نامه 11: به گروهی از سپاهیان که به سرکوبی دشمن فرستاد · Letter 11

و من وصية له (عليه السلام) وصي بها جيشا بعثه إلي العدو

فَإِذَا نَزَلْتُمْ بِعَدُوٍّ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِكُمْ فَلْيَكُنْ مُعَسْكَرُكُمْ فِي قُبُلِ الْأَشْرَافِ أَوْ سِفَاحِ الْجِبَالِ أَوْ أَثْنَاءِ الْأَنْهَارِ كَيْمَا يَكُونَ لَكُمْ رِدْءاً وَ دُونَكُمْ مَرَدّاً وَ لْتَكُنْ مُقَاتَلَتُكُمْ مِنْ وَجْهٍ وَاحِدٍ أَوِ اثْنَيْنِ وَ اجْعَلُوا لَكُمْ رُقَبَاءَ فِي صَيَاصِي الْجِبَالِ وَ مَنَاكِبِ الْهِضَابِ لِئَلَّا يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَدُوُّ مِنْ مَكَانِ مَخَافَةٍ أَوْ أَمْنٍ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ مُقَدِّمَةَ الْقَوْمِ عُيُونُهُمْ وَ عُيُونَ الْمُقَدِّمَةِ طَلَائِعُهُمْ وَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ التَّفَرُّقَ فَإِذَا نَزَلْتُمْ فَانْزِلُوا جَمِيعاً وَ إِذَا ارْتَحَلْتُمْ فَارْتَحِلُوا جَمِيعاً وَ إِذَا غَشِيَكُمُ اللَّيْلُ فَاجْعَلُوا الرِّمَاحَ كِفَّةً وَ لَا تَذُوقُوا النَّوْمَ إِلَّا غِرَاراً أَوْ مَضْمَضَةً.

When you proceed towards the enemy or they proceeds towards you, the position of your force should be on the approaches high ground or on the edges of mountains or the bends of rivers, so that it may serve you as a help and a place to return to. Your encounter should be from one side or two sides. Place watchers on the peaks of mountains and the raised sides of the high ground so that the enemy may not approach you from any place, whether of danger or safety. And know that the vanguard of an army serves as their eyes of the vanguard are their informers. Be ware of dispersal. When you halt do so together and when you move you should move together. When night comes fix your spears in a circle and do not sleep except for dosing or napping.