you may find that a man kills many people and fights when someone is with him to make him feel secure; yet when he becomes afraid, cowardice seizes him and his heart quails. Conversely, you may find a stouthearted man who has not killed many with his own hands remaining steadfast in the face of danger and boldly confronting hardships(1).

This quality is needed in military commanders, generals, and frontline leaders more than the former. If a commander is stouthearted and steadfast, he advances, stands his ground, and does not retreat, so his men fight alongside him. But if he is cowardly and weak-hearted, he is cowed and neither advances nor stands firm, even if he is physically strong.

The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—possessed this form of courage—which is what is sought in military commanders—to a greater degree of perfection than anyone else. With his own hand, he killed only Ubayy ibn Khalaf, whom he killed on the day of Uhud; he killed no one with his own hand either before or after that. He was braver than all the Companions. Indeed, when most of his Companions fled on the day of Hunayn, he remained mounted on a mule. A mule neither charges nor flees, yet he advanced upon it toward the enemy, saying:

“I am the Prophet—this is no lie(2) …
I am the son of Abd al-Muttalib.”

Thus he proclaimed who he was while his Companions had withdrawn from him, his enemy was advancing upon him, and he himself was advancing upon his enemy astride his mule, with al-Abbās holding its reins(3).

Ali—and others—would shelter behind the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—because he was