The Canonization of Nahj al-Balāgha between Najaf and Ḥilla

Sistani and the Iconic Authority of the Marājiʿ

Abstract

Despite the relatively narrow construction of their authority in substantive law, there is ample evidence from which to conclude that the marājiʿ wield authority in other realms too. While much of the scholarship on the marjaʿiyya has focused on their political authority in Muslim-majority societies, their status as cultural icons is arguably more important for understanding their global influence. This article examines how marājiʿ use their "iconic authority" to shape canons. In particular, it focuses on a recent statement by al-Sayyid ʿAlī al-Ḥusaynī al-Sīstānī that describes Nahj al-balāgha as an explanation of the meanings of the Quran. It is argued that, by seeking to organize and regulate reading practices, al-Sīstānī's statement contributes to the canonization of Nahj al-balāgha. To fully appreciate the significance of al-Sīstānī's statement, however, one needs to situate it within the history of the text. I argue that the School of Ḥilla is an excellent vantage point from which to view the history of the canonization of Nahj al-balaghah because it can be considered the formative period of Imāmī tradition in important respects. Evidence from the School of Ḥillah confirms that Nahj al-balāghah played a role in the organization and representation of Imāmī tradition, but there is little evidence of the notion that it is an explanation of the meanings of the Quran. Drawing upon J. Z. Smith's classic treatment of canon, I conclude that the novelty of this view is further evidence that Nahj al-balāgha is canonical.