War
21 sayings
O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day- unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah's wrath and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be (Surah Anfaal 8:15-16)
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Seventh Greater Sin ,page 191 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Those who flee from the battlefield should know that they have angered their Lord and have damned themselves to destruction because fleeing from the battle causes Allah's anger. And one who flees from the Holy war will be certain to face calamities and eternal degradation and his fleeing will not prevent death, and his life cannot be prolonged. That is, if the time of his death has arrived, his fleeing will not delay it. He will die due to some other reason. On the other hand, if the time of his death has not yet arrived and he participates in Jehad he will not die. Thus it is better for one to pledge his life to Allah rather than live in Allah's anger, degradation and dishonour.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Seventh Greater Sin ,page 191 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Many a war is more profitable than peace.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5320; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 980 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Diversity is the instigator of wars.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 705; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 980 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Obstinacy is the instigator of wars.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 406; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 980 link
Know that the evil of war is swift, and its taste is bitter. Therefore, he who prepares for it, and sees to its requirements, and does not suffer its wounds before its onset, he is its master; but he who plunges into it before its proper time and before gaining insight into his own effort therein, he is fit not to benefit his people and to ruin himself.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 3, p. 186; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 980 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Indeed I have called you to fight those people day and night both secretly and openly, and I have told you: 'Attack them before they attack you', for by Allah no sooner are any people attacked in the midst of their abodes than they are disgraced.
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 27; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 981 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
By Allah I did not postpone the war even for one day unless if I hoped a group of people would join me to be guided by me and repose in my light, and I love that more than killing them for their [choosing to remain in] error.
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 55; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 981 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Amir al-Mu'minin Im?m 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.) in his advice to Ziyad b. al-Nazr, said, 'Know that the forefront of the people are their eyes, and that the eyes of the forefront troops are their vanguards; so when you leave your land and approach your enemy do not hesitate to send the vanguards to every side and to some mountain passes, woods, hiding places and every side, lest your enemy attack and lie in ambush for you.'
Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 191; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 982 link
Messengers and negotiators must not be killed.
Qurb al-Isnad, p. 131, no. 456; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 982 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Put the armoured man forward and keep the unarmoured one behind. Grit your teeth because this will make the swords skip off the skull, and dodge on the sides of the spears for it changes the direction of their blades. Close the eyes because it strengthens the spirit and gives peace to the heart. Kill the voices because this will keep off spiritlessness.
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 124; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 982 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Do not fight them unless they initiate the fighting, because, by the grace of Allah, you are in the right, and to leave them until they begin the fighting will be another proof for your side's right against them. If, by the will of Allah, the enemy is defeated, then do not kill the one who runs away nor strike a helpless person nor finish off the wounded nor inflict harm on women.
Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 14; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 982 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The Prophet (SAWA) prohibited poisoning the land of the polytheists.
al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 28, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 983 link
If you take a captive who then cannot walk further, nor have you a carriage for him, then set him free and do not kill him, for you do not know what would be the Imam's ruling about him.
Ellal al-Shara'ie, p. 565, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 983 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Repeat the attack and be ashamed of running away, for it is a disgrace that remains throughout the generations as a burden on their necks and is a fire on the Day of Reckoning. Therefore, sacrifice your souls for other souls and cheerfully walk to death.
Nahj al-Sa`ada, v. 2, p. 232; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 983 link
He who runs away from the battle when faced with two men from the enemy is a deserter indeed, but if he runs away from facing combat with three men, then he is not a deserter.
al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 34, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 983 link
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida [a] said
Allah has prohibited running away from the midst of a battle because of what it does in weakening one's religion and degrading the messengers and the just Imams (AS).
Uyoun Akhbar al-Reza (AS), v. 2, p. 92, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 983 link
Hafs b. Ghiyath narrated: 'I asked Abu `Abdillah [al-Sadiq] (AS) about one of the cities of the enemies in war, and whether it was permissible to inundate it with water, burn it with fire, or shoot it with mangonels until they are killed, while there are among them the women, children, old men, and the Muslim captives and merchants?' He replied, 'That can be done to them, and they are not to be left from being attacked only because of the presence of these [among them], and the Muslims are neither liable for blood-money nor expiation."
al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 28, no. 6; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 984 link
Imam al-Baqir (AS) or Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated, 'The Prophet (SAWA) took the women to war in order for them to treat the wounded, but he did not distribute the spoils of war among them but gave them some free gifts instead.'
al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 45, no. 8; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 984 link
Befriend people, give them time, and do not raid them unless you first call them [to Islam]. For you to call all the people of the earth, those who live in houses and those who live in tents, to Islam is dearer to me than for you to bring me their womenfolk and children [as captives], and to kill their men.
Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 11300; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 981 link
Truly the martyrs of the sea are more meritorious with Allah than the martyrs of the land.
Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 11108; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 984 link
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