Introduction: A General Look at the Wars of Imam Ali (AS)

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.

321. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آله :

321. The Prophet (SA) said:

يا عَلِيُّ، حَربُكَ حَربي ،

“O Ali, war against you is war against me

وسِلمُكَ سِلمي ،

and peace with you is peace with me,

وحَربي حَربُ اللّهِ ،

and war against me is war against Allah.

ومَن سالَمَكَ فَقَد سالَمَني ،

Whoever makes peace with you has thereby made peace with me,

ومَن سالَمَني فَقَد سالَمَ اللّهَ عَزَّ وجَلَّ .

and whoever makes peace with me has thereby made peace with Allah.”

الأمالي للصدوق : ص656 ح891 .

Al-Amali, by al-Saduq, p. 656, h. 891.

322. عنه صلى الله عليه و آلهـ لِعَلِيٍّ وفاطِمَةَ وَالحَسَنِ وَالحُسَينِ عليهم السلام ـ:

322. The Prophet (SA) said, to Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husain (AS):

أنَا حَربٌ لِمَن حاربَتُم ،

“I am at war with whoever is at war with you

وسِلمٌ لِمَن سالَمتُم .

and at peace with whoever is at peace with you.”

سنن الترمذي : ج5 ص699 ح3870 .

Sunan al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 699, h. 3870.

323. المستدرك على الصحيحين عن أبي أيّوب الأنصاريّ :

323. Al-Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihain, narrating from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who said:

سَمِعتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه و آله يَقولُ لِعَلِيِّ بنِ أبيطالِبٍ :

 “I heard the Prophet (SA) say to Ali ibn Abi Talib:

تُقاتِلُ النّاكِثينَ وَالقاسِطينَ وَالمارِقينَ بِالطُّرُقاتِ وَالنَّهرَواناتِ وبَالشَّعَفاتِ .

“You will fight the Qasitin, the Nakithin and the Mariqin in the pathways, rivers and mountain peaks.”

 قالَ أبو أيّوبَ : قُلتُ : يا رَسولَ اللّهِ ، مَعَ مَن تُقاتِلُ هؤُلاءِ الأقوامُ ؟ !

Abu Ayyub then said: “I asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who will these groups fight?”

قالَ : مَعَ عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ .

To which he replied: “Ali ibn Abi Talib.”

المستدرك على الصحيحين : ج 3 ص 150 ح 4675 .

Al-Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihain, vol. 3, p. 150, h. 4675.

324. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

324. Imam Ali (AS) said:

اُمِرتُ أن اُقاتِلَ النّاكِثينَ وَالقاسِطينَ وَالمارِقينَ ،

“I was ordered to fight the Qasitin, the Nakithin and the Mariqin,

فَفَعَلتُ ما اُمِرتُ بِهِ ؛

and I did what I was ordered to do.

فَأَمَّا النّاكِثونَ : فَهُم أهلُ البَصرَةِ وغَيرُهُم مِن أصحابِ الجَمَلِ ،

As for the Nakithin, they are the people of Basra and other people of the Camel (al-Jamal).

وأمَّا المارِقونَ : فَهُمُ الخَوارِجُ ،

The Mariqin are the Khawarij;

وأمَّا القاسِطونَ : فَهُم أهلُ الشّامِ وغَيرُهُم مِن أحزابِ مُعاوِيَةَ .

and the Qasitin are the people of Syria and all other groups who were with them from the confederates of Mu`awiyah.”

دعائم الإسلام : ج1 ص388 .

Da`a’im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 388.

325. الإرشاد :

325. Al-Irshad:

لَمَّا اتَّصَلَ بِهِ [بِعَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ] مَسيرُ عائِشَةَ وطَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ إلَى البَصرَةِ مِن مَكَّةَ ، حَمِدَ اللّهَ وأثنى عَلَيهِ ،

“When he [Ali (AS)] was informed of the journey of A’ishah, Talha and al-Zubayr from Mecca to Basra, he praised and glorified Allah

ثُمَّ قالَ : قَد سارَت عائِشَةُ وطَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ ،

and then said: “A’ishah, Talha and al-Zubayr have set out,

كُلُّ واحِدٍ مِنهُما يَدَّعِي الخِلافَةَ دونَ صاحِبِهِ ،

and each one of the two [men] makes claims for the caliphate separately from his colleague.

