Chapter Nine: Military Policies

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.

283. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ

283. Imam Ali (AS) said,

مِن وَصِيَّتِهِ لِزيادِ بنِ النَّضرِ حينَ أنفَذَهُ عَلى مُقَدِّمَتِهِ إلى صِفّينَ ـ:

in his instructions to Ziyad ibn al-Nazr when he assigned him as a vanguard of his army to Siffin:

اِعلَم أنَّ مُقَدِّمَةَ القَومِ عُيونُهُم ،

“Know that the vanguards of an army serve as their eyes

وعُيونُ المُقَدِّمَةِ طَلائِعُهُم ،

and the eyes of the vanguard are their forerunners.

فَإِذا أنتَ خَرَجتَ مِن بِلادِكِ ودَنَوتَ مِن عَدُوِّكَ

Therefore, when you leave your town and approach the enemy

فَلا تَسأَم مِن تَوجيهِ الطَّلائِعِ في كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ ،

you should not feel weary to search for them

وفي بَعضِ الشِّعابِ وَالشَّجَرِ وَالخَمَرِ،

because the informers are everywhere and in some of the defiles, woods,

وفي كُلِّ جانِبٍ ،

and secret places as well as every area

حَتّى لا يُغيرَكُم عَدُوُّكُم ،

so [be on your guard] that your enemies will not raid you

ويَكونَ لَكُم كَمينٌ .

or lay trap for you.

 ولا تُسَيِّرِ الكَتائِبَ وَالقَبائِلَ مِن لَدُنِ الصَّباحِ إلَى المَساءِ إلّا تَعبِيَةً ،

Do not make the battalions and tribes proceed from morning to evening unless you want to mobilize them,

فَإِن دَهَمَكُم أمرٌ أو غَشِيَكُم مَكروهٌ كُنتُم قَد تَقَدَّمتُم فِي التَّعبِيَةِ .

so that when a matter occurs or a trouble befalls you are already mobilized for it.

وإذا نَزَلتُم بِعَدُوٍّ أو نَزَلَ بِكُم فَليَكُن مُعَسكَرُكُم في أقبالِ الأَشرافِ ،

Your camp should be upon heights,

أو في سِفاحِ الجِبالِ ،

slopes of the mountains,

أو أثناءِ الأَنهارِ ؛

or in between rivers

كَيما تَكونَ لَكُم رِدءا

so that they will form fortresses for you

ودُونَكُم مَرَدّا .

and will prevent your enemies from reaching you.

وَلتَكُن مُقاتَلَتُكُم مِن وَجهٍ واحِدٍ وَاثنَينِ .

Your fighting should be from one or two fronts.

وَاجعَلوا رُقَباءَكُم في صَياصِي الجِبالِ ، وبِأَعلى الأَشرافِ ،

Order the vanguards to settle on the summits of mountains,

وبِمَناكِبِ الأَنهارِ ؛

heights and on the edges of rivers.

يُريئونَ لَكُم ؛

They should oversee for you

لِئَلّا يَأتِيَكُم عَدُوٌّ مِن مَكانِ مَخافَةٍ أو أمنٍ .

so that the enemies will not attack you from a fearful or secured place.

 وإذا نَزَلتُم فَانزِلوا جَميعا ،

If you want to reside, you should reside collectively

وإذا رَحَلتُم فَارحَلوا جَميعا ،

and when you want to continue your march, you should continue collectively.

وإذا غَشِيَكُمُ اللَّيلُ فَنَزَلتُم فَحُفّوا عَسكَرَكُم بِالرِّماحِ وَالتِّرَسَةِ ،

When you reside at night, you should encompass your camp with spears and armors.

وَاجعَلوا رُماتَكُم يَلوونَ تِرَسَتَكُم ؛

Put the archers behind the carriers of armors

كَيلا تُصابَ لَكُم غِرَّةٌ ، ولا تُلقى لَكُم غَفلَةٌ .

so that you will not be taken by surprise or inattentively.

 وَاحرُس عَسكَرَكَ بِنَفسِكَ،

Guard your army yourself.

وإيّاكَ أن تَرقُدَ أو تُصبِحَ إلّا غِرارا أو مَضمَضَةً .

Beware, you should not sleep unbrokenly and should not pass a night with deep sleep.

ثُمَّ ليَكُن ذلِكَ شَأنَكَ ودَأبَكَ حَتّى تَنتَهِيَ إلى عَدُوِّكَ .

You should keep up this method until you meet your enemy.

 وعَلَيكَ بِالتَّأَنّي في حَربِكَ ،

You should be careful and deliberate in fighting.

وإيّاكَ والعَجَلَةَ إلّا أن تُمكِنَكَ فُرصَةٌ .

Beware of hasting unless a good opportunity arises for you.

وإيّاكَ أن تُقاتِلَ إلّا أن يَبدَؤوكَ ،

Do not fight before the enemy attacks you

أو يَأتِيَكَ أمري .

or you receive my order.

وَالسَّلامُ عَلَيكَ ورَحمَةُ اللّهِ .

Peace and God’s mercy be upon you.”

تحف العقول : ص191 .

Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. 191.

284. دعائم الإسلام :

284. Da`a’im al-Islam:

إنَّهُ [ عليّا عليه السلام ] كانَ إذا زَحَفَ لِلقِتالِ جَعَلَ مَيمَنَةً وميسَرَةً وقَلبا يَكونُ هُوَ فيهِ ،

“When he advanced forward to fight, he would arrange the troops to the left, the right and the middle flanks, with himself stationed in the middle.

ويَجعَلُ لَها رَوابِطُ ،

He would appoint liaisons for them,

ويُقَدِّمُ عَلَيها مُقَدّمينَ ،

would send forth vanguards

ويَأمُرُهُم بِخَفضِ الأَصواتِ ،

and would order them to lower their voices,

وَالدُّعاءِ ،

to pray,

وَاجتِماعِ القُلوبِ ،

to have their hearts united,

وشَهرِ السُّيوفِ ،

to draw their swords,

وإظهارِ العِدَّةِ ،

to display their power.

ولُزومِ كُلِّ قَومٍ مَكانَهُم ،

He would also order every group to be stationed in their own positions

ورُجوعِ كُلِّ مَن حَمَلَ إلى مَصافِّهِ بَعدَ الحَملَةِ .

and that everyone who would make a raid should return to his position after the raid.”

دعائم الإسلام : ج 1 ص 372 .

Da`a’im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 372.

285. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في وَصفِ القِتالِ ـ:

285. Imam Ali (AS) said, in describing fighting:

مَن رَأى فُرصَةً مِنَ العَدُوِّ فَليَنشُز ، وَليَنتَهِزِ الفُرصَةَ بَعدَ إحكامِ مَركَزِهِ ،

“He who notices an opportunity against the enemy should raid on him and take advantage of the opportunity, after strengthening his position.

فَإِذا قَضى حاجَتَهُ عادَ إلَيهِ .

When his goal is achieved, he should return to his position.”

دعائم الإسلام : ج 1 ص 372 .

Da`a’im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 372.

286. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :كانَ يَقولُ لِأَصحابِهِ عِندَ الحَربِ ـ :

286. Imam Ali (AS) said, to his companions at the time of war:

لا تَشتَدَّنَّ عَلَيكُم فَرَّةٌ بَعدَها كَرَّةٌ ، ولا جَولَةٌ بَعدَها حَملَةٌ .

 “Take care not to underestimate an attack after a retreat, or a withdrawal after an assault.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 16 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 16.

287. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :

287. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:

كانوا ـ شُرطَةُ الخَميسِ ـ سِتَّةَ آلافِ رَجُلٍ أنصارهُ ]أي عَلِيّ عليه السلام [ .

 “The special forces (Shurtat al-Khamis) were six thousand men of his supporters.”

(شُرَط السلطان : نخبة أصحابه الَّذين يقدّمهم على غيرهم من جنده . وقال ابن الأعرابي : هم الشُّرَط ، والنسبة إليهم : شُرَطِيٌّ ؛ والشُرْطة ، والنسبة إليهم : شُرْطِيٌّ، النهاية : ج2 ص460) .

[The elite forces of the ruler (shurat al-sultan): A choice of his companions given preference to other soldiers. al-Nihayah, vol. 2, p. 460.]

الاختصاص : ص2 .

Al-Ikhtisas, p. 2.

288. رجال الكشّي عن أبي الجارود:

288. Rijal al-Kashshi, narrating from Abu al-Jarud who said:

 قُلتُ لِلأَصبَغِ بنِ نُباتَةَ : ما كانَ مَنزِلَةُ هذَا الرَّجُلِ ]عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام [ فيكُم ؟

“I said to al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah: “What was the status of this man [ImamAli (AS)] among you?”

