Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @$@&!% (Vol-I) 439
Hadhrat Ali ~ ~ delivers @ a % lecture Concerning
the Reluctance of the Muslims to March in Jihaad
Hadhrat Zaid bin Wahab narrates that in his first address to the Muslims after the
Battle ~ahrwaan, Hadhrat Ali @G- said, "0 people! Prepare to march against
the enemy in a Jihaad that will draw you close to Allaah and secure a great status
for you near Him. They are people who are confused about the truth, know
nothing about the Qur'aan, are far from the Deen, are bewildered in rebellion and
have fallen headlong into the abyss of deviation. Prepare (to use in battle) against
them whatever forces of strength (weapons) you can muster, as well as trained
horses. Trust in Allaah for Allaah suffices as Defender and Allaah suffices as
Helper."
When the people failed to march and to prepare, Hadhrat Ali @GWj left them
alone for a few days. Eventually, when he lost hope that they would prepare, he
summoned their leaders and influential people. When Hadhrat Ali asked
them for their opinions and about what it was that caused them to procrastinate,
some of them complained of illness while others excused themselves on account
of some pressing circumstances. Only a few of them were willing.
Hadhrat Ali W%&& then stood up to deliver a lecture. He said, "0 servants of
Allaah! What is the matter with you that you cling to the ground when you are
commanded to march? Do you prefer the life of this world to that of the
Aakhirah? Do you prefer humiliation and dishonour over respect? Each time I call
you to wage Jihaad, your eyes start to turn like a person in the throes of death. It
then seems as if your hearts have lost their senses, leaving you without any
understanding and as if your eyes have been blinded so that you see nothing. By
Allaah! When there is comfort and luxury, you are like the lions of the Shira
forest but wpen you are called towards battle, you become sly foxes. I have
permanently lost confidence in you people. You are not the type of horsemen
with whom an attack can be launched neither people of nobility with whom
refuge can be sought. 1 swear by Allaah that you people are the worst and most
incompetent in battle. The plots of the enemy are sure to succeed against you
whereas your strategies would be useless against them. Your limbs are being
severed and you cannot defend each other. Your enemies are not asleep whereas
you are oblivious. A fighter is vigilant and intelligent whereas one who bows to a
truce becomes humiliated. Those who fight amongst themselves are soon
defeated and defeated people are suppressed and looted."
\
Hadhrat Ali %w continued, "You should now understand that I have rights
over you just as you have rights over me. Your rights over me are that I should be
your well-wisher as long as I am with you, that I should increase your shares of
booty, that I should educate you so that you do not remain ignorant and that I
should teach you etiquette and manners so that you are able to learn. My rights
that are due from you are that you fulfil your pledge of loyalty to me and that you
remain my well-wishers in my presence as well as in my absence. In addition to