Selections of writings of The Commander of the Faithful (pbuh) and his letters to his enemies and the governors of his provinces including selections of his diplomas of appointment of his officers and his injunctions to the members of his family and his companions.
In this letter, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) instructs one of his army leaders on how to deal with a group of insurgents.
He wrote:
“Advise the dissenters—those who refuse your command in confronting the armies of Talha and Zubair. If they return to the shade of obedience and submit to your authority, that is what we desire from them. But if events drag them into division and disobedience, then with the help of those who obey you, fight against those who defy you. Rely on the loyal to dispense with the weak, for those who hesitate and shrink from battle are more useful in their absence than in their presence; their withdrawal from the fight is more effective than their participation.”