Why didn't Imam Ali (as) partake in any battles During the Calipate of First 3 Calipahs ?

This is one of the questions which is asked by the 12r Shias umpteen times. They seem to think just because they ask something umpteen times or make a statement umpteen times, it become a valid argument against their opponents. Also, we must recall that their statement a level of truth to it. However, this historical fact about Imam Ali's (as) lack of participation of wars, is not indication that Imam Ali (as) believed that the calipate of the 3 calipahs was illegitimate. What the 12rs fail to initially realize is their definition of imamate is not the same as the Sunni definition of Calipate. In fact, their definition of imamate in reality is suspended till the reappearance of the 12th imam. Anyway, in this topic I will explain why Imam Ali (as) didn't partake in any battles during the calipate of the 3 calipahs, and also provide a rational to why the 12r Shia arguement is flawed.

Jihad is compulsory duty in Islam, so why did Imam Ali (as) decide to stay back after he eventually gave bayah to Abi Bakr (ra) after 6 months, gave bayah to Umar (ra) and Uthmaan (ra) ? To answer this question we must refer to the Quran, where an exception for exalted sahabi such as Imam Ali (as) is made.
In the Quran, Allah (swt) tells us

It is not for the believers to go forward in battle all at once. Rather, there should be a separate group from every division that [remains behind] to obtain understanding (fiqh) in the religion and warn their people towards cautiousness when they return} (Q. 9:122).

Now since, Imam Ali (as) believed he was the most knowledgeable in Islam, the imam extracted this ayah and decided to stay back and council the 3 Calipahs instead. If this is the case, how can we dismiss the 12rs statement ? In history, Ammar bin Yassir (ra) who the 12rs consider to be a Shia among the Sahabis did partake in the wars of calipahs. He fought in the wars of apostasy under the rule of Abi Bakr (ra).

In the meantime Musaylima and his followers who were lying in ambush attacked the Muslims. The Muslims were faced with great trouble and began running away like a scared flock of sheep.




Historians like Waqidi, Ibn Sa'd and others who have recorded the biography of Ammar have written that Abdullah bin Umar said: "I saw Ammar Yasir on a hillock while his detached ear, wounded by a sword, was bleeding, and he was going on fighting in the same condition, and was calling out the fleeing Muslims and saying “O' Muslims! Are you running away from Paradise! "Then again he raised his voice and said: "I am Ammar! I am Ammar! Come to me, and run towards me!"



"I (Abdullah) saw that the ear of Ammar was hanging and I also saw that in that very condition he was killing the enemies, reciting epic verses, shouting and encouraging others so that eventually the Muslims gathered round him. When the Muslims had gathered near him he attacked the enemies and came out victorious from the battlefield". We receive al-Hasan at the time of Uthman, while he was in the vigor and prime of youth. He was over twenty years old. This age allows one to plunge into the battle of life and give an opinion of the social side. During this age, Imam al-Hasan entered, as it was said, the field of jihad, which is one of the doors to the Garden. He joined the Mujahideen whose standards headed for Africa to conquer it in the year 26 A. H.[1] Through al-Hasan, the grandson of Allah’s Apostle (a.s), the Mujahideen remembered the personality of his grandfather. So they showed extreme courage and Allah made Africa be conquered at their hands. When the battle ended, al-Hasan (a.s) headed for the capital of his grandfather (a.s). He was victorious and happy at the expansion of Islam and spread of the religion of his grandfather. In the year 30 A. H. the Muslim armies carried the standards of victory and headed for Tabaristan. Al-Hasan joined them.
http://www.al-islam.org/ammaryasir/12.htm

On the contrary, for the 12rs the sahaba who rejected waliyah are bigger apostates since status of imamate is higher than Prophethood.

Next when Imam Hassan (as) reached at level of maturity, the imam fought under the rule of Hz Uthmaan (ra).

At the Time of Uthman

We receive al-Hasan at the time of Uthman, while he was in the vigor and prime of youth. He was over twenty years old. This age allows one to plunge into the battle of life and give an opinion of the social side. During this age, Imam al-Hasan entered, as it was said, the field of jihad, which is one of the doors to the Garden. He joined the Mujahideen whose standards headed for Africa to conquer it in the year 26 A. H.[1] Through al-Hasan, the grandson of Allah’s Apostle (a.s), the Mujahideen remembered the personality of his grandfather. So they showed extreme courage and Allah made Africa be conquered at their hands. When the battle ended, al-Hasan (a.s) headed for the capital of his grandfather (a.s). He was victorious and happy at the expansion of Islam and spread of the religion of his grandfather. In the year 30 A. H. the Muslim armies carried the standards of victory and headed for Tabaristan. Al-Hasan joined them.
http://www.maaref-foundation.com/english/library/pro_ahl/imam02_hasan/the_life_of_imam_hasan/10_1.htm

Also, what is interesting to note that Hz Umar (ra) himself wanted to partake in battles during his own calipate. Yet it was Imam Ali (as) who stopped him from going further. In fact, even the 12r Shia till this day cannot deny this. Also, let go a step further and see the 12rs themselves citing the words of Imam Ali (as).





Imam Ali (as) wanted Umar's (ra) to live.
Instead of following Imam Ali's (as) sunnah the 12rs praise the pioneer of Rafidism who is none other than Abu Lulu.



Also, another interesting fact to note down is Umar (ra) leaving Madina to go to Palestine.

In 636 CE, at the battle of Yarmuk, the Byzantines were defeated by the Muslim Army. Christian Patriarch Sophoronius offered to surrender the city if Caliph Umar (RA) himself would come in person to ratify the terms of surrender. Umar (RA) agreed to the suggestion. The encounter between these two men was very dramatic.

Umar (RA) took to the road immediately, accompanied by a guard, and leaving Ali ibn Talib (RA) as his deputy in Madinah. Traveling by camel is a slow process. Umar (RA) and his guard would alternate mounting on the camel. So, it took few weeks before Umar (RA) arrived in Jerusalem. The crowd had gathered, and the eyes were wide open with curiosity. The Patriarch had prepared himself to meet with the most powerful ruler of his time, Caliph Umar, who had just defeated the Byzantines. From where he was standing, he saw a tall man walking, dressed in ordinary clothes, while holding the rope of a camel, and surrounded by Muslim generals; another person was riding on the camel. For a moment, the high priest, used to the pompous way Heraclius had carried his affairs, was confused as to who the Caliph was. Was the Caliph the man riding on the camel or the one pulling the camel? Eventually, recognizing the Caliph, he surrendered the key of the city. In the words of a Christian historian, Anthony Nutting, “Umar taught the caparisoned throng of Christian commanders and bishops a lesson in humility by accepting their surrender in a patched and ragged robe and seated on a donkey.” [The Arabs, New American Library, N.Y. (1964)]

When he left Madina he left Imam Ali (as) in charge of Madina. In a non-war zone Imam Ali (as) doesn't stop Umar (ra). However, in a war zone he prevents Umar (ra) from dying.