Home 

 

ALI, THE KHALIFA 

ALI:  DURING HIS OWN KHILAAFAH

 

EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

Ø  Ali the Khalifa

Ø  Ali's administration

Ø  A'isha, Talha, and Zubair revolt

Ø  Confrontation at Basrah

Ø  A'isha sent back to Medina with full respect

Ø  Kufa is the seat of Government

Ø  Mu'awiya's compulsion to hold to power, he defies

Ø  Siffin confrontation

Ø  Ali near victory, Mu'awiya exploits the Quran

Ø  Arbitration, Mu'awiya representative deceives

Ø  Nahrawan

Ø  Mu'awiya undermines, uses terror strategy

Ø  Ibn Muljim assassinates Ali (a.s.)

Ø  Al-Hasan is Designated as the Imam

  

IMAM ALI (a.s.)         (علي (ع

    Ali (a.s.) is 58 years old by now, still robust, sturdy, and remarkably vigorous.  Earlier he was the central figure in defending Islam, he defended Islam as no one had, but now that Ali is older, he is to use his unique intelligence to put together a Muslim nation that is in disarray.  Ali has been the remarkable figure not only in teaching Islam but as a cohesive force for many years.

   Now when people asked Ali to become a Khalifa, he refused, for the present conditions were ominous and turbulent, and the Islamic nation was in a bad shape.  Why would Ali want to be the Khalifa having been denied that for the past 24 years?!  Nevertheless, people were alarmed, so they insisted and pressured him to accept the Khilaafah, the coveted seat.  The Islamic welfare was at stake, everyone knew it and it had to take precedence over other considerations.  Ali knew the task was not only extremely hard but the responsibility singularly heavy.

   Finally after three days of insistence by the people, and much hesitation on his part, Imam Ali extended his hand to accept the offer with conditions that he would only go by the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) and nothing else.  To the relief of all, people shook hands with him giving him their allegiance.  Talha, Zubair, and Ammar, were among other notable Companions to be the first to give him their allegiance.

   Medina at last was having Imam Ali (a.s.) as the Khalifa.  A happy feeling prevailed but the happiness was mixed with guilt.  It was a deeply felt guilt because of the manner in which Uthman (r) died, and this guilt became ever more painful as the days passed.

 

IMAM ALI DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS  go to top of page

   The Islamic Nation had no such thing as the "White House".  Though at the time the Islamic Ummah or Nation was the largest in the world, the Head of State (the Khalifa) lived in his own home like an ordinary citizen.  Imam Ali's home, unlike that of Uthman's, was unpretentious and very modest, it was plain and ordinary.  Imam Ali purposely avoided material indulgence, but on the other hand his house was the richest ever in its Islamic enlightenment.  The house was near the Mosque where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was buried.  The Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi) was the place for all administrative activities, and the seat for Islamic discussions and learning—it was like a miniature university but without written bylaws or constitution.  The Minbar (pulpit) was the same one used by the Prophet (pbuh) and the three previous Khalifa's.

   Ali's first speech as a Khalifa was eloquent, short, and to the point.  He called for the unity of the nation, and for people to channel their energy for Islam, and to apply it and be under its banner.

   A new page in the life of Imam Ali has opened, and we are now to see the idealist Ali struggling against overwhelming odds.  Most such difficulties were partly caused by or left-over from Uthman's administration.  Imam Ali was to bring Islamic idealism back, but will it have a chance to succeed in the face of personal greed, power and worldly pursuits?  And if so, will the success be immediate or will it come years later?

 

FEELING IN MEDINA  go to top of page

   Though Uthman was approaching 82 years of age, he left no Will nor any arrangement for a Khalifa to follow him.  So when Uthman was killed the people in Medina were faced with four problems:

 The first was selecting a new Khalifa.  They did that by persuading Imam Ali to accept the Khilaafah and carry its fearful burden considering the circumstances of the Ummah.

 The second was to apprehend and arrest those who had killed Khalifa Uthman, try them, convict them, and give them their due punishment.

 The third was to redistribute the wealth of the public treasury in an equitable manner along the Islamic Directives, and to do away with the excesses of Uthman's administration.  This was very necessary.

 The fourth was to do away with the bad Governors of Umayya family, the ones appointed by Uthman.

   A genius like Ali (a.s.) can easily take care of these points, but people have to cooperate, hold to their allegiance, and work with sincere hearts.  It was unfortunate for Imam Ali and the Islamic Ummah that the response of some people was far from good.  Nay, the reaction of some important figures was down right irresponsible, being on the negative side, destructive, and ill-intentioned.

 

ALI'S ADMINISTRATION WITHIN A FEW MONTHS  go to top of page

   Problems were stirred by some key people, and within a short period Imam Ali was faced with the following:

  1. Seeds for a rebellion in Mecca,

  2. Mu'awiya, the Governor of Syria, about holding to power, was defying Ali, refusing to obey his orders.

  3. A strong sentiment to avenge the killers of Uthman.  The sentiment was such that some even blamed Imam Ali for it!

 

THE INSURGENCY  go to top of page

   A'isha was 46 year old, and do you remember how she called for killing Uthman (r) only a few months back, now that Uthman (r) was killed, she turned against Imam Ali? (Taareekh Al-Tibari, Vol. 3, Page 407.  Also Ibn Atheer, Vol. 3, Page 206.).  She was asking for an immediate execution of any who had participated in the uprising against Uthman.  It was as if she forgot that she herself called to overthrow Uthman (r), and perhaps she was a contributing factor to his murder!  In other words, if Ali were to do what A'isha wanted, she herself would have to stand for trial.  A'isha was the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) and the daughter of Abu Bakr (r), she was the highly respected, the outspoken.  A'isha had an ulterior motive though, she wanted to have her relative Talha as the Khalifa rather than Ali.

   Having guilt feelings fueled by emotional speeches Mecca became the nerve center for planning a revolt against Imam Ali.  Talha and Zubair along with A'isha were the leaders and instigators of this uprising.

   Imam Ali (a.s.) tried preventive measures but unfortunately they didn't work.  They didn't work because:

  1. of the numerous emotional speeches delivered, added to the intrigue of Benu Umayya who used every thing at their disposal to add fuel to the fire.  (Benu Umayya did not like Ali because he fired them from their jobs.  Also when they were disbelievers many of their relatives were killed at Ali's hands in the battles they waged against Islam.)

  2. Mecca was the town where Muslims struggled against the disbelievers 30 years back.  During the confrontations many Meccan families lost a member at the hands of Ali, therefore people in Mecca resented Ali, despite what the Prophet said in his behalf.

  3. The State Treasury of Yemen (like tax money) was swindled by its Umayya Governor who was recently fired by Imam Ali.  Intending ill, this man supplied the rebels in Mecca with all the needed money.  The rebels, several hundred by now, left Mecca and headed north, in the direction of Basrah in Iraq.

   As the rebellious headed toward Basrah, along their way they were joined by tribesmen, because the tribesmen learned that A'isha as the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) was with them.  These insurgents claimed to avenge the blood of Uthman (r), but how, they did not know.

   They marched against the authority of Khilaafah, that of Imam Ali, not knowing they were ripping it apart.  On their way an important incident took place at the Al-How'ab.

 

AL-HOW'AB  go to top of page

   It was dark, the sun had recently set leaving beautiful red, orange, and lavender rays in the skies.  The stillness was ripped by the barking of ferocious dogs.

   A'isha was startled, as if she remembered a very important thing.  Excitedly and worriedly she asked, "What do you call this place?"  People got surprised, wondering why, but some of them came back to say, "This place is called Al-How'ab".  Once A'isha heard that, and to the surprise of all, she became extremely upset and demanded to go back to Medina immediately, to call it off, to quit!  She felt this matter was the greatest mistake of her life.

   When questioned A'isha answered hesitatingly that it was about 26 years back when the Prophet (pbuh) told her and others the following:

 

 

يا ليت شِعري أيتكُم صاحبةُ الجمل الأذنب، تنبحها كلابُ الحَوأبْ، فتكـونَ ناكثةً عن الصراط،

يا حُمَيرا   أمّا أنا فقد أنذرتكِ

"I WONDER WHO OF YOU WILL BE

THE INSTIGATOR OF THE JAMAL AFFAIR

AT WHOM THE DOGS OF HOW'AB WILL BARK

AND SHE WILL BE THE ONE WHO

HAS DEVIATED FROM THE STRAIGHT PATH

AS TO YOU, HUMAIRA' (A'ISHA)

I HAVE WARNED YOU IN THAT REGARD."

