The role of doubt in historical conflicting movements based on Nahj al-Balaghah

Human life, with its historical movement and under the influence of various factors, has always taken two contradictory paths, so conflict has always been an integral part of life. One path is in harmony with the movement of the prophets, and the other path causes deviation. An examination of Nahj al-Balaghah shows that Ali (AS), to analyze historical conflicts, mentions doubt as a common factor in shaping the contradiction. According to him, doubt means the similarity of false to the truth. Based on a descriptive-analytical method, the present article first pursues the Imam's view on the historical movement and then analyzes this path based on doubt. The obtained results confirm that Ali (AS) considers history an ups and downs movement related to human free will. It specifies paths based on carnal desires, evil temptations, domination of the oppressors, the sedition of the pseudo-scholars, etc. In many cases, a contradictory historical movement takes place to cover up the facts and turn the facts upside down for societies.