Chapter Four: The Peak of Chivalry in Two Battles

Encyclopedia of Imam Ali (AS), written by Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri, abridged by Mahdi Gholamali, translated by Zaid Alsalami and Safyullah Khan, edited by Hamid Reza Salarkia and published by NORPUB.

 

A) The Battle of Badr

18. المستدرك على الصحيحين عن ابن عبّاس :

18. Al-Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihain, narrating from Ibn `Abbas, who said:

إنَّ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله دَفَعَ الرايَةَ إلى عَلِيٍّ رضى الله عنه يَومَ بَدرٍ

“On the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allah (SA) handed the banner to Ali (AS),

وهُوَ ابنُ عِشرينَ سَنَةً .

who was only twenty years old.”

المستدرك على الصحيحين: ج3ص120ح4583 .

Al-Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihain, vol. 3, p. 120, h. 4583.

19. السيرة النبويّة لإبن هشام عن ابن إسحاقـ في ذِكرِ أحداثِ مَعرَكَةِ بَدرٍ ـ:

19. Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyya, by Ibn Hisham, narrating from Ibn Ishaq, who said regarding the events of the Battle of Badr:

ثُمَّ خَرَجَ بَعدَهُ  (أي بعد الأسود بن عبد الأسد المخزومي الذي قتله حمزة بن عبدالمطّلب) عُتبَةُ بنُ رَبيعَةَ بَينَ أخيهِ شَيبَةَ بنِ رَبيعَةَ وَابنِهِ الوَليدِ بنِ عُتبَةَ ،

“Then `Utbah ibn Rabi`ah came out [to fight] after him [This is after al-Aswad ibn `Abd al-`Asad al-Makhzumi who was killed by Hamza ibn `Abd al-Muttalib.]  along with his brother Shaybah ibn Rabi`ah and his son al-Walid ibn `Utbah;

حَتّى إذا فَصَلَ مِنَ الصَّفِّ دَعا إلَى المُبارَزَةِ ،

when he was separated from their ranks, he called for a duel.

فَخَرَجَ إلَيهِ فِتيَةٌ مِنَ الأَنصارِ ثَلاثَةٌ ، وهُم :

Three brave youths from the Ansar answered his call:

عَوفٌ ومُعَوِّذٌ ابنَا الحارِثِ ـ واُمُّهُما عَفراءُ ـ

`Awf and Mu`awid, sons of al-Harith, whose mother was Afra’,

ورَجُلٌ آخَرُ ، يُقالُ : هُوَ عَبدُ اللّهِ بنُ رَواحَةَ ،

and another man called `Abdullah ibn Rawahah.

فَقالوا : مَن أنتُم ؟

They asked: “Who are you?”

فَقالوا : رَهطٌ مِنَ الأَنصارِ ،

They answered: “We are a group from the Ansar.”

قالوا : ما لَنا بِكُم مِن حاجَةٍ ،

They said: “We have nothing to do with you.”

ثُمَّ نادى مُناديهِم :

Then their herald called out:

يا مُحَمَّدُ ، أخرِج إلَينا أكفاءَنا مِن قَومِنا .

 “O Muhammad, send to us our equals from our clan.”

فَقالَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله :

The Messenger of Allah (SA) said:

قُم يا عُبَيدَةَ بنَ الحارِثِ ،

“O `Ubaydah, rise,

وقُم يا حَمزَةُ ،

O Hamza, rise,

وقُم يا عَلِيُّ ،

O Ali, rise.”

فَلَمّا قاموا ودَنَوا مِنهُم ،

When they got up and came close to them,

قالوا : مَن أنتُم ؟

they [the enemies] asked: “Who are you?”

قالَ عُبَيدَةُ : عُبَيدَةُ ،

`Ubaydah said: “`Ubaydah,”

وقالَ حَمزَةُ : حَمزَةُ ،

Hamza: “Hamza,”

وقالَ عَلِيٌّ : عَلِيٌّ ،

and Ali: “Ali.”

قالوا : نَعَم ، أكفاءٌ كِرامٌ ،

They said: “Yes, you are indeed befitting equals.”

