After the battle of the 'Camel' was started and headed by...

After the battle of the 'Camel' was started and headed by A'ishah against Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Imam Ali (A), during which A'ishah and her army were defeated, Imam Ali (A) announced: "Do not kill the injured, Do no t p ursue those fleeing , Who ever puts down his weapon is safe (from being attacked)." Imam Ali (A) then rode on the mule o f the Messenger of Allah (S) and called a number of individuals by name.

Some 60 elders, all of whom were from the Hamdaan tribe, gathered around him wearing their protective helms, swords and shields. They followed Imam Ali (A) until he reached a big house. He asked for the door to be opened. Once inside Amir-ul- Mu'mineen saw women wailing and weeping. When they saw Imam Ali (A) they all shouted with one voice: He is the killer of our beloveds. Imam Ali did not say anything to them. He only asked for A'ishah's apartment.

When Imam Ali entered her room, their conversation could be heard. A'ishah was apologising to Imam Ali (A). As Imam Ali (A) left the room he saw a woman who he recognised and said to her: If I were the killer of the loved o nes I would have killed those in this room, and in this room, and in this room, pointing to three different rooms. The woman, Safeyyah, went to the wailing women to convey what Imam Ali had said. Then they all ceased wailing.

Al-Asbagh, the narrator of this report, said: In one of the three rooms was A'eshah and her entourage, in the second was Marwaan ibn al-Hakam and the youths of Quraysh, and the in the third Abdullah ibn al-Zubair and his relatives resided. Al- Asbagh was asked; "Why did you not arrest them? Were they not the cause of this conspiracy and the war? Why did you leave them free?" Al-Asbagh replied: "We had reached for our swords, with our eyes focused on him (Imam Ali), a waiting his command . . .

but he did not issue any order except a general amnesty." There are countless cases like this, but we only mentioned the above few cases to hint at this point that it is imperative for the Islamic government, and the Islamic movement before that, to adhere to non-violence, even when in power. Weapon of Non-Violence vs. Violence Just as violence is a weapon, non-violence is a weapon too. However, the weapon of non-violence is more effective than the weapon of violence.

Just as the soul is stronger than the body, so too is non- violence, since it is the weapon of the soul, and so it is more powerful than the weapon of the body which is made of matter.