Guidance of Ammar in the Battle of Siffeen

Nasr bin Muzahim says: Yahya bin Ya’li narrates from Sabah e Mazni, who narrates from Harith bin Hasn, who narrates from Zayd bin Rajaa, who narrates from Asmaa bin Hakim e Farazi that he says:

          In the Battle of Siffeen, I was along with Amir al-momineen, under the flag of Ammar e Yasir. At the time of Zuhr, when we had created a shade for ourselves with a red carpet, a man came towards us passing by all the rows as if he was counting them. He asked: Who amongst you is Ammar e Yasir?

          Ammar said: I am Ammar.

          He asked: The one whose nick is Abu Yaqzaan?

          He replied: Yes.

          He asked: I have to talk to you about something. Should I say it openly or privately?

          Ammar said: Say however you wish to say.

          He said: I will say it openly.

          Ammar said: Say.

          He said: I have come from my family while I have a perception with regard to the right on which we are, and I had no scepticism about the deviation of that group, and I am certain that they are on the wrong path, and I was of this belief until last night, but last night I saw a dream in which I heard the voice saying the Azan and witnessing that there is not God but Allah and Mohammad (p.b.u.h.) is the Messenger of Allah and made the call for prayer, their Mo’azzin (one who calls for prayer) also did the same and people stood in the rows to offer prayer. We offered the same prayer and recited the same book and read out the same supplication. From last night, I am in great scepticism and none but Allah knows about the situation I went through all night. When the night turned into morning, I went near the Amir al-Momineen (a.s.) and explained the entire incident before him.

          He said: Have you seen Ammar bin Yasir?

          I said: No.

          He said: Meet him and listen to what he has to say; and obey his words.

          And I have come to you for this reason.

          Ammar said to him: Do you recognize the holder of that black flag standing opposite me? That flag belongs to Amr e Aas against whom I fought thrice along with the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), and this is the fourth time. And this not just worse than the earlier times, but also the most devastating and destructing one. Did you take part in the battles of Badr, Uhad or Hunain[1], or has your father participated in one of them and informed you about it?

          He said: No.

          Ammar said: Our stand and our flagstaff is the same as the flagstaffs of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) in the battles of Badr, Uhad and Hunain; and their stand and their flag staffs are the same as the idolaters of Ahzaab.

          Do you see this army and the ones who are in this army? I swear to God, I would have loved to see all of them united in one body, all those who are fighting along with Mu’awiyah against us and those who have deviated from that which we believe in, so that I could strike their head at once and cut them into pieces. Their blood is much more Halal than shedding the blood of a sparrow. Do you consider shedding the blood of a sparrow to be Haram?

          He said: No. It’s Halal.

           Ammar said: Their blood is Halal in the same way. Have I clarified the matter before you?

          He said: Yes.

          Ammar said: Now you can chose whoever you like.

          That person returned. Ammar called him back and said: Indeed, it is possible that very soon they will strike you so greatly with their swords that it may put the ones of you who are inclined towards the wrong path, into deep scepticism and doubt, and they might say: If they were not right, they wouldn’t have attained victory over us.

          By God, they are not on the right path, not even to the size of a kindling that infects a fly’s eye and by God, if they strike us with their swords in such a way that they drive us back till the groves of Hajar[2], I will remain certain that we are on the right path and they are on the wrong one.[3]