Qur'an

Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)

📰 Biography

Full Name: ʿAlī ibn ʾAbī Ṭālib (عَلِيّ ٱبْن أَبِي طَالِب‎)

Titles: Asadullah

Father: Abu Talib ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib

Mother: Fatimah bint Asad

Birth: 601 CE (35 A.H)

Death: 661 CE (40 A.H)

Length of Rule: Four years, nine months and three days.

❓ Before Accepting Islam

Conversion

He was a cousin of the prophet who had been taken into the prophet’s household to alleviate the financial burden on his family;

He was one of the first Muslims.
- Early convert – accepted Islam at 10 years old.
- One day he saw his cousin and his wife put their foreheads on the ground.
  - Ali looked at them amazingly, ever before had he seen anybody saying prayers in this style.
  - When the prayer was over, Ali asked his cousin about this strange act.
  - He explained: "We were worshipping Allah, the One," the Prophet said, "I advise you to do the same and never bend your head before Lat, Uzza or any other idol."
  - The next morning Ali accepted Islam.

🌟 Ali during the Prophet's lifetime

Ali was the first cousin of the Holy Prophet and so belonged to the Banu Hashim.

'Ali was brought up by the Prophet and Khadija.
- Ali got the special opportunity of living in the company of the Prophet and so developed great love for him since his childhood.

Ali was brave and literate and was a very intelligent youth of Makkah.

When the prophet openly invited the Hashimites to come to Islam, only Ali stepped forward to help him;
- For this , The Prophet declared ‘Ali his brother and vice-regent;
- This caused ridicule amongst Qur’aysh who laughed at the thought of elders obeying ‘Ali;

Ali demonstrated utmost courage and boldness by sleeping in the bed of the Prophet on the night before migration to Medina, and also helped and returned valuables which people had left with the Prophet, and then met Prophet and Abu Bakr at Quba

He married Fatima soon after the Muslims arrived in Medina and became the Prophet's son-in-law.
- Hassan and Hussain were born from this marriage.

A sign of his closeness to the Prophet is that he was paired with the Prophet when the Ansar and Muhajirun were paired as brothers.

‘Ali was a prominent fighter in all the battles (except Tabuk), commanding the Muslim army at Khaybar.
- At the time of the Battle of Badr, he was chosen to carry the Muslim banner.
- During the Battle of Uhad, he was one of the few Muslims who defended the Holy Prophet. After the battle he, along with his wife Fatima washed the Prophet’s wounds.
- During the Battle of Trench, when some of the pagans were able to cross over the ditch, Ali killed them.

For his bravery the Prophet gave him the title Asad Allah / Lion of God.

As a scribe of the Prophet he wrote the Treaty of Hudaybiya.

Ali did not take part in the Tabuk Expedition as he remained in Medina as the Prophet’s deputy.
- On his complaint that he was not going with the army, the Prophet said to him:
  ‘’You are to me as Haroon was to Musa, except that there will be no prophet after me.’’ (Agreed Upon)

He also wrote the letters sent out by the Prophet to different kings and emperors.

He was present at the time of the death of the Holy Prophet.

He and 'Abbas washed the Prophet's body.

The Prophet uttered a number of Hadith that give ‘Ali much honour and a place very close to him.

Significance

Lessons could be that they should not shy away from the truth and that their age does not mean they cannot make right and mature decisions. They should follow the guidance of trustworthy people but know that they also can have the strength to play an important role in the community even at a young age.

They should look to keep themselves in good company to be able to make the right decisions. If a young person is able to lead the community because he is knowledgeable, whether it be in prayer or guiding others, then he should not be prevented from doing so due to his age. Young people can also be role models for others.

👑 Ali as a Caliph

🗳 Nomination

Allegiance to 'Ali was given voluntarily and freely by the Muslims, and the troublemakers played no part in that.

The Companions of the Messenger of Allah came to him (Ali) and said: 'This man (Uthman) has been killed, and the people must have a leader. We do not find anyone who is more deserving of that than you, or who is more senior in Islam, or closer to the Messenger of Allah. 'Ali (RA) said: 'Do not do it, for I would rather be an adviser to you than a leader.' They said: 'No, by Allah, we will not do anything until we swear allegiance to you.' He said: 'Then (do it) in the mosque, for allegiance to me should not be hidden, and it should only he with the approval of the Muslims.'"

