The Book of Jihad (Serving in the Army)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَ تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّيْفِ وَ لَا يُقِيمُ النَّاسَ إِلَّا السَّيْفُ وَ السُّيُوفُ مَقَالِيدُ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ[1].

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Umar ibn Aban from abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘All good things are with the sword, under the shadow (protection) of sword and people cannot be improved without

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لِلْجَنَّةِ بَابٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ بَابُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ يَمْضُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مَفْتُوحٌ وَ هُمْ مُتَقَلِّدُونَ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ وَ الْجَمْعُ فِي الْمَوْقِفِ‌[2] وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ تُرَحِّبُ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ الْجِهَادَ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذُلًّا وَ فَقْراً فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ وَ مَحْقاً فِي دِينِهِ‌[3] إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَغْنَى أُمَّتِي بِسَنَابِكِ خَيْل

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘In paradise there is a door which is called ‘the door of people serving in the army’. They walk to it and it is open and they h

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خُيُولُ الْغُزَاةِ فِي الدُّنْيَا خُيُولُهُمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِنَّ أَرْدِيَةَ الْغُزَاةِ لَسُيُوفُهُمْ وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَخْبَرَنِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع بِأَمْرٍ قَرَّتْ بِهِ عَيْنِي وَ فَرِحَ بِهِ قَلْبِي قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَنْ غَزَا مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأَصَابَهُ قَطْرَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوْ صُدَاعٌ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ شَهَادَةً.

3. Through the chains of his narrator Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The horses of the people serving in the army are their horses in paradise, and the gowns of the fighters fo

كَتَبَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي رِسَالَةٍ إِلَى بَعْضِ خُلَفَاءِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا ضَيَّعَ الْجِهَادَ الَّذِي فَضَّلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الْأَعْمَالِ وَ فَضَّلَ عَامِلَهُ عَلَى الْعُمَّالِ تَفْضِيلًا فِي الدَّرَجَاتِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ وَ الرَّحْمَةِ لِأَنَّهُ ظَهَرَ بِهِ الدِّينُ وَ بِهِ يُدْفَعُ عَنِ الدِّينِ وَ بِهِ اشْتَرَى اللَّهُ‌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَ أَمْوالَهُمْ‌ بِالْجَن

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once wrote in a letter to a certain individual of the Amawide rulers the following: “Of his neglectfulness one example is his disregard of the duty of Jihad (serving in the army) which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has given preference over all other good deeds. He (Allah) has given p

الْجِهَادُ أَفْضَلُ الْأَشْيَاءِ بَعْدَ الْفَرَائِضِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Jihad (serving in the army) is the most virtuous task except obligatory (prayers) matters.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ الْجِهَادَ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَحَهُ اللَّهُ لِخَاصَّةِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ سَوَّغَهُمْ كَرَامَةً مِنْهُ لَهُمْ وَ نِعْمَةٌ ذَخَرَهَا وَ الْجِهَادُ هُوَ لِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى وَ دِرْعُ اللَّهِ الْحَصِينَةُ وَ جُنَّتُهُ الْوَثِيقَةُ[2] فَمَنْ تَرَكَهُ رَغْبَةً عَنْهُ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ ثَوْبَ الذُّلِّ وَ شَمِلَهُ الْبَلَاءُ[3] وَ ف

“Thereafter, you must take notice that Jihad (serving in the army) is one of the doors to paradise. Allah has opened it for His special friends whom He has made to deserve it through His generosity toward them and a bounty, which He has stored. Jihad is the garment of piety and it is Allah’s invincible gown and strong

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَ رَسُولَهُ- بِالْإِسْلَامِ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يَقْبَلُوا حَتَّى أَمَرَهُ بِالْقِتَالِ فَالْخَيْرُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَ تَحْتَ السَّيْفِ وَ الْأَمْرُ يَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ[1].