(Ibn Atheer, Al-Kaamil, Vol. 3, Page 120.  Also Book of Al-Imamah and Al-Siyasah)

 (Humaira was A'isha's endearing name.)

 

In a move to convince her otherwise, Talha and Zubair brought false witnesses, as many as 50 people, to swear that the place was not Al-How'ab. (Taareekh Al-Tibari, Ibn Atheer, and Al-Mada'ini.)  After some hesitation A'isha calmed down and the caravan speeded away.

   After weeks of travel they reached Basrah.  Basrah was a fresh town well populated with tribesmen.  The rebel force under A'isha, Talha and Zubair did many things.

▪    They raised emotions and gave many speeches.

▪    The Governor of Basrah, a highly respected Companion, of the Prophet and Imam Ali's appointee, negotiated with them and came to an agreement.  However, the rebellious changed their minds and overwhelmed him.  Though a highly respected Companion, he was violated and beaten, and even the hair of his head, eyebrows, and beard was pulled off.  This was done to degrade him, since in those days this was one of the greatest insults!

▪    Having done that the rebel force attacked and killed numerous innocent people (some say up to 400).  They attacked the armory and took away the war material and ammunition.

▪    They also attacked and stole the public treasury (this money was Muslim money).  The money was used to influence people and finance their operation!

▪    As a result of these atrocities many Muslim families lost a father or a son (some say up to 400).  These were innocent Muslims, killed by other Muslims, the killers were under the leadership of A'isha, Talha, and Zubair.

 

   go to top of page

   Knowing that his preventive measures had not succeeded, and the rebellious were going to Basrah, Imam Ali (a.s.) was in a dilemma.  It was a dilemma of the greatest extent.  Being the Khalifa or the Head of the Islamic Nation, it was Ali's responsibility to put down any rebellion, the safety of the nation was paramount!

   What would you do if you were in Imam Ali's place?  Fighting is bad, but a Muslim versus a brother Muslim is abhorrent and detestable, especially to Imam Ali (a.s.).  Even more so because the opposing force was led by the highly respected wife of the Prophet (pbuh), and with such intent and zeal!

   The integrity of the Islamic State has to be the first priority.  Imam Ali, being the Khalifa, was to preserve the Nation no matter what the cost.  With such guiding principles Ali (a.s.) along with a small number of supporters rushed toward Kufa.

   Kufa, a newly built capital of the province, was the seat of the Governor and the public treasury of Iraq and Persia.  Its houses were better built than those in Medina, and it had wider streets, more bazaars, and good evidence of wealth.  It had a very large mosque in which most administrative and religious activities took place.

   The Governor of Kufa, Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari, whom Ali had replaced with a new Governor, was on the side of the rebels.  He was old and not too bright.

   Al-Hasan went ahead of time to Kufa, delivered several speeches explaining the position of Ali, and the people began to volunteer their services.  They raised a large force of 12,000 Muslims.  Ali (a.s.) along with this force reached Basrah, having taken a course parallel to the Euphrates river.  They covered about 100 miles.

   People from many tribes came to Ali's aide, and the flag was undulating in the welcoming breeze, giving relief to the humid and hot weather.  The desert was flat but with picturesque sand dunes, and some prickly plants here and there.

 

ALI VERSUS THE JAMAL (CAMEL) UPRISING

 A'isha, Talha, and Zubair lead an uprising

Ali meets the rebels near Basrah

Ali negotiates with them to prevent fighting

Ali reminds Zubair of a Hadith, Zubair quits the rebels

Ali sends the Quran to be the judge

Person with the Quran is killed by A'isha fighters

Fighting breaks out, the renouncers lose, battle almost over

A'isha is suddenly present on a camel urging to fight Ali

Fierce fighting erupts again, numerous casualties

The camel is disabled, the battle abruptly comes to an end

A'isha sent home in full respect

 

 

FACE TO FACE NEAR BASRAH  go to top of page

   For the past few months Imam Ali was absorbed in his thoughts, making him somber at times.  It was a nagging feeling due to the actions and anticipated consequences the insurgents were causing.

   The insurgents were sincere Muslims, Ali knew that, yet their thoughtless actions could be disastrous.  This menace was a downright destructive move!  How could he, Ali thought, be the binding means for the nation!?  What would be best to do, he wondered?

   To prevent war or any fighting Imam Ali (a.s.) tried his very best to reason with the rebels.  A good deal of communication went back and forth but unfortunately this was to no avail.  Despite that, Ali (a.s.) even took a personal chance to face Zubair and Talha.  Zubair was a relative of his, a close friend, and a highly respected Companion of the Prophet.  Ali took a chance by going alone without any arms, to be face to face with Zubair and Talha.  Using this opportunity, Ali tried hard to dissuade Zubair from warring.  In this meeting he first reminded Talha that it was he who exposed the wife of the Prophet to danger while keeping his wife secure at home in Medina.  After more communication Imam Ali (a.s.) said to Zubair, "Do you remember what the Prophet said 26 years ago to you in my regard?  Do you remember when you so endearingly talked about me, but to your disbelief and surprise the Prophet (pbuh) answered you by saying:

 

 

ولتُقـاتِلنَّـه   وأنت له ظالم

VERILY YOU WILL BE FIGHTING AGAINST ALI

AND TO HIM YOU WILL BE ATROCIOUS."

(Ibn Atheer, Al-Kaamil, Vol. 3, Page 120.  Also Al-Tibari, Ahdaath Year 36, Page 3135.)

 

Once this was mentioned, Zubair remembered and a dizzying faint feeling came over him.  His legs felt limp, his head in an uproar, and suddenly the tension of being rebellious left him.  For the first time things became clear in his mind, quite clear now.  Apologetically Zubair acknowledged to Ali, "By Allah, now I remember, why yes, he certainly said that, and I am so sorry, and what you said is all I need."  With that, Zubair insisted on leaving the rebellious camp immediately, he wanted to go back right away.  He clearly saw the light, now he remembered.  He wanted to go back to Medina.

   Despite the persistent attempts to dissuade him, especially by his son, Zubair paid no attention to them.  He left the revolting camp immediately.  He felt sorry about the grave difficulties he caused Ali, and by simply swallowing his pride Zubair proved to be the bravest of all.  He conquered himself and proved to be a man of courage.

 

THE INSURGENTS INSIST  go to top of page

   With Imam Ali (a.s.) there were 12,000 fighters, while the other side many, many more.  Ammar, the notable Companion along with numerous other Companions were on Ali's side.  Since the frequent negotiations failed, the most hateful form of fighting was imposed on Imam Ali.  No escape, and Imam Ali (a.s.) had to swallow the bitter pill.  Ali (a.s.) repeatedly remembered the Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) to him:

 

 

 سوف تقـاتل  الناكثـين  والقاسـطين  والمـارقــين

O' ALI, YOU WILL BE OBLIGED TO FIGHT AGAINST

THE RENOUNCERS

THE MALICIOUS AND

THE DEVIANTS.

(Al-Haakim, Mustadrak, Vol. 3, Page 139)

 

Now face to face Imam Ali (a.s.) sees the renouncers, those who had renounced their pledge of allegiance to him of not long ago!  They were his close friends who knew each other and respected each other.

   Imam Ali (a.s.) gave the Holy Quran to a highly regarded Companion to take it to the other side and request the Quran to be the judge.  Innocently but nervously the man took the Quran and marched to the rebels.  Suddenly he was showered with arrows, so numerous the poor man had no way to escape.  Some arrows pierced his heart and abdomen, and he sagged to the ground, blood gushing everywhere!  This Companion died instantly and the Quran fell beside him!  This was soon followed by another person in Ali's camp killed by arrows then a third.

   Seeing that, Ali's fighters attacked, falling with great force upon the other side.  Theirs was a sudden, overwhelming attack, a relentless one, fast, and overpowering.  The other side reeled under the attack.  Talha, their main man, the one who so desperately wanted the Khilaafah for himself, was sneakily killed by an arrow.  It was an arrow by Marwan of Benu Umayya, who was fighting on Talha's side and being in his camp!!  Marwan was the very one who was "Secretary of State" of Uthman, who caused all the trouble to the Islamic Ummah!  He and others of Benu Umayya were all on the rebel side.