Abdullah ibn 'Abbas said: 'I did not want him to go to the mosque for fear of troublemakers, but he insisted on going to the mosque.' When he entered the mosque, the Muhajiroon and the Ansar came and swore allegiance to him, and the people did likewise.

🔥 Opposition against Ali

Change of Governors

On becoming the Caliph, Ali felt that in the interest of the state, it was necessary that there should be a change in the provincial governors.

He therefore decided to remove the governors appointed by Uthman and appoint new people to take their place.

Many of his friends advised him not to take such a step before establishing himself as the Caliph.

With regard to Muawiyyah, the governor of Syria, they particularly asked him not to interfere because the appointment of Muawiyyah was not made by Uthman but by Umar.
- Also, because he was popular in Syria and the people were happy with him.

Against the advice of his friends, Ali decided to replace Muawiyyah also along with the others.

He appointed new governors for Syria, Egypt, Kufa, Basra and Yemen. Then he sent them to take charge of their provinces.

The governors appointed in the provinces of Basra, Egypt and Yemen were able to take charge of their provinces without any resistance.

But the governor for Kufa had to return to Medina after having failed to assume the charge of his office.

Similarly, the Governor for Syria was met by a Syrian army who told him to go back as they did not acknowledge Ali as the Caliph.

Muawiyyah was not ready to accept Ali as Caliph. The main crisis started here.

Why did Mu'awiyyah oppose Ali's Caliphate?

1) Ali's Election

Ali had been elected in unusual circumstances, mainly on the insistence of the rebels against Uthman.

So, Ali’s election by the support of rebels was contended by Mu’awiya.

They also feared for their lives because of the murderers of 'Uthmān (RA) who were in 'Ali's army; his killers were in 'Ali's camp, and they were powerful.
- They said: "If we swear allegiance, they will wrong us and transgress against us, and the blood of 'Uthman will go unavenged."

2) Muawiyyah, the Governor of Syria

Ali ordered Muawiyyah to surrender his position as governor of Syria.

Since Muawiyyah would not accept `Ali as caliph he did not do this.

Mu’awiya had achieved political success on his own merit and was a popular governor of Syria and hence reluctant to step down from this position.

Ali (RA) rejected all overtures for an understanding with Mu’awiyah and was in fact planning to invade Syria in the spring of 657 in order to appoint a governor of his choice in the province.

3) Avenging Uthman's Death

Another reason for his opposition was that as an Ummayad he felt that ‘Uthman’s murder was not being avenged by ‘Ali and hence he opposed him.
It is reported that a man asked Mu'awiyyah: "Are you disputing with 'Ali for the caliphate or are you like him?" He said: "No; I know that he is better than me and is more entitled (to the caliphate). But don't you know that 'Uthman was killed wrongfully, and I am his paternal cousin and next of kin, who should seek retaliation for him? Go to 'Ali and tell him to hand over the killers of 'Uthman to us, and I will submit to his rule." They went to 'Ali and spoke to him, but he did not hand them (the murderers) over to him.

They thought that 'Ali (&) should bring the murderers of 'Uthmān (RA) to justice first, and then they would swear allegiance to him.

They thought that implementing the ruling of retaliation took precedence over swearing allegiance. It was not a matter of Mu'awiyah's having ambitions in Syria or his demanding something that was not rightfully his;
- He fully understood that the issue of caliphate was limited to whoever was left of the six members of the consultative committee, and that 'Ali (RA) was superior to him and more entitled to it than he was.

Why did Talha and Zubayr Oppose Ali's Caliphate?

They disagree over Ali (RA)’s response to the death of Uthman (RA).

They had initially taken oath at Ali’s hand and hoped Ali would take quick action against the killers of Uthman.

Ali, however, having his own plans and strategies, acted differently.
- He began to dismiss the governors appointed by Uthman since he considered them to be the root cause of all troubles.
  - While doing so, the actions against Uthman killers got delayed and this delay drove a wedge between Ali and the two close companions of the Prophet.
- He was not able to act quickly due to the problem of having to act against law-breakers while not yet in a secure position.

They began to oppose Ali’s policies as they wanted urgent steps against the rebels.