قالَ : ما أدري ما تَقولُ ! إلّا أنَّ سُيوفَنا كانَت عَلى عَواتِقِنا ،

I said: “I do not understand what you mean! However, our swords were drawn on our shoulders;

فَمَن أومى إلَيهِ ضَرَبناهُ بِها .

whoever he pointed to we would hit them with it.

وكانَ يَقولُ لَنا : تَشَرَّطوا ،

He would say to us: “Fasten to the covenant,

فَوَاللّهِ مَا اشتِراطُكُم لِذَهَبٍ ولا لِفِضَّةٍ ،

for by Allah your covenant is not for the sake of gold or silver,

ومَا اشتِراطُكُم إلّا لِلمَوتِ ،

nor is your pact for anything else other than death.

إنَّ قَوما مِن قَبلِكُم مِن ] بَني إسرائيلَ [ تَشارَطوا بَينَهُم ،

A group before you [from the Israelites] made a covenant between themselves

فَما ماتَ أحَدٌ مِنهُم حَتّى كانَ نَبِيَّ قَومِهِ ،

and no one died of them but that he was a prophet to his folk,

أو نَبِيَّ قَريَتِهِ ،

or a prophet to his village,

أو نَبِيَّ نَفسِهِ ،

or a prophet to himself.

وإنَّكُم لَبِمَنزِلَتِهِم ،

You are indeed of the same status as they were,

غَيرَ أنَّكُم لَستُم بِأَنبِياءَ .

except that you are not prophets.”

رجال الكشّي : ج1 ص19 الرقم 8 .

Rijal al-Kashshi, vol. 1, p. 19, no. 8.

289. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ

289. Imam Ali (AS) said,

في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

ثُمَّ تَفَقَّد مِن اُمورِهِم ما يَتَفَقَّدُهُ الوالِدانِ مِن وَلَدِهِما ،

“Then Inspect the affairs of the soldiers as parents inspect their own child.

ولا يَتَفاقَمَنَّ في نَفسِكَ شَيءٌ قَوَّيتَهُم بِهِ .

Never let anything through which you have strengthened them distress you

ولا تَحقِرَنَّ لُطفا تَعاهَدتَهُم بِهِ وإن قَلَّ ؛

and do not underestimate the kindness you have undertaken for them even if it were small,

فَإِنَّهُ داعِيَةٌ لَهُم إلى بَذلِ النَّصيحَةِ لَكَ ، وحُسنِ الظَّنِّ بِكَ .

for it will invite them to counsel you sincerely and trust you.

ولا تَدَع تَفَقُّدَ لَطيفِ اُمورِهِمُ اتِّكالاً عَلى جَسيمِها ؛

Do not leave out attending to their minor affairs while depending upon (the examination of) the great matters

فَإِنَّ لِليَسيرِ مِن لُطفِكَ مَوضِعا يَنتَفِعونَ بِهِ ،

because your small favours will also be of benefits to them

ولِلجَسيمِ مَوقِعا لا يَستَغنونَ عَنهُ .

as the big ones are also such that they cannot do without.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

290. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ

290. Imam Ali (AS) said,

مِن كَلامٍ لَهُ عليه السلام لِابنِهِ مُحَمَّدِ بنِ الحَنَفِيَّةِ لَمّا أعطاهُ الرّايَةَ يَومَ الجَمَلِ ـ:

in his instructions to his son Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyah, when he gave him the banner on the day of the Battle of Camel:

تَزولُ الجِبالُ

“Mountains may move from their positions,

ولا تَزُل ،

but you should not move from yours.

عَضَّ عَلى ناجِذِكَ .

Grit your teeth

أعِرِ اللّهَ جُمجُمَتَكَ .

and lend your head to Allah [in fighting and sacrificing yourself for Allah].

تِد فِي الأَرضِ قَدَمَك .

Fix your feet firmly on the ground,

ارمِ بِبَصَرِكَ أقصَى القَومِ ،

fix your eye on the remotest foe,

وغُضَّ بَصَرَكَ ،

close your eyes [to their majority]

وَاعلَم أنَّ النَّصرَ مِن عِندِ اللّهِ سُبحانَهُ .

and be sure that help is only from Allah the Glorified.”

نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 11 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 11.

291. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

291. Imam Ali (AS) said:

إنَّ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله أمَرَ بِإِعلانِ الشِّعارِ قَبلَ الحَربِ ، وقالَ:

“The Messenger of Allah (SA) commanded us to bear slogan before war, saying:

لِيَكُن في شِعارِكُمُ اسمٌ مِن أسماءِ اللّهِ .

