Mu'âwiyah's
Support to Truth
Ali sent a letter to Abu Musa
Ash’ari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) through Ma'bad
Aslami. In reply to the letter, Abu Musa let him know: "The people of
Kufah have taken the oath of allegiance at my hands. Most of them have done it
with pleasure while others reluctantly." This letter gave him some
satisfaction.
About the same time a letter was sent
to Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
through Jarir bin Abdullah and Sabrah Al-Juhani in Damascus. For three months
no reply came and Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
kept the Caliph's emissary waiting. After that he handed over a sealed letter
to his emissary Qabisah Absi and sent him accompanied by Jarir bin Abdullah.
The letter was clearly addressed to Ali. They reached in the month of Rabi'
Al-Awwal 36 AH. The emissary gave Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) 's letter to Ali. When the envelope was opened, it contained
no letter. Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
looked towards the emissary angrily. The emissary shuddered from within and
said, "I am an emissary and safety of life is my right." Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said: "Yes, you
are safe." The emissary then said, "Nobody will pledge support to
you. I have seen sixty thousand souls weeping over the bloodstained shirt of
Uthmân bin Affân. They have also put the shirt on the grand mosque of Damascus
to provoke the people." Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) said, "They want to take the revenge of Uthmân on me even
though I stood absolved from Uthmân's blood. May Allâh deal with the murderers
of Uthmân." Saying this, he returned the emissary to Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
Deviation
of the Followers of Ibn Saba
The rioters and the followers of
Abdullah bin Saba abused the emissary and wanted to beat him up but some people
saved him and he was some how able to reach Damascus. Jarir bin Abdullah was
also accused of being a party to the conspiratorial activities of Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) on account of his
long stay in Damascus. As a result of this allegation, he became so frustrated
that he went to Qarqaisia instead of Al-Madinah. Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) later called him to Damascus through a
messenger.
Preparations
for the Invasion on Syria
When the people of Al-Madinah came
to know of the strained relations between Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Mu’âwiyah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ),
they feared further bloodshed. They sent Ziyâd bin Hanzalah to Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) as a feeler. Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) asked him to get
ready. "What for?" Ziyâd asked. "For invading Syria," Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) firmly replied.
"You should deal with them rather politely," he suggested. "No,
the insurgents must be punished," Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said. Knowing the intentions of Ali, both Talhah and Zubair
called on Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
and sought permission to go to Makkah to perform Umrah. Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) allowed them to leave Al-Madinah for any
further detention was unreasonable. He then announced throughout Al-Madinah to
get ready for the invasion on Syria. Furthermore, he wrote letters to Uthmân
bin Hunaif in Basrah, Abu Musa in Kufah and Qais bin Saad in Egypt to make
military preparations from their respective resources and send them to
Al-Madinah on demand.
Military
Action against the Muslims
When most of the people of
Al-Madinah got ready for this purpose, Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) placed Al-Madinah in the charge of Qatham bin Abbâs and made
his son Muhammad bin Hanafiyah the standard-bearer of the Islamic army.
Abdullah bin Abbâs the commanding officer of the right wing and Amr bin Abu
Salamah that of the left while he put Abu Laila bin Al-Jarrâh, the brother of
Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrâh on the vanguard. However, he was cautious enough not
to engage anyone from among the rioters for any military service. Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had not finished the
job of allotting military positions when news was given to him that the Makkans
were making preparations against him. Following this news he postponed his
march against Syria.
Preparations
of the Mother of the Believers in Makkah
It has already been mentioned that
Âishah had returned to Makkah on hearing the news of Uthmân's martyrdom. On
reaching near to Makkah she was also told that the people of Al-Madinah had
taken the oath of allegiance at the hands of Ali. She returned to Makkah in
such a state that people grouped around her mount.
She said to them, "By Allâh
Uthmân has been killed without any fault and I shall take revenge on his
behalf. It is unfortunate that people collecting from the outskirts of the
cities and forests, and the slaves of Al-Madinah opposed Uthmân simply because
he had appointed governors from our youths, although his predecessors had also
done this. When the rioters failed to establish their claim, they rose against
Uthmân and committed a breach of trust. They shed the blood declared prohibited
by Allâh the Almighty; they committed bloodshed in the city that Allâh the
Almighty had made the place of migration for His Messenger, and did it in the
month when" hostilities are forbidden and plundered property unlawfully.
By Allâh even a finger of Uthmân is superior to all the world. Uthmân is free
from the blame they have put on him."
Abdullah bin Âmir Hadrami was the
governor of Makkah appointed by Uthmân bin Affân. When he heard Âishah, he said
very firmly, "I will be the first to take revenge of Uthmân's blood."
Hearing this all the men from Banu
Umayyah who had reached Makkah after the martyrdom of Uthmân, rose in support
of action against the murderers. Saeed bin Al-Âs (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)i and Walid bin Uqbah were also among them. Abdullah bin Âmir
had reached Makkah after being deposed from the governorship of Basrah, while
Ya'la bin Munyah had come from Yemen along with six hundred camels and six
hundred thousand dinars. They all sat together to find a way of avenging the
blood of Uthmân.
When Talhah and Zubair reached
Makkah from Al-Madinah, Âishah sent for both and inquired of them the reason
behind their arrival in Makkah. They gave the reason that the rioters being in
control, the noble and saner people found it totally unsafe to live in
Al-Madinah. Âishah then said, "You should then rise against them along
with us." Both of them expressed their favor and support to this plan. The
entire population of Makkah was obedient to the Mother of the believers. Four
persons, Abdullah bin Âmir and Ya'la bin Munyah, the former governors of Basrah
and Yemen, Talhah and Zubair, were among the commanders of Âishah's army and
considered to be men of sense and determination.
At first, advice came from someone
to proceed to Syria avoiding Al-Madinah. But the proposal was set aside because
of Mu’âwiyah's (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
power and capacity to keep Syria intact. Then came the proposal to proceed to
Basrah for Abdullah bin Âmir had a considerable circle of his friends and
well-wishers and Talhah also had influence over the people of Basrah. Thus they
had hope of getting much support there.
Someone suggested to face the
eventualities in Makkah but Abdullah bin Amir stated that the Makkans would not
be able to withstand the onslaught of the army of Al-Madinah. Moreover the
joint forces of Makkah and Basrah would be enough to face any danger.
In short, the proposal gained
general support and preparation for Basrah began in full swing. Other Mothers
of the believers too expressed their desire to accompany Âishah. When Abdullah
Umar was contacted, he pleaded in support of the people of Al-Madinah. He also
stopped Hafsah from accompanying Âishah to Basrah. Mughirah bin Shu'bah had
also reached Makkah, he too accompanied the army.
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