Failing to see Ali introducing any reforms to control the crisis, Talha and Zubair joined 'Aishah to pressure 'Alī to find the killers.

⚔ The Battle of the Camel (November 656 C.E / 54 A.H)

Date: 7 November, 656 C.E

Background

Many people, including the companions, were outrage and wanted to seek vengeance for Uthman's killers.
- 'A'ishah (RA) said: "'Uthmān was slain wrongfully, and by Allah, I shall certainly seek vengeance for his blood."
- Talhah said: "There were some shortcomings on my part with regard to 'Uthmān, and there is no way I can ever repent except to shed my own blood in vengeance for his blood."
- And al-Zubayr said: "Let us inspire the people so that we may seek vengeance for his blood, lest it be forgotten, because forgetting it will lead to the weakening of the authority of Allah (SWT) among us forever. If we do not deter people from doing this again, there will be no leader except that people of that kind will kill him."

Ali agreed but argued that he would do so only after re-establishing peace in the country. He realized that the assassination of Uthman was not the work of a few individuals who could be easily punished.
- Due to the chaotic conditions during the last days of Uthman it was very difficult to establish the identity of the murderers, and Ali refused to punish anyone whose guilt was not lawfully proved.

Cause:

Among the group of Companions that held the same view as 'Aishah (RA), it became clear that the criminals and Saba'is had a presence in 'Ali's army, so it would be hard for 'Ali to persecute the Saba'is, fearing for the people of Madinah.

Those who sought vengeance intended to enter Basra and then Kufah, seeking help from its people and others against the killers of 'Uthmān (RA). Then they would call upon the people of other cities to join them, so that they could comer the murderers of 'Uthmān (RA) who were present in the army of 'Alī and seize them with the minimum possible casualties.

'Aishah herself stated that she sought out to set the peoples' affairs straight. (i.e. remove the Saba'is from the land.)

'Alī wanted to leave Madīnah to set out to support the people of Syria, but upon hearing news of 'A'ishah, Zubayr and Talhah heading to Basra, he went there instead and called out to the companions in Madīnah to follow him.
- However, most of the companions were reluctant to follow 'Alī, fearing that they would be lead into turmoil and would cancel the deeds of their past.

Truce:

Ali did not wish to fight Aisha and sent one of the Prophet’s companions to assure her that the delay in punishing the murderers of Uthman was due to non-availability of evidence.

Aisha also wanted to prevent bloodshed and agreed to negotiate. The negotiations began between the two parties and ended in mutual agreement.

This was not in favour of the Saba'i rebels who had gone to such great lengths to cause fighting amongst the Muslims.

The Battle Begins

A band of the rebels masterminded an attack on Aisha’s army during the night, provoking them to retaliate against Ali’s army.

In the fighting that followed, Talhah and Zubair were killed. Aisha’s own camel was finally over powered and its legs were cut, thus giving the name Battle of the Camel to this event.
- She was treated with respect and honour and was sent to Medina escorted by her brother where she led a retired life and never took part in politics again.

Less than 500 combatants lay dead from both sides in this very first civil war of Islam.

As a result of the victory at Basra, Ali’s Khilafat came to be acknowledged by the entire Muslim world except Syria.

After this battle, Ali shifted the capital to Kufa.

⚔ The Battle of Siffin (May–July 657 CE)

Causes

'Ali (RA) sent letters to Mu’awiyah (RA), but he did not respond. This happened several times in the first few months after the murder of 'Uthmān (RA), then Mu’awiyah sent a man to take a letter to 'Ali (RA) in the month of Safar.

'Ali (RA) said to him: 'Tell me what you have for me."

He said: "I have come to you from people who do not want anything but the hadd punishment for the murderers, and each of them is seeking vengeance. I have left behind sixty thousand men who are weeping in front of 'Uthmān demise, which is on the minbar of Damascus."

'Ali (RA) said: "O Allah, I declare my innocence before You of the blood of 'Uthmān" as the envoy of Mu’awiyah left 'Ali (RA), some of those rebels who had killed 'Uthmān (RA) tried to kill him, and he only escaped with difficulty.

They refused to swear allegiance to 'Ali (RA) until the murderers of 'Uthmān (RA) were executed or handed over to them. They said that if 'Ali (RA) did not do that, they would not swear allegiance to him, and they would fight to the last man.

