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Islamiyat IGCSEPDF 171

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Early Opposition : Hazrat Ali R.A however, was to face some determined opposition right from the start of his Caliphate. Hazrat Aisha R.A on hearing the news of Hazrat Ali R.A being acclaimed as the fourth Caliph of Islam, whilst she was on her way back to Madina from the annual pilgrimage, turned her caravan back and return to Makkah from where she voiced her Election as Khalifa: After the assassination of Hazrat Usman, in the absence of an government, a state of confusion and anarchy prevailed in Madinah. After four days, when the rebels decided to return to their homes, they felt that it was necessary that the new Khalifa should be chosen before they left Madinah. In the connection, they were differences among the rebels. One group favored the election of Hazrat Ali, another favoured the election of Talha, while the third wanted Zubair. The Egyptians and some prominent companions of the holy prophet pbuh requested Hazrat Ali to accept the office of the Khalifa. But he declined the offer. The rebels then offered The Khilafat to Talha and Zubair but they too refused. The rebels next requested the Ansars to choose a Khalifa from amongst them. They also declined the offer, saying that in the presence of Hazrat Ali, no one else deserved to be elected as a khalifa. There was now a complete deadlock in the matter of election. The rebels, there upon, gave the ultimatum that unless the khalifa was chosen within the next twenty-four hours, they would be forced to take some drastic action. In order to resolve the issue, all the Muslim assembled in the prophetpbuh mosque. The leader of the Egyptians said that the person who was to be elected as Khalifa should be learned brave, pious and should have been close to the holy prophet pbuh. He observed that Hazrat Ali was the only person who fulfilled all these qualities. Thereafter, the people of Madina persuaded Hazrat Ali to accept kailafat. Talha, Zubair and some others performed the Bayyat at Hazrat Ali’s hand. On the 25th of Zil Hajj 35 A.H/656AD, there was a general Bayyat at the prophet’s pbuh mosque and Hazrat Ali became the fourth khalifa of Islam. Muawiya would be right to demand their punishment. When the two arbitrators of Siffin first declared their decision in private, they both seemed to have agreed that Hazrat Usman had been killed unjustly and they also said that Hazrat Ali and Muawiya should both step down, and a new caliph be elected. But when they announced this in public, they differed. Abu Musa al Ashari stood by what he had said, but Amr Ibn Aas changed his version and declared that while Hazrat Ali should step down, Muawiyya should be confirmed as caliph. Many Muslims condemned this as a trick. • Some people on Hazrat Ali’s side violently disagreed with this decision to accept arbitration. They thought that Quran clearly gave instructions about the proper way to treat rebels (in Surah al Hujrat 49.9), and so it was wrong even to acknowledge that Muawiya had any claim against the ruler of the community. Their cry was “no decision except Allah’s”. Angry at Hazrat Ali’s move about three thousand or four thousand of these men separated themselves from him and rode to Al Naharwan. They became known as the Khawarij or Kharijites, ’Seceders’ (from the verb Kharaja, ‘to depart or separate’). In 37AH/658AD,Hazrat Ali was forced to move against these rebels when they made attacks close to Kufa, and he killed many of them. But more of his forces deserted him and he was left weaker than before. • Hazrat Ali was still regarded as caliph by his supporters, though his cause grew weaker elsewhere. Meanwhile Muawiya attacked and captured Egypt. After this a treaty of peace was signed between Muawiya and Ali. In these increasing difficulties, he was suddenly attacked in 40 AH/661 AD, by Abd al Rahman Ibn Muljam, a kharijite who wanted revenge for the killings at Al Naharwan and he died two days later.