Prophet Muhammad (SAW): “I am the house of wisdom and Ali is its door.”
Nahjul Balagha is a treasury of the profound wisdom that flowed through this very door, collected and preserved by the revered scholar Sayyid Razi. Among the many gems contained within this text, the will and testament written by Imam Ali (a.s.) to his son Imam Hassan (a.s.) holds a lofty position and its reverence is universal. As the prominent Christian scholar George Jordac noted, this will is not meantfor a single individual or era. Rather, it is a timeless blueprint addressed to all of humanity for all of eternity.
Overthe years, numerous scholars have dedicated themselves to exploring its deeper meanings. In his commentary, Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi beautifully summarizes the will. He describes it as a complete and comprehensive course of life, a masterclass in ethics, moral refinement, self-control and ultimately a path towards God. Equally the scholar Ibn Tawus said, “If there are any words of wisdom that must be written in gold, it is these words.” Similarly, Allama Taqi Majlisi in his insightful commentary on the letter implores the reader, “Dear brother in faith, in every sentence and section of this will, pause to think and process it deeply, for this is the very treasury of Allah, spoken through the tongue of his Wali (chosen representative).”
The importance of this will continues to be emphasised by the highest authorities of our time. When a group of students and social activists visited Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Sistani to seek guidance on the role of youth and what would most benefit them, several pearls of advice were offered. His eighth point focused heavily on cultivating a spirit of continuous learning, urging the youth to ponder the incidents occurring around them and reflect deeply on their own deeds and traits. He reminded them that there is a profound lesson and divine guidance in every incident and a meaningful message in every happening. Therefore, one must never neglect nourishing the soul with knowledge.
To achieve this, Ayatollah Sistani advised the youth to anchor them selves to three books. The first is the Holy Quran. The second is the Nahjul Balagha. He explained that the Nahjul Balagha unravels the deeper meanings of the Quran in an eloquent style that provokes a spirit of reflection, contemplation, learning and wisdom. He advised that one should read it whenever the opportunity arises, and while doing so, imagine that Imam Ali (a.s) is addressing them directly. He emphasised that the youth must pay special attention to this specific letter of Imam Ali (a.s.) to his son Imam Hassan (a.s). Therefore, we present this profound will in this booklet with the sincere hope that its timeless wisdommay illuminate the minds of many.
Maqbool Husain Alavi,
Chairman of Islamic Thought
20th May 2026
