Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 167
because if they were defeated they would not have pursued
~ura~sh.~'~ The Prophet's going out to Hamra' al-Asad was also an
indication on his part of the importance of psychological warfare in
affecting enemy morale. He set out with his troops and went to
Hamra' al-Asad, and stayed there for three days. He ordered that f ~es
be lit; these fires could be seen from afar, and they filled the horizon
with their light, to the extent that Quraysh thought that the Muslim
army had huge numbers of men that they had no power to tackle, so
they left with their hearts filled with fear.406
Ibn Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah (&) went with his
Companions and camped in Hamra' al-Asad. During those nights,
the Muslims lit five hundred fires that could be seen from afar, and
the noise of their camp and the sight of their fires could be heard and
seen in every direction, and Allah (&) suppressed their enemies by
means of that."407 The noble Qur'an referred to this 'cold war', and
Allah (s) recorded it in His book in the context of praising the
Companions (may AUah be pleased with them):
(Those who answered [the Call of] AUah and the Messenger
[M~ammad] after being wounded; for those of them who did good
deeds and feared AUah, there is a great reward. Those [i.e. believers]
unto whom the people [hypocrites] said, 'Verily, the people [pagans]
have gathered against you [a great army], therefore, fear them.' But it
[only] increased them in Faith, and they said: Allah [Alone] is
Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs [for us]. So
they rehlmed with grace and bounty from AUah. No hann touched
them; and they followed the good pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the
Owner of great bounty. It is only Shaytin [Satan] that suggests to you
the fear of his Awliy? [supporters and friends, polytheists,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger,
Muhammad]; so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [true]
believers) (Qur'an 3: 172.175)