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Deception
504. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Whenever I quote a tradition from the Messenger of God (s.a.w.), by God that it is dearer to me to fall off [such a high place as] heaven than to attribute a lie to him; but in respect to mine, then indeed war is a deception.”12
505. Imām al-Bāqir (a.s.): “Ali (a.s.) would say: “Being snatched the way by the birds is better for me than attributing to the Messenger of God (s.a.w.) something that he has not said. I heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) say on the day of [the battle of] Khandaq: “War is a deception.” And he would say: “Speak in any way you wish [when in battle].”3
506. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in the aphorisms attributed to him: “In battles trust your tricks more than you trust your strength and be more delighted at your vigilance than at your valor, for the war is the war of the fearless and the advantage is of the vigilant.”4
1.. It is narrated in Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal in the following way: “When I relate something from someone other than the Prophet (s.a.w.), I am indeed a man in battle.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. ۱, p. ۱۷۷, h. ۲۱۶)
2.. Sahih al-Bukhāri, vol. ۶, p. ۲۵۳۹, h. ۶۵۳۱, vol. ۳, p. ۱۳۲۲, h. ۳۴۱۵, Sahih Muslim, vol. ۲, p. ۷۴۶, h. ۱۰۶۶.
3.. Tahdhib al- Ahkām, vol. ۶, p. ۱۶۲, h. ۲۹۸, Qurb al-Isnād, p. ۱۳۳, h. ۴۶۶
4.. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۲۰, p. ۳۱۲, h. ۵۸۸.
