Author: Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn Sharīf al-Raḍī
Publisher: Shia Books
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 714
Book Description
The complete version of Nahjul Balagha, translated with precision and care, is a treasure trove of wisdom and insight for seekers of truth and knowledge. This unparalleled collection of sermons, letters, and aphorisms by Imam Ali (AS), the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is a masterpiece of Arabic literature and a testament to the richness and complexity of Islamic thought. The translation of Nahjul Balagha allows readers to delve deep into the heart of Islamic spirituality and discover the depth and breadth of Imam Ali's teachings. With its concise yet powerful language, Nahjul Balagha covers a wide range of topics, from theology and ethics to politics and governance, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of Islam and its values. As one of the most significant works of Islamic literature, Nahjul Balagha has been studied and revered by scholars and students of Islam for centuries. It's timeless wisdom and universal appeal make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Islam and its teachings. This translation of Nahjul Balagha, with its accessible language and insightful commentary, is an invaluable addition to the libraries of both scholars and laypeople alike. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Islam and Imam Ali's (AS) teachings.
Imaam Ali Bn Abi-Taalib's Sermons, Letters & Sayings as Compiled by Sayyid Shareef Ar-Razi in Nahjol-Balaagha, Peak of Eloquence
Author: Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn Sharīf al-Raḍī
Publisher: Shia Books
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 714
Book Description
The complete version of Nahjul Balagha, translated with precision and care, is a treasure trove of wisdom and insight for seekers of truth and knowledge. This unparalleled collection of sermons, letters, and aphorisms by Imam Ali (AS), the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is a masterpiece of Arabic literature and a testament to the richness and complexity of Islamic thought. The translation of Nahjul Balagha allows readers to delve deep into the heart of Islamic spirituality and discover the depth and breadth of Imam Ali's teachings. With its concise yet powerful language, Nahjul Balagha covers a wide range of topics, from theology and ethics to politics and governance, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of Islam and its values. As one of the most significant works of Islamic literature, Nahjul Balagha has been studied and revered by scholars and students of Islam for centuries. It's timeless wisdom and universal appeal make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Islam and its teachings. This translation of Nahjul Balagha, with its accessible language and insightful commentary, is an invaluable addition to the libraries of both scholars and laypeople alike. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Islam and Imam Ali's (AS) teachings.
Publisher: Shia Books
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 714
Book Description
The complete version of Nahjul Balagha, translated with precision and care, is a treasure trove of wisdom and insight for seekers of truth and knowledge. This unparalleled collection of sermons, letters, and aphorisms by Imam Ali (AS), the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is a masterpiece of Arabic literature and a testament to the richness and complexity of Islamic thought. The translation of Nahjul Balagha allows readers to delve deep into the heart of Islamic spirituality and discover the depth and breadth of Imam Ali's teachings. With its concise yet powerful language, Nahjul Balagha covers a wide range of topics, from theology and ethics to politics and governance, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of Islam and its values. As one of the most significant works of Islamic literature, Nahjul Balagha has been studied and revered by scholars and students of Islam for centuries. It's timeless wisdom and universal appeal make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Islam and its teachings. This translation of Nahjul Balagha, with its accessible language and insightful commentary, is an invaluable addition to the libraries of both scholars and laypeople alike. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Islam and Imam Ali's (AS) teachings.
Nahj al-Balāghah: The Wisdom and Eloquence of ʿAlī
Author: al-Sharīf al-Raḍī
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004682600
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1026
Book Description
Nahj al-Balāghah, the celebrated compendium of orations, letters, and sayings of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 40/661) compiled by al-Sharīf al-Raḍī (d. 406/1015), is a masterpiece of Arabic literature and Islamic wisdom studied and memorized avidly and continually for over a thousand years. Showcasing ʿAlī’s life and travails in his own words, it also transcribes his profound reflections on piety and virtue, and on just and compassionate governance. Tahera Qutbuddin’s meticulously researched critical edition based on the earliest 5th/11th-century manuscripts, with a lucid, annotated facing-page translation, brings to the modern reader the power and beauty of this influential text, and confirms the aptness of Raḍī’s title, “The Way of Eloquence.”
