Sermon of Imam Ali ibn Husayn (as) in court of Yazid

Selection from the sermon of Imam Ali ibn Husayn (عليهما السلام) in the court of Yazid – speaking of the merits of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام):

مِنَ العَرَبِ سَيِّدُها ، ومِنَ الوَغى‌ لَيثُها ، وارِثُ المَشعَرَينِ ، وأبُو السِّبطَينِ الحَسَنِ وَالحُسَينِ ، مَظهَرُ العَجائِبِ ، ومُفَرِّقُ الكَتائِبِ وَالشِّهابُ الثّاقِبُ ، وَالنّورُ العاقِبُ ، أسَدُ اللَّهِ الغالِبُ ، مَطلوبُ كُلِّ طالِبٍ ، غالِبُ كُلِّ غالِبٍ ؛ ذاكَ جَدّي عَلِيُّ بنُ أبي طالِبٍ

"He was the chief of the Arabs,

A lion in the battles, 

The inheritor (waris) of the two Mashars (referring to Muzdalifah & Arafat),

The father of the two grandsons – Hasan (عليه السلام) & Husayn (عليه السلام).

The displayer of wonders (Mazhar al-Ajaeb), 

The splitter of the enemy divisions/army, 

The penetrating start (Shihab al-Saqib), 

The succeeding light, 

The victorious lion of Allah (Asad al-Allah al-Galib), 

The one sought by every seeker (Matlub kulle Talib), 

The victorious over every victor (Galib kulle Galib), 

That is my grandfather Ali ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام)."


وسَهمٍ مِن مَرامِي اللَّهِ عَلَى المُنافِقينَ ، ولِسانِ حِكمَةِ العابِدينَ ، ناصِرِ دينِ اللَّهِ ، ووَلِيِّ أمرِ اللَّهِ ، وبُستانِ حِكمَةِ اللَّهِ ، وعَيبَةِ عِلمِ اللَّهِ

"I am the son of the man who was …

An arrow from the arrows of Allah towards the Hypocrites,

And the tongue of wisdom of the worshippers,

Helper/Supporter of the religion of Allah,

And The Guardian of the affairs of Allah (Wali-e-Amr),

And the place of the wisdom of Allah,

And the container of the knowledge of Allah."


أسَدٌ باسِلٌ ، وغَيثٌ هاطِلٌ ، يَطحَنُهُم فِي الحُروبِ - إذَا ازدَلَفَتِ الأَسِنَّةُ ، وقَرُبَتِ الأَعِنَّةُ - طَحنَ الرَّحى‌ ، ويَذرُوهُم ذَروَ الرّيحِ الهَشيمِ ، لَيثُ الحِجازِ ، وصاحِبُ الإِعجاز ، وكَبشُ العِراقِ ، الإِمامُ بِالنَّصِّ وَالاستِحقاقِ

"He was a bold lion,

And a torrential downpour (upon the enemies),

He destroyed them in battles, when spears were raised and the enemy came in close – crushing them,

He scattered them - like scattering of the dust by the wind,

The lion of Hijaz,

The owner/displayer of wonders/miracles,

The chief of Iraq,

The leader (Imam) by Appointment (Nass) and by right."

[Source: Maqtal by Khwarizmi, Vol. 2, Pg. 78]