To a contingent dispatched to engage the enemy
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 12
فَإِذَا لَقِيتَ الْعَدُوَّ فَقِفْ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ وَسَطاً، وَلَا تَدْنُ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ دُنُوَّ مَنْ يُريدُ أَنْ يُنْشِبَ الْحَرْبَ، وَلَا تَبَاعَدْ عَنْهُمْ تَبَاعُدَ مَنْ يَهَابُ الْبَأْسَ، حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ أَمْرِي، وَلَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُهُمْ عَلَى قِتَالِهِمْ، قَبْلَ دُعَائِهِمْ وَالْإِعْذَارِ إِلَيْهِمْ.
If and when you face the enemy stand in the midst of your comrades. Do not get too near the foe like one who wants to commence the fighting, nor remain too distant like one who is afraid of action, till you receive my orders. Hatred for them should not lead you to fight before inviting them (to guidance) and exhausting your pleas before them.