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004682600
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1026
Book Description
Nahj al-Balāghah, the celebrated compendium of orations, letters, and sayings of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 40/661) compiled by al-Sharīf al-Raḍī (d. 406/1015), is a masterpiece of Arabic literature and Islamic wisdom studied and memorized avidly and continually for over a thousand years. Showcasing ʿAlī’s life and travails in his own words, it also transcribes his profound reflections on piety and virtue, and on just and compassionate governance. Tahera Qutbuddin’s meticulously researched critical edition based on the earliest 5th/11th-century manuscripts, with a lucid, annotated facing-page translation, brings to the modern reader the power and beauty of this influential text, and confirms the aptness of Raḍī’s title, “The Way of Eloquence.”
Glimpses of the Nahj Al-Balaghah
Author: Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781546571438
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
This book is one of the many Islamic publications distributed by Mustafa Organization throughout the world in different languages with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the people of the world. Mustafa Organization is a registered Organization that operates and is sustained through collaborative efforts of volunteers in many countries around the world, and it welcomes your involvement and support. Its objectives are numerous, yet its main goal is to spread the truth about the Islamic faith in general and the Shi`a School of Thought in particular due to the latter being misrepresented, misunderstood and its tenets often assaulted by many ignorant folks, Muslims and non-Muslims. Organization's purpose is to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge through a global medium, the Internet, to locations where such resources are not commonly or easily accessible or are resented, resisted and fought!
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781546571438
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
This book is one of the many Islamic publications distributed by Mustafa Organization throughout the world in different languages with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the people of the world. Mustafa Organization is a registered Organization that operates and is sustained through collaborative efforts of volunteers in many countries around the world, and it welcomes your involvement and support. Its objectives are numerous, yet its main goal is to spread the truth about the Islamic faith in general and the Shi`a School of Thought in particular due to the latter being misrepresented, misunderstood and its tenets often assaulted by many ignorant folks, Muslims and non-Muslims. Organization's purpose is to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge through a global medium, the Internet, to locations where such resources are not commonly or easily accessible or are resented, resisted and fought!
Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates
Author: Lady Anne Blunt
Publisher: London : J. Murray
ISBN:
Category : Bedouins
Languages : en
Pages : 506
Book Description
Lady Anne Blunt (1837-1917), daughter of the Earl of Lovelace and granddaughter of Lord Byron, is known as an adventurous traveler to the Middle East and the most accomplished horsewoman and breeder of Arabian stock of her era. She was married to poet and diplomat Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (1840-1922). When he inherited a family estate in Sussex in 1872, the couple was able to establish a stud at their Crabbet Park home. They then traveled in the Middle East to purchase Arabian horses from Bedouin tribesmen, which they transported back to England. In 1878 Lady Anne journeyed from Beirut, across northern Syria, and south through Mesopotamia to Baghdad. From there she traveled north along the Tigris River and west across the desert to the Mediterranean port of Alexandretta (present-day Iskenderun, Turkey). In 1879 she again set out from Beirut, but traveled south through the Emirate of Jabal Shammar, reached its capital of Ha'il, across the Arabian Peninsula, and continued to the port of Bushehr (present-day Iran). Shown here is the first edition of Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates. It is one of two books that Lady Anne wrote based on her travel diaries during these journeys (the other is A Pilgrimage to Nejd). Edited by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, the book concludes with a few chapters that he wrote on "the Arabs and their horses." In 1882 the couple opened a second stud outside Cairo, which they called Shaykh 'Ubayd. The couple separated in 1906, and in 1913 Lady Anne left England and moved permanently to Shaykh 'Ubayd. She died in Cairo in 1917. She is credited with helping preserve the purebred Arabian horse and was known by her friends as the "noble lady of the horses."
Publisher: London : J. Murray
ISBN:
Category : Bedouins
Languages : en
Pages : 506
Book Description
Lady Anne Blunt (1837-1917), daughter of the Earl of Lovelace and granddaughter of Lord Byron, is known as an adventurous traveler to the Middle East and the most accomplished horsewoman and breeder of Arabian stock of her era. She was married to poet and diplomat Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (1840-1922). When he inherited a family estate in Sussex in 1872, the couple was able to establish a stud at their Crabbet Park home. They then traveled in the Middle East to purchase Arabian horses from Bedouin tribesmen, which they transported back to England. In 1878 Lady Anne journeyed from Beirut, across northern Syria, and south through Mesopotamia to Baghdad. From there she traveled north along the Tigris River and west across the desert to the Mediterranean port of Alexandretta (present-day Iskenderun, Turkey). In 1879 she again set out from Beirut, but traveled south through the Emirate of Jabal Shammar, reached its capital of Ha'il, across the Arabian Peninsula, and continued to the port of Bushehr (present-day Iran). Shown here is the first edition of Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates. It is one of two books that Lady Anne wrote based on her travel diaries during these journeys (the other is A Pilgrimage to Nejd). Edited by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, the book concludes with a few chapters that he wrote on "the Arabs and their horses." In 1882 the couple opened a second stud outside Cairo, which they called Shaykh 'Ubayd. The couple separated in 1906, and in 1913 Lady Anne left England and moved permanently to Shaykh 'Ubayd. She died in Cairo in 1917. She is credited with helping preserve the purebred Arabian horse and was known by her friends as the "noble lady of the horses."