فَلا يَدَّعي طَلحَةُ الخِلافَةَ إلّا أنَّهُ ابنُ عَمِّ عائِشَةَ ،

Talha only claims the caliphate because he is the paternal cousin of A’ishah,

ولا يَدَّعيهَا الزُّبَيرُ إلّا أنَّهُ صِهرُ أبيها ،

and al-Zubayr only claims it because he is the brother-in-law of her father.

وَاللّهِ لَئِن ظَفِرا بِما يُريدانِ لَيَضرِبَنّ الزُّبَيرُ عُنُقَ طَلحَةَ ،

By Allah, if the two are successful in what they intend, then al-Zubayr will execute Talha

ولَيَضرِبَنَّ طَلحَةُ عُنُقَ الزُّبَيرِ ؛

or Talha will execute al-Zubayr,

يُنازِعُ هذا عَلَى المُلكِ هذا .

this one disputing the [right to] kingship of the other.”

الإرشاد : ج1 ص246 .

Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 246.

326. المناقب للخوارزمي :

326. Al-Manaqib, by al-Khwarazmi:

ويُروى في يَومِ السّادِسِ وَالعِشرينَ مِن حُروبِ صِفّينَ :

“It is narrated that on the twenty-sixth day of the Battle of Siffin

اجتَمَعَ عِندَ مُعاوِيَةَ المَلأَ مِن قَومِهِ ،

a group from the supporters of Mu`awiyah gathered around him

فَذَكَروا شَجاعَةَ عَلِيٍّ وشَجاعَةَ الأَشتَرِ ،

and mentioned the bravery of Ali and [Malik] al-Ashtar,

فَقالَ عُتبَةُ بنُ أبي سُفيانَ : إن كانَ الأَشتَرُ شُجاعا ،

so `Utbah ibn Abi Sufyan said: “Even though al-Ashtar is brave,

لكِنَّ عَلِيّا لا نَظيرَ لَهُ في شَجاعَتِهِ وصَولَتِهِ وقُوَّتِهِ ! !

Ali has no equal in his bravery, attack and power.”

 قالَ مُعاوِيَةُ : ما مِنّا أحَدٌ إلّا وقَد قَتَلَ عَلِيٌّ أباهُ ، أو أخاهُ ، أو وَلَدَهُ ؛

Mu`awiyah then said: “None of us there is, but that ‘Ali has killed his father, brother or son.

قَتَلَ يَومَ بَدرٍ أباكَ يا وَليدُ ،

O Walid, he killed your father in the Battle of Badr.

وقَتَلَ عَمَّكَ يا أبَا الأَعوَرِ يَومَ اُحُدٍ ،

O Abu al-A`war, he killed your uncle in the Battle of Uhud,

وقَتَلَ يَابنَ طَلحَةَ الطَّلحاتِ أباكَ يَومَ الجَمَلِ ،

and O son of Talhat al-Talhat, he killed your father in the Battle of the Camel.

فَإِذَا اجتَمَعتُم عَلَيهِ أدرَكتُم ثَأرَكُم مِنهُ ، وشَفَيتُم صُدورَكُم .

If all of you attack him, you will get your revenge and your hearts will feel recompense.”

المناقب للخوارزمي : ص234 .

Al-Manaqib, by al-Khwarazmi, p. 234.

327. الأمالي للمفيد عن الحسن بن سلمة :

327. Al-Amali, by al-Mufid, narrating from al-Hasan ibn Salamah, who said:

لَمّا بَلَغَ أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ـ صَلَواتُ اللّهِ عَلَيهِ ـ مَسيرُ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ وعائِشَةَ مِن مَكَّةَ إلَى البَصرَةِ . . .

“When the Commander of the faithful was informed about the procession of Talha, al-Zubayr and A’ishah from Mecca to Basra.....

فَقامَ أبُو الهَيثَمِ بنُ التَّيِّهانِ وقالَ :

Abu al-Haytham ibn al-Tayyihan stood up and said:

يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ، إنَّ حَسَدَ قُرَيشٍ إيّاكَ عَلى وَجهَينِ :

“O Commander of the faithful, Quraish is envious of you for two reasons:

أمّا خِيارُهُم ؛ فَحَسَدوكَ مُنافَسَةً فِي الفَضلِ ،

the good ones among them envy you out competing for virtue

وَارتِفاعا فِي الدَّرَجَةِ ،

or wishing to have an elevated position;

وأمّا أشرارُهُم ؛ فَحَسَدوكَ حَسَدا أحبَطَ اللّهُ بِهِ أعمالَهُم ،

the wicked ones envy you much in that Allah has made their deeds fail

وأثقَلَ بِهِ أوزارَهُم ،

and their burdens heavy.

