477. Waq`at Siffin: [in the battle of Siffin], Ahnaf ibn Qays al-Sa`di addressed the people and said: “O people of Iraq! By God, You will not confront this issue with your necks more lowered [more humiliated] than [you are] today. They lifted the veils of shame and they do not fight for the religion nor do they resist except out of shamefulness. So proceed!”
They said: “If we proceed today, [it will be the same way as] we proceeded yesterday. O Commander of the Faithful! What do you say?”
The Imām said: “At the time of proceeding, do proceed; and at the time of withdrawal, withdraw. Proceed before they proceed towards you.”1
E. Tactical Withdrawal
478. Imām Ali (a.s.): “To retreat at the right time is equal to victory in its time.”2
479. Imām Ali (a.s.) – would say to his companions at the time of battle: “The retreat after which return is intended and the withdrawal after which attack is in view should not make you unhappy.”3
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Establishment of Special Forces
480. Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.): “The elite army included six thousand of Ali’s (a.s.) companions.”4
481. al-Ikhtisās – narrating from Ali ibn al-Hakam: “The companions of the Commander of the Faithful were those to whom he said: ‘Swear [your] allegiance, and I will promise you Paradise and not gold and silver. Our Prophet (s.a.w.) has previously said to his companions: “Swear allegiance as I do not promise you except [the reward of] Paradise.”
And they [the Commander of the Faithfull’s companions] included: Salmān al-Fārsi; al-Miqdād; Abu Dhar al-Ghifāri; `Ammār ibn Yāsir; Abu Sāsān and Abu `Amr al-Ansāriyan; Sahl (Badri) and `Uthmān, the sons to Hunayf al-Ansāri ; and Jābir ibn `Abdullah al-Ansāri.”
And from among his close companions were: `Amr ibn al-Hamq al-Khuzā`i, the Arab; Maytham al-Tammār – Maytham ibn Yahyā, the freed slave – Rushayd al-Hijri; Habib ibn Muzahar al-Asadi; and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr.
His friends included: al-`Alm al-Azdi; Suwayd ibn Ghafla al-Ja`fi; al-Hārith ibn `Abdullah al-A`war al-Hamdāni; Abu `Abdullah al-Jadali, Abu Yahyā Hakim ibn Sa`d al-Hanafi.
His elite forces included: Abu al-Radi `Abdullah ibn Yahyā al-Hadrami; Salim ibn Qays al-Hilāli; and ‘Ubayda al-Salmāni al-Murādi, Arabi.
The elite from among his friends included: Tamim ibn Hadhim al-Nāji (who was killed as a martyr with Ali (a.s.); Qanbar (a slave freed by Ali ibn Abi Tālib (a.s.)); Abu Fākhita (freed slave by Bani Hāshim); and `Ubaydullah ibn Abi Rāfi` (who was Ali’s (a.s.) secretary).”5
1.. Waq`at Siffin, p. ۴۰۶, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۳۲, p. ۵۱۱, h. ۴۳۷.
2.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۲۰۰۳.
3.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۱۶, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۵۳۰, h. ۹۶۴۴.
4.. al-Ikhtisās, p. ۲.
5.. al-Ikhtisās, p. ۲, Ibn Nadim, al-Fihrist, p. ۲۲۳.
