Detailed Explanation — Sermon (33): What He Said When He Set Out for the Battle of Jamal

In Sermon (33), the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.), delivered a significant address as he set out for the Battle of Jamal. The historical context of this sermon is crucial, as it occurred during a pivotal moment in Islamic history when divisions among Muslims had intensified. The Battle of Jamal took place in 36 AH, where Imam Ali faced opposition from some companions and others who contested his leadership. This sermon reflects Imam Ali's intention to uphold his authority and clarify his purpose in the struggle between truth and falsehood.

The central theme of this sermon is the establishment of truth and the eradication of falsehood. Imam Ali (a.s.) emphasized that, while ruling over people is of little value to him, fighting for the truth is of utmost importance. He stated that if the establishment of truth and the eradication of falsehood were not before him, even his sandal would be more precious than ruling over the people. This powerful message conveys that the purpose of leadership should not merely be to gain power but to pursue a higher cause.

Imam Ali (a.s.) also noted that Allah sent Muhammad (ﷺ) at a time when there were no readers of the heavenly Book among the Arabs. The Prophet brought people to their rightful place and guided them to salvation. This signifies that Imam Ali was also a part of this transformation and never showed weakness or cowardice during this revolutionary period.

He made it clear that his dispute with the Quraysh was fundamentally about truth versus falsehood. He affirmed his commitment to fight them just as he had in the past, based on faith. This declaration reflects a strong resolve and encouragement that fighting for the truth should never diminish, regardless of the difficulties faced.

From this sermon, we derive several important moral and spiritual lessons: first, one must keep their intentions pure; second, fighting for the truth is a noble cause; and third, the true purpose of leadership is to guide people rather than merely to hold power. Practically, this teaches us to remain steadfast in our pursuit of truth in our lives and to raise our voices against falsehood.