?Ahd-nama-yi Malik Ashtar

The Nahj al-balagha is a collection of sermons, letters, testimonials, and wise sayings attributed to ?Ali b. Abi Talib (d. 40/661), the Prophet's son-in-law, successor, and first imam of the Shi?a. The collection was compiled by al-Sharif al-Radi (d. 406/1088), a distinguished ?Alid member of Baghdad's ruling elite. The Nahj al-balagha is widely considered a work of extraordinary literary quality, besides being an invaluable source of information on the person, opinions, and virtues of ?Ali. ?Ali's letter to al-Malik al-Ashtar al-Nakh?i, in which he describes the ethical and executive mindset with which he wants him to assume the administration of Egypt, is generally regarded as a text of exceptional appeal. It is therefore no wonder that it was translated into Persian many times. The present translation by the man of letters and chronicler of the court Muhammad Ibrahim Badayi?-nigar (d. 1299/1882) was completed in 1273/1857 and dedicated to Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar (r. 1264-1313/1848-96).