Part of instructions to his marshal when Imam Ali (a) sent him to a battle

Pearl of Wisdom

'A hypocrite prohibits [wrongdoing] but does not refrain from it himself, and he enjoins that which he does not do himself. When he prays he complains, when he bows (ruku') he slumps, when he prostrates (sujud) he pecks [prostrating so fast], when he sits he spreads himself out, when he is going to bed his only concern is food even though he is full, and when he wakes up in the morning, his only concern is sleep even though he did not stay up during the night. When he speaks to you he lies, when he makes a promise he does not fulfil it, if you entrust him with anything he betrays it, and if you disagree with him he backbites you.'

Imam Ali ibn Hussain Zayn al-'Abidin [as]

Amali al-Saduq, p. 582, no. 802

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Library » Nahj ul Balagha » Letters » Part of instructions to his marshal when Imam Ali (a) sent him to a battle

Part of instructions to his marshal when Imam Ali (a) sent him to a battle

Letter 11 Part of instructions to his marshal when Imam Ali (a) sent him to a battle

When you approach an enemy or when he approaches you, make it a point to keep your army on a hilltop or at the foot of a mountain or on the side of a river so that you easily watch the movements of your enemy. Do not involve the whole army in the encounter, allow only a few units to take part in the engagements. If your army is not on a hilltop then post your scouts and guards on high vantage points and along the line of fortification so that the enemy may not take you unawares.

Remember that the commanders of an army are its guardians and the eyes of these commanders are the scouts.

Try to avoid dissensions and do not cause superiority or inferiority complexes to take root among your officers and in your ranks. Wherever and whenever you camp, make it a point that all of your officers and soldiers camp in the same locality and are provided with the same comforts and conveniences and whenever you march, always march in company formation. If you want to rest during the night draw a circular formation of your lancers round your army and do not let sound sleep overpower you.

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