Let your slogans include one of the names of Allah.”

دعائم الإسلام : ج1 ص370 .

Da`a’im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 370.

292. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

292. Imam Ali (AS) said:

لِيَعلَمِ المُنهَزِمُ بِأَنَّهُ مُسخِطٌ رَبَّهُ ،

“The escapee (from the battle) should know that he has infuriated God

وموبِقٌ نَفسَهُ ،

and has destroyed himself.

إنَّ فِي الفِرارِ مَوجِدَةَ اللّهِ،

Verily in escaping there is hostility towards God,

وَالذُّلَّ اللّازِمَ ،

perpetual degradation,

وَالعارَ الباقِيَ ،

eternal disgrace

وفَسادَ العَيشِ عَلَيهِ .

and depravity of life.

وإنَّ الفارَّ لَغَيرُ مَزيدٍ في عُمُرِهِ ،

The escapee will not prolong his life,

ولا مَحجوزٌ بَينَهُ وبَينَ يَومِهِ ،

nor will there come an interval between him

ولا يُرضي رَبَّهُ .

and the day he is destined to die, nor will he please God.

ولَمَوتُ الرَّجُلِ مَحقا قَبلَ إتيانِ هذِهِ الخِصالِ خَيرٌ مِنَ الرِّضى بِالتَّلبيسِ بِها ،

A man’s death in honesty and truthfulness before committing such a practice [escape from battle] is better than good pleasure with,

وَالإِقرارِ عَلَيها !

and pursuance of, such practices.”

الكافي : ج5 ص41 ح4 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 41, h. 4.

293. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام:

293. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:

 إنّ عَلِيّا عليه السلام كانَ يَقولُ: لَأَن تَخَطَّفَنِي الطَّيرُ أحَبُّ إلَيَّ مِن أن أقولَ عَلى رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ما لَم يَقُل ،

 “Ali (AS) would say: “Being snatched the way by the birds is better for me than attributing to the Messenger of God (SA) something that he has not said.

سَمِعتُ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله يَقولُ في يَومِ الخَندَقِ: الحَربُ خُدعَةٌ .

I heard the Prophet (SA) say on the day of [the battle of] Khandaq: “War is a deception.

يَقولُ: تَكَلَّموا بِما أرَدتُم .

He would say: “Speak in any way you wish (when in battle).”

تهذيب الأحكام : ج6 ص162 ح298 .

Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 6, p. 162, h. 298.

294. الكافي عن عَدِيّ بن حاتِم :

294. Al-Kafi, narrating from `Adi ibn Hatam who said:

إنَّ أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام قالَ يَومَ التقَى هُوَ ومُعاوِيَةُ بِصِفّينَ ـ ورَفَع بِها صَوتَه لِيُسمِعَ أصحابَهُ ـ :

“When the Commander of the Faithful confronted Muawiya in Siffin, he raised his voice so that his companions could hear him and he said:

وَاللّهِ لَأَقتُلَنَّ مُعاوِيَةَ وأصحابَهُ ،

“By God, I will kill Muawiya and his companions!”

ثُمَّ يَقولُ في آخِرِ قَولِهِ : إن شاءَ اللّهُ ـ يَخفِضُ بِها صَوتَهُ ـ . وكُنتُ قَريبا مِنهُ ،

Then he lowered his voice and said: “If God wills!”

فَقُلتُ: يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ إنَّكَ حَلَفتَ عَلى ما فَعَلتَ ،

I was near him so I said to him: “O Commander of the Faithful! You have truly sworn to do it

ثُمَّ استَثنَيتَ ،

and then you said ‘if God wills’.

فَما أرَدتَ بِذلِكَ ؟ !

What did you mean by this?”

فَقالَ لي: إنَّ الحَربَ خُدعَةٌ ، وأنَا عِندَ المُؤمِنينَ غَيرُ كَذوبٍ ،

He said: “War is a deception and I am not a liar in the sight of the faithful.

فَأَرَدتُ أن اُحَرِّض أصحابي عَلَيهِم ؛

I wanted to incite my followers and encourage them

كَيلا يَفشَلوا ،

not to show weakness

وكَي يَطمَعوا فيهِم ،

and to fight the enemy.

فَأَفقَهُهُم يَنتَفِعُ بِها بَعدَ اليَومِ

Therefore, in future the wisest of them will benefit from this word.