   By noon time, the engagement of the two sides was almost over.  Both Talha and Zubair were gone, and the rebel fighters were retreating in disorder.  Shortly after something new came to the scene.  It was the large camel, a camel with the large square structure on top, moving toward the area, inside of which was A'isha urging them to fight.  An acute emotional attachment developed, and everyone in her camp wanted to fight.  In the effort, a fierce fighting broke out once again, and hundreds if not thousands of people fell dead or wounded.

   Seeing all of this Imam Ali (a.s.) shouted to incapacitate the camel, and this animal became like a porcupine with arrows, and his legs were severely wounded, and once this was done the camel slumped to the ground with a loud roar.  The load fell with it, and right away the fighters scattered and dispersed and the fighting came to a sudden end.

   The scene was horrifying and senseless, very senseless.  A'isha was taken back to Basrah, and the dead were buried after being prayed for.

   This was the first time in the history of Islam, when Muslims forced war against other Muslims.  Worse than that, it was forced against the institution of the Khilaafah itself!  This by itself opened the ugly way to untold number of times when Muslims fought Muslims.

 

A'ISHA TAKEN BACK IN RESPECT  go to top of page

   Suddenly the disaster of the whole affair became obvious to her.  The sorrowful despondent mood was to be with A'isha for a long time.  She was taken back to Medina in full respect, since she was the Prophet's wife, the mother of the faithful.  Many guardians were sent with her, about 30 of whom were special.  One of the guardians was her own brother, the son of Khalifa Abu Bakr (r).  He was on Imam Ali's side and had fought against her!  His name was Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr.

   After a few weeks of hard travel A'isha arrived in Medina, tired and emotionally drained.  She discovered then that the about 30 guards who were close in her service, who looked like men, were actually women dressed in men's clothes!  It was out of respect for her, being the Prophet's wife, that Imam Ali (a.s.) had ordered such special arrangement!  How clever, even at under circumstances!  A'isha had complained to her friends that Ali put that many guards (men) close to her.  Hearing that, the guards disclosed their identity—that they were females but dressed like males.  Seeing that, A'isha fell in Sujood thanking Allah for Ali's favor to her.

 

NO SPOILS OR PRISONERS OF WAR  go to top of page

   Because during this battle a Muslim was against brother Muslim, Ali the idealist did not allow any spoils of war to be gained by those who fought on his side.  His group was fighting for principles and ideals, and not material gain!  This of course was contrary to engagements against disbelievers.

   Ali also refused to take any of the foes as prisoners.  He set them all free.  This, as he said, is like when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) dealt with Quraish when Mecca was triumphed over.  This was done even though he knew fully well that Benu Umayya would leave Basrah to join Mu'awiya in Syria and raise trouble for him in the future.

   Imam Ali (a.s.) stayed in Basrah for a few days, helping those who were hurt or who had lost a father, or brother with generous financial aid.  After that he left to Kufa.  Kufa was to become the new capital, the seat of administration, rather than the distant and far away Medina.

 

TOWARD KUFA, REVIEW OF THE SITUATION  go to top of page

   Imam Ali and the whole army were marching on their way back to Kufa, but Imam Ali was engrossed in his thoughts.  To stop such a rebellion, five hundred from his side lost their lives and about 3000 from the other.  "How wasteful," Ali thought, "and all of it because of Talha's ambition to be the Khalifa, and the nonsensical hysteria raised."  Some even claim that 4-5 times the above number was killed!

   It was true, Ali thought, that the Prophet (pbuh) had foretold in a Hadith that he (Ali) was going to fight against the renouncers and this came to be true, but who were the malicious or the Malignant?  It sounded ominous, very ominous indeed, and the heaviness of the matter was too much to take.  It was Mu'awiya of the Umayya clan who was the head of this malignancy to the Islamic nation.  It was Mu'awiya and his group who were to be stopped, or somehow dissuaded from causing trouble.  It was they who were the malicious, the malignant.

 

ALI IN KUFA  go to top of page

   Ali had a modest house not too far from the large central mosque.  The house had about five rooms, a small living room, storage room, and a kitchen.  The Khalifa insisted on living humbly yet satisfactorily, like any family of low means.  He wanted to be the good example to all people, to live like those of low means and to feel as they did!

   Imam Ali's rule was Islamicly strict; he shunned abuses of wealth and assisted the poor and the needy on an equal basis.  As a result, there was a rise of the general standard of living, and there was less obvious accumulation of wealth in the hands of few, as happened during the Khilaafah of Uthman.  You cannot see any demagogues like Benu Umayya appointed by Ali, he appointed the most religious and able of men.

   Ali's Islamic ideals showed in every aspect of his government, even to the extent that people who had become accustomed to easy living found it difficult to go back to frugal days like in Omar's times, and this was Ali's policy too.  They wanted a break but Ali (a.s.) won't allow it because Islam is for this very model of equality!

   Imam Ali's speeches were collected in a book called The Course of Enlightenment, or Nahjul Balaaghah.  Upon studying this book, one finds it holds the most brilliant analytical thinking and the highest style of literature ever in the world, excluding of course the Holy Quran and Hadith.

   Imam Ali's explanation of Islam, Islamic canonical law and jurisprudence continued full force in Kufa, and numerous people became the scholars of later years.

   Imam Ali's government was not bureaucratic, it was simple, having a few people in the administration.  He watched every Governor and appointee like a hawk.  Kufa was bustling in his time, it was the nerve center of much activity.

   However, Mu'awiya was still defiant, scheming to undermine Ali (a.s.).  All of Benu Umayya had left Basrah after the Jamal battle and joined him.  Imam Ali set them free and refused to hold any accountable.  In spite of numerous contacts to negotiate, Mu'awiya never agreed to withdraw or give allegiance to Ali.  Mu'awiya was a clever, diplomatic, greedy, power-hungry man, who wanted to hold to the Governorship of Syria at any cost.  Mu'awiya did not give allegiance to Ali otherwise he would lose his governorship and become an ordinary person.

 

BUT WHO WAS MU'AWIYA  go to top of page

Ø   By this time Mu'awiya had been the governor of Syria, Palestine, and Jordan for 17 years.  To evaluate him well we have to go back to the times of earliest Islam.  As you well know, during the first 13 years of Islam the Muslims received constant harm, ill-treatment, and much injury at the hands of the disbelievers, the pagans of Mecca.  Prominent among the disbelievers were Benu Umayya whose leader in later years was Abu Sufyan.

 Mu'awiya was the son of Abu Sufyan.  He grew up therefore in a house of hate and intrigue, a hate toward Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims.  Mu'awiya's family talked to the obsessive degree about how to destroy the Muslims and how to obliterate Islam, and they constantly evaluated and weighed their plans.

 In addition to that the Umayya family was power hungry, worldly, and very materialistic.  They worshipped power and money, and power meant everything to them.  Their ambitions were often at the expense of others, no matter what the cost was going to be.  Yet, to lead well, Mu'awiya had learned from his father, Abu Sufyan, to be diplomatic and to carefully watch his tongue, play tricks, and double-deal at times.

 Any boy growing up in such a house, and of such a family, will not surprisingly become diplomatic, tricky, cunning, self-centered, ambitious, and power hungry.  He will be bent upon taking advantage of others and benefiting from them.  Therefore, selfishness, megalomania, and egotism became the psychological complex in Mu'awiya.

 It was also during the period of his early adulthood that the Muslims triumphed over Mecca, and all the disbelievers of Mecca converted to Islam on a wholesale magnitude.  Mu'awiya did what other disbelievers did and converted to Islam.  It is easy to understand then that Islam was a bitter pill for Mu'awiya and his family, and conversion to Islam didn't come as much from conviction as from other interests involved.  Mu'awiya did not get any firm foundation of Islam, and you cannot become a deep believer by simply uttering the words of Shahaada.

 Within a few years of converting to Islam, Mu'awiya found himself along with his brother in Syria.  His brother became the governor of Syria for a short time then got sick and died, and after his death, Omar (r), the second Khalifa, appointed Mu'awiya as governor over Syria.

