Full course description
As a registered charity, we charge course fees to cover our running costs. However, we aim to make our education accessible to as many people as possible and are therefore able to offer a 65% fee waiver. To make use of this fee waiver, please use the code AMI65 when purchasing your courses.
Students in need of further financial assistance should contact the education team at education@almahdi.edu to enquire about the possibility of further fee waivers.
This course introduces students to the academic study of Nahj al-balāgha. After historically contextualising the text, it will analyse specific sermons, letters, and maxims to acquaint students with the spiritual and moral teachings of Imām ʿAlī (ع). Through a close reading of the text, students will learn the skills that are necessary for the proper translation and interpretation of Nahj al-balāgha.
Lesson Breakdown
Lesson 1 Introduction to course, why this text is important, authenticity of the text, understanding the meaning of the text, the purpose with which to study the text
Lesson 2 Structure of the text, various themes in the text.
Theme of this course: Morality and moral philosophy
General introduction to the theme of morality
Lesson 3 Imām ʿAlī’s theory in normative ethics, epistemic virtues/vices and theological virtues in the text.
Characteristics of the virtue ethics in the text
Lesson 4 Imām ʿAlī’s conception of piety – Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 1-4)
Lesson 5 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 5-6)
Lesson 6 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attribute 7)
Lesson 7 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 8-16)
Lesson 8 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 17-18)
Lesson 9 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 19-24)
Lesson 10 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 25-29)
Lesson 11 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 28-29)
Imām ʿAlī’s letter 53 to Mālik al-Ashtar, saying 55 on patience
Lesson 12 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attribute 30)
Lesson 13 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 31-37)
Lesson 14 Conception of heaven and hell and nature of real enemy in the eyes of the pious
Imām ʿAlī’s prescription for having a good life
Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 38-41)
Lesson 15 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attribute 42)
Lesson 16 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 42-48)
Lesson 17 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 49-57)
Lesson 18 Khuṭbat al-muttaqīn (attributes 58-67)
Hours of Study
9 hours
Assessment Method
Oral exam (100%)
Course Instructor
Dr Ali Fanaei