16 Preface قُل لَن يَنفَعَكُمُ الفِرارُ إِن فَرَرتُم مِنَ المَوتِ أَوِ القَتلِ وَإِذًا لا تُمَتَّعونَ إِلّا قَليلًاYusuf AliSay: “Running away will not profit you if ye are running away from death1 or slaughter; and even if (ye do escape), no more than a brief (respite) will ye be allowed to enjoy!”The coward in a fight does not usually save himself from death. He is subject, after desertion, to the fury both of the enemy and of his own side for cowardice and desertion. Assuming that he did escape with his life, where could he go to? The brand of cowardice will be on him, and he will be subject to the vengeance of his own people. In any case, his life would be in ignominy and would be brief, and he would have lost irretrievably the meed of valour.