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent His Messenger with al-Islam to people. For ten years no one accepted al-Islam. Thereafter He commanded him to fight back. Goodness is with the sword and under the sword. The matter one day will return to how it was in the beginning (

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ أَخْبَرَنِي بِأَمْرٍ قَرَّتْ بِهِ عَيْنِي وَ فَرِحَ‌[1] بِهِ قَلْبِي قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَنْ غَزَا غَزَاةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ فَمَا أَصَابَهُ قَطْرَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوْ صُدَاعٌ إِلَّا كَانَتْ لَهُ شَهَادَةً- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

Jibril informed me of something and it brought delightfulness to my eyes and happiness to my heart. He said, “O Muhammad, anyone of your followers who fights the enemy for the cause of Allah, even if a drop of rain falls on him from the sky or he experiences a headache, he will, on the Day of Judgment, receive for it a

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ بَلَّغَ رِسَالَةَ غَازٍ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً وَ هُوَ شَرِيكُهُ فِي ثَوَابِ غَزْوَتِهِ.

“One who conveys the message of a fighter for the cause of Allah receives a reward equal to freeing a slave and he will have a share in the reward for his fighting for the cause of Allah in battle..”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ مَنِ اغْتَابَ مُؤْمِناً غَازِياً أَوْ آذَاهُ أَوْ خَلَفَهُ فِي أَهْلِهِ بِسُوءٍ نُصِبَ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَسْتَغْرِقُ حَسَنَاتِهِ ثُمَّ يُرْكَسُ فِي النَّارِ إِذَا كَانَ الْغَازِي فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[2].

“If one back-bites a believing person who is fighting for the cause of Allah or troubles the fighter’s family in his absence by evil manners, he will, on the Day of Judgment, be brought to justice. All of his good deeds will become invalid and he will then be sent into hell, if the fighter has fought in obedience to Al

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الْجِهَادَ وَ عَظَّمَهُ وَ جَعَلَهُ نَصْرَهُ وَ نَاصِرَهُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا صَلَحَتْ دُنْيَا وَ لَا دِينٌ إِلَّا بِهِ.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub in a marfu’ the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has made Jihad obligatory, considered it great and has made it His victory (support) and supporter. By Allah, the worldly affairs as we

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ اغْزُوا تُورِثُوا أَبْنَاءَكُمْ مَجْداً.

‘Fight (for the cause of Allah) and leave glory as your legacy for your children.’”

أَنَّ أَبَا دُجَانَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ اعْتَمَّ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ بِعِمَامَةٍ لَهُ وَ أَرْخَى عَذَبَةَ الْعِمَامَةِ[3] بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ حَتَّى جَعَلَ يَتَبَخْتَرُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ هَذِهِ لَمِشْيَةٌ يُبْغِضُهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا عِنْدَ الْقِتَالِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

“On the day of ‘Uhud, abu Dujanah al-Ansariy wore his turban and left one end hanging between his shoulders on his back and began walking as if puffed up with pride. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘This is a kind of walking that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, dislikes very much except during fighting for th

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ جَاهِدُوا تَغْنَمُوا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘You must do Jihad; you will benefit.’”

الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَ تَحْتَ السَّيْفِ وَ فِي ظِلِّ السَّيْفِ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ‌ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّ الْخَيْرِ مَعْقُودٌ فِي نَوَاصِي الْخَيْلِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ[1].

“All goodness is in the sword, under the sword and under the shadow of the sword.” “I heard him saying, ‘Goodness, all of it, is tied to the forehead of the horses (and it remains so) up to the Day of Judgment (horses of the fighters for the cause of Allah).”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ الْجِهَادَ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ وَ النِّسَاءِ فَجِهَادُ الرَّجُلِ بَذْلُ مَالِهِ وَ نَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ جِهَادُ الْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَصْبِرَ عَلَى مَا تَرَى مِنْ أَذَى زَوْجِهَا وَ غَيْرَتِهِ. - وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ جِهَادُ الْمَرْأَةِ حُسْنُ التَّبَعُّلِ‌[2].

