The
Two Muhammads in Kufah
When Muhammad bin Abu Bakr and
Muhammad bin Ja'far gave the letter of Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to Abu Musa in Kufah and tried to persuade the people to join
the camp of Ali, they showed no interest. When Muhammad bin Abu Bakr insisted,
they remarked, "Going out to fight is a temporal affair while sitting in
peace is the way to the Hereafter." Others kept to the line. When Muhammad
bin Abu Bakr and Muhammad bin Ja'far got angry and behaved rudely to Abu Musa
he said, "The Bai'ah to Uthmân still hangs" round Ali's and my neck.
If fighting is necessary, the murderers of Uthmân should be fought wherever
they are met." They returned empty-handed and gave the account to Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) at Dhi Qâr.
Ashtar
and Ibn Abbâs in Kufah
When the mission of Muhammad bin Abu
Bakr and Muhammad bin Ja'far failed to bring any fruit, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) asked Ashtar to go with Ibn Abbâs and try
to bring Abu Musa around to their point of view. They reached Kufah and tried
their level best to persuade him but he remained adamant in his opinion to the
last and this mission too failed.
Ammâr
bin Yâsir and Hasan bin Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
in Kufah
On the return of Ashtar and Ibn
Abbâs, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
sent his son Hasan and Ammâr bin Yâsir to Kufah. Being informed of their
arrival, Abu Musa came to the mosque. He embraced Hasan and said addressing
Ammâr bin Yâsir, "You joined the transgressors instead of lending support
to Uthmân." Ammâr denied the charge. Meanwhile, Hasan spoke out that
people held no consultations with them and they had nothing in mind but putting
the matter right. Moreover, the Chief of the believers feared none in his task
of bringing reforms to the people. Abu Musa said with due respect, "May my
mother and father be sacrificed for you, you spoke the truth. But the Prophet
has said, 'Affliction is to be caused in the near future. In such a situation
the sitting one will be better than the standing and the standing will be
better than the mounted. And all the Muslims are brethren among themselves.
Their blood and possessions are prohibited for each other.'" Abu Musa's
statement enraged Ammâr bin Yâsir and he called him bad names. Abu Musa kept
quite. But some people fell on Ammâr but Abu Musa saved him.
During these days Âishah wrote
letters to the people of Kufah from Basrah advising them not to lend support to
anyone and either sit behind closed doors or come to their help for they have come
out to avenge the blood of Uthmân. Zaid bin Suhân began to read out the letter
to the audience. Shabath bin Rib'i hurled abuse which caused anger in the
audience, and they openly rose in support of Âishah. Abu Musa got up to pacify
and advise them to keep indoors, provide shelter to the oppressed, and keep the
points of their spears down and their swords sheathed.
Hearing all this, Zaid bin Suhân
asked the audience to lend help and support to Ali. A few others followed suit.
Thereupon Ammâr bin Yâsir said, "People! Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) has called you to give your due. Come out and help him."
Following this Hasan bin Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
spoke: "O people! Accept our invitation, obey us and help us in this
present crisis. The Chief of the believers says, 'Help us if we are victims and
force us to get your due if we are wrongdoers.' He has also said, 'Talhah and
Zubair had taken Bai'ah at my hand first and then broke it before
others.'" The speech produced the desired effect at once and they rose in
support of the Caliph. Mâlik Ashtar was also sent after Hasan and Ammâr, he
reached Kufah at a time when Hasan bin Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was speaking to the people. His presence added to the zeal of
the people and nobody was ready to listen to Abu Musa Ash’ari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
Hasan bin Ali, Ammâr bin Yâsir and
Ashtar left Kufah at the head of a nine thousand strong army and were greeted
by Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) at Dhi Qâr. Speaking
highly of them the Caliph Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said, "I have troubled you, O people of Kufah to join us in fighting the
people of Basrah. However, if they change their mind, it is most welcome, but
if they insist on their viewpoint, we shall treat them politely so that we are
not accused of initiating atrocities." Having heard this, the people of
Kufah joined the army of Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
at Dhi Qâr. Next day, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
sent Qa'qâ' bin Amr towards Basrah. It was here that Owais Qarni took the oath
of allegiance at the hands of Ali.
Endeavor
for Mediation
Ali had sent Qa'qâ' bin Amr to
Basrah to know what was on the minds of Âishah, Talhah and Zubair and to bring
them to the path of peace taking or renewing their Bai'ah. Qa'qâ' was very
eloquent and wise. He first submitted to Âishah: "What has led you to such
an act and what do you want?" She replied, "My sole aim is to bring
reforms to the people and put them on the line set by the"
Qur'ân." He then put the same
question to Talhah and Zubair and got the same reply. Thereupon Qa'qâ' bin Amr
said, "If your aim is to make the people follow the Qur'ân, the purpose
cannot be achieved by the way you like it." They said, "The Qur'ân
enjoins Qisâs (retaliation) and we want to take it." Qa'qâ' said,
"How Qisâs can be taken this way? Establishment and stability of the
caliphate are among the top priorities, which bring peace and solidarity and
may ensure avenging the blood of Uthmân. Now, in the absence of peace and order
and any administrative system, how is anybody within his rights to take Qisâs.
You have killed a large number of people here in Basrah just for the taking of
Qisâs for Uthmân, but Hurqus bin Zuhair could not be caught. And in the wake of
chasing him, six thousand men stood at his back to fight with his opponents and
you gave up chasing him. In the same way, you should have waited if Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) could not take Qisâs
on account of his preoccupations in curbing violence and consolidating power.
How reasonable is it for you to stand against them and thus aggravate the
situation? In such a situation, violence will grow and the murderers of Uthmân
will remain safe from Qisâs."
Saying all this, Qa'qâ' bin Amr said
in a heart-rending tone: "The greatest reform at this time is to make
peace with one another so that the Muslims as a whole should live in peace and
safety. You are the leaders of virtues and stars of guidance. By Allâh, keep
from pushing us into some trial lest you will not be able to be safe and the
Muslim Ummah will also pass through a great ordeal."
Âishah, Talhah and Zubair were
immediately moved at the utterance of Qa'qâ' and they said with one voice:
"If Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
nourishes such a thought and he has in mind his duty of taking Qisâs, there is
no point in any dispute. Until now we thought he had some soft corner in his
heart for the murderers with the result they have joined Ali's army and carry
out his orders." Qa'qâ' bin Amr said, "What I have said is the
reflection of Ali's thought." They said, "We too then have nothing to
do against him." Qa'qâ' then proceeded to the army of Ali. A group of
influential people of Basrah also accompanied him. They wanted to know whether
Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and the people of
Kufah were inclined to peace or not. They were informed that, people were
saying about Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
that after conquering Basrah, he will kill the youths and make their women and
children slaves. This rumor was spread by the followers of Abdullah bin Saba in
Basrah who were a part of Ali's army.
When Qa'qâ' bin Amr appeared before
Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and gave the whole
account of his success in Basrah, he expressed great joy. The people of Basrah
then asked the people of Kufah who formed a part of Ali's army about their
intentions. They spoke in favor of peace. Following this, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) called them and
referred to his efforts to make peace. They showed satisfaction and left with
the good news.
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