فَبارَزَ عُبَيدَةُ ـ وكانَ أسَنَّ القَومِ ـ عُتبَةَ بنَ رَبيعَةَ ،

`Ubaydah, who was their eldest in age fought with `Utbah ibn Rabi`ah,

وبارَزَ حَمزَةُ شَيبَةَ بنَ رَبيعَةَ ،

Hamza duelled with Shaybah ibn Rabi`ah,

وبارَزَ عَلِيٌّ الوَليدَ بنَ عُتبَةَ ،

and Ali with al-Walid ibn `Utbah.

فَأَمّا حَمزَةُ فَلَم يُمهِل شَيبَةَ أن قَتَلَهُ ،

Hamza killed Shaybah in no time,

وأمّا عَلِيٌّ فَلَم يُمهِلِ الوَليدَ أن قَتَلَهُ ،

and so did Ali kill al-Walid.

وَاختَلَفَ عُبَيدَةُ وعُتبَةُ بَينَهما ضَربَتَينِ ،

As for `Ubaydah and `Utbah, they exchanged strikes,

كِلاهُما أثبَتَ صاحِبَهُ ،

each one hurting the other;

وكَرَّ حَمزَةُ وعَلِيٌّ بِأَسيافِهِما عَلى عُتبَةَ

then Hamza and Ali charged at `Utbah with their swords

فَذَفَّفا عَلَيهِ ،

and finished him off.

وَاحتَمَلا صاحِبَهُما ،

They then carried their companion

فَحازاهُ إلى أصحابِهِ .

and brought him back to their ranks.”

السيرة النبويّة لابن هشام : ج2 ص277 .

Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyya, by Ibn Hisham, vol. 2, p. 277.

20. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام:

20. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:

 نادى مُنادٍ فِي السَّماءِ يَومَ بَدرٍ يُقالُ لَهُ رِضوانُ :

“A herald from the sky called Rizwan called out on the day of Badr:

لا سَيفَ إلّا ذُو الفَقارِ ،

“There is no sword but Dhul Fiqar,

ولا فَتى إلّا عَلِيٌّ .

and there is no chivalrous youth but Ali.”

تاريخ دمشق : ج42 ص71 .

Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 42, p. 71.

 

B) The Battle of `Uhud

21. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :

21. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:

لَمّا انهَزَمَ النّاسُ يَومَ اُحُدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله

“On the day of Uhud when people had run away leaving the Prophet (SA) by himself,

انصَرَفَ إلَيهِم بِوَجهِهِ وهُوَ يَقولُ :

he went to them personally, confronting them, saying:

أنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ،

“I am Muhammad;

أنَا رَسولُ اللّهِ ،

I am the Messenger of Allah;

لَم اُقتَل ولَم أمُت ...

I have not been killed nor died.....”

وكانَ النّاسُ يَحمِلونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله المَيمَنَةَ فَيَكشِفُهُم عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام ،

The enemy was attacking the Prophet (SA) from the right side, and Ali (AS) would drive them back;

فَإِذا كَشَفَهُم أقبَلَتِ المَيسَرَةُ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

when he drove them back, another regiment would attack the Prophet (SA) from the left.

فَلَم يَزَل كَذلِكَ حَتّى تَقَطَّعَ سَيفُهُ بِثَلاثِ قِطَعٍ ،

Ali went on fighting and driving them back until his sword broke into three parts,

فَجاءَ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله فَطَرَحَهُ بَينَ يَدَيهِ وقالَ :

so he went to the Prophet (SA) and put it in front of him, saying:

هذا سَيفي قَد تَقَطَّعَ ،

“Here is my sword, broken into pieces.”

فَيَومَئِذٍ أعطاهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله ذَا الفَقارِ ،

On that day, the Prophet (SA) gave him Dhu al-Fiqar

ولَمّا رَأَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله اختِلاجَ ساقَيهِ مِن كَثرَةِ القِتالِ

When the Prophet (SA) noticed the quivering of his legs because of frequent fighting,

رَفَعَ رَأسَهُ إلَى السَّماءِ وهُوَ يَبكي وقالَ :

he raised his face to the sky weeping and saying:

يا رَبِّ وَعَدتَني أن تُظهِرَ دينَكَ

“O my Lord, You promised me to make Your religion prevail,

وإن شِئتَ لَم يُعيِكَ ،

and if You want to, You can.”

فَأَقبَلَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام إلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله فَقالَ :

Then Ali (AS) came to the Prophet (SA) and said:

يا رَسولَ اللّهِ ، أسمَعُ دَوِيّا شَديدا ،

“O Messenger of Allah, I am hearing a buzzing sound

وأسمَعُ «أقدِم حَيزومُ»

saying: “Charge on, Hayzum”149

وما أهُمُّ أضرِبُ أحَدا إلّا سَقَطَ مَيِّتا قَبلَ أن أضرِبَهُ .

Whenever I propose to strike someone, he falls dead before I strike him.”

فَقالَ : هذا جَبرَئيلُ وميكائيلُ وإسرافيلُ فِي المَلائِكَةِ ،

The Prophet (SA) said: “This is Gabriel, Michael, and Seraphiel with the angels.”

ثُمَّ جاءَ جَبرَئيلُ عليه السلام

Then Gabriel (AS) came,

فَوَقَفَ إلى جَنبِ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله فَقالَ :

stood beside the Messenger of Allah (SA) and said:

يا مُحَمَّدُ ! إنَّ هذِهِ لَهِيَ المُواساةُ ،

“O Muhammad, this is indeed the consolation.”

فَقالَ : إنَّ عَلِيّا مِنّي وأنَا مِنهُ ،

He (SA) said: “Ali is of myself, and I am of Ali.”

فَقالَ جَبرَئيلُ : وأنَا مِنكُما .

Gabriel (AS) then said: “And I am of you both.”

ثُمَّ انهَزَمَ النّاسُ .

Then the people ran away.”

الكافي : ج 8 ص 318 ح 502 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 318, h. 502.

22. الإرشاد :

22. al-Irshad:

لَمَّا انهَزَمَ النّاسُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله في يَومِ اُحُدٍ ،

When the people ran away on the day of Uhud leaving the Messenger of Allah (SA),

وثَبَتَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام قالَ لَهُ :

and the Commander of the Faithful stood fast, the Prophet (SA) said to him:

 ما لَكَ لا تَذهَبُ مَعَ القَومِ ،

“Why do you not go with the people?”

فَقالَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام :

To which the Commander of the Faithful said:

أذهَبُ وأدَعُكَ يا رَسولَ اللّهِ ؟ !

“O Messenger of Allah, I go and leave you?

وَاللّهِ لابَرِحتُ حَتّى اُقتَلَ أو يُنجِزَ اللّهُ لَكَ ما وَعَدَكَ مِنَ النَّصرِ ،

By Allah, I will not leave until I am killed, or Allah fulfils His promise of help to you.”

فَقالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله :

The Prophet (SA) said to him:

أبشِر يا عَلِيُّ ؛

“O Ali, rejoice,

فَإِنَّ اللّهَ مُنجِزٌ وَعدَهُ ،

for indeed Allah shall fulfil His promise,

ولَن يَنالوا مِنّا مِثلَها أبَدا .

and they will never inflict the like of this on us again”

 ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إلى كَتيبَةٍ قد أقبَلَت إلَيهِ ،

Then he looked towards a regiment which had advanced towards him.

فَقالَ لَهُ : لَو حَمَلتَ عَلى هذِهِ يا عَلِيُّ ،

He said to Ali: “O Ali, attack them.”

فَحَمَلَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ،

The Commander of the Faithful (AS) attacked them,

فَقَتَلَ مِنها هِشامَ بنَ اُمَيَّةَ المَخزومِيَّ

killing Hisham ibn Umayya al-Makhzumi who was among them,

وَانهَزَمَ القَومُ .

whereas the rest fled away.

ثُمَّ أقبَلَت كَتيبَةٌ اُخرى ،

Another regiment advanced,

فَقالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله :

and [again] the Prophet (SA) told him:

اِحمِل عَلى هذِهِ ،

“Attack them.”

