In Sermon (144), Imam Ali (peace be upon him) provided counsel to Umar ibn al-Khattab when he sought advice regarding participation in the war against Persia. This sermon was delivered during a significant historical moment when the expansion of the Islamic state required military engagements. In this sermon, Imam Ali emphasized that success and failure do not depend solely on the size of the army but on the divine nature of Allah's religion, which He has ensured will prevail.
Imam Ali stated that Allah has made His religion dominant and that His support is always present. This is a crucial message that believers should rely on Allah's assistance, regardless of their numerical strength. He used the metaphor of a string that holds beads together to illustrate the importance of leadership and unity; if the string breaks, all the beads scatter, symbolizing the disintegration of a community without strong leadership.
He also pointed out that although the Arabs were few in number, their strength came from Islam. Their mutual unity and solidarity were what granted them victory and dominance. This message resonates today, emphasizing the need for unity and cooperation among Muslims. Imam Ali warned that if Umar were to withdraw from the battlefield, the Arab tribes might attack from all sides, leading to greater concern for their safety than the immediate situation.
Imam Ali further noted that if the non-Arabs saw the Muslims, they would recognize them as the chiefs of the Arabs. If they were defeated, it would only increase the enemies' greed and desire to conquer them. This serves as an important lesson that to weaken the enemy's resolve, we must maintain our determination and strength.
Finally, Imam Ali concluded by affirming that without Allah's support, numerical strength is meaningless. Historically, Muslims did not rely on numbers alone but fought with the backing of divine assistance. This teaches us the importance of faith in Allah's help and the need to continue our efforts regardless of circumstances.
