Rhetorical Strategies in Imam Ali’s Sermon “Condemnation of Life”: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study presents a rhetorical and artistic analysis of a sermon delivered by Imam ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Peace be upon him), with particular emphasis on the theme of asceticism (zuhd) and the warning against attachment to the transient world. By portraying earthly life as a perishable abode and its pleasures as fleeting, the sermon articulates a moral vision grounded in both Qurʾānic discourse and Prophetic traditions. The research highlights the rhetorical strategies employed by Imam ʿAlī, including interrogative, declarative, antithetical, and simile-based constructions, in order to achieve his pedagogical and admonitory aims. Furthermore, the study explores the semiotic relationship between the title and the content, examining how the sermon resonates with the intellectual and cultural context of the Imam’s era. The findings demonstrate that Imam ʿAlī strategically juxtaposed the imagery of this world and the Hereafter to enhance the persuasive force of his message, thus reinforcing its enduring educational and spiritual impact on the audience.