Motto
“People! We live in a challenging age and a difficult time …”. This is one of the many statements that still ring true, and it is not surprising that Nahj al-balāghah (The Way of Eloquence) has remained one of the most revered Arabic texts among both Sunni and Shiʾi Muslims. These speeches, letters, and sayings attributed to ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muḥammad, one of the key figures in Islamic history and considered an outstanding orator, were compiled around CE 1000. This volume, with Tahera Qutbuddin’s splendid scholarly edition and masterly translation, is a major achievement.
Geert Jan van Gelder, Laudian Professor of Arabic Emeritus, University of Oxford