Nahj al-Balagha (The Peak of Eloquence)

Nahj al-Balagha (Arabic: نهج البلاغة), "The Peak of Eloquence," is a collection of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib's (peace be upon him) sermons (khutab), letters (rasa'il), and short wise sayings (hikam). It was compiled by Sayyid al-Radi (d. 1015 CE) and is regarded as the most important literary and spiritual work in Shia Islam after the Quran.

Nahj al-Balagha contains some of the most profound statements about prayer and worship in Islamic literature. Imam Ali describes prayer as: "The believer's pillar, the light of the eyes, and the soul's remedy." He said: "Prayer is every God-fearing person's means of nearness to Allah" and "Be careful with prayer, preserve it, and pray much — and thereby seek nearness to Allah, for prayer is a prescribed duty for the believers at fixed times."

The work contains 241 sermons, 79 letters, and 489 short wise sayings. Among the most famous are: Khutbah al-Shiqshiqiyyah (on the usurpation of the caliphate), Khutbah al-Qasi'ah (on the nature of faith), and the letter to Malik al-Ashtar (on just governance). Each of these contains deep reflections on the significance of worship and the role of prayer in the believer's life.

Nahj al-Balagha has inspired countless commentaries throughout history, including Ibn Abi al-Hadid al-Mu'tazili's famous commentary (Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, 20 volumes) and Ibn Maytham al-Bahrani's commentary. The work is considered the second most important after the Quran in Shia Islam and is an inexhaustible source of spiritual guidance. For those who wish to understand the deep meaning of prayer beyond the outward form, Nahj al-Balagha is indispensable.