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INSTRUCTION 11
Given to the contingent sent to
confront the enemy.(1)
When you proceed towards the enemy or he proceeds towards you the
position of your force should be on the approaches high ground or on the edges
of mountains or the bends of rivers so that it may serve you as a help and a
place to return to. Your encounter should be from one side or two sides. Place
watchers on the peaks of mountains and the raised sides of the high ground so
that the enemy may not approach you from any place whether of danger or safety.
And know that the vanguard of an army serves as their eyes and the eyes of the
vanguard are their informers. Beware of dispersal. When you halt do so together
and when you move you should move together. When night comes fix your spears in
a circle and do not sleep except for dosing or napping.
(1). When Amir al-mu'minin put Ziyad ibn an-Nadr al-Harithi
and Shurayh ibn Hani al-Harithi in command of contingents of eight thousand and
four thousand strong at the camp of an-Nukhaylah and ordered them to advance
towards Syria (ash-Sham) some dispute arose between them about their ranks of
which they apprised Amir al-mu'minin and wrote letters of complaints about each
other. In reply Amir al-mu'minin wrote
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