B. Prohibition of Calling to Fighting
512. Imām Ali (a.s.) – to his son Imām Hasan (a.s.): “Do not call out for fighting, but if you are called to it do respond, because the caller to fighting is a rebel and the rebel deserves destruction.”1
C. Diplomatic Immunity of Envoys
513. Imām Ali (a.s.): “If you triumph over a man of the enemy and he claimed to be an envoy to you, if his claim is proven and he brings something that can substantiate it, then do not harm him until he delivers his message and returns to his comrades; but if you find no proof to his claim, do not accept his assertion.”2
D. Giving an Ultimatum before a Battle
514. al-Sunan al-Kubrā – narrating from Barā' ibn `Azib: “Ali (a.s.) dispatched me to fight against the Khawārij in Nahrawān and I invited them [to guidance] three times before we fought them.”3
515. Imām Ali (a.s.) – from his letter to the people of San`ā and Janad who were hostile and deceitful: “When my messenger comes to you, disperse and go to your residences so that I may grant you amnesty, forgive your ignorance, protect those of you who are away, and treat you by the ordinances of the Qur'ān. However, if you do not do so, be prepared to face a mighty
army with a great number of cavalrymen who will head for those who have rebelled and disobeyed and you will be crushed as in a mill. Whoever does well, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil it is to its detriment, and your Lord is not tyrannical to the servants.”45
1.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Aphorism ۲۳۳, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۵۲۷, h. ۹۵۸۷, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۳۳, p. ۴۵۴, h. ۶۶۸.
2.. Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۱, p. ۳۷۶.
3.. al-Sunan al-Kubrā, vol. ۸, p. ۳۰۹, h. ۱۶۷۳۹.
4.. Qur'ān, ۴۱:۴۶.
5.. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۲, p. ۵.
