A Glimpse of Nahjul Balaghas Sermon of Disparagement (Al-Khutbah al-Qasiah)

A masterpiece of Shi’i Islam literature, Nahjul Balaghah, or The Peak of Eloquence, is a celebrated collection of sermons, letters, tafsirs, and narrations attributed to Imam Ali – the cousin and sonin- law of Prophet Muhammad – and compiled by Sharif al-Razi, a Shi‘a scholar in the tenth century. Among the 245 sermons, Deenparvar touches upon the ‘Sermon of Disparagement’, in which the Imam condemns Satan for his arrogance – a quality that lures people to committing a myriad of other immoral actions – and warns people not to fall into Satan’s trap. This paper offers a glance into the reasons for Divine trials, qualities of Satan, and the effects and consequences of arrogance and following one’s desires.