Hence, 'Alī set out with an army of 50 000 men to Syria, while Mu'awiyyah prepared an army of 60 000 men. ['Ali ibn Abi Talib, Vol 2, Dr. Mohammad As-Salabi]

Events:

The battle of Siffin was fought between ‘Ali and Mu’awiyah in Dhul Hijjah 36 A.H.

For the first few months, they avoided fighting with the entire army for fear of complete destruction and ruin of the Ummah, and in the hope of reaching a peace deal between the two sides whereby loss of lives and bloodshed could be avoided.

There was a pause in fighting during the month of Muharram, as it was a sacred month.
- Ali sent messengers to Muawiyyah asking him to submit in the interest of the unity of Islam.
- Muawiyyah in reply demanded that Uthman's assassins should be punished first. All negotiations for peace broke down and both sides got ready for war.

The main battle began on the 8th of Safar 37 A.H.

Ammar ibn Yasir was killed by Mu'awiyyah's men. However, Mu'awiyyah claimed that it was 'Ali's men who sent him out to the battlefield, and so they were the ones in wrong.

On the fourth day of fighting, the position of Muawiyyah’s army began to worsen.
- Fighting continued for several days between the two sides with loss of life on both sides.

After Friday night, the two armies found themselves in such a state that they could not withstand any more fighting.

After a report by Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays calling for peace reach Mu'awiyah, he decided to call for arbitration, fearing the Byzantines would attack Syria while the Persians invade Iraq which would plunge the Muslim Ummah into chaos.
- Mu'awiyah order the soldiers to tie the mushafs to the ends of their spears.

'Ali to agree to a truce, calling it a victory, and hoping the arbitration would put an end to the dispute, unite the Ummah, strengthen the state and revitalise the conquest movement.

The battle of Siffin gave birth to a secession movement called the Kharijites who were bitterly opposed to the idea of arbitration, however ’Ali treated them with compassion and persuaded them to return to their homes.

Arbitration (Clean this mess up!)

The Battle of Siffin was fought in 657 between ‘Ali and Mu’awiya, the Governor of Syria. Both sides met at Siffin and offered to negotiate. When no compromise could be reached ‘Ali challenged Mu’awiya to settle their difference through single combat. Mu’awiya side stepped this dangerous invitation and single combats took place among their forces which proved indecisive. The actual Battle of Siffin began on 8th of Safar.

‘Ali led his army from the centre, surrounded by the men from Madina, the armies of Kufa and Basra formed the two side wings.

Fighting raged for three days and nights and a morning with a huge loss of life on both sides. By the fourth day it looked like ‘Ali would win the battle.

At this critical time, a body of Syrian cavalry rode out between the battle lines with the Qur’an tied to the heads of their lances. Crying out ‘Let the word of Allah decide between us and you….’

‘Ali and his commanders feared this was a trick by Mu’awiya to delay imminent defeat and urged his men to continue the fight, but they refused and it was decided to settle the dispute through arbitration.

Arbitration took place. Abu Musa was selected to be the arbitrator from ‘Ali’s side and Amr ibn Al-Aas was chosen to arbitrate from Mu’awiya’s side. He had commanded one of the division from Mu’awiya’s side and had the secret assurance of being restored as Governor of Egypt for his support of Mu’awiya.

Details of the arbitration were drawn two days after the battle had stopped. It read that both parties would abide themselves by God’s word.

The disenchanted elements from the Kufa and Basra regiment bitterly opposed the arbitration and broke away from the main army and came to be called the Kharijis.

‘Ali treated them with compassion, reminded them that he had pleaded with them to continue the fight but it was their wish to support the Syrians that had led to the arbitration.

In January 658, the arbitrators met at Damut ul Jandal to announce as per their agreement that both ‘Ali and Mu’awiya should step down. Amr asked Abu Musa to make the announcement first which he did but when it came to his turn he back tracked and announced Mu’awiya as the caliph.

The conference broke up and the Kharijis very upset with this outcome set up their own community in Nahrawan.

Both sides agreed to refer to arbitration after the end of the battle of Siffīn.

Each side was to appoint a man as an arbitrator to represent it, then the two arbitrators were to reach an agreement that was in the best interests of the Muslims.

