devoid of fraud and free from suspicion, as I swear to God that I have a greater right to people than themselves.
The Special Forces, or those who are referred today as wise and skillful ‘fundamentalists’ and ‘hizbullāhis’ [members of the party of Allah] were next to the Imām and while criticizing and expressing their viewpoints about his policies, remained loyal to him in the most distressing situations and moments of his rule.
It seems that they were called the Forces of Thursday either because of their special features or due to their presence with the Imām (a.s.) with a special allegiance.1 Asbagh ibn Nabāta was asked:
“O Asbagh! How were you named the ‘Forces of Thursday’? He replied: “We guaranteed that we would sacrifice ourselves for him and he guaranteed victory for us.”2
3. Strengthening the Troops’ Morale
Without doubt, spiritual forces and mental power play a decisive and astonishing role in actions and all sorts of creativity. Imām therefore, greatly emphasized the importance of mental power, spiritual capability and increasing the chivalrous spirit in his combat forces. He tried through every possible means, to strengthen the morale of the armed forces in confrontation with the enemy and enhancing their steadfastness through uplifting their sense of chivalry. The Imām’s speeches in this respect are highly thought-provoking and interesting.
The fiery speeches of Imām, his thrilling words, inspiring sermons, stimulating slogans, his attentive characteristics in that part of his life and his explanation to the combatants of their final station after life were all intended to provide and spread such elevated states of a spiritual mind.
Once having organized the combat forces, Imām would explain in a highly eloquent speech the shortness and undesirability of the worldly life in contrast to the excellence and everlastingness of the