فَحَمَلَ عَلَيها فَقَتَلَ مِنها عَمرَو بنَ عَبدِ اللّهِ الجُمَحِيَّ ،

He attacked them, killed `Amr ibn `Abdullah al-Jumahi who was among them,

وَانهَزَمَت أيضا .

and they also fled.”

ثُمَّ أقبَلَت كَتيبَةٌ اُخرى ،

Then another regiment advanced,

فَقالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله :

and the Prophet (SA) said to him:

اِحمِل عَلى هذِهِ ،

“Attack them.”

فَحَمَلَ عَلَيها فَقَتَلَ مِنها بِشرَ بنَ مالِكٍ العامِرِيَّ

He attacked them and killed Bishr ibn Malik al-Amiri who was among them,

وَانهَزَمَتِ الكَتيبَةُ ،

and the troop fled.

فَلَم يَعُد بَعدَها أحَدٌ مِنهُم .

After that none of them returned.

 وتَرَاجَعَ المُنهَزِمونَ مِنَ المُسلِمينَ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله

Those of the Muslims who had fled started to go back to the Prophet (SA).

وَانصَرَفَ المُشرِكونَ إلى مَكَّةَ

The polytheists withdrew towards Mecca

وَانصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله إلَى المَدينَةِ ،

and the Prophet (SA) went back to Medina.

فَاستَقبَلَتهُ فاطِمَةُ عليهاالسلام ومَعَها إناءٌ فيهِ ماءٌ ،

He was met by Fatimah (AS), carrying a bowl of water with her.

فَغَسَلَ بِهِ وَجهَهُ ،

He washed his face with it,

ولَحِقَهُ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام

and then the Commander of the Faithful (AS) followed him.

وقَد خَضَبَ الدَّمُ يَدَهُ إلى كَتِفِهِ

Blood covered him from his arm to his shoulder.

ومَعَهُ ذُو الفَقارِ ،

He had [his sword] Dhu al-Fiqar with him

فَناوَلَهُ فاطِمَةَ عليهاالسلام وقالَ لَها :

and he gave it to Fatimah (AS), saying to her:

خُذي هذَا السَّيفَ فَقَد صَدَقَنِي اليَومَ .

“Take this sword. It has been truthful to me today.”

وأنشَأَ يَقولُ :

He began to recite:

أ فاطِمُ هاكِ السَّيفَ غَيرَذَميمٍ         

‘O Fatimah, this sword is not without honour,

فَلَستُ بِرِعديدٍ ولا بِمليمٍ

I am no coward, nor am I blameworthy.

لَعَمري لَقَد أعذَرتُ في نَصرِأحمَدَ               

By my life, I have been free from blame in my support of Ahmad,

وطاعَةِ رَبٍّ بِالعِبادِ عَليمٍ

In obedience to a Lord, All-knowing of [His] creation.

أميطي دِماءَ القَومِ عَنهُ فَإِنَّهُ          

Remove the blood of the people from it since,

سَقى آلَ عَبدِ الدّارِ كَأسَ حَميمٍ

It had fed the clan of `Abd al-Dar the cup of death.’

 وقالَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله :

The Messenger of Allah (SA) said:

خُذيهِ يا فاطِمَةُ ،

“O Fatimah, take it,

فَقَد أدّى بَعلُكِ ما عَلَيهِ

for your husband has done his duty,

وقَد قَتَلَ اللّهُ بِسَيفِهِ صَناديدَ قُرَيشٍ .

and through his sword has God killed the leaders of Quraish.”

الإرشاد : ج1 ص89 .

Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 89.

23. اُسد الغابة عن سعيد بن المسيّب:

23. Usd al-Ghabah, narrating from Sa`id ibn al-Musayyib, who said:

 لَقَد أصابَت عَلِيّا يَومَ اُحُدٍ سِتَّ عَشَرَةَ ضَربَةً ،

“On the day of Uhud, Ali suffered sixteen strikes,

كُلُّ ضَربَةٍ تُلزِمُهُ الأَرضَ ،

each one was enough to put him to the ground,

فَما كانَ يَرفَعُهُ إلّا جِبريلُ عليه السلام .

but no one saves Gabriel (AS) would lift him up.”

اُسد الغابة : ج4 ص93 الرقم 3789 .

Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 4, p. 93, h. 3789.