The decline of nations is a historical and social phenomenon that has always served as a lesson for humanity. The Holy Qur’an and the sayings of the Infallibles (A.S.) repeatedly emphasize this reality so that the Ummah may correct its course and avoid degeneration. The present research paper, *“The Causes of the Decline of Nations in the Qur’an and the Sayings of Imam Ali (A.S.)”*, is an analytical study of the factors highlighted by Imam Ali (A.S.) in his sermons and statements.
At the outset, the linguistic and terminological meanings of the terms *“Ummah,” “Decline,”* and *“Causes”* have been clarified to establish a sound conceptual foundation. Subsequently, in the light of *Nahj al-Balaghah* and historical evidence, it is demonstrated that the primary causes of the decline of nations include disobedience to the divine representative, weakness of faith, moral corruption, immodesty, indulgence in luxury, sectarianism, and injustice. Whenever nations became afflicted with these factors, they inevitably faced decline; and when they embraced faith, unity, and simplicity, they ascended to prosperity and greatness.
The study concludes that the contemporary Muslim Ummah is suffering from the very same issues that Imam Ali (A.S.) identified. Therefore, its salvation lies in strengthening faith, promoting unity, and restoring its lost dignity through obedience to the divine representative.
Asghar, S. (2025). The Causes of the Decline of Nations in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sayings of Imam Ali (A.S.): An Analytical and Research-Based Study. Bi-Auunal - Quranic Studies (An academic and research-based journal), 8(15), -.
MLA
Asghar, S. . "The Causes of the Decline of Nations in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sayings of Imam Ali (A.S.): An Analytical and Research-Based Study", Bi-Auunal - Quranic Studies (An academic and research-based journal), 8, 15, 2025, -.
HARVARD
Asghar, S. (2025). 'The Causes of the Decline of Nations in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sayings of Imam Ali (A.S.): An Analytical and Research-Based Study', Bi-Auunal - Quranic Studies (An academic and research-based journal), 8(15), pp. -.
CHICAGO
S. Asghar, "The Causes of the Decline of Nations in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sayings of Imam Ali (A.S.): An Analytical and Research-Based Study," Bi-Auunal - Quranic Studies (An academic and research-based journal), 8 15 (2025): -,
VANCOUVER
Asghar, S. The Causes of the Decline of Nations in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sayings of Imam Ali (A.S.): An Analytical and Research-Based Study. Bi-Auunal - Quranic Studies (An academic and research-based journal), 2025; 8(15): -.