Mu’awiya’s Defiant Despatch
was After having detained Ali’s first messenger a full three months, Mu’awiya now finally ‘deigned to send an answer. It was impertinent and laconic. The cover of the note, properly superscribed with the address, “From Mu’awiya to Ali,” bore the state seal. The paper inside blank. Mu’awiya’s messenger, Kabisa, a Bedouine chief of note, who carried the envelope on his staff, roamed about the capital, attracting a mob of citizens anxious to know its contents. Kabisa was then ushered into the presence of Ali, who tore open the envelope. Finding nothing inside, in great rage the Caliph asked him, “What does it mean?”. Kabisa then asked, “Is my life safe?”. Being told that it was safe, and that he was at full liberty to speak, the messenger said, “Know ye then, there are no less than 60,000 Syrians whose beards are wet with tears, who, rallyig around Uthman’s bloody shirt which they have made a standard in the mosque, have armed themselves, and are bent on revenging Uthman’s murder.” “What”,answered Ali, “How on earth can they hold me responsible for it? Dost thou not see that I am helpless to punish the regicides?”. Then calling God to witness, Ali said,” O Lord! Thou knowest well. I am not guilty of it. It is as yet beyond my powers to take the assassins to task.” Then a voice from amongst the mob was heard, saying, “Kill the dog of this Syrian of a messenger for his impudence”. At this Kabisa took to heels and retorted, “Four thousand chosen warriors are near at “Silence” hand. See to your camels and steeds.” said Ali, “Begone! See thy life is safe.” As the envoy left, the mob reiterated the cries of “slay the Syrian dog, Down with that villain of a Syrian messenger.”
Realising that war with Syria was inevitable, Ali delivered the following sermon to the Medinites, warning them of the dangers that threatened and urging them to unite before it was too late:-
“Beware! Satan has gathered his forces. His army is multiplying. Due to this (The Satanic forces at work) tyranny and lies attract people to them. They blame me, without rhyme or reason. They have not done justice to me. They demand from me the right which they themselves have abandoned; they demand from me blood for blood which they themselves have shed. If in their insinuations they say that I had participated in the murder how could they be acquitted. But if they murdered him without my permission, it is they who are guilty. Their (repeated) demand for taking vengeance upon the murderers (of Uthman) is demanding milk from a woman who has dried up. Once again they want to revive the innovations of Uthman which are done away with. O. thou persons! who suffered losses and now invite me to war, come before me. under all circumstances satisfied with the teachings of the Qur’an and the Holy Prophet. If they refuse to I am
1. Nahj-al-Balagha. Sermon No. 26.
abide by the orders of the Qur’an and the Holy Prophet, the sword which helps the upholders of truth and destroys those of falsehood shall settle the matter. It is surprising that they invite me to war. May God curse them! War can never frighten me into submission.. I am not afraid of death. I have absolutely no doubt of Islam.”
Ali Prepares for War against Mu’awiya
Thus resolved to make the sword the arbiter between Mu’awiya and himself, Ali proclaimed an expedition to Syria. Levies were ordered. Despatches were sent to Basra, Kufa and Egypt to send reinforcements and whatever succour they could. Having completed these preparations, he declared a Jihad against Mu’awiya, and exhorted the men of Medina to join the ranks of Islam. “Now or never”, said Ali, “If you fail to fight, you will lose power and these accursed schismatics will destory the solidarity of Islam. Perhaps the Lord will set right that which the nations are setting wrong.” This appeal fell on deaf cars, and the people did not respond to the Caliph’s call. The ranks of Ali were very thin indeed.
Again he called the people together, ascended the pulpit and harangued the Faithful in the following sermon, known to history as “The Blessings of Jihad”. “Jihad is one of the doors of heaven. God. opens it for his friends and saints. It is the dress of piety. It is a useful and beneficial armour (in which the Faithful should be clad). It is a strong shield (for the Believers in Faith). If a man gives it up, God will make him wear the robes of disgrace and shame. He will get wrapper of misfortune. Verily, he shall be dishonoured and shall never get justice and fair play. the
Beware! I urge you to fight day and night, openly and secretly, against this community (the followers of Mu’awiya). I tell you to attack them before they attack
1. Nahj-al-Balagha. Sermon No. 31.
us. By God! The people who had fought in their homes (in self-defence) have been disgraced. You are shifting your responsibilities to others, and this will result be in your ruin and destruction. Your houses will occupied. Behold! this brother (Mu’awiya) is entering Amber with his cavalry. He has killed Hasan bin Hasan Bakri, the governor of that place. He has displaced your cavalry from its arsenal. I am told that one of his soldiers entered the house of a non-Muslim woman and took away all her ornaments and jewels. She could not repulse him but cried for help. His army returned with huge booty. None of them was wounded nor was any drop of their blood shed. Now if any dies of grief” by hearing this tragic news, he cannot be blamed. His death will rather be a blessing. It is both wonderful and heart-rending that though they (Mu’awiya’s followers) are misguided and mistaken, yet they are united: and though you are the upholders of a true cause, you are disunited and divided. May you become the target of arrows! They kill and you cannot destroy them. They fight against you and you evade fighting. God’s commandments are being defied, and sins are committed (in open day light), and you see these things passively as submissive onlookers. When I order you to march in the summer season; you request me to delay the departure till the hot season is over; when I order you to march in the winter season, you complain of excessive cold and want me to These postpone the march till the cold scason is over. are lame excuses. If you are afraid of the excessive heat or cold you will run away at the sight of the sword. O men! although none of you deserves to be called a man! O dreaming children! O Foolish human beings! How I wish I could not see you or recognise you. you
1. Such was the sanctity of the observance of the treaties and contracts whether entered with a Muslim or non-Muslim, that any breach of any of their clauses was not only considered scandalous but tantamount to the death of the rulers. According to the Arab code of nobility, a person who failed to fulfil a contract was said to have suffered the death of sacrificing his honour-an act worse than physical death.
By God, I am ashamed at the sight of you. May God destroy you. You have broken my heart. You have made me lose my temper. You have always made me drink the draught of sorrow. You have upset all my plans, through your sins and disobedience. The Quraish now say that the son of Abu Talib is undoubtedly brave, but ignorant of the art of war. May God bless them! Is there any one from amongst their ranks who was more steadfast than I was in war? Why, I have been fighting in wars since I was barely twenty years old, and now I am sixty. But suggestions and plans are of little value to men who do not act upon them.”
The Rebellion of Talha and Zubair
In this sermon, one hears, once again, the ring of authority in Ali’s voice. How irksome it must have been for one of his temperament to have endured for so long the insolence of Mu’awiya and the jibs of the Meccan Quraish, to have brooked the defection of Talha and Zubair without, resort to arms, to have persisted in negotiations and attempts at compromise when his whole nature must have cried out for action. Now at last his duty to Islam is clear, his head is high, his voice defiant, he stands forth in the pulpit as a true leader of men. Unfortunately the call to action came too late. The enemies of Ali had spread such uncertainty among the people that they remained frozen to his appeals, not knowing which cause was the rightful one, that of Ali or that of the avengers of Uthman.
At this point, while endeavouring to raise an army against the distant enemy in Syria, Ali received the news. of danger nearer home. Talha and Zubair were in open rebellion. The first civil war was about to begin.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 