465. Imām Ali (a.s.) – from his commandments to Ma`qal ibn Qays al-Riyāhi when he was dispatched to Sham as the head of a three thousand strong vanguards: “Be wary of God before Whom attendance is inevitable and with other than Whom there is no meeting. Do not fight except with those who fight you. Travel in the two cool periods (i.e. morning and evening). Let the men have midday rest and sleep. Give them ease and comfort when marching and do not travel during early hours of night for God has made it for resting and has ordained it for staying, not for journeying. Therefore give rest to your body in the night and let your carrier-beasts also rest. When morning has appeared and dawn has arrived, commence your journey with God’s blessings. When you face the enemy stand in the midst of your comrades. Do not get too close to the foe, like the one who wants to commence the fighting, nor remain too distant like he who is afraid of action, till you receive my orders. Hatred for them should not lead you to fight before inviting them (to guidance) and leaving no excuses for them.”¹

465. عنه علیه السلام ـ ومِن وَصِيَّة لَهُ علیه السلام لِمَعقِلِ بنِ قَيس الرِّياحِيِّ حينَ أنفَذَهُ إلَى الشّامِ في ثَلاثَةِ آلاف مُقَدِّمَةً لَهُ ـ: اِتَّقِ اللهَ الَّذي لابُدَّ لَكَ مِن لِقائِهِ ولا مُنتَهى لَكَ دونَهُ. ولا تُقاتِلَنَّ إلّا مَن قاتَلَكَ. وسِرِ البَردَينِ. وغَوِّرِ بالنّاسِ. ورَفِّه فِي السَّيرِ. ولا تَسِر أوَّل اَللَّيلِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ جَعَلَهُ سَكَناً وقَدَّرَهُ مُقاماً لا ظَعناً. فَأَرِح فيهِ بَدَنَكَ ورَوِّح ظَهرَكَ. فَإِذا وَقَفتَ حينَ يَنبَطِحُ السَّحَرُ أو حينَ يَنفَجِرُ الفَجرُ فَسِر عَلى بَرَكَةِ اللهِ. فَإِذا لَقيتَ العَدُوَّ فَقِف مِن أصحابِكَ وَسَطاً، ولا تَدنُ مِنَ القَومِ دُنُوَّ مَن يُريدُ أن يُنشِبَ الحَربَ، ولا تَباعَد عَنهُم تَباعُدَ مَن يَهابُ البَأسَ حَتّى يَأتِيَكَ أمري، ولا يَحمِلَنَّكُم شَنَآنُهُم عَلى قِتالِهِم قَبلَ دُعائِهِم والإِعذارِ إلَيهِم.¹