Quranic values in the sermons of Imam Ali (peace be upon him): a rhetorical and educational study

Abstract

This research deals with an analytical study of the sermons of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) as they appear in Nahj al-Balagha, focusing on the manifestation of Quranic values ​​in them from an educational rhetorical perspective. The research highlights how the Imam's sermons (peace be upon him) represented an organic extension of the Holy Quran, not only at the level of textual quotation, but also in spirit, content, and objectives. Quranic values ​​were embodied in his discourse in a vivid manner, stemming from a profound understanding of revelation and aiming to build the human being in all its dimensions. In presenting these values, the Imam (peace be upon him) relied on distinct rhetorical methods, making them an effective means of conveying educational meanings and rooting them in reality. He employed similes, metaphors, metonymies, parallels, and other rhetorical devices, not for the purpose of verbal embellishment, but rather to achieve a psychological and intellectual impact that deepens faith and guides behavior. He thus presented a unique model of discourse that employs rhetoric in the service of education and reform. The core values ​​addressed in the research revolved around monotheism, justice, freedom, asceticism, and piety. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) presented these values ​​in areas of life, connected to people's realities and experiences, transforming them from abstract concepts into practical principles capable of guiding individuals and society. The study demonstrated the universal humanistic character of Imam Ali's (peace be upon him) discourse, which combines intellectual and spiritual depth with a concern for worldly and otherworldly affairs, making it a valid educational reference for every era. Consequently, Imam Ali's (peace be upon him) discourse remains a model to be emulated for building a human civilization based on the sublime values ​​derived from revelation.