It is done in self-defense.

It is done in self-defense. Islam not only forbids killing someone else, but committing suicide too is a major sin in the Faith. In fact severing any part of one’s body is not allowed. Man is made the trustee of his life and the act of killing oneself or severing the parts of one’s body too are taboo. Although in some countries suicide is considered an act of valor, but the truth is that it is the worst type of cowardice and defeatist tendency in the person.

Although he was in the forefront during the battles fought during the time of the Prophet (a.s), he even fought some battles during his reign as well, but all these battles were in self-defense and not aggressive battles for conquest and self-aggrandizement, as some others did. The Prophet (a.s) took up his sword when the enemy had attacked. Similarly `Ali (a.s) initiated action only when the enemy aggressively came and started hostilities.

In fact, he always tried to nip the conflict in the bud and find ways of establishing peace with the enemy. `Ali (a.s) never made a preemptive attack on the enemy and retaliated only when the attack started from the opposing side. Also, he tried to make the hostilities as short as possible to limit loss of lives on both sides. He refrained from taking men captive and forgave even the known sworn enemies.

Therefore, after the Battle of the Camel, with a single stroke of pen he gave amnesty to all people of al-Basrah. He did not seek any reparations from Marwan, `Abdullah ibn `Umar, `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr and sent Umm al-Mu’minin from the battlefield to al-Madinah with all the respect! The Iraqis and the Syrians who were taken prisoner during the Battle of Siffin were released unconditionally.

At the end of the Battle of Nahrawan, the injured Khawarij (the excommunicated) who numbered 400 were released from detention unconditionally. The people from their tribes were called to take them away. He wanted them to be treated and sent to al-Kūfah after total recovery.