وما رَضوا أن يُساووكَ حَتّى أرادوا أن يَتَقَدَّموكَ ،

They were not pleased to be to equal to you, until they desired to precede you;

فَبَعُدَت عَلَيهِمُ الغايَةُ ،

so, they missed their goal

وأسقَطَهَمُ المِضمارُ .

and lost the race.

وكُنتَ أَحقَّ قُرَيشٍ بِقُرَيشٍ ؛

You were indeed the most worthy among Quraish.

نَصَرتَ نَبِيَّهُم حَيّا ،

You supported their Prophet when he was alive

وقَضَيتَ عَنهُ الحُقوقَ مَيِّتا .

and fulfilled all his rights after his death.

وَاللّهِ ما بَغيُهُم إلّا عَلى أنفُسِهِم ،

By Allah, their insolence is against themselves!

ونَحنُ أنصارُكَ وأعوانُكَ ، فَمُرنا بِأَمرِكَ !

We are your helpers and supporters, so give us your orders.”

الأمالي للمفيد : ص154 ح6 .

Al-Amali, by al-Mufid, p. 153, h. 6.

328. الأمالي للطوسي عن مالك بن أوس :

328. Al-Amali, by al-Tusi, narrating from Malik ibn Aws, who said:

بَعَثَ [عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام ] إلى طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ فَدَعاهُما ،

He [Ali (AS)] sent for Talha and al-Zubayr and invited them,

ثُمَّ قالَ لَهُما : أ لَم تَأتِياني وتُبايِعاني طائِعَينِ غَيرَ مُكرَهَينِ ،

so he then said to them: “Did you not come to me and pledge allegiance to me of your own accord?

فَما أنكَرتُم !

So what are you denying [regarding my rulership]?

أ جَورٌ في حُكمٍ ،

Is it oppression whithin the government

أوِ استِئثارٌ في فَيءٍ؟ !

or self-centredness in respect of the public funds?”

قالا : لا .

They said: “No.”

قالَ عليه السلام : أو في أمرٍ دَعَوتُماني إلَيهِ مِن أمرِ المُسلِمينَ فَقَصَرتُ عَنهُ؟ !

He (AS) said: “Did you invite me to do something regarding the affairs of the Muslims and I neglected it?”

قالا : مَعاذَ اللّهِ .

They said: “God forbid!”

 قالَ عليه السلام : فَمَا الَّذي كَرِهتُما مِن أمري حَتّى رَأَيتُما خِلافي ؟

He (AS) said: “Then what is it that within you dislike of my affairs?”

 قالا : خِلافَكَ عُمَرَ بنَ الخَطّابِ فِي القَسمِ ،

They said: “You act contrary to `Umar ibn al-Khattab in the distribution [of the Muslim Treasury]

وَانتِقاصَنا حَقَّنا مِنَ الفَيءِ ؛

and you diminish our rights from the public funds:

جَعَلتَ حَظَّنا فِي الإِسلامِ كَحَظِّ غَيرِنا مِمّا أفاءَ اللّهُ عَلَينا بِسُيوفِنا

you have made our share in Islam as the share of others who have embraced Islam through our swords,

مِمَّن هُوَ لَنا فَيءٌ فَسَوَّيتَ بَينَنا وبَينَهُم .

so you treat us and them equally.”

الأمالي للطوسي : ص731 ح1530 .

Al-Amali, by al-Tusi, p. 731, h. 1530.

329. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ مِن كتابٍ لَهُ إلى عَقيلٍ ـ:

329. Imam Ali (AS) said, from his letter to `Aqil:

ألا وإنَّ العَرَبَ قَدِ اجتَمَعَت عَلى حَربِ أخيكَ اليَومَ اجتِماعَها

“Know that the Arabs have gathered today to wage a war against your brother

عَلى حَربِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله قَبلَ اليَومِ ،

as they gathered to fight the Prophet (SA) before today.