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah has made Jihad obligatory upon man and woman. Jihad of man is making his wealth and soul available until he is killed in the way of Allah. Jihad of woman is exercising patience when seeing hardships upon her husband and because of his showing strong al-Ghirah (protective feeli

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْجِهَادِ سُنَّةٌ أَمْ فَرِيضَةٌ فَقَالَ الْجِهَادُ عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ أَوْجُهٍ فَجِهَادَانِ فَرْضٌ وَ جِهَادٌ سُنَّةٌ لَا يُقَامُ إِلَّا مَعَ الْفَرْضِ فَأَمَّا أَحَدُ الْفَرْضَيْنِ فَمُجَاهَدَةُ الرَّجُلِ نَفْسَهُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ هُوَ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْجِهَادِ وَ مُجَاهَدَةُ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُمْ مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ فَرْضٌ وَ أَمَّا الْجِهَادُ الَّذِي هُوَ سُن

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), It Jihad Sunnah (optional) or obligatory?’ He replied, ‘Jihad is of four kinds. Two kinds of Jihad are obligatory and there is an optional Jihad which cannot be established without obligatory Jihad. ‘Of the two obligatory Jihad is one’s Jihad (struggle) aga

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبِي ص عَنْ حُرُوبِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ كَانَ السَّائِلُ مِنْ مُحِبِّينَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً ص بِخَمْسَةِ أَسْيَافٍ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْهَا شَاهِرَةٌ فَلَا تُغْمَدُ حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزارَها وَ لَنْ‌ تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزارَها حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا[2] فَإِذَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ الْ

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man asked my father (a.s.), about the wars in which Amir al-Mu’minin, had taken part. The man asking the question was of our followers. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), replied, ‘Allah sent Muhammad (a.s.), with five swords. Three of them are taken out of their sheath and they are not shea

مَرْحَباً بِقَوْمٍ قَضَوُا الْجِهَادَ الْأَصْغَرَ وَ بَقِيَ الْجِهَادُ الْأَكْبَرُ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَا الْجِهَادُ الْأَكْبَرُ قَالَ جِهَادُ النَّفْسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah once mobilized a group of people against the enemy. When they returned back he said, ’I welcome a people who have just come back after completion of the minor Jihad and who yet have to complete the major Jihad.’ Someone then asked, ‘What is the major Jihad, O

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ الْجِهَادِ فِي سَبِيلِهِ أَ هُوَ لِقَوْمٍ لَا يَحِلُّ إِلَّا لَهُمْ وَ لَا يَقُومُ بِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنْهُمْ أَمْ هُوَ مُبَاحٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ وَحَّدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ آمَنَ بِرَسُولِهِ ص وَ مَنْ كَانَ كَذَا فَلَهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ وَ أَنْ يُجَاهِدَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ لِقَوْمٍ لَا يَحِلُّ إِلَّا

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Qasim ibn Burayd from abu ‘ Amr al-Zubayriy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘Instruct me about calling to Allah and Jihad for His cause. Is it only for a certain group beside

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ مَا لِي لَا أَرَاكَ تَخْرُجُ إِلَى هَذِهِ الْمَوَاضِعِ الَّتِي يَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهَا أَهْلُ بِلَادِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ أَيْنَ فَقَالَ جُدَّةُ وَ عَبَّادَانُ وَ الْمَصِّيصَةُ وَ قَزْوِينُ‌[2] فَقُلْتُ انْتِظَاراً لِأَمْرِكُمْ وَ الِاقْتِدَاءِ بِكُمْ فَقَالَ إِي وَ اللَّهِ‌ لَوْ كانَ خَيْراً ما سَبَقُونا إِلَيْهِ‌ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنَّ الزَّيْدِيَّةَ يَقُولُونَ لَيْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘O ‘Abd al-Malik, how is it that I do not see you go to these places where the people of your town go?’ I then asked, ‘Which places do you mean?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘To Juddah, ‘Abadan, al-Massisah and Qazwin.’ I then said, ‘I wait for your cause to materialize and follow you.’ He (

سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُكْثِرُ الْغَزْوَ وَ أَبْعُدُ فِي طَلَبِ الْأَجْرِ وَ أُطِيلُ الْغَيْبَةَ فَحُجِرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالُوا لَا غَزْوَ إِلَّا مَعَ إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ فَمَا تَرَى أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أُجْمِلَ لَكَ أَجْمَلْتُ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أُلَخِّصَ لَكَ لَخَّصْتُ فَقَالَ بَلْ أَجْمِلْ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَحْشُرُ النَّاسَ عَلَى نِيّ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu ‘Amrah al-Sullamiy who has said the following: “A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘I would mobilize (against the enemy) very often, stay away from asking for compensation and remain absent for a l

