Cowardice of the people of Jamal
They (1) thunder like clouds and shone like lightning but
despite both these things they exhibited cowardice, while we do not thunder
till we pounce upon the foe nor do we show flow (of words) until we have not
virtually rained.
(1) About the people of Jamal (i.e. the enemy in the battle of Jamal) Amir
al-mu'minin says that they rose thundering, shouting and stampeding but when
encounter took place they were seen flying like straw. At one time they made
loud claims that they would do this and would do that and now they showed such
cowardice as to flee from the battle-field.
About himself Amir al-mu'minin says,
that "We do not threaten the enemy before battle, nor utter boasts, nor
terrorize the enemy by raising unnecessary cries because it is not the way of the
brave to use the tongue instead of the hand." That is why on this occasion
he said to his comrades: "Beware of excessive talk as it is
cowardice."
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