AsSalam-o-Alaikum, 1st (or 8th) Safar 1430 A.H. – Battle of Siffin. Click here to read a detailed account of Battle of Siffin : ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php Below is a brief summary of main events of this battle. Background and Reason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Having defeated Hazrat Aisha at the Jang-e-Jamal (Battle of the Camel), Imam Ali(a.s.) returned from Basra to Kufa in Rajab of 36 A.H. (January 657). He decided to transfer the capital of his government to Kufa from Medina because it was more centrally placed in the Muslim Empire, and he could halt Muawiya’s progress into Iraq. However, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib(a.s.) tried to settle matters peacefully by sending an envoy to Syria....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Seeing that war was inevitable, Imam Ali(a.s.) gathered his forces, and, after at first planning to invade Syria from the North, he attacked directly, marching through the Mesopotamian desert. Arriving at Riqqa, on the banks of the Euphrates, the Syrian vanguard was sighted, but it withdrew without engagement. The people of Riqqa were hostile to Imam Ali(a.s.)....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Historian Yaqubi (2nd vol., p. 188) writes that Imam Ali(a.s.) had 80,000 men, including 70 Companions who participated in Badr, 70 Companions who took oath at Hudaibia, and 400 prominent Ansars and Muhajirs; while Muawiya had 120,000 Syrians. The fight for the River ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Muawiya had stationed his general, Amr ibn al-Aas, with 10,000 men on the river to stop Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib(a.s.)s army having access to the water and to use water as a weapon. Imam Ali(a.s.) gave command of his army to the general Malik al-Ashtar, who led the attack; after heavy fighting, Amrs forces were dislodged from the river bank. Imam Ali(a.s.) immediately ordered that even though they had the control of the river, men from both sides would have free access to water saying Our religion and ethical code does not permit us to stop water supply, and so pay our enemy back in his own coin. I do not want to follow the way of the ignorant people. ....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) The battle begins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Imam Ali(a.s.) made one final demand for Muawiyas army to submit to him as Caliph, but they refused. As a result, on 1st or 8th Safar 37 A.H. (26 July 657) Imam Ali(a.s.) gave the order for a full attack, and the major part of the Battle of Siffin began. The battle lasted all day, and into the night which is known as lailatul harir (the night of clangour). The fighting lulled a little in the darkness, but started again even more fiercely the following day. Despite his age (he was now 58) Imam Ali(a.s.) attacked personally with his Medinan troops in the centre....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) The following morning, the battle started up again. Edward Gibbon writes in The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire (London, 1848, 3rd vol., p. 522) that, The Caliph Ali displayed a superior character of valour and humanity. His troops were strictly enjoined to wait the first onset of the enemy, to spare their flying brethren, and to respect the bodies of the dead, and the chastity of the female captives. The ranks of the Syrians were broken by the charge of the hero, who was mounted on a piebald horse, and wielded with irresistible force, his ponderous and two edged sword........ (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Muawiyas Trick ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Both sides had by now ran out of ammunition for their quivers and so the battle was fought hand-to-hand. Both Imam Ali(a.s.) and Muawiya were unhappy at the heavy losses both sides were taking, but Muawiya was particularly dejected, believing that the battle would eventually be lost. Amr al-Aas suggested to Muawiya to accept Imam Ali(a.s.)s offer of a single combat between the two leaders to resolve the battle without further bloodshed, but Muawiya was unwilling to do this. ....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Muawiyas army raised 500 copies of the Holy Quran on spears and started chanting as planned. Several men in Imam Ali(a.s.)s army quickly began chanting along with Muawiyas men. Imam Ali(a.s.) urged his army to fight on, saying that Muawiya was simply using a trick and was on the verge of defeat, but the soldiers did not listen....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Decision to Arbitrate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Imam Ali(a.s.) wanted his Abdullah ibn Abbas or Malik al-Ashtar to represent him in the arbitration, but the army rejected these candidates. Al-Ashtar was a regicide, and so was implacably opposed to Muawiya, who would have had him executed. And Abdullah was Imam Ali(a.s.)s close relation and so tied very closely to his cause. As a result, the soldiers feared that these men would advance Imam Ali(a.s.)s claims too strongly and be unwilling to compromise - and so the war would continue. So Imam Ali(a.s.)s men insisted that Abu Musa al-Ashari be chosen as the representative....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Revolt of the Kharjites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile Imam Ali(a.s.)s followers now became divided; a group of 12,000 soldiers broke away from the main army, and instead camped at the nearby village of Harura....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) Arbitration and Result ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ While waiting for the arbitration, Muawiya ruled over Syria, Imam Ali(a.s.) over the rest of the Muslim Empire. In Ramadan 37 A.H. (February 658), the umpires arrived at Dumat-al-Jondel. Many a leading Chiefs from Mecca, Medina, Iraq and Syria went there to watch the proceedings, which were to decide the future of Islam. Abdullah bin Abbas, who accompanied Abu-Musa to preside at the daily prayers, while having a discourse with Abu-Musa upon the topic of arbitration, urged him to beware of the crafty ways of his astute colleague and to keep particularly in his mind the fact that Imam Ali(a.s.) had no blemish to render him incapable of government, nor Muawiya any virtue to qualify him for it....... (read more online at ziaraat/events/siffin/siffin.php) At any rate the arbitration was indecisive, and the situation continued as before, with Muawiya ruling over Syria and later Egypt, and Imam Ali(a.s.) ruling the rest of the Muslim territories. Imam Ali(a.s.) continued to be recognized as Caliph, Muawiya did not claim the title openly but continued to conspire, no new shura held, and both sides remained hostile to each other. Imam Ali(a.s.) lost 25,000 of his companions and 45,000 of Muawiya’s men were killed. ---------------------------------------------------------- This newsletter is sent to 11,328 direct members at the site ziaraat and 50,121 indirect members through discussion and News groups. ----------------------------------------------------------- Iltimas-e-Dua,
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 17:36:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015