Levels of Argumentation in the Sermons of Imam Ali (PBUH): A Study of the Battles of Jamal and Nahrawan

Authors

  • .Lect. D Sabreen Khalif Mutair University of Wasit / College of Education for Human Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31185/lark.4828

Keywords:

Levels of argumentation, discourse, sermons of Imam Ali (PBUH), Battle of Jamal, Battle of Nahrawan.

Abstract

This research attempts to shed light on one side of the  aspect of argumentation, namely the levels of argumentation in the sermons of Imam Ali (PBUH), chosen of the sermons of Imam Ali (PBUH) especially these two specific historical events : the Battle of Jamal and the Battle of Nahrawan was made for several reasons:Imam Ali’s speeches in Nahj al-Balagha are considered a profound ocean and a divine secret, filled with deep meanings, clear proofs, and compelling arguments that aid humanity in reforming their worldly life and securing their afterlife. These sermons represent a source of reflection on the extraordinary rhetorical power of Imam Ali (PBUH), the most eloquent speaker after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).The two selected battles are especially significant because they embody all the key features of argumentative discourse: • The speaker: Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH) • The audience: The people of Jamal (the Nakithoon) and Al Khawarij of Nahrawan (the Mariqoon)These sermons are therefore rich in reasoning, evidence, and rhetorical strategies such as reproach, reminder, deterrence, invitation to truth, and a call to return to Allah before falling prey to Satan.The research methodology involves a comparative study of the vocabulary and rhetorical structure in these two sermons related to both events, aiming to identify the common argumentative and the similarities between them.

 

 

References

Al-Ansari, Ali ibn Zayd Al-Bayhaqi. Ma’arij Nahj Al-Balagha, ed. As’ad Al-Tayyib, Center for Islamic Research and Studies, Section of Islamic Heritage Revival, Qum, 1390 AH.

Al-Asfara’ini, Abu Al-Mudhaffar Tahir ibn Muhammad. Al-Tabsir fi Al-Deen wa Tamyeez Al-Firqa Al-Najiya ’an Al-Firaq Al-Halikin, ed. Kamal Yousif Al-Hout, Alam Al-Kutub, Lebanon, 1st ed., 1983.

Al-Asqalani, Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Hajar. Fath Al-Bari Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, arranged by Muhammad Fuad Abdul Baqi, revised by Muhibb Al-Din Al-Khatib, Al-Maktaba Al-Salafiyya, Egypt, 1390 AH.

Al-Bahrani, Sheikh Maytham ibn Ali ibn Maytham. Misbah Al-Salikeen (A Medium Commentary on Nahj Al-Balagha), ed. Dr. Sheikh Muhammad Hadi Al-Amini, Islamic Research Complex, 1st ed., 1408 AH.

Al-Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Isma’il. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Dar Ibn Kathir, Beirut - Lebanon, 2018.

Al-Dinawari, Abu Hanifa Ahmad ibn Dawood. Al-Akhbar Al-Tiwal, ed. Abdul Mun’im Amer, reviewed by Jamal Al-Din Al-Shayyal, Ministry of Culture and National Guidance - Egypt, 1st ed., 1960.

Al-Ghallabi, Muhammad ibn Zakariya ibn Dinar Al-Basri. Waq’at Al-Jamal – as narrated by Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Abdullah ibn Al-Abbas Al-Suli, ed. Sheikh Muhammad Hassan Al-Yasin, Al-Ma’arif Press, Baghdad, 1st ed., 1970.

Al-Haythami, Abu Al-Hasan Nur Al-Din Ali ibn Abi Bakr. Majma‘ Al-Zawa’id wa Manba‘ Al-Fawa’id, ed. Hossam Al-Din Al-Qudsi, Al-Qudsi Library, Cairo, 1994.

Al-Husayni, Abu Al-Husayn Yahya ibn Hamzah. Al-Dibaj Al-Wadi fi Al-Kashf ’an Asrar Kalam Al-Wasi (Commentary on Nahj Al-Balagha), ed. Khalid bin Qasim Al-Mutawakkil, Imam Zayd bin Ali Cultural Foundation, Sana’a, Yemen, 1st ed., 2003.

Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Nahj Al-Balagha, verified by Subhi Al-Salih, Maktabat Al-Kitab Al-Masri – Cairo, Dar Al-Kitab Al-Lubnani – Beirut, 4th ed., 2004.

