Mobilization Along with People when there is Fear for al-Islam

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I would mobilize (against the enemy) very often, stay away from asking for compensation and remain absent for a long time. This was called impermissible for me and they said, ‘There is no mobilization (against the enemy) without the Imam of justice.’ May Allah keep you well, what do you say about it?’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘I can say it for you in general terms and if you want I can say it to you in clear terms.’ The man said, ‘Say it in general terms.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, will resurrect people on the Day of Judgment according to their intentions.’ The narrator has said that it seemed as if he wanted the Imam to say it in clear terms. He said, ‘Make it for me in clear terms, may Allah keep you well.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Explain it.’ The man said, ‘I mobilized and faced the pagans. Should I fight them before calling them to Allah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If they mobilize and fight, you are drawn in it. If they are a people who have not mobilized and had not fought, you can do nothing but to call them to Allah.’ The man said, ‘I called them to Allah. One of them accepted the call, affirmed al-Islam in his heart and lived as a Muslim but injustice was done to him in judgment, his honor was violated, his property taken and he was subjected to transgression. What is the solution when I was the one to call him to Allah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Both of you deserve rewards in the matter. He is with you to shield your honor, protect your Qiblah (the sacred location), to defend your book and save your life. This is better for you than his being against you, destroy your Qiblah, violate your honor, shed your blood and burn your book.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, one of your followers had heard that a man gives away sword and horse for the cause of Allah. He went to that man and took the two items but he did not know the rules. His companions met him and told him that working in the way (of Allah) with these people is not permissible and they commanded them to return the items.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He should do so.’ The man said, ‘He searched for the man but did not find him. It was said that the man has left.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He should serve as a guard but he must not fight.’ The man then asked, ‘Should he serve as a guard in Qazwin, al-Daylam and ‘Asqalan?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, unless there is fear for the (offspring of) other Muslims.’ The man then asked, ‘Do you say that if Romans entered the lands of the Muslims, they should not stop them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is to be on their guard but not fighting. However, if the center of al-Islam and Muslims is feared for, then one must fight. In such case his fighting is for his own sake and not for the authority (the king).’ The narrator has said that he then asked, ‘If the enemy comes to the place where he serves as a guard then what should he do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He fights for the center of al-Islam but not for these people. It is because in the wear and tear of al- Islam is wear and tear of the religion of Muhammad (SAW).’” Ali has narrated from his father from Yahya ibn abu ‘Imran from Yunus from al-Rida’ (a.s.), a similar Hadith.