466. Imām Ali (a.s.) – from his letter to some of his army chiefs: “If they [the enemies] return to the shelter of obedience, then this is all that we want. But if the affair of these people led to separation and disobedience, then take with you those who obey you and rush upon those who disobey you. And be content with those who follow you and do not worry about those who hold back from you because the absence
of a halfhearted man is better than his presence and his sitting down is better than his rising up.”¹

467. Imām Ali (a.s.): “If the enemy launches an assault upon you, then spread your troops on the gates of the ditches for there exists nothing save swords; stand firm on the ground after arraying the troops. Do not look at the enemies in the face. Their number should not scare you, look to your own land [and front] instead. If they assault you, bend over on your horses and hide yourselves behind your shields like an impenetrable stronghold; and if they turn their back on you, launch an attack on them with your swords. If they stand firm, then stand firm on the other side too. And if they run away, rush on them and catch them.”²

468. Imām Ali (a.s.): “If God forbids you happen to face a defeat, hold a gathering and remember God and how He promised the deserters of the battlefield [to be punished]. Reproach the one whom you see turning his back on the enemy. Gather the banners and tie them together. The roughriders must hasten to bring the fugitives back to the troops and the army and anyone hiding in the hideaways is to come back to you. When the dispersed troops were gathered and your power was reclaimed and the defeated state has left you, hand over the troops to the commanders, mobilize the forces and fight. Seek assistance from God and be patient, for there is great reward for perseverance at the time of defeat and for the brave man’s attack on the enemy.”³

466. عنه علیه السلام ـ مِن كِتاب لَهُ علیه السلام إلى بَعضِ اُمَراءِ جَيشِهِ ـ: فَإِن عادوا إلى ظِلِّ الطّاعَةِ فَذاكَ الَّذي نُحِبُّ، وإن تَوافَتِ الاُمورُ بِالقَومِ إلَى الشِّقاقِ وَالعِصيانِ فَانهَد¹ بِمَن أطاعَكَ إلى مَن عَصاكَ، وَاستَغنِ بِمَنِ انقادَ مَعَكَ عَمَّن تَقاعَسَ عَنكَ؛ فَإنَّ المُتَكارِهَ مَغيبُهُ خَيرٌ مِن مَشهَدِهِ، وقُعودُهُ أغنى مِن نُهوضِهِ.²

467. عنه علیه السلام: إن زَحَفَ العَدُوُّ إلَيكُم فَصُفّوا عَلى أبوابِ الخَنادِقِ، فَلَيسَ هُناكَ إلّا السُّيوفُ، ولُزومُ الأَرضِ بَعدَ إحكامِ الصُّفوفِ، ولا تَنظُروا في وُجوهِهِم، ولا يَهولَنَّكُم عَدَدُهُم، وَانظُروا إلى أوطانِكُم مِنَ الأَرضِ. فَإِن حَمَلوا عَلَيكُم فَاجثُوا عَلَى الرُّكَبِ، وَاستَتِروا بالأَترِسَةِ، صَفّاً مُحكَماً لا خَلَلَ فيهِ، وإن أدبَروا فَاحمِلوا عَلَيهِم بِالسُّيوفِ، وإن ثَبَتوا فَاثبُتوا عَلَى التَّعابِيِّ، وإنِ انهَزَموا فَاركَبُوا الخَيلَ وَاطلُبُوا القَومَ.³

468. عنه علیه السلام: إن كانَت ـ وأعوذُ بِاللهِ ـ فيكُم هَزيمَةٌ فَتَداعَوا، وَاذكُرُوا اللهَ وما تَوعَّدَ بِهِ مَن فَرَّ مِنَ الزَّحفِ، وبَكِّتوا⁴ مَن رأَيتُموهُ وَلّى. وَاجمَعوا الأَلوِيَةَ، وَاعتَقِدوا. وَليُسرِع المُخِفُونَ في رَدِّ مَنِ انهَزَمَ إلَى الجَماعَةِ وإلَى المُعَسكَرِ، فَليَنفِر مَن فيهِ إلَيكُم، فَإذَا اجتَمَعَ أطرافُكُم، وأتَت أمدادُكُم، وَانصَرَفَ فَلُّكُم، فَأَلحِقُوا النّاسَ بِقُوّادِهِم، وأحكِموا تَعابِيَّهُم، وقاتِلوا، وَاستَعينوا بِاللهِ، وَاصبِروا؛ وفِي الثَّباتِ عِندَ الهَزيمَةِ، وحَملِ الرَّجُلِ الواحِدِ الواثِقِ بِشَجاعَتِهِ عَلَى الكَتيبَةِ، فَضلٌ عَظيمٌ.⁵