What is Nahjul Balagha?
Nahjul Balagha is one of the most important sources in Islam,
especially in Shia Islam. It contains the sermons, letters, and sayings of
Imam Ali, the first Divinely Appointed Imam of the Twelver Shia.
For a Shia Muslim, the first source is the Holy Koran, in which all the
Shia believe and it is the only unchanged book of Allah. The Shia believe
that the Koran is unchanged and it is under the protection of Allah.
Both the past and the present scholars of Shia have written a lot about
this subject.
We also hava many hadiths from the Holy Imams (p), some examples are:
Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (as)
“We did not make humans rulers, but we made the Qur’an the ruler
over humans. This Qur’an is free from change but does not speak on its
own accoard, an interpreter is needed for this task.”
Nahjul Balagha part 6 page 7, Publishers Rehmania Egypt ( Creed of Shia Explained)
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as)
Ali bin Salam narrates from his father who asked Imam Jafer Sadiq (as) “O
descendant of Prophet (S). What are your views on the Qur’an? Imam Jafer
(as) replied ‘the Qur’an is Allah’s book; it contains commands
of Allah; sent by Allah. It is not subject to alteration, neither can anyone
claim that it has been changed, nor has anyone ever made such a claim.
Amali-al-Shaykh Saduq, Page 545, Published Iran ( Creed of Shia Explained)
Imam Ali Naqi (as)
“The whole Ummah agrees on the authenticity of the Qur’an. No sect
in the Ummah denies this fact, and this claim is true”.
Ehtijaj-e-Tabrisi, Page 234, Published Iran) ( Creed of Shia Explained)
Those who say, the Shia believe that the Koran is changed are LIARS. Those who want to
read more about the protection of Koran in Shia Islam should read:
1- Creed of Shia, Shia Belief Explained. This book can be downloaded at
2- Koran- Its Protection from Alteration
For a Shia muslim, the second most important source is the unchanged Sunnah of the Prophet,
his traditions and practices that are related through Holy Imams (p).
The third most important source is the traditions of the Holy Imams among which are, the Masterpieces, Nahjul Balagha by Imam Ali, and Sahifa Sajjadiyya by Imam Zaynul Abidin, etc.
So to put them in order, we can say that in a Shia Muslim's life, you see three sources:
1-Koran
2-Traditions of Holy Prophet (p)
3-Nahjul Balagha, Sahifa Sajjadiyya....
These are very important is a Shia Muslim's life. They are invaluable and matchless.
May Allah guide those who knowingly or unknowingly accuse the Shia Muslims with false accusations.
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Muhammed M.IPEK,
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