The heroic performance of Sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) was no doubt rooted in the spiritual inspiration of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. For Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم once said, “The real hero is not the person who prevails over his rival in combat. The real hero is the person who controls himself in times of anger.” Sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) was a good example of the sort of real warrior pointed out by this saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. He lived a life in which he triumphed over his ego all the time. . In one battle, Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) was about to kill a soldier from the army of the idol-worshippers. On the verge of death, that soldier spat in his face. Sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) stopped, put down his sword, and told the man to get up and go. The soldier was astounded. He asked sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) why, when he held all the power and had been insulted, he was giving his opponent another chance. Sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) answered, “We fight two kinds of battles. The first is against idol-worshippers like you; the second is against our lower selves. That battle requires us to control our passions. I had been fighting against you only for the sake of Allah. When you spat in my face, it made me angry. If I had killed you in that moment, it would have been to satisfy my own rage, and my lower self would have triumphed over me. That is why I set you free. I have won the great battle, the battle with my own lower self. To be a slave in the hands of the lower self is greater danger for Muslims than the attacks of idol-worshippers.” . . With this answer, Sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu) raised the veil from the heart of the enemy soldier. The man was enlightened with faith, and became a Muslim. Later this new Muslim took part in many battles at the side of Sayyiduna Ali (KaramAllahu Wajhu). He followed Sayyiduna Ali’s teaching, differentiating carefully between anger for the sake of Allah and anger for the sake of one’s own passions. He gave the battle against his lower self priority over fighting any other enemy. #ShaheMardan #13thRajab