474. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his commandment to the troops when dispatching them to confront the enemy: “When you proceed towards the enemy or he proceeds towards you, the position of your forces should be on the high ground or on the mountain slopes or the bends of rivers so that it may serve you as a shelter and a hindrance to the enemy. Your encounter should be from one or two fronts.
Place watchers on the peaks of mountains and the sides of highlands so that the enemy may not approach you from a secure or a fearful place. And know that the vanguard of an army serves as their eyes, and the eyes of the vanguard are their informers.
Beware of separation. When you halt, do so together, and when you move, you should move together. When night comes fix your spears in a circle and do not sleep except for a dosing or napping.”1
C. Keeping Hold of One’s Weapon in Battles
475. Da`ā'im al-Islām: “He [Ali] (a.s.) detested a man to drop his weapon during combat. When pointing out the ‘Prayer at the time of Fear’, God said: “Let a group of them stand with you carrying their weapons” and He also said: “The faithless are eager that you should be oblivious of your weapons and your baggage, so that they could assault you all at once.”2
The best thing for those who are in combat is not to separate their weapon from themselves by any means.”3
See The Encyclopedia of Commander of the Faithful, VII, 100, (Martyrdom of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr), and 104, (the sorrow of the Imām).
D. Taking Opportunities
476. Imām Ali (a.s.) – describing the fighting: “He who notices a chance over the enemy should raid on him and take advantage of the opportunity – of course after strengthening his position – and when his goal is achieved he should return to his position.”4
1.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۱۱, Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. ۱۹۲, Waq`at Siffin, p. ۱۲۴, al-Akhbār al-Tiwāl, p. ۱۶۶.
2.. Qur'ān, ۴:۱۰۲.
3.. Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۱, p. ۳۷۱.
4.. Ibid, vol. ۱, p. ۳۷۲.
