The Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Department of this shrine, under the supervision of the Deputy Custodian of the Holy Shrine of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), Sayed Isa al-Khirsan, has launched a project to write a treasured, luxurious copy of the book Nahj al-Balagha—an initiative described as the first of its kind in the Islamic world.
Bridging Artistic Authenticity and Contemporary Taste
Karrar Jasib, the head of the Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Department, stated in an interview with the shrine’s news center:
“This department has begun implementing a project to produce a valuable manuscript of Nahj al-Balagha, the precious work transmitted from Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).”
He added:
“This project falls within a series of special publications and works that blend artistic authenticity with the needs and taste of the contemporary audience.”
He further noted:
“This new manuscript is an exceptional and unprecedented project, one that has not been executed before with this level of organization, precision, and dedication.”
He also recalled that over the past years, the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has provided numerous services to the book Nahj al-Balagha, including authorship, research, and the compilation of specialized indexes.
He emphasized that the goal of this project is to produce a luxurious and magnificent manuscript that, while aligning with contemporary taste, also preserves the authenticity of the Islamic heritage.
According to him, this is the first manuscript prepared under the direct supervision and care of the Holy Shrine of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
The Shrine’s Calligrapher, Hazim al-Hillu, stated:
“In this project, authentic and traditional methods of writing treasured manuscripts will be used. The paper, ink, pen, and decorations will all be chosen from natural and special materials to be in harmony with the calligraphy schools and authentic traditions used in transcribing the Holy Quran and precious works.”
Writing Three Volumes
Hazim al-Hillu explained:
“The execution of this project will take approximately one year, and a group of the most distinguished calligraphers of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) will participate in it. This work will be arranged in three volumes, just like the authentic and ancient manuscripts that were compiled based on respected calligraphy schools.”
He added that each page will contain 14 lines, a number chosen as a blessing and in devotion to the names of the Fourteen Infallibles (peace be upon them).
Cultural and Intellectual Significance of the Project
It is worth mentioning that Nahj al-Balagha is considered one of the most important intellectual, literary, and epistemological References: in the Islamic heritage, containing the sermons, letters, and sayings of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). Therefore, the project to write this luxurious manuscript, supported by the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), holds special cultural and scholarly significance.
