Chapter 72

MILITARY EDUCATION

Islamhas treatedthe military education soaccuratelyanddeeply.It
hasconstitutedthemostadvancedandgenuinecoursesofeducatingthe
army,developingitspotentials,andskilltraining.Islamhas concerned
deliberatelywiththearmedforcesfortheirbeingthenation’sarmorand
thedefensivepalingthatguardsagainstmisfortunesanddangers.Imam
Ali (a) describes the armed forces with unparalleled words. He says,
“Soldiersare,byGod’spermission,thefortressesofpeople,thegarnish
oftherulers,themightofthereligion,andthewaysofsecurity.People
cannot erect without them.”
TheImamvested people’slivesandconstituentswiththeirdefensive
poweronwhichthenation’sglory, dignity,andindependencedepend.
Commentingontheseexcellentwords,al-Fukeikisays,“Lookdeeplyto
these statements.They containeloquent secretsandmarvelous intend-
ments.YoumustnotbeadmiredifItellthatthesewordscomprehended
allofthechaptersofConsultantVolndrov’sNationinthewarandallof
therecordsofthemilitaryencyclopaedia,includingtheGerman,Italian,
English,FrenchandJapanese,inthisage.Thecurrentinternationalsitu-
ation inthe east andwestandthe governments’ strugglesare thebest
evidences on our claim.”.
The most important topic for Islam is equipping the military forces
withanonesucheducationthatgivesauniquebehaviorandconscience
andpushesfaithfully andsincerelyondefending thehomeland. Inthe
earlier centuries, the Islamic army could record the most peculiar tri-
umphs whenthey destroyedthe rules of polytheismandachieved the
miraclein spiteoftheir fewnumbersandscantyarms. Inthe battleof
Badr,theIslamicarmyusedbranchesofdatepalmtreesasweaponsand
facedthemostmodernarmsinthattime.Theycoulddefeatthepolythe-
ists.ThemainreasonbeyondMuslims’triumphinthatimmortalbattle
was the perseverance and the power of faith.