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلًا يُعْطِي السَّيْفَ وَ الْفَرَسَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأَتَاهُ فَأَخَذَهُمَا مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ جَاهِلٌ بِوَجْهِ السَّبِيلِ ثُمَّ لَقِيَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ السَّبِيلَ مَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ لَا يَجُوزُ وَ أَمَرُوهُ بِرَدِّهِمَا فَقَالَ فَلْيَفْعَلْ قَالَ قَدْ طَلَبَ الرَّجُلَ فَلَمْ يَجِدْهُ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ قَدْ شَخَصَ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ فَ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, one of your followers had heard that a man gives away sword and horse for the cause of Allah. He went to that man and took the two items but he did not know the rules. His companions met him and told him that workin

لَقِيَ عَبَّادٌ الْبَصْرِيُ‌[1] عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ص فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ تَرَكْتَ الْجِهَادَ وَ صُعُوبَتَهُ وَ أَقْبَلْتَ عَلَى الْحَجِّ وَ لِينَتِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرى‌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَ أَمْوالَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَ يُقْتَلُونَ وَعْداً عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا ف

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Uthman from ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “’Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that ‘Abbad al-Basriy met Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhi al- Salam, on the way to Makkah and said, ‘O Ali ibn al-Husayn, you have disregarded Jihad because it is

قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لِلرِّضَا ص وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِبَعْضِهِمْ إِنَّ فِي بِلَادِنَا مَوْضِعَ رِبَاطٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ قَزْوِينُ وَ عَدُوّاً يُقَالُ لَهُ الدَّيْلَمُ فَهَلْ مِنْ جِهَادٍ أَوْ هَلْ مِنْ رِبَاطٍ[4] فَقَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَحُجُّوهُ فَأَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَحُجُّوهُ أَ

“Once Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah said to al-Rida’, Alayhi al-Salam, when I was listening, said, ‘My father has narrated from the people of his family from their ancestors, Alayhim al-Salam, that he said to a certain one of them (ancestors), “In our location there is a place called Qazwin for keeping guard against the enem

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي قُلْتُ لَكَ إِنَّ الْقِتَالَ مَعَ غَيْرِ الْإِمَامِ الْمَفْرُوضِ طَاعَتُهُ حَرَامٌ مِثْلَ الْمَيْتَةِ وَ الدَّمِ وَ لَحْمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ فَقُلْتَ لِي هُوَ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هُوَ كَذَلِكَ هُوَ كَذَلِكَ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I saw a dream in which I said to you, “Fighting alongside one who is not an Imam, obedience to whom is obligatory, is unlawful just like consuming dead animals, blood and pork for food. You said to me (in my dream), “That is how it is.’” Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam,

كُنْتُ قَاعِداً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِمَكَّةَ إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أُنَاسٌ مِنَ الْمُعْتَزِلَةِ فِيهِمْ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ وَ وَاصِلُ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ وَ حَفْصُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ مَوْلَى ابْنِ هُبَيْرَةَ[1] وَ نَاسٌ مِنْ‌ رُؤَسَائِهِمْ وَ ذَلِكَ حِدْثَانُ‌[1] قَتْلِ الْوَلِيدِ وَ اخْتِلَافِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ بَيْنَهُمْ فَتَكَلَّمُوا وَ أَكْثَرُوا وَ خَطَبُوا فَأَطَالُوا[2] فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنّ

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي قُلْتُ لَكَ إِنَّ الْقِتَالَ مَعَ غَيْرِ الْإِمَامِ الْمُفْتَرَضِ طَاعَتُهُ حَرَامٌ مِثْلُ الْمَيْتَةِ وَ الدَّمِ وَ لَحْمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ فَقُلْتَ لِي نَعَمْ هُوَ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هُوَ كَذَلِكَ هُوَ كَذَلِكَ‌[1].

