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Islamiyat IGCSEPDF 172
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opposition to him. Hazrat Ali R.A was accused of manipulating the political strife which led
to Hazrat Usman’s R.A murder. The fact that he was reluctant arbitrator, that he had
remained behind in Madina, instead of going for the annual pilgrimage, in oder to protect
Hazrat Usman R.A through an arbitrated peace, and that he sent his son Hassan R.A to
guard Hazrat Usman’s R.A door, while doing which he was wounded, was not taken into
consideration.
Battle of Siffin : After his election as khalifa, Ali deposed Muawiya from the governorship of
Syria. Muawiya, however, refused to vacate the office .Under his influence, no one in Syria took
The oath of allegiance to the new khalifa. In order to undermine the authority of Ali, Muawiya
started a campaign to instigate the people against him. He raised a cry for a revenge for the
blood of Hazrat 5 Usman and displayed the blood-stained cloths of Usman and the fingers of
Usman’s wife Naila in the mosque at Damascus. He went so far as to accuse Ali of being an
accomplice in the murder of Usman. He said that the election of Ali was illegal as it was held
under the
Battle of Camel (Jamal):
After Ali had assumed office, the rebels left for their home towns. But even then there was no
peace in the city of Madinah. The Umayyads who had become quite powerful in Syria raised
the cry of revenge for the blood of Usman. Many people in Makkah and Madinah also joined
in this cry for revenge. They requested the new khalifa to punish the assassins of Usman. Ali,
realizing that the assassination of Usman was not the work of a few individuals who could be
easily punished and also keeping in view the political situation in the country, refused to
comply with their request .He told them that he would take necessary steps against these
assassins after restoring peace in the islamic world. This provided an opportunity to the
mischief- mongers and the hypocrites to create trouble and instigate people against Ali. In
the meantime when Talha and Zubair, who were the first of acknowledge Ali as the khalifa
,saw that he was talking no positive steps to apprehend Usman’s assassins and punish them,
became enraged. They approached Hazrat Aisha Who was herself deeply grieved at Usman’s
murder. They raised an army and persuaded her to join them in demanding revenge for the
late khalifa’s murder. Ali sent his son Hassan to kufa, from where he was successful in
raising an army of ten thousand men. The two armies met near Basra. Ali who had a very
high regard for Hazrat Aisha did not wish to fight and sent one of the holy prophet’s pbuh
companions to assure her that he really wanted to punish the murderers of Usman: the delay
was due to non-availability of evidence. Aisha wanted to prevent bloodshed and agreed to
negotiate and thus hostilities were suspended. However the mischief-maker from both the
armies got alarmed at negotiations because peace meant their own doom. So during the
night there were attacks on the forces of both sides and the battle started. Hazrat Aisha
mounted a camel to lead the army. In the fierce fighting the took place, thousands of Muslim
were killed on both sides. Later, Talha left the battlefield but he was followed and killed by
the mischief-makers while offering prayer. Zubair was killed by a mischief maker. The battle
came to an end in favour of Ali after the camel on which Aisha was riding was wounded and
brought down. Thereafter there was reconciliation between Ali and Aisha. He treated her
with respect and honour and sent her to Madinah escorted by her brother, Muhammad Bin
Abu Bakr. In Madinah, She led a retired life and never took part in politics again. As a result
of the victory at Basra, Ali’s Khilafat came to be acknowledged by the entire Muslim world
except Syria. This battle was the first civil war between Muslims. Unfortunately, it sets an
example for the Muslims to fight among themselves over secular matters.