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 

   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 

   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 

   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 

   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 

   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:

   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.

IMAM ALI (a.s.) TO BASRAH 

   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.

FACE TO FACE NEAR BASRAH 

   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:

   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 

   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:

   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 

   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 

   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 

   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 

   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 

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? 

   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.