Al Sufian

iconSufa 111 - The Ranks (As-Saff)

1O People! There is no other deity but Allah!
2The Compassionate, the Beneficent, the Gracious;
3All praise and worship be to Allah and no other!
4Let it be said, there is a time for peace and a time for battle.
5Whereupon a man is called to defend his family,
6He may choose to surrender as a slave or stand as a man.
7No man is called beyond his ability.
8Nor may men become an army without rank or discipline.
9Therefore, let there be rank between the men on skill and experience not simply age or family.
10But not so many in rank that the general and his officers are far removed.
11The General is the head of an army, but to lead he must be present.
12The officers of a General are the commands of the general and must lead.
13Therefore, if there be no rank but one, an army shall fail, If there be many, an army shall fail.
14Do not march an army during the day unless necessity and never without water.
15When marching to battle, place your weakest men at the front and strongest in the rear,
16That the spies of the enemy may sense you as weak.
17A man is strongest when he fights to protect his family and land, therefore, do not send an army too far.
18A man and a community loses strength and fight if he is away too long from his family,
19Therefore do not keep an army too long.
20When an order is given even to those who choose to join and it is not followed,
21Execute the officers who failed to obey and let the men choose one in ten to meet the same fate.
22Such men will never disobey again.
23Do not permit an army to harm the people of a conquered city,
24But gather the wealth of the merchants and distribute it as reward.
25If a city be dishonorable and without remorse,
26Kill the men, send the women to work the fields but do not kill their sons.
27Let such boys learn to fight and through service redeem their women.
28Such young men are the best of fighters.