Fighting Solely for the Sake of Allah

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“There is a very faith-inspiring incident of Hazrat Ali (ra). During the Battle of Khaybar, Hazrat Ali (ra) went against a very prominent general of the Jews. Since he was also a very skilled fighter, therefore they both continued to fight each other for a long time. Eventually, Hazrat Ali (ra) felled him to the ground and knelt upon his chest with the intention to cut his head off with the final stroke of his sword. However, he spat on Hazrat Ali (ra)’s face and Hazrat Ali (ra) immediately stood away from him.

“The Jew was surprised at the fact that Hazrat Ali (ra) had overcome him and yet had now let him go. Why would he let him go even though he easily had the opportunity to kill him, he thought. And so, he enquired from Hazrat Ali (ra) as to why he let him go. Hazrat Ali (ra) replied, ‘Till this point, I was fighting against you purely for the sake of attaining Allah’s pleasure; however, when you spat at me, I became angry and felt that now if I were to kill you, then it would not be for the sake of Allah, but owing to my personal anger. Thus, I let you go so my anger subsides, lest I kill you for a personal reason.’

“How great of an example was this which was demonstrated by Hazrat Ali (ra). Right in the midst of battle, he let a bitter enemy go free simply because he did not wish to kill him owing to any personal grievance. Rather if he did so then it would only be for the sake of Allah alone.”

(Sair-e-Ruhani, Number 2, Anwar al-Ulum, Vol. 16, p. 74)