Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 35922 — Scheming and deception in war

Abd al-Malik bin Abjar (may Allah have mercy on him) reported that a man called Subayh said: "We, the people of al-Futh, were with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)." He said: "Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was an experienced man, and he used to say: 'War is deception.'" He said: "He would reach the rock and say: 'Allah is the Greatest! Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke the truth: a rock!' We would think it was something that had been told to him. Then he would reach the Tigris and say: 'The Tigris! Allah is the Greatest! Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke the truth.' And we would think it was something that had been told to him."