إن شاءَ اللّهُ .

God willing.”

الكافي : ج 7 ص 460 ح 1 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 7, p. 460, h. 1.

295. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في كِتابِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ قَبلَ وَقعَةِ صِفّينَ ـ:

295. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his letter to Malik al-Ashtar before the Battle of Siffin:

إيّاكَ أن تَبدَأ القَومَ بِقِتالٍ إلّا أن يَبدَؤوكَ ،

“Beware of beginning war with the people unless they start fighting you,

حَتّى تَلقاهُم ،

until you encounter them

وتَسمَعَ مِنهُم ،

and hear from them.

ولا يَجرِمَنَّكَ شَنَآنُهُم عَلى قِتالِهِم قَبلَ دُعائِهِم وَالإِعذارِ إلَيهِم مَرَّةً بَعدَ مَرَّةٍ !

Do not let their evil prompt you to fighting them before inviting them [to guidance] and seeking an excuse from them time after another.”

وقعة صفّين : ص153 .

Waq`at Siffin, p. 153.

296. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

296. Imam Ali (AS) said:

إن ظَفِرتُم بِرَجُلٍ مِن أهلِ الحَربِ فَزَعَمَ أنَّهُ رَسولٌ إلَيكُم ؛

“If you triumph over a man of the enemy and he claims to be an envoy to you,

فَإِن عُرِفَ ذلِكَ مِنهُ وجاءَ بِما يَدُلُّ عَلَيهِ

then if his claim is proven and he brings what substantiates it,

فَلا سَبيلَ لَكُم عَلَيهِ حَتّى يُبلِغَ رَسالاتِهِ ويَرجِعَ إلى أصحابِهِ ،

then do not hurt him until he delivers his message and returns to his comrades;

وإن لَم تَجِدوا عَلى قَولِهِ دَليلاً فَلا تَقبَلوا مِنهُ .

but if you find no proof to his claim, do not accept his words.”

دعائم الإسلام : ج1 ص376 .

Da`a’im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 376.

297. السنن الكبرى عن البَراءِ بن عازِب :

297. Al-Sunan al-Kubra, narrating from al-Bara’ ibn Azib, who said:

بَعَثَني عَلِيٌّ رضى الله عنه إلَى النَّهرِ إلَى الخَوارِجِ ،

“Ali (AS) sent me to the River [al-Nahrawan] to speak to the Khawarij,

فَدَعَوتُهُم ثَلاثا قَبلَ أن نُقاتِلَهُم .

so I invited them [to guidance] three times before fighting them.”

السنن الكبرى : ج8 ص309 ح16739 .

Al-Sunan al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 9, h. 16739.

298. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :

298. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:

إنَّ أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام كانَ إذا أرادَ القِتالَ قالَ هذِهِ الدَّعَواتِ:

“Whenever the Commander of the Faithful set out for a battle, he would recite the following supplication:

اللّهُمَّ إنَّكَ أعلَمتَ سَبيلاً مِن سُبُلِكَ ،

“O God! Verily, You showed one of Your paths,

جَعَلتَ فيهِ رِضاكَ ،

put Your satisfaction in it,

وَنَدبتَ إلَيهِ أولِياءَكَ ،

called Your friends to it

وجَعَلتَهُ أشرَفَ سُبُلِكَ عِندَك ثَوابا ،

and made it the best of Your ways for reward,

وأكرَمَها لَدَيكَ مَآبا ،

the noblest for returning [to You]

وأحَبَّها إلَيكَ مَسلَكا ،

and the most favorable to You as a conduct.

ثُمَّ اشتَرَيتَ فيهِ مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ أنفُسَهُم وأموالَهُم

Then [in this path], You purchased of the believers their persons and their wealth,

بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ يُقاتِلونَ في سَبيلِ اللّهِ

that they would gain in return (the Garden) Paradise; they fight in Gos’s Cause,

فَيَقتُلونَ ويُقتَلونَ وَعدا عَلَيكَ حَقّا ،

and slay and are slain; a true promise binding on You.*

فَاجعَلني مِمَّنِ اشتَرى فيهِ مِنكَ نَفسَهُ

So, place me among those from whom You have bought his soul

ثُمَّ وَفى لَكَ بِبَيعِهِ الَّذي بايَعَكَ عَلَيهِ ،

and he has fulfilled his covenant to You;

غَيرَ ناكِثٍ ولا ناقِضٍ عَهدا ،

one of those who did not break a pact,

ولا مُبَدِّلاً تَبديلاً ،

nor violate or alter it; rather,

بَلِ استيجابا لِمَحَبَّتِكَ ،

he made it (his sacrifice) in response to Your loving kindness

وتَقَرُّبا بِهِ إلَيكَ ،

and as a means of approximation to You.

