When, after his victory in the Battle of the Camel, one of his comrades said, "I wish my brother had been present and he too would have seen what success and victory God had given you"
1
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) لمّا أظفره الله تعالى بأصحاب الجمل وقد قال له بعض أصحابه: وددت أن أخي فلاناً معك شاهداً ليرى ما نصرك الله به على أعدائك، فقال له (عليه السلام)
When [1] Allāh gave him (Amīr al-mu’minīn) victory over the enemy at the Battle of Jamal one of his comrades said on that occasion, “I wish my brother so-and-so had been present and he too would have seen what success and victory Allāh had given you,” whereupon Amīr al-mu’minīn said:
2
أَهَوَى أَخِيك مَعَنَا؟ قال: نَعَم. قالَ: فَقَدْ شَهِدنَا، وَلَقَدْ شَهِدَنَا في عَسْكَرِنَا هذَا أَقْوَامٌ في أَصْلاَبِ الرِّجَالِ، وَأَرْحَامِ النِّسَاءِ، سَيَرْعُفُ بِهِمُ الزَّمَانُ، ويَقْوَى بِهِمُ الاْيمَانُ.
“Did your brother hold me friend?” He said: “Yes,” Then Amīr al-mu’minīn said: In that case he was with us. Rather in this army of ours even those persons were also present who are still in the loins of men and wombs of women. Shortly, time will bring them out and faith will get strength through them.