Imam Ali ΄s Studies

Abstract Ghadir event was one of the mainsprings which has inspired poets and literary writers throughout the history. A large number of poets have composed poems and verses about the event, each representing their devotion to Imam Ali (A). Arabic poems are no exception. The themes and contents of Arabic Ghadir compositions are so vast that they cannot be restricted to certain subjects or special poets. Given the high significance of the event and its reflection in Arabic poems, we attempted to analyze Arabic poems with regard to their related themes and styles. The findings of the study reveal that among the numerous existing themes, subjects like expressing devotion to Imam Ali (A), citing Guardianship (Vilayat) verse, pledging allegiance to the Imam, cursing the enemies, referring to caliphate of the Imam, and reproaching Saqifa are more frequent. Concerning the style, the common style of odes is brevity; though some poets have composed scattered and extensive poems. Although Ghadir poets have attempted to write persuasively and approvingly, they have not disregarded deploying aesthetics as well as attractive and innovative poetic imageries in their poetry.

Abstract Divine names and attributes are of crucial importance regarding human relation with God, and other issues like beliefs and the act of speaking to the lord of universe.  The semantic aspect of the issue has been of great attention in religion philosophy. It seeks to explain how divine attributes should be recognized and how they are related to human attributes. The sublime Qur’an and holy Imams’ narrations contain significant and profound concepts which could be employed in meeting these challenges. The present study, through employing content analysis,explores the approach taken by the sublime Qur’an and Imam Ali (A)concerning the divine names and attributes. From the viewpoint of the sublime Qur’an and Imam Ali’s narrations, we encounter the two issues of tashbih and ta'til denials. In ta’til denial, we are guided to Godvia His creation and God presents Himself to mankind by means of nature and describesHimself through His acts and annihilation of deficiencies. In  tashbih denial,  due to contradictions between the creator and the creatures and unimaginable nature of God, any descriptions offered by the creatures is unacceptable since erroneous means would lead to taking over God, disintegration, enumeration,restriction, assimilation and image-making of God

Abstract Over centuries the history of Islam has encountered a variety of crises as well as deviating uproars and tumults. Imam Ali (A) in his collection of sermons in NahjulBalagha has frequently clarified such issues to shed light on hidden aspects of various types of trials (Fitna) and unveil them. In the present study, through extracting Imam’s statements, we seek to analyze the accurate descriptions and elucidations of these trials (Fitna), the grounds for their emergence, their consequences and repercussions as well as the strategies recommended by the Imam in confronting them. Imam Ali states that the main causes of trials (Fitna) are following carnal desires, weakness in religious beliefs, and imprudent involvement in suspicious issues; whose murky atmosphere would lead to amalgamation of rights and wrongs and misleading the individuals. To confront such seditions, he emphasizes the importance ofresorting to Qur’anic teachings, avoiding haste, and acting vigilantly. 

Abstract Islam is a value-constructing religion. It fights with values which are against or contrary to human dignity and sets a system of spiritual and humanistic values. Imam Ali (A) is acknowledged as the best interpreter of religion and the sublime Qur’an whose life and manners were interwoven with Qur’anic teachings. Concedingthat Alavi teachings are the most distinguished, unwavering and evident example of religion and life instructions—chiefly reported in the accredited book of NahjulBalagha—we seek to analyze political anti-values in NahjulBalagha in the present study. First, politics from the viewpoint of Imam Ali (A) will be investigated and political hypocrisy and cruelty as two frequently cited anti-values will be discussed.  Inclusion of all anti-values is rather infeasible; however, we try to elaborate on the main relevant issues which recur in the statements of Imam Ali (A) and make a mention of other sub-issues.

Abstract Imam Ali’s Mus'haf, which is a codex of the sublime Qur’an dictated by the Prophet (A) and written by Imam Ali (A), is one of the precious sources of Shia Imams’ knowledge. The validity of Mus'haf has been confirmed in both Shia and Sunni references. Shia scholars believe that the content of the available Mus'haf is different from Imam Ali’s Mus'haf in terms of the order of chapters and a few of verses and their esoteric interpretation. However, some contemporary scholars believe that there is no difference between the available Mus'haf and the sublime Qur’an in order of verses and chapters; nonetheless, Imam Ali’s Mus'haf contains esoteric interpretation of verses and the occasions or circumstances of their revelation. The present study presents the content of the Mus'haf and the viewpoints held by Shia and Sunni scholars, and suspicions voiced by the Wahhabis in denying the existence of Mus'haf. Next, different views of Shia scholars on the order of chapters and verses in Imam Ali’s Mus'haf will be critiqued. While critiquing some views that reduce the dissimilarities to the order of chapters and verses, we argue that the views of contemporary scholars could be appraised as more credible.

Abstract There are links and associations between words and meanings which could be the result of vowels’ repetition in speech and words’ particular connotation. The issue plays an important role in meaning distinctions in word choice and meaning connotation.  Thus, we cannot separate phonetic level from semantic level in literary speech and sentence structure. The theory of vowels’ inductance in discourse was first introduced by the French linguist Morris Gramon in the 20^th century. Prior to his literary theory, some French poets of the 19^th century had attempted to clarify the association between sound features of the speech and other phenomena of the universe. In the present study, conducted through descriptive-analytic method, we attempted to semantically analyze the harmony of words in Jihad sermon of NahjulBalagha concerning semantics of  words with meaning convergence at paradigmatic axis and Morris Gramon’s linguistic theory of vowels’ inductance. The findings of the study confirm the sermon’s coherence, the vowels’ inductance in the sermon, and deployment of vowels and homophones with regard to their connotation in certain parts of the sermon. For better illustration, the frequency of these vowels has been displayed in statistical tables.