 Mu'awiya worked in a clever, subtle, indirect, and hardly noticeable manner.  He began to use the rich public treasury of Syria for his own, often buying favors or influencing friends.  Mu'awiya's influence became much firmer with the passage of years, people got used to his name and position.  He was taken for granted, becoming an institution in their eyes.  When Khalifa Uthman (r) started to reign Mu'awiya was emboldened.  Once this happened, not only did the rest of the Umayya family spread its tentacles but Mu'awiya was much bolder in working with the public treasury and helping himself to buy friends and influence people.  He knew well the weakness of man for money.

 When Imam Ali (a.s.) became a Khalifa he immediately fired Mu'awiya since Mu'awiya was corrupt though very shrewd.  In response, Mu'awiya refused to abide and disobeyed the orders, and even declined to give his allegiance to the Khalifa Ali (a.s.).  Not only that, but Mu'awiya started a campaign influencing the minds of his subjects, leading to hysterical emotions in Syria, calling for the revenge of the blood of Uthman.  He exploited Uthman in a clever way.  Mu'awiya constantly spread lies and accusations against Imam Ali in an attempt to tarnish the brilliant image Imam Ali had, and to make people think badly of him.  Often, in the center of the main mosque in Damascus, they would show the bloody shirt in which Uthman had died, raising people's emotions.  Every Friday, highly emotional speeches were given to arouse the emotions, and let everyone cry.  He was aided by the hordes of Benu Umayya, all of whom made sure the fire of hatred was kept boiling.  The simple ignorant man in Damascus and other parts of Syria believed them and gave full support.  such is the power of the media!

 

WHAT KIND OF CAMPS DO WE HAVE?  go to top of page

   There were two sides, one led by Imam Ali (a.s.), the other led by the increasingly bold Mu'awiya.  The two sides had different goals:

 Imam Ali's camp was trying very hard to bring the Islamic nation together, to unify it and put energy once more in the sagging Islamic spirit of expansion.

   Ali's side was a camp of virtue and righteousness, with volunteers who would give their blood and life for Islam.  Imam Ali's camp had thousands of the Prophet's Companions, people coming from Medina to help, and among them were luminous, highly respected personalities such as Ammar.  Imam Ali's camp was for the ideals of Islam, and the welfare of Muslims and their lives, not only then but even now.  Imam Ali's camp was righteous, upright, virtuous and unspotted.

 To face this, Mu'awiya was painstakingly and methodically building his campaign and forces.  He knew he had little chance of success unless enormous tactical efforts were spent.  He took the Islamic ideals of virtue and righteousness to be utilized, not applied.  Mu'awiya exploited Islam and used it like a tool to reach his goal.  His ambition was to become an absolute Emperor, an Autocrat to rule Syria and if possible the whole Islamic world.

   By the time Mu'awiya was ready, he had a huge force, mainly of people who were from far away Syria, people who were not versed in Islamic ideals or knowing of Imam Ali's contribution to Islam.  Most of those who joined Mu'awiya were highly paid with enticing salaries from the State Treasury (like tax money in our days), moneys rightfully due the poor and needy.  If high salaries did not entice his loyalists Mu'awiya promised a high, prestigious, or influential position.  He knew very well the weakness of man for these attractions.  Mu'awiya  was the master.

   Added to all this, Mu'awiya recognized the importance of psychological and emotional commitment to an idea.  Therefore, the blood of Uthman was exploited as a second very effective tool.  Both were exploited so methodically that he produced a near hysteria condition in the whole country of Syria!  His secret agents were spread all over, each doing his undermining job with an unbelievable zeal.

   Besides all this, Mu'awiya bargained with some intelligent personalities that if they joined him he would give them the governorship of a whole province!!  As if this was not enough, he even poisoned a number of people whom he knew were very much against his ambitions and aspirations.  His secret agents even infiltrated Imam Ali's side and were able to entice a number of Imam Ali's adherents by attractive promises of the worldly nature!  Thus, Mu'awiya could effectively weaken Ali's side.  Mu'awiya used the carrot and stick strategy effectively.

   But Imam Ali being such a virtuous man, and so pure (remember, Allah has purified and sanctified him, as mentioned in the Quran), continued to try to convince Mu'awiya over and over again to give up, but it fell on deaf ears.  Mu'awiya was truly an opportunist of an opportunist nature.

 

ALI VERSUS THE MALICIOUS AT SIFFIN

Ali leaves Kufa along the Euphrates River

 Negotiations to dissuade from fighting for one month fail

 Outbreaks of fighting take place, fighting severe

Ammar the Companion killed by Mu'awiya side

Mu'awiya uses deceit, Ash'ath to undermine Ali

Mu'awiya averts his defeat, lifts 500 Qurans on spears

Qurans on spears bring fighting to a halt, Ali's side in disorder and arguments

Ali recognizes the deceit, urges his men to fight: they refuse

Ali is forced to accept Arbitration

Ali returns to Kufa, 25,000 dead.  Mu'awiya: 50,000

Deception at Arbitration by Mu'awiya's side again

 

FACE TO FACE AT SIFFIN  go to top of page

   Imam Ali (a.s.) headed northwest with a large force, the course was along the Euphrates and the destination was Siffin in Syria.  Ali sent several Generals ahead of him, each with a small force.

   While on the way Imam Ali (a.s.) passed an eerie and morose place.  The soil was sandy but having a red hue.  Ali asked anxiously, "What do you call this place?"

"It is called Karbala," someone answered.  Upon hearing that Ali looked grim and the expression on his face became somber.  He then said with pain:

 

 

هنا محطُّ رِحالهم   ومهراق دمائهم

"IT IS HERE WHERE THEY WILL BE STOPPED

AND IT IS HERE WILL BE THE BLOOD-SHED."

(Khalid Muhammad Khalid, Ab'naa' Al-Rasool in Karbala. Page 37.  This is meant about Al-Husain, his family, and companions)

 

While others got curious, it became indelible in the mind of Al-Husain (a.s.).  It later proved to be the biggest tragedy in history, but through which Islam was preserved.

   Imam Ali (a.s.), knowing the necessity of this confrontation with Mu'awiya, continued to be absorbed as if something was bothering him.  He was surrounded by numerous notables, from Ammar to Ashtar and others.  Slowly but steadily, this gigantic mass of humanity, under the canopy of hazy skies was marching at the same speed.  Yes, Imam Ali (a.s.) and his dedicated devout Muslims were with one aim and that was to eradicate what was the malicious and malignant, and that is what made Ali so absorbed in his thoughts.

   They finally arrived at Siffin to discover Mu'awiya had arrived ahead of them and had cut off the water supply from them.  Mu'awiya did that to weaken Ali and his forces and make them suffer.  Imam Ali's forces did not stand still however and they overwhelmed Mu'awiya's guard immediately.  Yet Imam Ali refused to treat Mu'awiya in a similar bad way.  Instead, Ali gave the command to allow access to the water freely to them!  See how Islamic ideals purify a person, Ali gave them freely the very thing Mu'awiya wanted to deprive him of!

   Imam Ali's hopes for a peaceful solution remained strong.  He resorted to negotiations a number of times and for almost a whole month emissaries were sent back and forth but Mu'awiya was too devious and wouldn't agree.  Ali (a.s.) didn't give up despite the rejections and he kept on trying over and over again.  Ali (a.s.) hated bloodshed, let alone innocent Muslim blood, he wanted to dissuade Mu'awiya because he knew the consequences of a blood bath.  Negotiations got them nowhere however and finally the war broke out.

  

THE BATTLE OF SIFFIN  go to top of page

   In quality and aim it was one of the most ill-matched confrontations ever.  It was a confrontation between a highly pious camp of Mu'mins led by Imam Ali versus a self-serving, power hungry and materialistic camp led by Mu'awiya.  Ali's camp came with the intentions to make the Islamic Directives prevail, Mu'awiya's camp was interested in power, it worshipped power and money.

   The fight continued, Ali's side dominant, and the fight was furious at times, unyielding, and relentless.  It took nine days.

