A Qualitative Content Analysis of Sermon 87 of Nahj al-‎Balaghah in the Light of Allameh Jafari’s Mystical ‎Commentary

The profound expressions of Imam ʿAli (peace be upon him) in Nahj al-Balaghah depict various dimensions of a seeker striving toward supreme perfection. In several passages, the exposition of truth in the domains of mysticism and spiritual perfection reaches such an ultimate point that it transcends conceivable limits. One such case is Sermon 87 of Nahj al-Balaghah, which articulates the ultimate purpose of human existential wisdom and mystical perfection. Given that contemporary social and cultural challenges—such as crises of identity, loneliness, and existential ambiguity—have obscured inner peace and meaning in human life, attention to positive mysticism, with its emphasis on spiritual and moral dimensions, can serve as an inspiring source for developing self-awareness and spiritual competencies to address such challenges. Accordingly, this study, employing an inductive qualitative content analysis, explores Sermon87 through the mystical perspective of Allameh Jafari, a prominent commentator of Nahj al-Balaghah. The analysis yielded four principal themes: (1) preliminaries of the mystical path, (2) attributes of the true seekers of God, (3) characteristics of the pseudo‑seekers, and (4) indicators of true guidance. “Preliminary awareness,” “sacred sorrow,” and “ultimate unity of knowledge and action” represent the foundations of the positive mystical path. Other codes, including “illumination of life’s meaning,” “readiness to embrace reality,” “annihilation in the Divine,” “bestowal of existential grace,” “justice,” and “truth‑centeredness,” characterize the genuine seekers of God. Meanwhile, features such as “pretentious appearance,” “subjective interpretation,” “misguidance of people,” and “lack of knowledge” define the pseudo‑seekers; and the codes of “clear path,” “authority of God’s proof,” and “the Ahl al‑Bayt as divine trustees” signify the true guidance indicators, all analyzed within the framework of Allameh Jafari’s mystical thought.