نامه 16: به یارانش وقت جنگ · Letter 16

و كان يقول (عليه السلام)

لأصحابه عند الحرب

لَا تَشْتَدَّنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَرَّةٌ بَعْدَهَا كَرَّةٌ وَ لَا جَوْلَةٌ بَعْدَهَا حَمْلَةٌ وَ أَعْطُوا السُّيُوفَ حُقُوقَهَا وَ وَطِّئُوا لِلْجُنُوبِ مَصَارِعَهَا وَ اذْمُرُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَلَي الطَّعْنِ الدَّعْسِيِّ وَ الضَّرْبِ الطِّلَحْفِيِّ وَ أَمِيتُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ فَوَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا أَسْلَمُوا وَ لَكِنِ اسْتَسْلَمُوا وَ أَسَرُّوا الْكُفْرَ فَلَمَّا وَجَدُوا أَعْوَاناً عَلَيْهِ أَظْهَرُوهُ.

The retreat after which return is intended and the with-drawal after which attack is in view should not make you unhappy. Do justice with the swords (allow your swords to do their duties). Keep ready a place for the falling of bodies (of your foe); prepare yourselves for hurling strong spears and striking swords with full force, and keep your voices down as that keeps off cowardice. By Him Who broke open the seed (for growing) and created living beings, they had not accepted Islam but they had secured safety (by verbally professing it) and had hidden their misbelief. Consequently, when they found helpers for their misbelief they disclosed it.