Nahj Al-Balaghah (Peak of Eloquence) for Children
Author: Ali Ibn Abu-Talib
Publisher: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an
ISBN: 9781879402089
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Using simple text and illustrations, retells forty sayings and one letter from the Nahj al-balaghah, a collection of the sermons, letters, and speeches of the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammed.
Publisher: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an
ISBN: 9781879402089
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Using simple text and illustrations, retells forty sayings and one letter from the Nahj al-balaghah, a collection of the sermons, letters, and speeches of the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammed.
Islam and the English Enlightenment, 1670–1840
Author: Humberto Garcia
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421403536
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 367
Book Description
A corrective addendum to Edward Said’s Orientalism, this book examines how sympathetic representations of Islam contributed significantly to Protestant Britain’s national and imperial identity in the eighteenth century. Taking a historical view, Humberto Garcia combines a rereading of eighteenth-century and Romantic-era British literature with original research on Anglo-Islamic relations. He finds that far from being considered foreign by the era’s thinkers, Islamic republicanism played a defining role in Radical Enlightenment debates, most significantly during the Glorious Revolution, French Revolution, and other moments of acute constitutional crisis, as well as in national and political debates about England and its overseas empire. Garcia shows that writers such as Edmund Burke, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey, and Percy and Mary Shelley not only were influenced by international events in the Muslim world but also saw in that world and its history a viable path to interrogate, contest, and redefine British concepts of liberty. This deft exploration of the forgotten moment in early modern history when intercultural exchange between the Muslim world and Christian West was common resituates English literary and intellectual history in the wider context of the global eighteenth century. The direct challenge it poses to the idea of an exclusionary Judeo-Christian Enlightenment serves as an important revision to post-9/11 narratives about a historical clash between Western democratic values and Islam.
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421403536
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 367
Book Description
A corrective addendum to Edward Said’s Orientalism, this book examines how sympathetic representations of Islam contributed significantly to Protestant Britain’s national and imperial identity in the eighteenth century. Taking a historical view, Humberto Garcia combines a rereading of eighteenth-century and Romantic-era British literature with original research on Anglo-Islamic relations. He finds that far from being considered foreign by the era’s thinkers, Islamic republicanism played a defining role in Radical Enlightenment debates, most significantly during the Glorious Revolution, French Revolution, and other moments of acute constitutional crisis, as well as in national and political debates about England and its overseas empire. Garcia shows that writers such as Edmund Burke, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey, and Percy and Mary Shelley not only were influenced by international events in the Muslim world but also saw in that world and its history a viable path to interrogate, contest, and redefine British concepts of liberty. This deft exploration of the forgotten moment in early modern history when intercultural exchange between the Muslim world and Christian West was common resituates English literary and intellectual history in the wider context of the global eighteenth century. The direct challenge it poses to the idea of an exclusionary Judeo-Christian Enlightenment serves as an important revision to post-9/11 narratives about a historical clash between Western democratic values and Islam.
