The sermons of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib at the confluence of the core Islamic teachings of the Qur’an and the oral, nature-based cultural ethos of seventh century Arabia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/aem.2012.42.1.10Keywords:
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, Islam, Qur’an, Arabia, sermons, orality, nature-imagery, hereafter, consciousness of God, pietyAbstract
Sermons attributed to ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (c. 600-661, first Shi‘a imam and fourth Sunni caliph) promoted core Qur’anic doctrine and ethics through an aesthetic steeped in the oral, nature-based, poetic culture of seventh-century Arabia. Using traditional Arabian metaphors of camels, watering holes, and pithy, rhythmic, orality-grounded cadences, ‘Ali urged his audience to worship the One God, follow the guidance of His prophet Muhammad, shun worldliness, perform good deeds, and prepare for the imminent hereafter. Through a close reading of his most celebrated discourses, this paper explores these teachings and their religious and cultural underpinnings.
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