   Imam Ali (a.s.) never liked killing.  Even though he was about 60 years old, his boldness, unique prowess, and incising hits had the same lightning speed as when he was younger.  They ripped, roared, and split the enemy.  The vivacious spirit of Ali (a.s.) did wonders to his camp.  His fighters followed suit, and the fighting was fierce, very bloody.  Every time Ali finished an opponent he would yell "Allaahu Akbar", and it is said in one day he shouted Allaahu Akbar 520 times!

   Numerous people fell wounded or dead.  Everyone it seemed was either moaning, in shock, or with pain.  The sound and fury of the battle was ominous and to see death beaming in the eye is a frightening experience.  Everyone was thankful when night time came and the two groups disengaged, and each was after their own wounded.

   The fourth day of the fighting, and the days that followed, were just as ferocious and severe as the first.  Ammar, the highly revered Companion of the Prophet (pbuh), an almost 93 year old, was in Imam Ali's camp along with thousands of other Companions of the Prophet.  Ammar along with his battalion charged fearlessly and fought most bravely.  He kept repeating, "Follow me to Heavens, follow me to Heavens," and people kept following him, and they kept fighting.  He at one time was near the tent of Mu'awiya when he was surrounded by too many of the foe and cut badly.  He managed to reach Ali's camp despite his cuts and he died as the Prophet had told him before.

   When Ammar was killed it produced quite an uproar in the camp of Mu'awiya, since everyone had heard the Prophet (pbuh) say 31 years back:

 

 

أبشِرْ يا عمّار   تقتـلكَ الفِئـَةُ الباغيه

"REJOICE, O' AMMAR, SINCE IT IS THE

MALICIOUS CAMP WHICH WILL KILL YOU

(Abi Hadeed, Nahj, Series 2, Vol. 5, Page 332.)

 

Mu'awiya's side appeared weak by now, they had lost a very large number of its fighters.  Added to that, the ominous news of Ammar's death confirmed to them that they were the wicked and malicious.  They were fully aware of the Hadith about Ammar.

 At one time during this fight, Imam Ali (a.s.) challenged Mu'awiya for a fight unto death.  He asked for it to stop all the senseless slaughter and the blood-bath of Muslims.  Mu'awiya became terrified and declined to take the challenge.  He retorted that anyone who was fool enough to fight Imam Ali in person would inevitably be destroyed.  So instead of taking the challenge Mu'awiya dared one of his Generals, a similarly cunning man by the name of Ibn Aas, to take Ali's challenge.

   Ibn Aas came out to the challenge but was no match to Imam Ali.  Ibn Aas was overwhelmed by Ali (a.s.), he lost control and fell to the ground.  When Ali (a.s.) was about to slay him, Ibn Aas being on his back and alarmed of the immediate death, raised his legs and displayed his genital parts to Ali and all around!  He did this to disgust Ali and to spare him his life!  Seeing Ibn Aas on his back, shaking in fright, legs up in the air, exposed in such a humiliated condition, Ali (a.s.) felt pity and turned his head away.  Ali gave Ibn Aas his life rather than kill him.  Imam Ali believed that any man who was so low as to do what Ibn Aas did in order to save his life, such is not a man enough worth a hit by his sword!

 But even at this stage, Mu'awiya cunning like a fox, wouldn't let a chance pass without trying to take advantage of it.  His agent approached a one-eyed General in Imam Ali's forces by the name of Ash'ath who was one of the three most important commanders.  Mu'awiya sent a secret message promising Ash'ath wealth and position if he helped disrupt Imam Ali's camp from within.  He promised to reward him exceptionally well, lavishly so.

   Ash'ath agreed and became a secret agent for Mu'awiya, and from then on this man never lost an opportunity without undoing Ali's side.  He was quite effective in undermining Imam Ali's side, even though his daughter was married to Imam Al-Hasan the son of Ali!

   The ninth day of the fighting saw nothing but rigorous and relentless attacks by Ali's side.  They poured in waves of relentless attacks, the severity of which had never before been seen.  Having become extremely weak by now, Mu'awiya's forces reeled under on several fronts, and they disintegrated into disarray and disorder.  Each fighter ran for his life, and cluttering the earth behind were the dead, dying, and wounded.  Ali's battalions zoomed forward fiercely, pushing until they were extremely close to the headquarters of Mu'awiya, i.e., the tent of Mu'awiya.

 At that time Mu'awiya was of the opinion to either:

  1. surrender

  2. ask Ibn Abbas to take him under his custody so that Ali does not kill him, or

  3. escape to the Byzantines.

But he heard Ibn Aas at that moment suggesting to carry the Holy Qurans on the tips of the spears.  Mu'awiya seized on the idea immediately.

   Shaking nervously, pale in the face, and feeling faint, Mu'awiya gave a signal to people who were prepared for the job.  Ibn Aas like Mu'awiya was a man of deception, and he cleverly thought of a novel trick to avert the imminent defeat.  He used the trick to undermine Imam Ali's side whether Ali (a.s.) accepted or rejected, knowing Ali's fighters were very religious.

   Imam Ali's forces were startled when they saw the Holy Qurans, 500 copies, at the tips of 500 spears, with fighters scared and shaking but screaming at the same time!  They shouted over and over again: "Let us stop the fight and let the Quran be our judge.  Let us have arbitration!"

 

IMMEDIATE REACTION TO THE TRICK  go to top of page

   Ali's fighters were taken by the greatest surprise, they were psychologically shocked, that was true of almost everyone except Ali.  Imam Ali kept urging his fighters to resume the fight.  He urged them to resume the fight and to beware of this deception, that they were very close to victory, so near it.  Alas, Ali's fighters were in psychological shock, they hesitated, they froze, and the momentum of the fight was completely broken.  The Holy Quran was too much for them to see on the tips of spears!

   Mu'awiya is now exploiting the Quran and using it as a tool to serve his interest!

   Ali's fighters, taken aback and confused, became divided, each arguing with the other.  Of course, Al-Ash'ath, the General in Ali's camp, now a secret agent working for Mu'awiya, was the most persistent on stopping the fight.  He undermined everything and added much to the confusion and was quite decisive in halting the fight.  Some of the staunch fighters in Ali's camp even began to threaten Ali (a.s.) with his life if he didn't agree to Mu'awiya's request.  Just imagine!

   Having had no choice, Imam Ali (a.s.) reluctantly and unwillingly had to consent to the demands of his fighters.  They wanted arbitration, and arbitration they got.

   The arbitration was to take place one year from the date of Siffin, in a place called Dawmatul Jandal in Syria.  And whatever the arbitrators decide the two sides are to abide by it.  For the arbitration Mu'awiya chose Ibn Aas to represent him, the very man who displayed his genitals to save his life in his fight with Ali (a.s.).  Ibn Aas was not a man of integrity, he was every bit as cunning and tricky as Mu'awiya.

   Ali wanted Ibn Abbas to represent him because of his brilliance and intelligence.  But Ali's divided camp, however, wanted Ash'ari instead, the man Ali had fired before, who was an old man not with sharp faculties.  Because of their insistence Ash'ari was reluctantly appointed.

 

ALI BACK TO KUFA  go to top of page

   When Ali's forces went back to Kufa everyone was depressed and very upset.  There was high casualty, though Mu'awiya lost more than twice as many.  The victory was aborted, so it brought little contentment or joy in Kufa.  People were dissatisfied, unhappy, and everyone was gloomy, and Kufa was more or less in mourning.  Each family had lost one or more members, it was an awful scene.

   One year after the Siffin battle the arbitration took place as agreed upon.  There were deliberations for two months.  Ash'ari was no match to Ibn Aas, as Imam Ali had expected.  Ali's representative was easily tricked by Ibn Aas and that was a stinking story in itself!  People of deception will do anything to reach their goal.

   What happened was that Ibn Aas convinced Ash'ari that it was best to demote both Ali and Mu'awiya and let the people decide their choices.  Ibn Aas also flattered the old Ash'ari to deliver his speech first, though Ali's side tried to persuade Ash'ari not to, since none could trust Ibn Aas.  Ash'ari did not listen to them and he naively accepted.  He ascended the Minbar (pulpit) and announced that Ali and Mu'awiya were to be removed and the people to make their choices afterwards.

   Ash'ari was followed by the cunning Ibn Aas.  Ibn Aas said, "I agree with Ash'ari that Ali is to be removed, but in my opinion Mu'awiya is fit for the Khilaafah and should be the new Khalifa!"  With that an uproar took place and Ali's people knew they were double crossed, emotions were high and they dispersed agonizing at the deceit.

