The State of Intuition in Nahj al-Balagha

This research is an attempt to show that intuition and intuitive thought play a great role in Nahj-al-Balagha as one of original sources of Islamic mysticism. It first offers a short introduction to contents of Nahjal- Balagha, then defines the term “intuition” and its varieties. The state of intuition is one of the most fundamental mystical thoughts in Nahjal- Balagha whose validity, from intellectual thought, is doubtful. But, mystically, the state of Imam Ali (a.s.) in cognitive knowledge, in general, and in Nahj-al-Balagha, in particular, is very famous. Therefore, it can be understood from the context of the orations of Nahj-al-Balagha that Imam Ali(a.s.) is the originator of intuitive thought. Nahj-al- Balagha raises many mystical questions from theoretical and practical perspectives, one of which is intuition. The question of intuition in Nahj-al-Balagha, in fact, is notable for two aspects: finding out mystical thoughts of Imam Ali (a.s.), and the importance of the state of intuition in Muslims’ mystics. However, the intuition in Nahj-al- Balagha is of such intuitive knowledge and awareness of the world of facts that it may not be possibly available to common people and intellectual thought. The findings of this paper show that the intuition in Nahj-al- Balagha is identical to attainment to God.