Al-Kāfi 5, narration 23

Translation

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim and Muhammad ibn ‘Isa have narrated from Yunus who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, one of your followers had heard that a man gives away sword and horse for the cause of Allah. He went to that man and took the two items but he did not know the rules. His companions met him and told him that working in the way (of Allah) with these people is not permissible and they commanded them to return the items.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He should do so.’ The man said, ‘He searched for the man but did not find him. It was said that the man has left.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He should serve as a guard but he must not fight.’ The man then asked, ‘Should he serve as a guard in Qazwin, al-Daylam and ‘Asqalan?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, unless there is fear for the (offspring of) other Muslims.’ The man then asked, ‘Do you say that if Romans entered the lands of the Muslims, they should not stop them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is to be on their guard but not fighting. However, if the center of al-Islam and Muslims is feared for, then one must fight. In such case his fighting is for his own sake and not for the authority (the king).’ The narrator has said that he then asked, ‘If the enemy comes to the place where he serves as a guard then what should he do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He fights for the center of al-Islam but not for these people. It is because in the wear and tear of al- Islam is wear and tear of the religion of Muhammad (SAW).’” Ali has narrated from his father from Yahya ibn abu ‘Imran from Yunus from al-Rida’ (a.s.), a similar Hadith.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.