   Because of that there came to be an emotional upheaval in Iraq, and because of these treacheries, another confrontation against Mu'awiya was in the mind, and Ali (a.s.) once more was busy preparing a large new force.  But he continued with a heavy, sorrowful heart, yet holding to his Islamic ideals unswervingly.  As if this was not enough, Ali was surprised when a group of his own fighters at Siffin decided to defect.  They spread devastation everywhere: killing and destroying, and many towns and villages suffered at their hands.  They became what is called the deviators or the Khariji.

   With this new development, Imam Ali saw the completion of the predictive Hadith of the Prophet almost 28 or 29 years before when Muhammad (pbuh) said:

 

 

 سوف تقـاتل  الناكثـين  والقاسـطين  والمـارقــين

O' ALI, YOU WILL BE OBLIGED TO FIGHT AGAINST

THE RENOUNCERS

THE MALICIOUS AND

THE DEVIANTS.

(Al-Haakim, Mustadrak, Vol. 3, Page 139)

 

 In Basrah Ali (a.s.) was forced to fight against the renouncers.

 In Siffin Ali (a.s.) was forced to fight against Mu'awiya the malicious and malignant, who was like a cancerous disease for the nation.

 By now Ali (a.s.) was to confront the deviators.

   The deviators were devout Muslims who fought Mu'awiya and were on Ali's side, but they changed at Siffin, forced Ali to stop the fight, forced arbitration on him, and now that their choice for arbitration had failed, they rose against him and elected to become extremist to the absurd degree, and to kill and spread ruin in numerous towns and territories.

 

AT NAHRAWAN  go to top of page

   The deviators called Khariji gathered at Nahrawan, and Imam Ali (a.s.) was compelled to face these rebels rather than to go face Mu'awiya for the second round.  Once more Imam Ali (a.s.) offered amnesty and tried to negotiate and make sense with them.  Ali gave them a speech and argued with them, and out of about 12,000 total, 9,000 quit, having come to their senses.  Three thousand however refused and insisted to fight Ali instead.  And because of their insistence a battle broke out in which almost each of them met his end.

   When the battle was over Imam Ali was looking for someone in a feverish manner, but he couldn't find him.  People asked for whom he was searching and he answered; "Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told me about this 30 years ago, saying that among these people there will be a man whose forearm is without bone, will have a hairy round lump on it, and if you pulled at it, it would stretch down to the fingers and if left it will fill again."

   They kept looking and looking, and finally they saw the body of this man, and his lump was indeed quite large, and it could be pulled down then reduced in size with pressure, as we see in cases of huge hemangioma!  Truly it is amazing how accurate it is what Jubra'eel told Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

 

FOLLOWING NAHRAWAN  go to top of page

   Being a master opportunist Mu'awiya took advantage of the new situation by sabotaging, undermining, and intriguing.  His aim now was to produce a massive insecurity to discredit Ali, thus break the psychology and confidence of the people.

   He sent missions of secret agents, spies, and gangs to intimidate, murder, steal, and pilfer.  He did that in a) Iraq, then b) in Basrah, then c) in Hijaz, then in d) Yemen, and also e) in Egypt!  The accountability of Mu'awiya to Allah seems to have been forgotten!  Was all the havoc he played in the Ummah worth 20 more years of rule?  But to Mu'awiya anything can be used and should be used, no matter what it is, just to attain the power, to be the Absolute Monarch, the Power and Authority over the Nation.  Whatever the means is it will justify the end, Mu'awiya thought:  be it unrighteous, indecent, or murderous, it makes no difference to him as long as each means brings him a step nearer to his dream to have the power to be the Absolute Monarch of the Islamic Nation.

 

IMAM ALI (a.s.) PREDICTS HIS END  go to top of page

   Imam Ali (a.s.) was heard quoting a Hadith a number of times and on many occasions.  He heard the Hadith 32 or 33 years back when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told him:

 

 

إنَّ أشقى الأشـقـيين مَن يُخضِّبُ هذه بهذه   وأشار إلى لحيته ثم رأسه

THE MOST EVIL OF EVILDOERS IS THE ONE

WHO WILL WET THIS (BEARD) WITH THE BLOOD

FROM THIS (FOREHEAD)

(Al-Khateeb , Ali, Page 566)

 

Imam Ali (a.s.) was looking forward to that occasion, since he had already struggled and fought against the many wayward bizarre movements, against so many odds and so much turmoil.  The 4½ years of his Khilaafah were turbulent, very much so.

   It was the month of Ramadhan and people fasted upon seeing the new moon.  The warm atmosphere of Ramadhan, that of obedience and worship, was cheerfully observed.  At night the numerous alleys and bazaars of Kufa were lit and people everywhere talked, shopped, and socialized.  Little did people know that Ibn Muljim had plotted to kill Ali (a.s.).

 

IBN MULJIM  go to top of page

  Ibn Muljim, one of the deviators (Khariji), along with two others from the deviators met in Mecca and worked out a plan to kill Imam Ali (a.s.), Mu'awiya, and Ibn Aas on the same day.  Ibn Muljim was to murder Imam Ali (a.s.).  This meeting preceded Ramadhan by a number of weeks.

   Ibn Muljim traveled all the way from Mecca to Kufa, arriving during Ramadhan.  It was in Kufa where he stayed, and Al-Ash'ath was heard talking to him.  Al-Ash'ath was the same one-eyed General who was now a secret agent for Mu'awiya against Ali, and had been ever since the battle of Siffin.  He had been a source of much trouble and methodically undermining Imam Ali's camp ever since.

   It was time for Salat of Subh and Ali (a.s.) was in the mosque to lead the Salat.  It was dark and visibility was poor.  Hiding nearby was Ibn Muljim the assassin-to-be with some helpers.  Ibn Muljim waited till Ali (a.s.) was absorbed in the Salat then jumped with sword raised and instantly hit Imam Ali's head.  He cracked the skull of the Imam and the wound was fatally deep.  He even poisoned his sword for the occasion.

   With an outburst of pain the blood gushed instantly, it poured down to wet the beard of Imam Ali.  When so hit Ali said first, "I triumphed by the Lord of the Ka'ba!"  Then Ali (a.s.) felt faint, put some dust on the wound and said, "From dust to dust."

   There was confusion, hustle and bustle, and much shouting and crying.  "The Imam, the Prince of the Believers is severely wounded," everyone screamed in agony.  Imam Ali (a.s.) was carefully carried and gently taken to his home, having bled so much.  Ibn Muljim was arrested, just to admit to his crime and to the fact that he had poisoned his sword for the purpose.

   Even at such a grave moment Imam Ali was uniquely noble, O' Prince of the Faithful!  He said to others around him and after having coming out of his faint, "If I live I'll deal with him, and if I die you take life for life but don't mutilate!"  What a wonderful man, how unique!

   It took three days of suffering, feeling weak and faint before Allah Almighty took his beloved Ali (a.s.) to Him, to be in the blissful everlasting life, very happy, along with his loved ones, especially Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

   It was Ramadhan, the 2lst, and Ali was 63 years old, the same as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Abu Bakr (r), and Omar (r) when they died.  Ali was born inside the Ka'ba, and died in Ramadhan, on Leilatul Qadr, what an honor!!

   The Supreme Leader of the Faithful was buried in Najaf, his last words were an Ayah from the Holy Quran:

 

 

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ     وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ

HE WITH THE SLIGHTEST ACT OF GOODNESS WILL SO BE REWARDED

AND HE WITH THE SLIGHTEST ACT OF EVIL WILL SO BE REWARDED

(Surah  99:  Ayah 7-8)

 

Thus, Imam Ali (a.s.), the greatest defender of Islam as no other one, died after having raised the spine of Islam so strong and erect, and after raising the flag of the ideals of Islam ever so high, ever forward, ever so luminous.

   Ali never lowered himself to play tricks or deceive.  He shunned deceiving, playing politics though he had the opportunity to do so.  Ali's unique Islamic personality ruled supreme.  Neither did Ali deal with his adversaries in similar bad manner as they treated him, he was straightforward in all his dealings.  Ali was the noble, the supreme in ethics, the Islamic ethics as Muhammad (pbuh) taught.  What a man!  What a Heavenly Designated Imam!

