5-18 (The compiler of the book narrated) that his father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Isfahani, on the authority of Suleiman ibn Davood al-Minqari, on the authority of Hafs ibn Qiyath on the authority of Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB), “A man asked Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) about the battles of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB). The man was one of those who love us. Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) told him, ‘Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God appointed five swords to Muhammad (MGB). Three of them were never besheathed until the wars are over in the world. The wars in this world will not end until the sun rises from where it sets. On the day the sun rises from the west, everyone will be safe all over the world. On that day, the belief of those without a previous record of belief or have not done any good deeds, while they had belief would not do them any good. One of those swords is wrapped up and the other one is sheathed. It is meant to be drawn for others, but its control has been entrusted with us. And the other three swords are as follows. The first is the sword drawn upon the Arab unbelievers. The Blessed the Sublime God said, ‘But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Nothing is accepted from these pagans unless they are killed by the sword, or accept Islam. Once they get killed, their wealth is seized and their children are captured. When the Prophet (MGB) captured any of them, he (MGB) forgave them and took some money for ransom and freed them. The second sword is that which is used for the people who are under the protection of Islam. The Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘… speak fair to the people…’ This was changed later and the following verse was revealed,‘Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.’ Those of them who live in a Muslim country should pay the Jizya (the poll-tax ) or be killed. If they agree to pay the poll-tax then they cannot be taken as captives; their property is to be safeguarded; and we can marry their women. We cannot accept any poll-tax from those of them who live in an enemy country that are at war with us. We can shed their blood and seize their property, but cannot marry their women. They should either be killed or accept Islam. And the third sword was drawn upon the non-Arab atheists - that is the Turks, the Deilams and the Khazars. The Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself)…’ This implies that they should be killed unless they sign a treaty with you and pay ransom. As long as they are at war with the Muslims, no one can marry their women. And the sword that is wrapped up is the sword of the rebellious ones whose deeds would end up in war as the Blessed the Sublime God says, ‘If two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the Command of God...’ the Honorable the Exalted. Once this verse was revealed, the Prophet of God (MGB) said, ‘There is someone who is going to fight against those who transgress after me amongst you.’ He was asked, ‘Who is that?’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘The one who mends his shoes’ while he (MGB) was referring to the Commander of the Faithful Ali (MGB). Am’mar ibn Yasir said, “I have fought along with the Prophet (MGB) and his household with three groups of unbelievers under this flag and this is the fourth group with whom I fight. I swear by God that even if they drive us back as far away as the date plantations of Hajar, we are sure that we are rightful and they are deviated. The way the Commander of the Faithful (MGB) treated the rebellious ones was the same as that of God’s Prophet (MGB) with the people of Mecca at the time he (MGB) conquered Mecca. The Prophet (MGB) did not capture their offspring and ordered that anyone who sits in his home and puts his armaments aside is safe; anyone who had entered the house of Abu Sufyan is safe. This was the same way that the Commander of the FaithfulAli (MGB) ordered in Basra during the Battle of Jamal: do not capture the rebellions’ offspring; do not kill their injured ones and do not pursue those who escape. Whoever closes the door of his house and puts his armaments aside is a safe. And the sword which is left in its sheath is the sword with which punishment by the law of retaliation is to be performed as the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘…Life for life…’. This sword is meant to be for the relatives of the person who has been killed, but the ruling over it has been entrusted with us. These were the swords which the Honorable the Exalted God appointed to His Prophet. Whoever denies them or denies any of the decrees regarding them has indeed rejected whatever God has revealed to Muhammad (MGB).”