Chapter 34

COURAGE

Courageisoneofthesignificantconstituentsoftheconspicuousper-
sonality becauseitprovokesonself-control andendurance in statesof
dangers,andsavesagainstcollapsingincalamities.Islamhassparedno
effortsforseedingthisqualityinthesoulsandcaringforitinthethor-
oughmentalandeducationalaspects.Thus,ithasdrivenMuslimstothe
battlefields and the terrains of sacrifice and offertory to the right, for
guarding theirprincipalsandgoals. Inthe firsteras ofIslam,Muslims
showedno dearth in joining the battles with consonant determination
andgiantwillthatqualifiedthem,despiteoftheirlittlenumber,todefeat
the powers of polytheism. The Islamic history has abounded with the
unparalleled championship. Imam Ali (a) cited the mostengaging ex-
ampleofcourage.Noneoftheancientandmodernhistoryconsidereda
manmorecourageous andconsonant thanhim.He wasthestar ofthe
celebrated situations and the distinguished standings in the battles of
Badr,Uhud,Ahzab,andKhyber.Nosinglehairofhimwasterrifiedby
suchnauseoussituationswhenhestroveforGod’ssakeconsistentlyand
recordedthatfileofheroisminstrugglingtheatheistsintheirlandsand
opposedthemopenly.Hesaid,“Thegreatnumbersofthesurrounding
people willnot increase my fortification, andtheir dissension will not
make me desolate. I will not submit even all of the people let me down.”
Imam Ali’s heroic situations comprised the languages of thisworld.
Thence,hewasthe founderofthemostsplendid picturesofcouragein
thewholeworld.Imamal-Hussein,beingacopyofhisfather,haselev-
atedinthisbrightfield.HehasbecometheleaderoftheIslamicliberal
andcombativemovements.Hereceivedspearsandswordswhilehewas
standinglikeanexaltedmountainto deliverto thegenerations theles-
sonsofdignity,haughtiness,andself-denial.Hedisregardedthoseheart-
breakingcatastrophesthatresultedinthemassacreofhissons,brothers,
anddarlings,inadditionto the horribleadversities ofharsh thirstand