سورة الصف

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): إِنَّ اللهَ یُحِبُّ الَّذِینَ یُقَاتِلونَ فِی سَبِیلهِ صَفًّا کَأَنَّهُم بُنیَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ [Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall]; this verse was revealed concerning Ali (peace be upon him), Hamza, Ubayda ibn al-Harith, Sahl ibn Hunayf, Harith ibn Simma and Abu Dujana al-Ansari — may Allah be pleased with them.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): Dahhak said: I asked Ibn Abbas, "Who are these people?" He said: "Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), Hamza the lion of Allah and of His Messenger, Ubayda ibn al-Harith, and Miqdad ibn al-Aswad."

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): When he stands in the ranks for battle, he is like a firm structure, of whom Allah says: إِنَّ اللهَ یُحِبُّ الَّذِینَ یُقاتِلُونَ فِی سَبِیلِهِ صَفًّا کَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْیانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ [Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall]. Ali (peace be upon him) in every matter seeks the pleasure of Allah and of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), and before him no one has killed as many polytheists as he has.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Know, O believers, that Allah the Exalted says: إِنَّ اللهَ یُحِبُّ الَّذِینَ یُقاتِلُونَ فِی سَبِیلِهِ صَفًّا کَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْیانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ [Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall]. Do you know what the way of Allah is? And who is the way of Allah? Do you know which is the way of Allah, and who walks along that way.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): یُقَاتِلونَ فِی سَبِیلهِ صَفًّا کَأَنَّهُم بُنیَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ [They fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall]; they stand in ranks like a structure that does not collapse.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): In the hadith of Malik ibn A'yan it is reported: The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) at Siffin urged the people [to jihad in the way of Allah] and said: "Allah the Mighty and Majestic has guided you." ... He said: "Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: إِنَّ اللهَ یُحِبُّ الَّذِینَ یُقاتِلُونَ فِی سَبِیلِهِ صَفًّا کَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْیانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ [Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall]; so arrange your ranks like a firm [impenetrable] iron wall, and place those who wear armour in front and keep those without armour behind, and clench your molar teeth together, for that has a greater effect in repelling the sword's blow [that strikes] the head [and prevents the sword from penetrating the head], and when the tips of the spears reach you, move and twist, for that is more effective in making the spears slip and slide off [and prevents the spear from penetrating your body], and lower your eyes [so you do not see frightening things], for that gives greater [courage and] mastery over the agitation of the heart and increases the calmness of hearts, and hush your voices, for that drives fear further away and is closer to dignity and nobility, and do not tilt or slant your banners [because the fighters look at them, and if they cannot see them they are defeated], and do not remove them [from their place], and do not entrust them to any but your brave men; for [those who] defend that which is worthy of protection and [those who] are patient at the descent of realities [that occur in war], they are the people who guard sacred things."