What did Christian intellectual figures say about Imam Ali, may God bless his face? (1)

2022.03.05 - 01:25
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Khalil Farahat.
Khalil Farahat is a Lebanese scholar, poet, and writer. His works include From the Deeps, New Studies in Literature, and African Odes. [3, p. 331]. Farahat has composed a beautiful epic on Imam Ali called In Ali’s Altar testifying to the fact that Ali is a pioneer and leader in various sciences. Here, he states that scholars and thinkers are inspired by Imam Ali as a rich sources to their knowledge. Farahat has likened these scholars to little birds who quench their thirst at the fountain and spring of Imam Ali’s knowledge and wisdom: “Their knowledge relies on your spring of wisdom, / No bird’s beak can dry out this eternal-water” [4, p. 78]. Farahat has also introduced Imam Ali’s words as a cutting blade which never goes blunt just like his sharp and cutting sword, Zolfeghar by saying: “Your words are like the sword whose blade never goes blunt, / They are as sharp and cutting as the mighty Zolfeghar” [4, p. 100]. Farahat thinks of Nahj al- Balagha and the Holy Quran as “Two brothers who shall never part, in such correlation that makes the Holy Quran the source of all eloquence in his poetic expression” [4, p. 107]. Thus, though a Christian, without any prejudice, Farahat apparently announces that Nahj al-Balagha contains all the subject matter and education of the Bible: “In Nahj al-Balagha you may find the whole Bible, / It is such a wonderful spring of divine inspiration.” (4, p. 108).


Hanna al-Fakhoury.
Hanna al-Fakhoury was a Lebanese Melkite priest, philosopher and linguist. In his History of Arabic Literature, he writes on Nahj al-Balagha saying, “In Nahj al- Balagha Imam Ali’s genius is manifested: genius based on a profound wisdom rooted in comprehensive understanding; a genius from which the particular and exact in nothing is hidden; such a genius that delves into depths and presents pure, solid, and lucid views,” and on the words and sermons of Imam Ali, al-Fakhoury says, “These words are the most truthful image of Imam Ali’s spirit. These perfumed words contain the divine virtue that existed in his heart. Such virtue that originates from faith in God, wonder at divine perfection in creation, and an avoidance from unsteady joys.” [5, p. 325]

Rocks Bin Zayed Al Uzaizi.
Rocks Bin Zayed Al Uzaizi was an author and literary man from Jordan. He has authored valuable works. In 1996, he was established as the head of Jordanian Writers Association, and from 1986 onward, he was the representative of the International
Association of Human Rights in Jordan. Al Uzaizi has written valuable books about the lifestyle and personality of Imam Ali, namely, Imam Ali: The Lion and Saint of Islam. This book has been translated to Persian, too. He has devoted a chapter to the words and sayings of Imam Ali, and he has brought a selection of them and called them, Immortal-Ideas. Al Uzaizi comments on Imam’s words saying that certainly any educated person, writer, scholar, and Arabic orator is indebted to
Imam Ali. If every person in the world owes to the Quran for its role in the formation of their rationality and thought, without doubt, every educated Arab person owes Nahj al-Balagha their firmness of the pen and writing. He says about Imam Ali’s scholarly concepts and ideas on government: “Whoever wants to understand Arab societies and Arab rationality should certainly read Nahj al-Balagha, and whoever wants to understand the right way to rule in Arab lands, needs Nahj al-Balagha.” [6, p. 209]

Abdul-Masih Antioch.
Abdul-Masih Antioch is a Christian poet and journalist, who was born in Aleppo and was educated there. Later he joined Abdul Rahman Kawakebi’s school. At first,
he published Alshuzur magazine in Aleppo and then ‘Umran magazine in Egypt [7, p. 766; 8, p. 297-298]. Antioch’s works include The Epic of Ali or The Blessed Alavid Qasida, Custom Built on the Exploits of Noble Men, Sultan Husain’s Trip in Riyadh Bahrain, The Oriental or Eastern Movement, and Constitution. [9, p. 5-6; Sheikhu; 10, p. 419; 11, p. 312] Antioch has composed a great poem on Imam Ali and has depicted different events in Imam Ali’s life. The poem is about the pronounced power of his expression. In Antioch view, Imam Ali is an eloquent Imam and teacher, the greatest person who has spoken and written in Arabic: “It seems as if both Arabic oratory and rhetoric have been created for him, / As if he reveals eloquence from mysterious nonbeing, / He dominates all eloquence known to man and narrated before him, / No
celebration is left for Father Ben Sa‘ida, / That great eloquent orator who many sermons has delivered” [9, p. 701]. Then, Antioch continues by saying: “Imam Ali’s sermons fascinate reason and serve it with such a divine wine whose butler is pure of all sin: These sermons whenever read, fascinate reason, / A Halal charm that fills the reader’s soul, / This Halal miracle is that rhythmic speech and eloquence, / That is ample challenge to the intellect of people, / A pure, divine wine whose cupbearer is pure of all sin, / These sermons are a pearl necklace, / Strung to adorn and fulfil divine law, / Grasp that law and the guiding pearls adorning it” [9, p. 701]. Antioch is so impressed with Ali’s word that he says, “Were it not for the fear of God and piety, I would say that these words are verses of the Holy Quran, in which ideals of divine leadership and guidance are reflected” [9, p. 740]. Moreover, Antioch has, at the end of his work, versified a selection of short wisdom as found in Nahj al-Balagha.

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