 

 

 IMAM ALI IN RETROSPECT   go to top of page

ALI, THE SUPREME LEADER OF THE FAITHFUL,

IN RETROSPECT

 

   With the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Allah's Revelations by way of Jubra'eel (Gabriel) came to an end.

 Similarly shortly after the death of Imam Ali the Khilaafah Rashida came to an end, and thus far it could not be established again.

 Imam Ali's self was molded completely by the Islamic ideals, of his childhood, adolescence or adult life.  His valor, courage, and unsurpassed knowledge and dedication to Islam was stunning indeed, thus it paved the way for Islam to establish itself.  During Ali's Khilaafah, battle confrontations were enforced on him, and he was equally stunning in defending Islam against the RENOUNCERS, the MALIGNANT, and the DEVIATORS.  Each of these had to be resisted and set right, so that Islam continues in its pure form.

 Imam Ali's personality was overpowering, and he was an overachiever, qualities the Prophet (pbuh) recognized.  People around Ali found themselves too overwhelmed and overshadowed by him, thus there were those, a) who followed and supported him, and b) those who resented and fought him.  Other than having selfish motives of their own, even respected people who resented him were in fact resenting the feeling they were inferior to him, and their ego could not swallow that.

 Imam Ali's brilliance and his farsightedness were striking, he was so gifted that few persons were ever so privileged.  He was far ahead of his contemporaries in his thinking at looking ahead and doing something about it were matters his contemporaries were not able to understand.  While his adversaries were after some temporary or limited contributions to Islam, Ali (a.s.), after the death of Muhammad (pbuh), undertook the task of registering the wealth and abundance of Islamic information.  At first he was preoccupied with putting the Quran into a written text.  Then there was the essential task of putting the Tafseer, Hadith, and Shari'ah (Islamic jurisprudence) in writing too.

 Ali (a.s.) set to teach, inform, and help others learn about Islam.  He knew that for Islam to sink deeply into the hearts an active vigorous process of conferring the Islamic information was an essential, tedious, and difficult task.  Yet, Ali accomplished it methodically.  As a result, directly and indirectly Ali influenced a multitude of people to become Islamic scholars.

 Imam Ali was an idealist, and nothing could influence him to deviate from these ideals.  Given the same circumstances of the Ummah during his Khilaafah, any man other than Ali would have buckled under in a very short time, none could be in Imam Ali's place and manage that well.  The amazing fact was that Ali persevered for so long and despite such odds.  To have given him the reign when the Islamic Ummah was vigorous and wholesome, Ali would have carried it further and further to tremendous heights.  However, when the situation of the Islamic State (Nation) was in a disastrous condition it was handed to him, no one other than Ali was of the capacity to carry the yoke.  Perhaps Ali was meant to be there to carry the load and suffer, for his presence at this time for this Khilaafah was essential and absolutely necessary.

 Imam Ali's ideals had to be in a head-on clash with the opportunist, power-hunger, and corrupt Benu Umayya.  Therefore it was the clash of Islam at its best represented in Ali (a.s.) versus the opportunist, self-serving, and materialistic world represented in Benu Umayya.  As it turned out Imam Ali's effort was for the benefit of Islam for the future.  It was to bring the people to the substance of Islam and its ideals.

 Ali's effort was carried further by his two sons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husain.

 Ali (a.s.) stood in the face of deceit, duplicity, trickery, hypocrisy, greed, and treachery, and his application of the Islamic ideals exposed the opponents and showed their mettle.

 Imam Ali was a perfectionist almost to the compulsive extent, especially when it came to Islam.  He understood the social forces that were in turmoil in his times and the times after, and because of his very firm stand he left a spirit to mold things along the Islamic lines throughout the ages.

 Ali (a.s.) stood for justice and freedom of choice, and the Holy Book and Sunnah were his guide.  The Course of Enlightenment (Nahjul Balaaghah), a collection of splendid speeches Ali gave, is a discourse of deep analysis of the society and religion.

 More than that, Ali left us a spirit, it is Ali's spirit.

 

ALI'S SPIRIT

   The spirit Ali left was a spirit of identification with him, not only with him personally but also with his accomplishments and Islamic ideals.  It is the identification with his uniquely singular stand at Badr, Ohod, Khaybar, and other places in defending Islam.  It is an identification with his overpowering and overshadowing righteousness.  It is love of not only his captivating person but his acute piercing mind, a mind which led to such a wealth of contribution to the safekeeping and health of Islam.

   Yes, we identify with the Prince of the Believers because:

 he was an innovator in thinking,

 an initiator of policies,

 a first rate designer,

 but all of that was solely for the welfare of Islam.

   Thus the spirit of Ali will continue to be in the hearts of those who love Ali, and it will be a beacon to light the way so that they go along its path.

  

 
KHILAAFAH 
  go to top of page
THERE ARE TWO POINTS OF VIEW ABOUT KHILAAFAH:

  1. The Sunni subscribe to the first view.  They consist of four schools of thought:  Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maaliki and Hanbali

  2. The Shi'a subscribe to the second point of view.  They consist of Ja'fari, or Ithna Ashari, and the Zaidi


 

KHILAAFAH (SUCCESSION)
A BIRDS-EYE VIEW

Khilaafah means the phenomenon of succession to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  This phenomenon is viewed in certain ways as explained below:
 

VIEW POINT I 

VIEW POINT II

The phenomenon, the circumstance, the mode of choice and selection of the Khalifas are to be taken as they are

The phenomenon would have been remarkably different had the wishes of Prophet Muhammad been observed.
 

 
VIEW POINT I (SUNNI)
  go to top of page
   Being of such an extreme importance to the life of the Islamic nation, the Righteous Khilaafah was unfortunately short lived, of no more than 30 years.  The four righteous Khalifa's were Abu Bakr (r), Omar (r), Uthman (r), and Ali (a.s.).  (Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Khilaafah will be for thirty years after me, after which it will a distressing Kinghood."
      According to Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Muhammad (pbuh) also said, "The Khalifas after me will be twelve from Quraish."  This can only be interpreted that the Designated Imams (12) are the ones who religiously count as Khalifas after the Prophet (pbuh).  In this Hadith the Prophet used the term Khalifa and not Khilaafah.)
   According to this view, because the Prophet (pbuh) did not leave a written Will for the person to succeed him, a meeting took place in a house outside Medina soon after the Prophet (pbuh) died.  Abu Bakr (r) and Omar (r) were present, but not Ali or the relatives of the Prophet.  Ali (a.s.) and other notables were not in the meeting, they were performing the burial rituals of the Prophet.
   At the meeting emotions were high and the subject was who should succeed the Prophet as Khalifa.  Omar (r) nominated Abu Bakr (r), those present followed suit and gave him their allegiance too.  But a) Imam Ali, b) many notable Companions, and c) relatives of the Prophet, did not give their support to Abu Bakr (r) until a few months later. (Taareekh Al-Tibari, also Ibn Atheer, also Taareekh Al-Khulafaa, also Al-Istee'aab.)
   When Abu Bakr (r) was in his terminal illness, he wrote a will, the writer was Uthman (r).  Abu Bakr (r) fainted just before naming the person to follow him, and Uthman (r) wrote the name of Omar (r).  When Abu Bakr (r) regained his consciousness, Uthman (r) told him that he put the name of Omar (r) as the successor, and Abu Bakr (r) said that such was his intention anyway.
   When Omar (r) was in his terminal condition, he asked for six (6) Companions to select a person from among themselves within 3 days.  If there were objections or if there was not an unanimous agreement, the order was to cut the heads of those who had objected.  Of these six, three were either close relatives of or very close to Uthman (r).
   Uthman (r) became the third Khalifa.
   Historically, the four righteous Khalifas did a good job according to their capability.  Of course, being humans, they were subject to errors, and this can be so especially in ways of management.  We all love them and respect them very much.
 
