Ayatollah Javadi Amoli: Nahj al-Balagha is the eternal and universal commentary on the Quran.
According to the website Fekr va Farhang-e Moballegh (Thinkers and Culture of Preachers), Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli, in his message to the Nahj al-Balagha conference held in Sari, praised the holding of this scientific gathering and thanked the organizers, after offering praise to God and sending blessings upon the prophets and their household (Ahl al-Bayt).
As reported by IRNA, he stated that Nahj al-Balagha has two central characteristics from the perspective of interpreting the Holy Quran: “On the one hand, this book is general and universal, and on the other hand, it is permanent and eternal. Because a book can be a true commentary on the Quran only if, like the Quran, it is universal in its scope of audience and remains effective at all times.”
This Marja’ Taqlid (source of emulation) emphasized: “Nahj al-Balagha, like the Quran, has a fresh message for people of every era, region, and generation, and cures every intellectual, moral, and social ailment.”
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli considered the interpretation of the Quran by those other than the Ahl al-Bayt invalid and stated: “The true interpretation of the Quran is when ‘God said’ is the text, and ‘God’s vicegerent said’ is the commentary. Only he who is the ‘speaking Quran’ and the vicegerent of the Speaking God can recount and explain the Divine Word.”
He continued: “For this reason, Amir al-Mu’minin (Commander of the Faithful), peace be upon him, said in Nahj al-Balagha that all knowledge and rulings are present in the Quran, but the Quran does not speak to people, and it is the speaking vicegerent who articulates it.”
Referring to the epistemic components of Nahj al-Balagha, he said: “This book, on the one hand, is universal and eternal, and on the other hand, it responds to the needs of every time and region. Also, from the luminous sayings of Amir al-Mu’minin, it is evident that the unity and cohesion of society are among divine intentions.”
This Marja’ Taqlid, citing the words of Amir al-Mu’minin (AS), stated: “Truth is heavy in appearance but pleasant, while falsehood is light but brings pestilence. If one touches the public treasury, people’s rights, the nation’s blood, or the society’s honor, although it may seem easy at first, its effects are pestilential and ruinous to reputation; just as a personal sin destroys an individual’s honor, and a national sin destroys the honor of a nation.”
He continued: “The outcome of such conferences should be that humans live honorably, for the Quran states about some individuals that their honor will be lost in this world and the hereafter. Nahj al-Balagha is a book that promotes honor, so that a Muslim neither blocks anyone’s path nor goes astray.”
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli clarified: “These sayings are the initial layers of Nahj al-Balagha, and this book contains knowledge that cannot be understood without years of effort. When Amir al-Mu’minin said, ‘Ask me before you lose me,’ or stated that he is not like ordinary mountains where rain falls and floods flow from its slopes, but rather he is so lofty that floods originate from his base, this demonstrates His Holiness’s scientific and epistemic greatness.”
He added: “Not every mountain is flood-generating, just as not every human reaches high peaks in understanding and wisdom. Amir al-Mu’minin is that peak whose heights the bird of imagination cannot reach.”
This Marja’ Taqlid concluded by expressing hope that the world would move towards a direction where the pleasure of unity becomes palatable to human society, wars, bloodshed, and violence cease, and weapons factories are shut down.
