The Principles Governing Battles in Armed Conflicts from the Perspective of Nahj al-Balagha

The law of armed conflict is one of the branches of international law. Its purpose is to support military and civilian people in armed conflicts and also to limit the choice and use of some war tools and methods for the warring parties. This support for human beings and creating limitations for the use of some warring methods and tools is deeply rooted in Islam, and has been emphasized by the leader of Muslims, Imam Ali. The present research was done in a descriptive-analytical way. The purpose of this study is to explain the principles governing battles in armed conflicts from Imam Ali's point of view. This research will answer the main question, ‘what are the principles governing battles in armed conflicts from Imam Ali's point of view, emphasizing the noble book of Nahj al-Balagha?’ The overall result obtained from this research indicates that in order to prevent any kind of inhuman act in war and reduce human suffering, the principle of distinction between military and civilian people, the principle of human behavior, the principle of protecting civilians, the principle of prohibiting some weapons of war, the principle of preventing hunger and thirst, the principle of friendship and tolerance with prisoners of war, and the principle of protecting the environment are among the principles governing armed conflicts from the point of view of Imam Ali.