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I saw a dream in which I said to you, “Fighting alongside an Imam to whom obedience is not obligatory is unlawful like consuming dead animals, blood and pork for food”, and you said to me, “Yes, that is how it is.’” Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘That is how it is. That is ho

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ سَرِيَّةً دَعَاهُمْ فَأَجْلَسَهُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ سِيرُوا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لَا تَغُلُّوا وَ لَا تُمَثِّلُوا وَ لَا تَغْدِرُوا وَ لَا تَقْتُلُوا شَيْخاً فَانِياً[2] وَ لَا صَبِيّاً وَ لَا امْرَأَةً وَ لَا تَقْطَعُوا شَجَراً إِلَّا أَنْ تُضْطَرُّوا إِلَيْهَا وَ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَدْن

‘March in the name of Allah, with Allah, in the way of Allah and upon the religion (path) of the Messenger of Allah. You must not be excessive, you must not deform people, you must not betray, you must not kill old people, you must not kill children, you must not kill women and you must not cut down trees unless you ar

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُلْقَى السَّمُّ فِي بِلَادِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ.

The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited spreading of poison in the lands of the pagans.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌- مَا بَيَّتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَدُوّاً قَطُّ[3].

‘The Messenger of Allah (sw) never launched a surprise attack against the enemy during the night.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَ قَالَ لِي يَا عَلِيُّ لَا تُقَاتِلَنَّ أَحَداً حَتَّى تَدْعُوَهُ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْكَ رَجُلًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ وَ غَرَبَتْ وَ لَكَ وَلَاؤُهُ يَا عَلِيُّ.

‘The Messenger of Allah sent me to Yemen and said to me, “You must not fight anyone before calling him to Allah. I swear by Allah, if Allah guides through you one man it will be more excellent for you than all the things on which the sun shines and sets. You, O Ali, will have his guardianship.’””

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص لَا يُقَاتِلُ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ وَ يَقُولُ تُفَتَّحُ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ تُقْبِلُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ يَنْزِلُ النَّصْرُ وَ يَقُولُ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ يَقِلَّ الْقَتْلُ وَ يَرْجِعَ الطَّالِبُ وَ يُفْلِتَ الْمُنْهَزِمُ‌[5].

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Yahya ibn abu al-‘Ala’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, would not launch attacks against the enemy until after the declining of the sun toward th

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ مَدِينَةٍ مِنْ مَدَائِنِ أَهْلِ الْحَرْبِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَاءُ وَ تُحْرَقَ بِالنَّارِ أَوْ تُرْمَى بِالْمَجَانِيقِ حَتَّى يُقْتَلُوا وَ فِيهِمُ النِّسَاءُ وَ الصِّبْيَانُ وَ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَ الْأُسَارَى مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ التُّجَّارُ فَقَالَ يُفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِهِمْ وَ لَا يُمْسَكُ عَنْهُمْ لِهَؤُلَاءِ وَ لَا دِيَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ

6. Ali has narrated from his father, from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqariy from Hafs ibn Ghiyath who has said the following: “A city of the unbelievers is in the state of war (against Muslims); can it be flooded, set on fire or fired upon with catapults to destroy them even when there are women, children, old peo

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص كَانَ إِذَا بَعَثَ بِسَرِيَّةٍ دَعَا لَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, dispatched a small group of people for an armed expedition, he would pray in their favor.”

إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص كَانَ إِذَا بَعَثَ أَمِيراً لَهُ عَلَى سَرِيَّةٍ أَمَرَهُ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي خَاصَّةِ نَفْسِهِ ثُمَّ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ عَامَّةً ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اغْزُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ وَ لَا تَغْدِرُوا وَ لَا تَغُلُّوا وَ تُمَثِّلُوا وَ لَا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيداً وَ لَا مُتَبَتِّلًا فِي شَاهِقٍ‌[2] وَ لَا تُحْرِقُوا النَّخْلَ وَ لَا تُغْرِقُوهُ بِالْمَ

‘Mobilize in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight those who reject belief in Allah. You must not betray, or deceive, you must not deform anyone, you must not kill children, you must not kill devoted worshippers who live in desolate places, you must not burn palm trees or flood them in water, you must not cu

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا بَعَثَ سَرِيَّةً دَعَا بِأَمِيرِهَا فَأَجْلَسَهُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ وَ أَجْلَسَ أَصْحَابَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ سِيرُوا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَغْدِرُوا وَ لَا تَغُلُّوا وَ لَا تُمَثِّلُوا وَ لَا تَقْطَعُوا شَجَرَةً إِلَّا أَنْ تُضْطَرُّوا إِلَيْهَا وَ لَا تَقْتُلُوا شَيْخاً فَانِياً وَ لَا صَبِيّاً وَ لَا امْرَأَةً

