Factors caused Nahj al-Balaghah to successfully attract the Sunni Muslims

Since the time of Imam Ali (A.S) many people from different faiths and denominations have been attracted by his character and speeches, and consequently, in various opportunities have quoted him or have compiled a monograph explaining his words. Both Shi‘a and Sunni scholars have penned a number of books about the Imam’s words both earlier and later than the time of compilation of Nahj al-Balaghah. However, the approach employed to Nahj al-Balaghah by the Shi‘a and Sunni scholars has never been employed with regard to any other similar book. The writer intends in this article to study the factors that have made Nahj al-Balaghah the focal point of the attention of Muslims (including both the Shiites and the Sunnites). Among the advantages that have made Nahj al-Balaghah be more significant than other hadith books, and have attracted the Sunni scholars mention should be made of Sayyid Raḍī’s criterion in selection, the structure of Nahj al-Balaghah, variety of subjects, comprehensiveness of the book, Sayyid Raḍī’s character that was respected by both Shi‘a and Sunni Muslims and his welcomed standing among the adherents to latter denomination. On the other hand the compilation and publication of Nahj al-Balaghah during a period the Shi‘a and Sunni Muslims interacted, have had a remarkable effect on its primary spread among the Sunni Muslims.