Nahjul-Balagha
Author: Yasin T. Al-Jibouri
Publisher: Author House
ISBN: 1481712640
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 546
Book Description
Yasin T. al-Jibouri, Translator of this book, has so far written, edited and translated 57 books and other publications, not counting this one. Details and some front cover images of these publications are included on pages 43 - 89 of his other book titled Mary and Jesus in Islam which AuthorHouse has already published (ISBN 9781468523201 or 9781468523218). He earned his graduate degree in English from an American university, taught English in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States and is presently preparing Volume Two of his book titled Allah: The Concept of God in Islam, the first volume of which has already been published by Authorhouse (ISBN 9781468532722, 9781468532739 or 9781468532746). He is also working on Volume One of his other major work titled Dictionary of Islamic Terms. This book is not an ordinary one at all. Actually, millions of intellectuals worldwide regard its eloquence, language and contents as being next in importance only to the Holy Qur'an, and you will find out why when you read it. It is the compilation of the sermons, letters and axioms of Ali ibn Abu Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet of Islam, who lived from 600 - 660 A.D. and played a major role in shaping the society and politics not only of his time but of all time to come. There are many editions of this great book in at least two dozen languages, and Yasin T. al-Jibouri has for some time been editing one of them. This book is for people who wish to "live" the first Islamic century in all its upheavals, controversies, civil wars and religious fervor. It may serve as a guide for those who wish to discover the complexity, beauty and richness of the Arabic language. Or it may be sought by people who wish to lead a life of happiness and fulfillment, since it provides all of this and more, and you are free to judge for yourself.
Publisher: Author House
ISBN: 1481712640
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 546
Book Description
Yasin T. al-Jibouri, Translator of this book, has so far written, edited and translated 57 books and other publications, not counting this one. Details and some front cover images of these publications are included on pages 43 - 89 of his other book titled Mary and Jesus in Islam which AuthorHouse has already published (ISBN 9781468523201 or 9781468523218). He earned his graduate degree in English from an American university, taught English in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States and is presently preparing Volume Two of his book titled Allah: The Concept of God in Islam, the first volume of which has already been published by Authorhouse (ISBN 9781468532722, 9781468532739 or 9781468532746). He is also working on Volume One of his other major work titled Dictionary of Islamic Terms. This book is not an ordinary one at all. Actually, millions of intellectuals worldwide regard its eloquence, language and contents as being next in importance only to the Holy Qur'an, and you will find out why when you read it. It is the compilation of the sermons, letters and axioms of Ali ibn Abu Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet of Islam, who lived from 600 - 660 A.D. and played a major role in shaping the society and politics not only of his time but of all time to come. There are many editions of this great book in at least two dozen languages, and Yasin T. al-Jibouri has for some time been editing one of them. This book is for people who wish to "live" the first Islamic century in all its upheavals, controversies, civil wars and religious fervor. It may serve as a guide for those who wish to discover the complexity, beauty and richness of the Arabic language. Or it may be sought by people who wish to lead a life of happiness and fulfillment, since it provides all of this and more, and you are free to judge for yourself.
An Anthology of Modern Arabic Poetry
Author: Mounah A. Khouri
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520312201
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 264
Book Description
This bilingual anthology is the first attempt to present a substantial collection of contemporary Arabic poetry in the English language. It acquaints the English-speaking reader with the modern development of one of the world's major poetic traditions, and affords insight into the contemporary cultural situation of the Arab peoples. English translations of Arabic poetry have suffered from aspirations to geographic completeness of representation and excessive concern with the Neo-Classicist school. The present anthology regards poetic quality as the primary criterion of selection and displays an emphatic interest in the poets of free verse. It presents three successive generations--the Syro-Americans, the Egyptian modernist, and the poets of free-verse movement--linked together by a progressive shift from emphasis on form to emphasis on content and form a relatively detached portrayal of the outside world to a concern with the expression of individual experience. Numerous contemporary poets make their first appearance in English, some of them having written pieces specially for this anthology. It is hoped that the bilingual character of the anthology will suit it for use by students of Arabic literature. At the same time, the book is intended for a wider readership with general poetic and literary interests. An important criterion in composing the anthology was the viability of a poem, in its English translation, as a piece of literature as well as the excellence of its Arabic original; if the translators have been successful in applying this criterion, the anthology should afford much aesthetic pleasure. The work should be of considerable interest also to students of comparative literature, as it demonstrates the influence on modern Arab letters of several Western poets, notably Eliot, Yeats, and Pound. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520312201
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 264
Book Description
This bilingual anthology is the first attempt to present a substantial collection of contemporary Arabic poetry in the English language. It acquaints the English-speaking reader with the modern development of one of the world's major poetic traditions, and affords insight into the contemporary cultural situation of the Arab peoples. English translations of Arabic poetry have suffered from aspirations to geographic completeness of representation and excessive concern with the Neo-Classicist school. The present anthology regards poetic quality as the primary criterion of selection and displays an emphatic interest in the poets of free verse. It presents three successive generations--the Syro-Americans, the Egyptian modernist, and the poets of free-verse movement--linked together by a progressive shift from emphasis on form to emphasis on content and form a relatively detached portrayal of the outside world to a concern with the expression of individual experience. Numerous contemporary poets make their first appearance in English, some of them having written pieces specially for this anthology. It is hoped that the bilingual character of the anthology will suit it for use by students of Arabic literature. At the same time, the book is intended for a wider readership with general poetic and literary interests. An important criterion in composing the anthology was the viability of a poem, in its English translation, as a piece of literature as well as the excellence of its Arabic original; if the translators have been successful in applying this criterion, the anthology should afford much aesthetic pleasure. The work should be of considerable interest also to students of comparative literature, as it demonstrates the influence on modern Arab letters of several Western poets, notably Eliot, Yeats, and Pound. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.
