or to find an opportunity against them, or to take refuge behind a mountain, and the like, as is the custom of those experienced in warfare. It is narrated of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he was one day in his sermon when he said: "O Sariya ibn Zunaym, the mountain! The wolf has wronged the one who entrusted the sheep to him." The people were puzzled by this. Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Leave him be." When he descended, they asked him about what he had said, but he did not acknowledge it. He had sent Sariya to the region of Iraq to battle them (12). When that army arrived, they reported that they had encountered their enemy on a Friday and were overwhelmed, but then they heard the voice of Umar, took refuge at the mountain, survived their enemy, and gained victory over them (13). As for seeking refuge with a group (tahayyuz), it is that he turns to a group of the Muslims to be with them, so he may be strengthened (14) by them against his enemy (15). It matters not whether the distance is far or near. The Qadi said: If the group is in Khurasan and the [other] group is in the Hijaz, it is permissible to join them. The companions (16) of al-Shafi'i mentioned the like, because Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "I am a group for you," while they were at a place distant from him. And Umar said: "I am the group of every Muslim," while he was in Medina and his armies were in Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, and Khurasan. Both were reported by Said (17). Umar also said: "May Allah have mercy on Abu Ubaydah, had he taken refuge with me, I would have been a group for him" (18). If he fears being taken captive, it is better for him to fight until he is killed, and not to surrender himself to captivity; for he would win the reward (19) and the lofty rank (20), and be safe from the control of the disbelievers over him through torture, servitude, and trial. If he allows himself to be taken captive, it is permissible; due to what Abu Hurayra narrated, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent ten men as scouts and appointed Asim ibn Thabit as their leader. The Hudhayl tribe rushed (21) towards them
(12) In (A) and (B): "to battle them". (13) Its chains of narration are mentioned in Kanz al-Ummal 12/571-574. (14) In (B): "to be strengthened". (15) In (M): "their enemy". (16) Omitted from (M). (17) In: The Chapter on the One Who Said: The Imam is the group for every Muslim, from the Book of Jihad. Al-Sunan 2/209, 210. It was also reported by al-Bayhaqi in: The Chapter on the One Who Turns Away to Maneuver for Fighting... from the Book of Siyar 9/76, 77. The first was reported by Abu Dawud in: The Chapter on Turning Away on the Day of Battle, from the Book of Jihad. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/43. And al-Tirmidhi in: The Chapter on What Has Been Said Regarding Fleeing from Battle, from the Chapters of Jihad. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 7/213. And Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 2/58, 70, 99, 100, 111. (18) Reported by al-Bayhaqi in: The Chapter on the One Who Turns Away to Maneuver for Fighting... from the Book of Siyar 9/77. (19) In the original, (B), and (M): "by reward". (20) The "waw" is omitted from (M). (21) In (B): "they rushed".
