NAQSH-I NIGĀR: MURŪRĪ BAR ZINDIGĀNĪ-I AMĪR AL-MU’MINĪN ‘ALĪ ‘ALAYHI AL-SALĀM, BARGIRIFTI AZ BAYĀNĀT-I ḤAZRAT-I ĀYAT ALLĀH AL-‘UẒMĀ KHĀMENE’Ī, RAHBAR-I MU‘AẒẒAM-I INQILĀB-I ISLĀMĪ. [NAQSH-I NIGĀR: A REVIEW OF THE LIFE OF AMIR AL-MU’MININ ‘ALI (PBUH): BASED ON THE DISCOURSES OF AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, THE LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION]. By Mohammad Mohammadian . Tehran, Iran: Nashr Inqilab Islami. 2014. Pp. 296. Paper. 1,200,000 IRR.
Our understanding of the perfect human being and divine personalities is subject to the law of proximity. The closer we are to them, the better we grasp their true essence. Imam Ali (PBUH) is one of those personalities whose recognition is directly proportional to the distance one maintains from him. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once said, “O Ali, no one has truly known you except Allah and myself.”
Numerous works have been written on this subject, but what distinguishes this particular work is its reliance on the discourses of Ayatollah Khamenei, a disciple of Imam Ali’s school of thought, who has provided precise and comprehensive analyses of various dimensions of Imam Ali’s personality.
This work is divided into 15 chapters. The first chapter highlights the prominent traits of Imam Ali (PBUH), emphasizing his selflessness, sacrifice of personal desires in the face of divine duty, and his courage in being the first man to embrace Islam at a time when no one dared to do so. Her faith was not hidden during the 13 years of the Prophet’s mission, except for the first few days.
The second chapter discusses the event of Laylat al-Mabit, the night when Imam Ali (PBUH) slept in the Prophet’s bed to protect him, showcasing one of his greatest acts of sacrifice. This event led to the revelation of a Quranic verse (2:207) in his honor.
The third chapter focuses on Imam Ali’s continuous efforts in the battlefield to serve the religion during his time in Medina. He stood by the Prophet in the most challenging times and played a pivotal role in the major battles of that era. Imam Ali participated in nearly all the battles except for Tabuk, which he missed by the Prophet’s command. He later stated that without his efforts, the foundations of faith would not have been established.
In the fourth chapter, the most difficult days of Imam Ali after the passing of the Prophet are discussed. At the moment of the Prophet’s demise, Imam Ali did not participate in the decision-making meeting at Saqifah, as he was occupied with a more sacred duty: preparing, washing, and burying the Prophet, as well as fulfilling the Prophet’s will, which was to compile the Quran. After the matter of caliphate was settled and the people pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr, Imam Ali withdrew. Although in the initial days he made efforts to implement what he believed to be the rightful course, he remained silent after the people pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr. He said, “I will not raise any objection as long as no one is wronged and the affairs of the Muslims remain secure.” For the sake of the greater good of Islam, he did not protest and eventually pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr. He remained alongside the three caliphs for 25 years and discouraged those, including Abu Sufyan, who urged him to rise up, saying, “What you are eager for and the power you desire for your own selfish desires is like stagnant water and a choking morsel.”
The fifth chapter highlights Imam Ali’s active presence during the 25 years of silence, where he served as a trusted advisor to the caliphs, offering counsel and support without ever opposing them. He described his role during this period as that of a minister, providing guidance in various matters, including the conquest of Persia.
The sixth chapter addresses Imam Ali’s stance during the siege of Uthman’s house. Despite widespread opposition to Uthman, Imam Ali sent his sons, Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn, to protect him and played the role of a mediator, urging calm and reconciliation.
The seventh chapter recounts the event of the people’s allegiance to Imam Ali after Uthman’s assassination. In an unprecedented move, the people unanimously chose Imam Ali as their leader. Initially reluctant, Imam Ali eventually accepted the caliphate, driven by his sense of Islamic duty in a tumultuous time.
The eighth chapter explores Imam Ali’s motivations for accepting the caliphate, as expressed in his famous Sermon of Shiqshiqiyyah (Sermon 3 of Nahj al-Balaghah). His primary motivation was to combat oppression and support the oppressed, as well as to guide the people toward the correct path of religion and eradicate corruption.
The ninth chapter discusses Imam Ali’s approach to those who refused to pledge allegiance to him. Unlike others, he did not force them into allegiance but instead engaged in dialogue to guide them.
In the tenth chapter, the announcement of Imam Ali’s plans before his caliphate and his final argument before the pledge of allegiance are discussed. Before the people pledged their allegiance, he said, “Now that I have given you a positive response, do not think that I have taken into consideration the opinions of famous individuals or personalities. Do not think that I will follow this or that person. Rather, I will act according to what I know, understand, and discern, and according to my understanding of Islam.” Therefore, when Imam Ali accepted the caliphate, his first statement was: “Every oppressed person is dear to me, and their right takes priority until I take it back from the oppressor. Conversely, the oppressor is humiliated in my eyes until I take the right from them, after which they become like ordinary people.” He said, “The wealth that was taken unjustly during the previous period must be returned, even if it was used to buy a slave, for marriage, or spent on living expenses. This wealth belongs to the public treasury and the people. It must be returned.” This was the governance of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), who believed in economic justice and equality among people. He did not grant any special rights to his relatives or close ones over the public treasury.
The eleventh chapter examines the challenges Imam Ali faced during his caliphate, which lasted four years and ten months. This period was marked by dark and complex circumstances, where the values of Islam were often forgotten, and political instability prevailed.
The twelfth chapter describes the events of the Battle of Jamal, where Imam Ali faced opposition from Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, and prominent companions like Talha and Zubayr. This battle highlighted the difficulty of discerning truth in a politically charged environment.
The thirteenth chapter focuses on the Battle of Siffin against Muawiyah, who had established himself as the governor of Syria. Imam Ali viewed Muawiyah as a threat to the true path of Islam and sought to remove him from power. However, some of Imam Ali’s companions hesitated to fight against fellow Muslims, complicating the situation.
The fourteenth chapter addresses the emergence of the Kharijites, a group of newly converted Muslims who lacked deep Islamic knowledge. Imam Ali faced significant challenges in dealing with their extremism and violence, which stemmed from their superficial understanding of religion.
In the final chapter, the manner of Imam Ali’s martyrdom is discussed. On the night of the 19th of Ramadan, he was breaking his fast at the home of his daughter, Umm Kulthum. Because the Prophet had foretold his martyrdom, he was always anticipating an event that would lead to his death. Ultimately, in the early hours of the 19th, he was struck on the head by Ibn Muljam. However, he was truly a remarkable person. Even as he lay on his deathbed, he gave advice to his children, urging them to fear God and not to chase after worldly possessions, even if the world chases after them. He continued by saying that if nothing from this despised world comes to you and you are deprived of it, do not grieve. Instead, speak the truth, do not conceal it, do not abandon the oppressed, and be a helper to the wronged. In this final testament, he also advised caring for orphans, neighbors, fostering friendship and harmony among people, and acting according to the Quran. Imam Ali emphasized a crucial point in his will: the matter of retribution. He said, “When I die from this wound, kill him with one strike—one strike for one strike—because I fear that people will rush upon this man and tear him apart.” He also said, “Do not mutilate him, for I have heard from the Prophet that even a dog should not be mutilated, let alone a human.” Finally, he was martyred in the city of Kufa on the 21st of Ramadan and, according to his will, was buried secretly and in a strange manner at night, as there was a risk that even his body might be desecrated by his enemies.
