carry it, but it is not obligatory. Ahmad stated this explicitly. If he fears its destruction, the judge (Al-Qadi) said: It is obligatory for him to offer the surplus of his mount in order to save his companion with it, just as it is incumbent upon him to offer the surplus of his food to one who is in dire need of it, and to rescue him from his enemy.

Section: Ahmad was asked about two men who buy a horse between them to campaign upon, where this one rides for a turn and that one rides for a turn. He replied: I have not heard anything regarding this, and I hope there is no harm in it. It was said to him: Which is more beloved to you? That a man should isolate himself for food, or accompany others? He said: Accompanying others, this is more convenient; they cooperate. If you are alone, you cannot manage the cooking or other tasks. There is no harm in a common fund (al-nihd). The righteous used to contribute to a common fund, and Al-Hasan, when he traveled, would contribute with them, and would add more even after contributing. The meaning of al-nihd is that each person in the party brings out a portion of expenses, hands it to a man who spends it on them, and they eat together. Al-Hasan al-Basri used to give their agent an amount equal to one of them, then he would return and secretly provide the same amount again, handing it to him. Ahmad said: I do not consider it appropriate to campaign while carrying a Mushaf (copy of the Quran). He means he should not enter the enemy's territory with it, because of the saying of the Messenger of Allah - may Allah bless him and grant him peace -: "Do not travel with the Quran to the land of the enemy." Narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Athram (14).

1631- Issue: He said: (And if the commander campaigns with the people, it is not permissible for anyone to gather fodder, nor gather firewood, nor duel with a warrior, nor leave the camp, nor do anything, except with his permission).

He means he should not leave the camp to gather fodder, which is obtaining feed for the mounts, nor to gather firewood (1), nor anything else except with the permission of the commander; because of the saying of Allah the Exalted: {The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, and when they are with him on a matter of public concern, they do not leave until they have asked his permission} (2). And because the commander