The eighteenth sermon of Nahjul Balagha

 

. complaining about the weakness of commitment and underperformance of people of Kufa and inviting them to (have) seriousness in acting and struggle

 

. describing the enemies with their organization and coordination in confrontation with Islam

 

. insisting on unity and cohesion of enemies in acting for their purposes

 

. remembering the importance of Jihad (fight in the way of Allah) and struggle in the way of God

 

. introducing the laziness and procrastination of people as the reason of being defeated by enemies and losing the Islamic values

 

The time of performing the sermon:

In primary years of Caliphate between years 36 and 37 A.H.

 

The audiences of the sermon:

The people of Kufa specially the armies who had laziness in the war

 

The purpose of the sermon:

. reinforcing the Jihadi spirit: Imam Ali (AS) performed this sermon to awake people of Kufa and his army state of negligence. His purpose was to encourage people to jihad and defending the right against enemies.

 

. criticizing the underperformance and disobedience: Imam Ali (AS) wanted to invite people to be responsible and serious in acting by blaming their laziness and disobedience.

 

. warning about the consequences of dispersion: he wanted to remind the importance of unity and coordination and make people aware of dangerous consequences of dispersion and ignoring the duties.

 

. maintaining the Islamic values: this sermon was performed for remembering the significance of sustaining Islam and confronting the deviations and animosities which threatened Islamic values.

 

The chosen sentences:

. what happened to you that you do not answer the invitation to the Right and do not revolt for the justice?

 

. your enemies by their unity defeat you; is it deserving that the Right is with you but they are more coherent?

. the laziness and dispersion, is the beginning of your destruction; do awake from the state of negligence before it is too late.

 

. the God assists the ones who revolt in his way and do not give up endeavoring.