VIEW POINT II (SHI'A)
  go to top of page
   The second viewpoint about Khilaafah is that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had certainly left many verbal recommendations for the one to succeed him, and that was well known to most people if not all.  The most notable recommendation was Ghadeer Khum when Muhammad said:

 

 

مَنْ كُنتُ مولاه فهذا عليٌ مولاه،   اللهم والِ مَن والاه وعادِ مَن عاداه،   وانصُر مَن نَصَرَه واخْذُل مَن خَذَلَه،   وأدِر الحقَّ معَهُ حيثما دار

"O' PEOPLE, WHOSOEVER I AM HIS LEADER,       

SO IS ALI TO BE HIS LEADER

O' LORD, UPHOLD HIM WHO UPHOLDS ALI

AND ANTAGONIZE HIM WHO ANTAGONIZES ALI

AND SUPPORT HIM WHO SUPPORTS ALI

AND IMPEDE HIM WHO IMPEDES ALI

AND LET THE TRUTH BE WITH ALI

WHEREVER HE GOES"

(Al-Haakim, Mustadrak, Vol. 3, Page 109.  Also Mus'nad Imam Ahmad Vol. 1, Page 119.  Also Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, page 262.)

 

Beside the verbal recommendations Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) wanted a Will in writing too, as so many historians tell us.  During one of the last days before his death, the Prophet (pbuh) asked for ink and paper and for someone to write down the Will.  Omar (r) was present among others, and upon hearing what the Prophet wanted, he interceded saying:

 

 

إنَّ النبي غلبه الوجع،  وعندنا كتاب الله حَسْبُنا

"ALLAH'S MESSENGER IS HALLUCINATING

WITH HIS SICKNESS

SUFFICE IT WE HAVE ALLAH'S BOOK WITH US."

(Ibn Hisham, Seerah, Vol. 1, Page 39.  Also Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Subject: Qawl Al-Mareedh.  Also Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, Page 75.  Also Mus'nad Ahmad, Vol. 1, Page 355.  Also Taareekh Al-Tibari Vol. 3, Page 193.  Also Ibn Atheer, Vol. 2, Page 320.)

 

By so doing, Omar (r) prevented what was going to be said and written.  In obstructing this process, even if the Prophet (pbuh) had insisted on having the written Will, the written Will would have lost its critical significance.  The reason was that once you question the circumstances of the Will you will question the Will itself, and by so doing you will open the doors for doubts, quandary, and misgivings.
   When the Prophet (pbuh) died, Ali was engrossed in the funeral service and the burial during that day, in the firm belief that he himself was going to be the first Khalifa, since the Prophet (pbuh) had so recommended verbally.
   During the very day the Prophet (pbuh) died a meeting in a house outside Medina took place in which many people were involved in a hustle and bustle as to who should succeed the Prophet (pbuh).  In the heated emotions of the moment, Ali was not even mentioned.  The emotional circumstances were such that on the spur of the moment, Omar (r) lifted the hand of Abu Bakr (r) and gave him allegiance.  Upon seeing that, the people followed suit, but not all of them.
   Oddly enough, Ali (a.s.) was never given a chance to express his opinion, nor could they undo the decision of the meeting to include Ali in a meeting of Shoora.
   When Ali and his family did not give their allegiance to Abu Bakr (r), despite pressure on him, he frankly said to Abu Bakr that the matter of Khilaafah was his and it was taken away from him.  It was only when the war with the Rejecters proved to be such a danger to Islam itself that Imam Ali (a.s.) went forth to Abu Bakr and gave his support.
   About 2 years later when Abu Bakr (r) was terminally ill, and his condition was severe enough to make him faint, no one said he was hallucinating, contrary to what Omar (r) said about the Prophet (pbuh) during similar circumstances.  Anyway, Abu Bakr's Will was accepted as it was.  No Shoora was even attempted, though Shoora is what Islam recommends.
   When Omar (r) was in his terminal condition, he wanted six (6) Companions to form a Consultative Council or Shoora for the task.  Oddly however, three members of the six were either close relatives of or very close to Uthman (r).
   Strange too that an order by Omar (r) to cut the head of anyone who elected to disagree was given then and there.  Whether this order was meant literally or not is hard to believe, since Omar (r) respected the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh).  The six Companions met for three days, and at the end it was either Ali (a.s.) to be the Khalifa or Uthman (r).
   When Ali (a.s.) was asked if he would follow:
   ·  the Quran,
   ·  Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh),
   ·  and the Sunnah of the two previous Khalifas,

Ali answered that he would follow only the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet (pbuh).  He would do his own Ij'tihaad, meaning that there were matters Abu Bakr and Omar did which he opposed or did not agree to.
   When the same question was asked Uthman (r), he readily declared that he would follow Quran, Sunnah of Muhammad (pbuh), and Sunnah of the two previous Khalifas.  That is the reason Uthman (r) became the third Khalifa.
   Those who believe in this viewpoint of Khilaafah maintain that if the Prophet's wishes were granted, (his written Will, if allowed, would have been the confirmation of his verbal recommendations), and that if Ali (a.s.) had succeeded the Prophet (pbuh) as the Prophet wished, the Islamic world would have been vastly different.  The course of history would have been vastly different too, and the mode of Khilaafah would have been Islamicly conducted.

 

QUESTIONS  go to top of page

  1. How was Ali elected for Khilaafah?

  2. Mention the reasons Ali at first refused to accept the Khilaafah.

  3. Describe Ali's home.

  4. What 4 important points the people of Medina were faced with after Uthman was killed?

  5. What 3 points was Ali faced with during the early part of his Khilaafah?

  6. What was the first insurgency against Ali?

  7. Mention 3 reasons why Ali's preventive measures did not work?

  8. Explain Al-How'ab incident and its importance.

  9. Quote Prophet Muhammad's Hadith about Al-How'ab.

  10. Mention 5 points that took place due to the insurgents' acts in Basrah.

  11. What did Al-Hasan, Imam Ali's emissary, do in Kufa?

  12. Describe the meeting between Ali and Zubair.

  13. What did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) predict for Ali about those opposing him?

  14. Describe Jamal confrontation.

  15. How was A'isha returned to Medina?

  16. Describe Ali's rule in Kufa, the new capital.

  17. Explain the course of life of Mu'awiya.

  18. Explain the characteristics of Umayya clan.

  19. Where is Siffin?

  20. Describe Ali's camp at Siffin Battle.

  21. Describe Mu'awiya's camp at Siffin Battle.

  22. Quote Ali's saying when he passed by Karbala.

  23. Describe the battle of Siffin.

  24. Explain the importance of the role of Ammar in Siffin Battle.

  25. Describe the encounter between Ali and Ibn Aas and Ali's response.

  26. Why did Ibn Aas expose his genitals as he was to be killed by Ali?

  27. Who is a) Ash'ath, b) his role in the battle of Siffin, c) relation to Ali?

  28. Describe the fight on the 9th day of Siffin Battle.

  29. How was the Holy Quran manipulated and exploited by Mu'awiya in Siffin Battle?

  30. What was the immediate effect on Ali's side upon seeing the Qurans on tip of spears?

  31. Who forced Ali to stop the fight in Siffin Battle?

  32. What is Dawmatul Jandal?

  33. Name the arbitrator Ali was forced to use and what was his deficiency?

  34. Explain the deception that Ibn Aas utilized to trick Ash'ari.

  35. Who were the deviators (Khariji)?

  36. Describe Nahrawan encounter with the Khariji.

  37. Describe the terrorist acts Mu'awiya started to inflict on the Islamic Ummah.

  38. Quote the Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said about Ali's end.

  39. Who is Ibn Muljim?

  40. Describe the plot Ibn Muljim and other Kharijis agreed upon.

  41. How was Imam Ali killed?

  42. What date was Ali killed?

  43. What were the first words Ali said when he was hit by Ibn Muljim's sword?

  44. Which Ayahs was Imam Ali quoting before he died?

  45. Where was Ali buried?

  46. Whom did Ali name as the designate Imam after him according to the orders of the Prophet (pbuh)?

  47. What is Nahjul Balaaghah?

  48. How many sermons are in Nahjul Balaaghah?

  49. Mention 12 important points about Ali's character and personality.

  50. Quote 3 sayings of Imam Ali about knowledge.

  51. Quote a saying of Imam Ali about success.

  52. Quote a saying of Imam Ali about humility.

  53. Quote a saying of Imam Ali about the 6 states of the body.

  54. Quote a saying of Imam Ali about good inheritance.

  55. Quote a saying of Imam Ali about flattery.