The ninth sermon of Nahj al-Balagha summary of the sermon:
. Imam Ali (AS) in this part, explains the intellectual and ideological characteristics of Khawarej.
. introducing them as the ones with radical and stiff thoughts who went far of the Islam.
. mentioning the intellectual and practical dangers of Khawarej to unity and safety of the Islamic society
. insisting on corruptions and riots which were caused by Khawarej
. Imam Ali (AS) makes Khawarej aware of the reverberations of their manners
. warning Khawarej that through continuing their way, they will be perished.
. pointing out to future war with Khawarej (Nahrawan war) and predicting the end of it which was defeat of Khawarej.
The time of performing the sermon:
38 A.H.; before Nahrawan war
The audiences of the sermon:
The publicity of Muslims; specially Khawarej group
The purpose of the sermon:
The main reason of performing this sermon was warning Khawarej group and preparing Muslims for confronting with them. The aim of Imam Ali (AS) of performing this sermon were:
Blaming the Khawarej thoughts: Imam Ali (AS) explains the mental and ideological deviation of Khawarej and introduces them as a threat for Islam.
Warning Khawarej: Imam Ali (AS) forewarns Khawarej of the reverberations of their mistakes and manners and warns that if they continue their way, they will be perished.
Preparing the Islamic society: Imam Ali (AS) prepares people and Muslims for the war which was ahead and assures them that the Right will be victorious.
Advocating the unity and stability of Islamic society: through this sermon, Imam Ali (AS) tries to maintain the unity of Islamic society across the mental and practical dangers of Khawarej and show the right way of confronting with this group to Muslims.
The chosen sentences:
. the group which while standing on the (near the) Right, choose void and with closed eyes goes to a no-ending way.
.do fear of the day in which the sword of the Right comes down on your necks; on that day you will have no escape way.
. they are not near the Right, nor far from the void; they are wandered in a dark and murky medicore.
. I am a light among you which illuminates the way; Khawarej, soon, will be destroyed in the darkness of their astray.