Mu'awiyah appointed 'Amr ibn al-'As, and 'Ali appointed Abu Mūsa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with them all), and a document was written concerning that.

The place where the two arbitrators were to meet was Dūmat al-Jandal, in the month of Ramadan 37 AH.

The question put to them was ‘’Are the two eligible for the post of Caliph?’’

It was agreed in the arbitration by the two sides that both ‘Ali and Mu’awiya should be deposed.

Abu Musa announced that both Ali and Muawiyyah would resign and the people should be given a right to choose any one of them as Caliph.

However, at the time of the announcement of the verdict, Amr bin Aas announced that he agreed with Abu Musa to depose Ali but he himself had decided to retain Muawiyyah on his post.
- Because Muawiyyah is a successful governor and his people have no complaints against him, so the election for the Caliph should take place while Muawiyyah retained his seat.

The decision was one sided so Ali, on principle did not accept it. Now the only way for him was to fight against Muawiyyah once again.

Ali left the battlefield of Siffin for Kufa.
- Thus, the arbitration failed. The failure of the arbitration deeply upset the Kharijites who had made their peace with ‘Ali. They now broke away and set up their own community in Nahrawan.

Impact of the Arbitration

1. Weakening of ‘Ali’s position

The failure of the arbitration led to a weakening of ‘Ali’s position; or it could be said that a series of events unrolled after the arbitration
- e.g. ‘Ali was preparing to fight the Syrians, but the Kharijites fought him which demoralised his army even more so that they refused to proceed to Syria which made Mu’awiya even more bold leading to his takeover of Egypt.
- The fall of Egypt led to frequent rebellions.

After the arbitration failed ‘Ali’s position weakened whilst on the other hand Mu’awiya’s strengthened which led to the empire being divided between ‘Ali and Mu’awiya.

2. The breakup of Muslim unity

3. Emergence of the Kharijites

The details of the arbitration drafted two days after the Battle of Siffin were a disaster for ‘Ali as he had led his army into battle as the Commander of the Faithful and now the troops were headed back as a faction in a civil war, as the draft at the end read that both parties agreed to bind themselves by God’s word.

The disenchanted elements from ‘Ali’s army from both the Basra and Kufa regiments refused to set up camp with the rest of their regiment and they came to be known as the Kharijites.

They were opposed to the idea of arbitration and argued for ‘No judgment but God’s’, by which they meant that as the caliph ‘Ali should not have agreed to the arbitration and compromised his authority.
- Some of Ali’s supporters at Siffin thought he was the leader of the community and those who opposed him were wrong.
- So, they thought he was wrong to arbitrate with sinners.

They were treated with compassion by ‘Ali who reminded them that it was not him who had sought a ceasefire.

The famous oath of Ghadir Khumm composed by the Prophet in the last year of his life was repeated.

Most of the Kharijites returned to their home but it was after the result of the peace conference held in 658 C.E that the Kharijites got even more upset and set up their own community in Nahrawan.

🚪 Al-Khawarij (Kharijites)

The term Kharijites literally means separatists or out-goers. These people had taken part in the revolt against Uthman and were involved in his murder.

When Muawiyyah raised the cry for revenge for the blood of Uthman, they allied themselves with Ali and fought on his side in the Battles of Camel and Siffin.

When the troops of Muawiyyah asked for cease fire, they responded to the call and forced Ali to suspend hostilities, although victory for his forces were near.

When Ali was going to Kufa after the decision of arbitration right after the Battle of Siffin, they insisted that Ali should attack the Syrians. 'Ali replied that he could not break the agreement signed by him.

Their argument was that neither Ali nor Muawiya were worthy of rule.

They based it on a verse of the Quran 49:9 which said that there is no arbitrator but God.

In fact, they went so far as to say that the true caliphate came to an end with 'Umar and that Muslims should live without any ruler over them except God.

On the way back from Siffin to Kufa, 12,000 men separated and marched towards Harwara, where they formed a party and started their activities against Ali.
- In this way these people separated from the main body of the Muslims.

Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali did not regard the Kharijites as disbelievers. Before the battle, he tried to bring them back to the main body of Muslims, and many of them did come back.
- Ali sent Ibn 'Abbas who rebutted every argument they had, whereupon 2000 of them repented, but the rest continued rebelling.