فَأَصبَحوا قَد جَهِلوا حَقَّهُ ،

They have ignored his rights

وجَحَدوا فَضلَهُ .

and denied his virtue.”

الغارات : ج2 ص431 .

Al-Gharat, vol. 2, p. 431.

330. مسند ابن حنبل عن أبي سعيدٍ الخدريّ :

330. Musnad Ibn Hanbal, narrating from Abu Sa`id al-Khudri, who said:

كُنّا جُلوسا نَنتَظِرُ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

“We were sitting waiting for the Messenger of Allah (SA);

فَخَرَجَ عَلَينا مِن بَعضِ بُيوتِ نِسائه ـ

when he came out from one of the houses of his wives,

قالَ : ـ فَقُمنا مَعَهُ ، فَانقَطَعَت نَعلُهُ

we stood up to him, so his sandal ripped.

فَتَخَلَّفَ عَلَيها عَلِيٌّ يَخصِفُها ،

Ali stayed behind to mend it.

فَمَضى رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

The Messenger of Allah (SA) left

ومَضَينا مَعَهُ ،

and we accompanied him,

ثُمَّ قامَ يَنتَظِرُهُ ،

then he stopped to wait for him

وقُمنا مَعَهُ .

and we also stopped.

 فَقالَ : إنَّ مِنكُم مَن يُقاتِلُ عَلى تَأويلِ هذَا القُرآنِ كَما قاتَلتُ عَلى تَنزيلِهِ ،

He (SA) then said: “Among you there is he who fights over the interpretation of this Qur’an as I fought over its revelation.”

فَاستَشرَفنا وفينا أبو بكرٍ وعُمَرُ ،

We stood up, including Abu Bakr and `Umar.

فَقالَ : لا ، ولكِنَّهُ خاصِفُ النَّعلِ .

He (SA) said: “Nay, but he is mender of the sandal.”

 قالَ : فَجِئنا نُبَشِّرُهُ ، ـ

We then went to him [Ali (AS)] to give him the glad tidings;

قال : ـ وكَأَنَّهُ قَد سَمِعَهُ .

however, it seemed as if he had already heard it.”

مسند ابن حنبل : ج4 ص163 ح11773 .

Musnad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 4, p. 163, h. 11773.

331. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آلهـ لِعَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ـ:

331. The Prophet (SA) said, to Ali:

أنتَ أخي ،

“You are my brother

وأبو وُلدي ،

and the father of my sons.

تُقاتِلُ عَن سُنَّتي ،

You will fight in defence of my Sunnah

وتُبرِئُ ذِمَّتي .

and fulfil all of my rights.”

مسند أبي يعلى : ج1 ص271 ح524 .

Musnad Abi Ya`la, vol. 1, p. 271, h. 524.

332. الأمالي للطوسي عن أبي سعيدٍ الخدريّ :

332. Al-Amali, by al-Tusi, narrating from Abu Sa`id al-Khudri, who said:

أخبَرَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله عَلِيّا بِما يَلقى بَعدَهُ ،

“The Messenger of Allah (SA) informed Ali about what will happen after him,

فَبَكى عليه السلام وقالَ :

so he [Ali] cried and said:

يا رَسولَ اللّهِ ،

“O Messenger of Allah,

أسأَلُكَ بِحَقّي عَلَيكَ ،

I ask you by my right over you,

وقَرابَتي مِنكَ ،

my kinship to you,

وحَقِّ صُحبَتي إيّاكَ ،

and the right of my companionship with you,

لَمّا دَعَوتَ اللّهَ عَزَّ وجَلَّ أن يَقبِضَني إلَيهِ ؟

that you pray to Allah the Exalted to take my soul to Him?”

 فَقالَ صلى الله عليه و آله : أ تَسأَ لُني أن أدعُوَ رَبّي لِأَجَلٍ مُؤَجَّلٍ ؟

He (SA) said: “Are you asking me to pray to my Lord for that which has a fixed time?”

 قالَ : فَعَلامَ اُقاتِلُهُم ؟

He (AS) said: “Then for what will I fight them?”

قالَ : عَلَى الإِحداثِ فِي الدّينِ .

He (SA) said: “For their innovation in religion.”

الأمالي للطوسي : ص 501 ح 1098 .

Al-Amali, by al-Tusi, p. 501, h. 1098.