Avoid initiating conflict but respond if provoked

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 233

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 233

Avoid initiating conflict but respond if provoked
1 Ḥadīth
Ḥadīth 282

٢٣٣. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام) لِابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ (عليه السلام): لَا تَدْعُوَنَّ إِلَى مُبَارَزَةٍ وَإِنْ دُعِيتَ إِلَيْهَا فَأَجِبْ فَإِنَّ الدَّاعِيَ إِلَيْهَا بَاغٍ وَالْبَاغِيَ مَصْرُوعٌ.

233. Amīr al-mu’minīn said to his son al-Ḥasan, peace be upon them both: Do not call out for fighting, but if you are called to it do respond, because the caller to fighting is a rebel and the rebel deserves destruction. [1]