Lifestyle Criteria in Nahj-ul-Balaqa
Nahj-ul-Balaqa is a collection of sermons, precepts, prayers, epistles and aphorisms of Imam Ali (AS) compiled by al-Sayyid al-Sharif al-Radi about one thousand years ago.
Habibollah Saberinasab, a Quran and Nahj-ul-Balaqa researcher, in an interview with IQNA talked about the lessons for life that one can learn from the book:
Islamic lifestyle can be deduced from the teachings of Nahj-ul-Balaqa. Imam Ali (AS) in this precious book has made direct and indirect references to verses of the Quran 235 times, which highlights the importance of knowledge about the world of revelation in reading religious texts.
Nahj-ul-Balaqa is full of spiritual, political, social, cultural, … points and this distinguishes it from other books. Imam Ali (AS) had been raised in the school of Prophet Muhammad (AS) and fully acted in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran. That is why all over this precious book, Imam Ali (AS) has interpreted verses of the Quran, providing guidance that can help people in their life.
Nahj-ul-Balaqa always seems fresh, new and full of life and anyone who manages to benefit from its teachings can move on the path to salvation. The book links human beings and through its wise teachings helps them move on the path of salvation more easily.
One of the lessons we can learn from Nahj-ul-Balaqa is about the importance of avoiding conceit and arrogance.
Verse 6 of Surah Al-Infitar says: “O human! What has deceived you concerning your Generous Lord”.
Imam Ali (AS) teaches us points and gives us warnings in Nahj-ul-Balaqa in order to be saved from arrogance and conceit, attributes that can lead us to destruction.
In part of the book’s Sermon 223, Imam (AS) says: “You should cure the disease of languor in your heart by determination, and the sleep of neglectfulness in your eyes by wakefulness.”
Arrogance and conceit in life are not acceptable. The path to having a healthy life that pleases God is through obeying God’s commands and remember Him. As Imam Ali (AS) says, “Be obedient to Allah, and love His remembrance.”
By reading the Quran and Nahj-ul-Balaqa as well as Hadiths of the Infallibles (AS) and knowing the outcomes of conceit, one can stay away from this immoral trait as well as others that keep one distant from God.