Al-Khoei, Al-Allama Al-Muhaqqiq Mirza Habib Al-Hashimi. Minhaj Al-Bara’a fi Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha, ed. Ali Ashour, Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut - Lebanon, 1st ed., 2003.

Al-Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir. Bihar Al-Anwar Al-Jami‘a li Durar Akhbar Al-A’imma Al-At’har, ed. by a committee of scholars and researchers, revised by Al-Allama Sheikh Ali Al-Namazi Al-Shahroudi, Al-A’lami Foundation for Publications, Beirut – Lebanon, 1st ed., 2008.

Al-Mughamisi, Amal Yousif.Argumentation in the Prophetic Hadith – A Pragmatic Study, Al-Dar Al-Mutawasita Publishing, 2015.

Al-Moussawi, Sayyid Abbas Ali. Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha, Dar Al-Rasul Al-Akram (PBUH), Beirut – Lebanon, 1st ed., 1998.

Al-Naysaburi, Abu Al-Husayn Muslim ibn Al-Hajjaj Al-Qushayri. Sahih Muslim, ed. Muhammad Fuad Abdul Baqi, I’esa Al-Babi Al-Halabi Press, Cairo, Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-Arabi,

Al-Qaaini, Muhammad Taqi Al-Naqawi. Miftah Al-Sa‘ada fi Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha, Tehran – Qom, 2nd ed., 1428 AH.

Al-Samarra’i, Hind Yousif Majeed (2005). The Role of Women in the Khawarij Movement, Master’s Thesis, Supervised by Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Yassin Ahmed Al-Tikriti, University of Tikrit / College of Education.

Al-Shirazi, Sayyid Muhammad Al-Husayni. Tawdih Nahj Al-Balagha, Dar Al-Uloom, 1st ed., 2002.

Al-Tabari, Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Jarir. Tarikh Al-Tabari: Tarikh Al-Rusul wa Al-Muluk, ed. Muhammad Abu Al-Fadl Ibrahim, Dar Al-Ma’arif – Egypt, 2nd ed., 1967.

Al-Talibah, Muhammad Salim Muhammad Al-Amin. Argumentation in Contemporary Rhetoric: A Study in the Rhetoric of Contemporary Criticism, Dar Al-Kitab Al-Jadeed Al-Muttahida, Beirut, 2008.

Ansarian, Ali & Mortadha Haj Ali Fard. Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha (excerpted from Bihar Al-Anwar by Al-Majlisi), Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, General Directorate of Publishing and Media, 1st ed., 1308 AH.

Huda Dawood Salem (2020). The Argumentative Nature of the Qur’anic Narrative Discourse, Lark Journal, 4(39), https://doi.org/10.31185/lark.Vol4.Iss39.1419

Ibn Abi Al-Hadid. Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha, ed. Muhammad Ibrahim, Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arabi, Baghdad, 1st ed., 2007.

Ibn Hanbal, Imam Ahmad. Musnad Al-Imam Ahmad, eds. Shu’ayb Al-Arna’oot, Adel Murshid et al., supervised by Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, Al-Resalah Foundation, 1st ed., 2001.

Ibn Kathir, Ismail ibn Umar Al-Qurashi Al-Dimashqi. Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya, Al-Sa‘adah Press, Cairo, 1st ed., 1358 AH.

Ibn Manzur, Jamal Al-Din Abu Al-Fadl Al-Ansari Al-Ifriqi (d. 711 AH). Lisan Al-Arab, verified by Al-Yaziji and a group of linguists, Dar Sader, Beirut, 1414 AH.

Muhammad Hashem Abbas. Political Thought among the Khawarij, Master’s Thesis, Supervised by Assist. Prof. Dr. Amer Hassan Fayadh, College of Political Science, University of Baghdad, 2000.

Zain Al-Din, Abdul Rasul. Ma’rakat Al-Jamal, Qasabat Al-Yaqoot Foundation, 1st ed., 1445 AH.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-01

Issue

Section

Arabic language and literature

How to Cite

Sabreen Khalif Mutair, .Lect. D. (2026). Levels of Argumentation in the Sermons of Imam Ali (PBUH): A Study of the Battles of Jamal and Nahrawan. Lark, 18(1), 433-417. https://doi.org/10.31185/lark.4828