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that whenever the Messenger of Allah dispatched a small group for an armed expedition, he called their commander and made him sit on his side. He then called the soldiers and made them sit in front of him and said to them, ‘March in the name of Allah, with Allah, in the way of Allah an

- قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ ص يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ‌[3] قَالَ لَوْ أَنَ‌ جَيْشاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَاصَرُوا قَوْماً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأَشْرَفَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَعْطُونِي الْأَمَانَ حَتَّى أَلْقَى صَاحِبَكُمْ وَ أُنَاظِرَهُ فَأَعْطَاهُ أَدْنَاهُمُ الْأَمَانَ وَجَبَ عَلَى أَفْضَلِهِمُ الْوَفَاءُ بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What is the meaning of the words of the Holy Prophet, . . commitment of a person of the lowest position among them becomes a commitment of all of them (Muslims)?’” He (the Imam) replied, ‘It means, if the Muslim army surrounds a stronghold of the pagans an

أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَجَازَ أَمَانَ عَبْدٍ مَمْلُوكٍ لِأَهْلِ حِصْنٍ مِنَ الْحُصُونِ وَ قَالَ هُوَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once honored the immunity granted by a Muslim slave to the people of a fortress, saying, ‘He is of the believing people.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌- مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ آمَنَ رَجُلًا عَلَى ذِمَّةٍ ثُمَّ قَتَلَهُ إِلَّا جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَحْمِلُ لِوَاءَ الْغَدْرِ.

‘Whoever provides a commitment of immunity to someone but then kills him, he on the Day of Judgment will come, carrying the banner of betrayal.’”

لَوْ أَنَّ قَوْماً حَاصَرُوا مَدِينَةً فَسَأَلُوهُمُ الْأَمَانَ فَقَالُوا لَا فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا نَعَمْ فَنَزَلُوا إِلَيْهِمْ كَانُوا آمِنِينَ.

“If a people surrounds a city and the people of the city ask for immunity and they reply negatively to their request but they think it is a positive response and came out of their fortress, such people are entitled to a binding commitment of immunity.”

قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابٍ لِعَلِيٍّ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَتَبَ كِتَاباً بَيْنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ مَنْ لَحِقَ بِهِمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ يَثْرِبَ- أَنَّ كُلَّ غَازِيَةٍ غَزَتْ‌[1] بِمَا يُعَقِّبُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ الْقِسْطِ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ حَرْبٌ‌[2] إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ أَهْلِهَا وَ إِنَّ الْجَارَ كَالنَّفْسِ غَيْرَ مُضَارٍّ وَ لَا آثِمٍ وَ حُرْمَةَ الْجَارِ عَلَى ال

‘Every mobilization that is arranged for an armed confrontation must be continued step by step with legitimacy and justice among the Muslims. It is not permissible to start a war without the permission of the people (who will maintain it). The rights of neighbors are just like one’s soul that must be held harmless and

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ لِلْحَرْبِ حُكْمَيْنِ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْحَرْبُ قَائِمَةً لَمْ تَضَعْ أَوْزَارَهَا وَ لَمْ يُثْخَنْ أَهْلُهَا فَكُلُّ أَسِيرٍ أُخِذَ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ ضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ قَطَعَ يَدَهُ وَ رِجْلَهُ مِنْ خِلَافٍ بِغَيْرِ حَسْمٍ وَ تَرَكَهُ يَتَشَحَّطُ فِي دَمِهِ‌[1] حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَ هُوَ قَوْ

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ’My father would say, “There are two laws about war: (1) During an ongoing war when the enemy is not defeated about the prisoners of war the Imam has the choice to execute, cut off their hands and legs, one of each of the opposite side, without (doing something to) stopping bloo

