(until he said) and when Allah had defeated them...

(until he said) and when Allah had defeated them, I ordered that no-one retreating should be pursued, nor should the wounded be killed, nor should the nakedness of anyone be exposed nor clothing torn. No house should be entered without permission and the people ha ve safety." Related from Habba al-'Arani in a hadith saying: 'On the day of the Jamal, the people came out to face each other . . .

(until he relates) the (rebellious) peo ple retreated defeated then the herald of Amir-ul- 3 0 'Aishah instigated and led the Battle (of Jamal) against Imam 'Ali (A). Mu'mineen (A) called that "the wounded were not to be killed, those retreating were not to be pursued, that whoever locks his door will be spared and whoever throws down his weapon will be spared." Related from Muhammad al-Hanafiyyah son of Imam 'Ali (A) who said: 'I had the standard (flag) on the day of the Jamal . . .

(until he said) then he ordered his herald to proclaim that: 'No wounded person should be attacked, nor should any retreating person be pursued. Whoever locks his door will be safe.' It is related that amongst the people of al-Sham (The army of Mu'awiya from Damascus) was a man named al-Asbagh ibn Darar and that he formed an armed vanguard. Imam 'Ali charged al-Ashtar with him and he took him prisoner without a fight. Imam 'Ali (A) used to forbid the killing o f prisoners.

Al-Ashtar came with him at night and made fast his bonds and put him with his guests to await the morning. This man al- Asbagh was an eloquent poet and he felt sure that he would be killed while his companions slept. So he raised his voice and let al-Ashtar hear some verses of poetry describing his condition and seeking to evoke his emotions. In the mo rning al-Ashtar came to Imam 'Ali (A) and said: 'O Commander o f The Faithful! This is a man from the army who I met yesterday.

By Allah if I knew it was right to kill him I would kill him. He spent the night with us last night and moved us. If it is to be that we kill him then I will kill him. If we are angry at him or we have a choice then give him to me. Imam 'Ali (A) said: 'He is yours O Malik. For if you take a prisoner from the people-of-the-Kiblah (i.e. Muslims) you should not kill him.

The prisoners from the people of the Kiblah are neither ransomed nor killed.' So al-Ashtar returned with him to his house and said: 'Yours is what we took from you and nothing more than that.' Related from Salam who said: 'I witnessed the battle of the Jamal . . .