فَاجعَلهُ خاتِمَةَ عَمَلي ،

So make it the seal of my affairs

وصَيِّر فيهِ فَناءَ عُمُري ،

and ordain the end of my life in this way.

وَارزُقني فيهِ لَكَ وبِهِ مَشهدا توجِبُ لي بِهِ مِنكَ الرِّضا ،

Bestow upon me in it a martyrdom which brings me Your pleasure

وتَحُطُّ بِهِ عَنِّي الخَطايا ،

and removes my blunders.

وتَجعَلُني فِي الأَحياءِ المَرزوقينَ بِأَيدِي العُداةِ وَالعُصاةِ ،

Place me among those who are living and provided for by the enemies and the rebels [through being martyred by them]

تَحتَ لِواءِ الحَقِّ ورايَةِ الهُدى ،

under the banner of truth and guidance;

ماضِيا عَلى نُصرَتِهِم قُدُما ،

moving ahead to assist them,

غَيرَ مُوَلٍّ دُبُرا ،

not turning his back [on fighting],

ولا مُحدِثٍ شَكّا ،

and nor creating doubts.

اللّهُمَّ وأعوذُ بِكَ عِندَ ذلِكَ مِنَ الجُبنِ عِندَ مَوارِدِ الأَهوالِ ،

O God! I seek refuge in You from cowardice at the time of terror,

ومِنَ الضَّعفِ عِندَ مُساوَرَةِ الأَبطالِ ،

from indolence at the time of the champions’ assault,

ومِنَ الذَّنبِ المُحبِطِ لِلأَعمالِ ،

and from the sins that would ruin my actions.

فَاُحجِمَ مَن شَكٍّ ،

I would thus be enfeebled out of doubt,

أو أمضِيَ بِغَيرِ يَقينٍ ،

or pass on without certitude,

فَيَكون سَعيي في تَبابٍ ،

so my attempts would be futile

وعَمَلي غَيرَ مَقبولٍ .

and my actions unaccepted.”

الكافي : ج5 ص46 ح1 ، تهذيب الأحكام : ج3 ص81 ح237 ، بحار الأنوار : ج 33 ص 452 ح 664 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 46, h. 1. Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 3, p. 81, h. 237. Bihar al-Anwar,

vol. 33, p. 52, h. 664.

* Alluding to the Qur’n 2:111 (Editor).

299. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :كانَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ ـ صَلَواتُ اللّهِ عَلَيهِ ـ لا يُقاتِلُ حَتّى تَزولَ الشَّمسُ ويَقولُ :

299. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: “The Commander of the Faithful (AS) would not start fighting except after midday. He would say:

تُفتَحُ أبوابُ السَّماءِ ، وتُقبِلُ الرَّحمَةُ ، ويَنزِلُ النَّصرُ .

“At this time the doors of heaven will be open, mercy comes forward and help descends.”

ويَقولُ: هُوَ أقرَبُ إلَى اللَّيلِ ،

He would also say: “This time is closer to the evening,

وأجدَرُ أن يَقِلَّ القَتلُ ،

helps reduce murder

ويَرِجعَ الطّالِبُ ،

and helps the warriors to retreat [from chasing the enemy]

ويُفلِتَ المُنهَزِمُ .

and the defeated to be saved.”

الكافي : ج5 ص28 ح5 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 28, h. 5.

300. تاريخ اليعقوبي عن إسماعيل بن عليّ :

300. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, narrating from Isma`il ibn Ali, who said:

إنَّ أوَّلَ مَن عَلَّمَ قِتالَ أهلِ القِبلَةِ عَلِيُّ بنُ أبي طالِبٍ ،

“The first person to teach Muslims how to fight was Ali ibn Abi Talib;

ولم يَكُن يَقتُلُ أسيرا ،

he would not kill a prisoner,

ولا يَتبَعُ مُنهَزِما ،

nor pursue one who flees,

ولا يُجهِزُ عَلى جَريحٍ .

nor finish off someone who is wounded.”

تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج2 ص383 .

Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 383.