When in Siffin the men of Mu’awiyah overpowered the men of Amir al-Mu’minin and occupied the bank of the River Euphrates and prevented them from taking its water, Amir al-Mu’minin said:
They1 are asking you for morsels of battle. So either you remain in ignominy and the lowest position or drench your swords with blood and quench your thirst with water. Real death is in the life of subjugation while real life is in dying as subjugators. Beware, Mu’awiyah is leading a small group of insurgents and has kept them in the dark about the true facts with theresult that they have made their bosoms the targets of death.
1. Amir al-Mu’minin had not reached Siffin when Mu’awiyah posted forty thousand men on the bank of the river to close the way to the watering place, so that none except the Syrians could take the water. When Amir al-Mu’minin’s force alighted there, they found that there was no watering place except for one possibility. If it existed, it was difficult to reach due to crossing high hillocks. Amir al-Mu’minin sent Sa’sa’ah ibn Suhan al- A Abdi to Mu’awiyah with therequest to release control over the water. Mu’awiyah refused. On this side Amir al-Mu’minin’s army was troubled by thirst. When Amir al-Mu’minin noticed this position he said, A Get up and secure water by dint of the sword. Consequently, these thirsty persons drew their swords out of sheaths, put arrows in their bows and dispersing Mu’awiyah’s men, went down toward the river, forcing his guards away. They then took control of the watering place themselves.
Now, Amir al-Mu’minin’s men also desired that just as Mu’awiyah had put restrictions on the water by occupation, the same treatment should be accorded to him and his men and no Syrian should be allowed water and everyone of them should be made to die of thirst. But Amir al-Mu’minin said, A Do you want to take the same brutal step which these Syrians had taken? Never prevent anyone from water. Whoever wants to drink, may drink and whoever wants to take away may take away. Consequently, despite occupation of the River by Amir al-Mu’minin’s army, no one was prevented from the water and everyone was given full liberty to use it.