⚔ Battle of Nahrawan

While 'Alī prepared to attack Muawiyyah, the Kharijites from all over the country collected at Nahrawan and began to create problems, like killing Muslims who disagreed with them.
- The Khawarij were bloodthirsty murderers. They slit open the belly of a pregnant slave woman and slaughtered the son of a companion like a sheep.

'Ali demanded the Khawarij hand over the killers to them for punishment, but they replied arrogantly that they were all killers.

So, Ali had to fight against them first on 9 Safar, 38 AH.

There were 4000 Kharijites at the Nahrawan.

'Ali (RA) ordered Abu Ayyūb al-Anṣarī to raise a banner of safety for the Kharijites and to say to them: "Whoever comes to this banner will be safe; whoever goes to Kufah or al-Mada’in will be safe. We are not after any of you except those who killed our brothers."

Many of them left, and no more than one thousand remained.

The Kharijites were defeated badly, and less than ten managed to escape.

When ‘Ali’s army saw within the martyrs their fathers and brothers they lost the will to fight.

The survivors vowed to take revenge.

This decisive victory diverted his attention from the main struggle against Muawiyyah.

It was because of this war that Ali was assassinated by a Kharijite two years later.

Eventually ‘Ali was forced to share power with Mu’awiya and the remaining small band of Kharijites raised the standard of rebellion in Persia.

Fall of Egypt

When 'Alī decided to step forward against Muawiyyah, his troops disobeyed.

Mu'awiyyah took advantage of the disobedience and ordered Amr ibn al-'Aas to attack Egypt.

Governor of Egypt was defeated and Egypt came under the control of Muawiyyah.

After the fall of Egypt, a rebellion broke out throughout the Muslim Empire against the Caliph.

In 40 A.H, Ali signed a treaty with Mu'awiyyah that Iraq would be for 'Alī and Syria would be for Mu'awiyyah, and that neither would interfere with each other's sphere of influence.

The Kharijites did not want peace to prevail and they now started preparation to kill Ali.

⚰ Death

The year 660 had been the year of the two oaths and by the end of the year an informal truce was agreed upon between ‘Ali and Mu’awiya.
- The incident of the two oaths of loyalty imposed upon the Muslims not only angered many of the old believers but aroused the fury of the three Kharijites, who at the conclusion of hajj that year decided to act.

On the 40th anniversary of the Prophet’s migration to Madina in 661 CE (40 AH) they would strike and free Islam from persecution by removing ‘Ali, Mu’awiya and Amr ibn Al-Aas.
- They claimed that neither Ali nor Muawiyyah were worthy of rule.
- In fact, they went so far as to say that the true caliphate came to an end with 'Umar and that Muslims should live without any ruler over them except God. They vowed to kill all three rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three directions.

After the Battle of Nahrawan, the Kharijites became his bitter enemies. The survivors of the battle wanted revenge for their friends who were killed in the battle.

Three attacks were planned to take place in the second week of Ramadan during Friday prayers in the great mosques at Fustat, Damascus and Kufa.
- The assassins who were deputed to kill Muawiyyah and 'Amr ibn al-'Aas did not succeed and were captured and executed.

Abdul Rehman bin Muljim was selected to assassinate Ali.

On the 18th of Ramadhan when Ali was leading the morning prayers in a mosque at Kufa, Ibn Maljam attacked him with a poisonous sword.
- The wounds proved fatal and he died on the 21st of Ramadhan, 40 A.H at the age of 63.
- His son Hassan killed Ibn Maljam the next day.

There are different versions as to the place of his burial.

He did not name anyone as his successor.

🏅 Achievements

The whole period of his caliphate passed in civil wars therefore he did not have a chance to pay proper attention to administration or conquests.

He administered the state on the lines laid down by the previous caliphs without making any changes.

The divisions of the provinces remained the same as during Umars time with a few exceptions.

The capital was changed from Medina to Kufa and some of the officers and governors were changed.

Was very particular in taking care of non-Muslims.

He constructed castles for the women and children who were widowed and orphaned in Iran during the days of revolt.

He introduced Islamic injunctions which included whip lashes to drinkers and cutting of hands on stealing.

He passed laws to provide food to the prisoners.

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Ali ibn Abi Talib