Sharia Wa Minhaa-Jaa-Islamic Law
Author: Imam Yahya Shabazz
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1514483912
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 238
Book Description
This book, Sharia wa Minhaa-jaa-Islamic Law, was written for two reasons. Firstly, this book is to give the broader society a clear picture of Al Islam so they can see for themselves that all our faiths are the same. The Ten Commandments of biblical scripture is right in tune with what I read in the Holy Quran. Although our rituals may be different, our faith is one. Secondly, this book will clear up a lot of political controversy because it is based primarily on the Quran itself. Many politicians use sharia to put fear into the hearts of the people. This books removes any doubt that Al Islam is the religion of peace.
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1514483912
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 238
Book Description
This book, Sharia wa Minhaa-jaa-Islamic Law, was written for two reasons. Firstly, this book is to give the broader society a clear picture of Al Islam so they can see for themselves that all our faiths are the same. The Ten Commandments of biblical scripture is right in tune with what I read in the Holy Quran. Although our rituals may be different, our faith is one. Secondly, this book will clear up a lot of political controversy because it is based primarily on the Quran itself. Many politicians use sharia to put fear into the hearts of the people. This books removes any doubt that Al Islam is the religion of peace.
The Enlightened Sayings of Hazrat 'Ali
Author: Hazrat 'Ali
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781481933629
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 310
Book Description
THE ENLIGHTENED SAYINGS OF HAZRAT 'ALI The Right Hand of the Prophet Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Hazrat 'Ali (598-661) was Prophet Mohammed's nephew, son-in-law and favourite and was the first Imam of the Shi'ites and the fourth of the true caliphs of the Sunnis. Sufi Masters believe in Ali as one of the 'Seven Great Ones' in the first generation of teachers and many in orders of Dervishes trace their spiritual ancestry back to him. Hazrat Ali's sayings are published as Nahj al-Balagh or 'The Peak of Experience'... a treasury of wisdom and divine grace. It is said that he wrote the original Koran in his own blood as Prophet Mohammed gave it. He also composed a Divan of enlightened poetry and one of his important, profound ghazals is translated in the Introduction on his Life, Times & Works to this book. Pages 260. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Hindi, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Baba Farid, Shah Latif, Mahsati, Makhfi, Mu'in. Majnun, Mansur Hallaj, Abu Sa'id, Sarmad and others, and his own poetry, fiction, children's books, plays, biographies and a dozen screenplays.
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781481933629
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 310
Book Description
THE ENLIGHTENED SAYINGS OF HAZRAT 'ALI The Right Hand of the Prophet Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Hazrat 'Ali (598-661) was Prophet Mohammed's nephew, son-in-law and favourite and was the first Imam of the Shi'ites and the fourth of the true caliphs of the Sunnis. Sufi Masters believe in Ali as one of the 'Seven Great Ones' in the first generation of teachers and many in orders of Dervishes trace their spiritual ancestry back to him. Hazrat Ali's sayings are published as Nahj al-Balagh or 'The Peak of Experience'... a treasury of wisdom and divine grace. It is said that he wrote the original Koran in his own blood as Prophet Mohammed gave it. He also composed a Divan of enlightened poetry and one of his important, profound ghazals is translated in the Introduction on his Life, Times & Works to this book. Pages 260. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Hindi, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Baba Farid, Shah Latif, Mahsati, Makhfi, Mu'in. Majnun, Mansur Hallaj, Abu Sa'id, Sarmad and others, and his own poetry, fiction, children's books, plays, biographies and a dozen screenplays.