into English is Sentences of Ali by Simon Ockley (1720 CE), published at the beginning of the eighteenth century. This work comprises 169 selected sayings attributed to Imam Ali (p.b.u.h), chosen primarily for their ethical, epistemological, and didactic dimensions.
Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, the present study provides a concise introduction to the author and his book, followed by a content-based examination of the selected sayings, identification of their probable sources, and an analysis of Ockley’s selection criteria. The findings indicate that over 85 percent of the sayings are ethical in nature and are primarily derived from the classical collection Ghurar al-Hikam wa Durar al-Kalim, although a portion of the quotations lacks clear attribution. Furthermore, a cultural analysis of the work reveals that, in contrast to the prevailing Orientalist trend of the time, Ockley sought to portray a morally centered and universal image of Imam Ali (p.b.u.h) to Western readers.
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