Examining the Authorship of Nahj al-Balāgha: Between Ali Ibn Abi Talib, al-Sharif al-Radi, and al-Sharif al-Murtad

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Published Mar 24, 2025
Khalid Sindawi

Abstract

The book Nahj al-Balagha is a collection of sermons, letters, adages, commandments, and etiquettes, divided into 238 sermons, 79 treatises, and 489 sayings. People following the Shiite sect regard it as a crucial text for teaching and learning, and they attribute it to Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Yet, the book’s real author is still disputed among Sharia scholars. While some attribute it to Ali Ibn Abi Talib, others claim that al-Sharif al-Radi is the book’s actual author, whereas another group attribute it to al-Sharif al-Murtada. This study employs a comprehensive approach to investigate and analyze the book’s authorship. It involves a detailed literary and historical analysis, examining primary sources, scholarly works, and critical literature to explore the real author of the text. It compares the content of the book with other authenticated works belonging to the potential authors in order to identify similarities and differences. By evaluating the style, language, and themes of Nahj al-Balagha, as well as reviewing historical documents and manuscripts, the study aims to trace the text’s origins and transmissions. In doing so, it addresses the significant critiques and controversies surrounding the text, enhancing our understanding of its historical and literary significance. The study further contributes to the ongoing discourse on the book’s authorship, providing more clarity on the topic and promoting additional scholarly research.

How to Cite

Khalid Sindawi. (2025). Examining the Authorship of Nahj al-Balāgha: Between Ali Ibn Abi Talib, al-Sharif al-Radi, and al-Sharif al-Murtad. AL-Majma, 20, 131–176. Retrieved from https://ojs.qsm.ac.il/index.php/majma/article/view/950

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Keywords

Nahj al-Balagha; Classical Arabic Writing; History; Comparative Studies; Authorship

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