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِحْدَاهُمَا بَاغِيَةٌ وَ الْأُخْرَى عَادِلَةٌ فَهَزَمَتِ الْعَادِلَةُ الْبَاغِيَةَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ لِأَهْلِ الْعَدْلِ أَنْ يَتْبَعُوا مُدْبِراً وَ لَا يَقْتُلُوا أَسِيراً وَ لَا يُجْهِزُوا عَلَى جَرِيحٍ وَ هَذَا إِذَا لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَغْيِ أَحَدٌ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ فِئَةٌ يَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ لَهُمْ فِئَةٌ يَرْجِعُ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the two groups of whom one is rebellious and the other deals with justice and the latter group defeats the rebellious group. He (the Imam) replied, ‘People of justice must not pursue the fleeing ones, kill the prisoner or hurt the wounded. This is when

قُلْتُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ص إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع سَارَ فِي أَهْلِ الْقِبْلَةِ بِخِلَافِ سِيرَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فِي أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَارَ وَ اللَّهِ فِيهِمْ بِسِيرَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَتَبَ إِلَى مَالِكٍ وَ هُوَ عَلَى مُقَدِّمَتِهِ يَوْمَ الْبَصْرَةِ بِأَنْ لَا يَطْعُنَ فِي غَيْرِ مُقْبِلٍ وَ لَا يَقْتُلَ مُدْبِراً وَ لَا يُجِيزَ عَلَى

“I once said to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), ‘The way Ali (a.s.), dealt with people of Qiblah was different from the way the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, dealt with the pagans.’ He the narrator has said, ‘He (the Imam) became angry and s

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَسِيرَةُ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ كَانَتْ خَيْراً لِشِيعَتِهِ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ إِنَّهُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ لِلْقَوْمِ دَوْلَةً فَلَوْ سَبَاهُمْ لَسُبِيَتْ شِيعَتُهُ قُلْتُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَائِمِ ع يَسِيرُ بِسِيرَتِهِ قَالَ لَا إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ص سَارَ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَنِّ لِلْعِلْمِ مِنْ دَوْلَتِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ الْقَائِمَ عَجَّلَ اللَّهُ فَرَجَهُ يَسِيرُ فِ

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘In the ways of the dealings of Ali (a.s.), with the people of al-Basra, the benefit for the Shi ‘ah was greater than all things on which the sun shines. He (a.s.), knew that those people will become dominant. Were he to make them prisoners his followers would have been made pris

لَمَّا هُزِمَ النَّاسُ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَا تَتْبَعُوا مُوَلِّياً وَ لَا تُجِيزُوا عَلَى جَرِيحٍ وَ مَنْ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ فَهُوَ آمِنٌ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ صِفِّينَ قَتَلَ الْمُقْبِلَ وَ الْمُدْبِرَ وَ أَجَازَ عَلَى جَرِيحٍ فَقَالَ أَبَانُ بْنُ تَغْلِبَ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ هَذِهِ سِيرَتَانِ مُخْتَلِفَتَانِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَمَلِ قُتِلَ طَلْحَةُ وَ الزُّبَيْرُ وَ إِنَّ

“When people on the day of camel were defeated, Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), said, ‘You must not pursue the fleeing, you must not hurt the wounded, and those who close their door are granted immunity.’ On the day of Siffin he eliminated the attackers and the fleeing and gave permission about the wounded. Aban ibn Taghlib s

كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ فَرَّ مِنْ رَجُلَيْنِ فِي الْقِتَالِ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ فَقَدْ فَرَّ وَ مَنْ فَرَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ فِي الْقِتَالِ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ فَلَمْ يَفِرَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), would say, ‘If one, when advancing against the enemy after facing two men, flees, he is considered fleeing; however one who in such condition on facing three men flees, he is not considered fleeing. 5 ”

لَمَّا بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِبَرَاءَةَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ ع بَعَثَ مَعَهُ أُنَاساً وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنِ اسْتَأْسَرَ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِرَاحَةٍ مُثْقِلَةٍ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا[2].

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Asamm from Misma’ ibn ‘Abd al-Malik who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his fam

مَنِ اسْتَأْسَرَ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِرَاحَةٍ مُثْقِلَةٍ فَلَا يُفْدَى مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ وَ لَكِنْ يُفْدَى مِنْ مَالِهِ إِنْ أَحَبَّ أَهْلُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who turns himself into captivity without suffering a disabling wound is not ransomed on the expenses of public treasury. He however may be ransomed with payment from his own properties.”