Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi T2lib 171
He said: 'Yes.' 'Ali said to him: 'I call you to Allah and to His
Messenger and to Islam.' He said: 'I have no need of that.' 'Ali said:
'Then I call you to a duel with me.' He said to him: 'Why, 0 son of
my brother? I do not want to kill you.' 'Ali said to him: 'But by
Allah, I want to kill you.' 'Amr got angry at that, so he dismounted
from his horse, hamstrung it and beat its face; then he turned to 'Ali,
and they fought, circling around one another, until 'Ali (&) killed
him and their cavalry fled, bursting headlong in flight across the
trench."419
Ibn Katheer quoted what al-Bayhaqi narrated in Dalri'il an-
Nubuwwah of poetly composed by 'Arnr ibn 'Abd Wudd and 'Ali
(&). 'Amr said, when he came forth for the duel:
I've become hoarse from shouting.
Isn't there one among the lot of you who will answer my challenge?
I've stood here like a fighting champion
While the so-called brave are cowards.
I've always hastened to the front
Before the fight begins.
Bravery and generosity are in truth
The best qualities of a wanior.
When 'Ali came out to meet him, he said:
Don't be in a hurry. No weakling
Has come to answer your challenge.
A man of resolution and foresight.
Truth is the rejLge of the successful.
I hope to make the keening women
Busy over your corpse
Through the blow of a spear
Whose memoly will last while fights are talked of4'
'Ilaimah threw down his spear that day when he was running
from 'Amr, so Hassiin ibn Th2bit said: