The Discontent of the Kufans under Ali
Hardly had Ali entered Kufa, when the Bedouine Jeader, Ashtar, in order to stir up discontent recalled how, immediately after his election, Ali had appointed his own relations to key posts just as the murdered Caliph Uthman had done. “Has not Ali, said Ashtar, “appointed his cousins, the sons of al-Abbas, as governors of the various provinces.” In order to further fan the fire of misgivings, Ashtar in the usual ancient Arab fashion, continued to tell his tribesmen, “What have we gained, by joining Ali and fighting against Talha, Zubair and the Mother of the Faithful? What benefit has accrued to us in the shedding of Uthman’s blood?” Although Kufa had become Ali’s capital, there is little doubt that the Bedouine would have preferred a more material reward for their services at the Battle of Camel. They had not been allowed to pillage the rival city of Busra, nor to enslave its inhabitants and their leaders had not been given important and lucrative posts in the provincial governments. Such was the Kufan discontent that, soon after Ali’s arrival in Kufa, they ravaged the province of Seistan near the Persian frontier and took possession of it. The general whom Ali sent to suppress their revolt was killed by them and they remained unsubdued until Abdullah bin Abbas,
governor of Busra, defeated them in a pitched battle and took possession of Seistan. Although this victory placed Seistan once more under Ali’s authority, the rebellion had been a blow to his prestige and the Kufan Bedouines were to remain a thorn in his side. They rebelled on the smallest pretext and constantly broke the peace and tranquility of the empire.
Ali’s New Nominee in Egypt
Let us now return to the affairs of Egypt which, during the Caliphate of Uthman, had been governed by his nominee, Ibn Abi Sarah, until rebellion, in the latter part of Uthman’s reign, forced Ibn Abi Sarah to retire to Palestine. When Ali assumed sovereign powers he deposed Ibn Abi Sarah in favour of the famous Ansar chief, Qais bin Sa’d’ bin Ubada. This seasoned warrior of Islam, proud of his lineage and sincerely devoted to the Hashimites, was famed for his wisdom and diplomacy, qualities which were to stand him in good stead during his governorship. To the surprise of everyone in Medina, Qais left for Egypt with a retinue consisting solely of seven companions of the Holy Prophet. As a sign of his authority he had a letter from Ali, dated Safar 36 A.H. but no soldiers accompanied him. “The Caliph” said he, has greater need of the army at this juncture, with Medina in a turmoil, than I.”
Whether or not he would have preferred to have had soldiers with him, is not known, but on arrival in Egypt he appears to have had little difficulty in winning over the majority of Egyptians to Ali’s side. Tackling the rebellious element, led by the Kinanite, Yazid ibn
L. According to Waqidi and Tabari, Qais was not the first Alid governor of Egypt but was successor to Muhammad ibn Abi Hudafa; who during the attack on the Caliph Uthman by the rebels at Medina, had driven out Uthman’s governor Ibn Abi Sarah and taken possession of Egypt on Ali’s behalf. In 656 A.D. Muhammad ibn Abi Hudafa was enticed by Mu’awiya to come to Arish on the It was after the per- borders of Palestine, where he was treacherously murdered. fidious murder of Ibn Abi Hudafa that Ali appointed Qais bin Sa’d as the governor of Egypt. Ali is said never to have chosen a better officer than Qais, whose active loyal work successfully consolidated Ali’s position.
Harith, with wisdom, tact and kindliness, Qais succeeded in persuading them to swear allegiance to Ali. Similarly he succeeded in concluding treaties of neutrality with rebel chiefs of other tribes. A similar alliance was made with Maslama bin Mukhelled, who had been a staunch champion of the cause of Uthman.
A great many of the Egyptians had been on the side of the Umayyads but, because of his superb diplomacy, Qais succeeded in bringing Egypt under Ali’s authority without incurring the least dissatisfaction amongst the rebels Qais himself became deservedly popular with the Egyptians.
Mu’awiya Stirs up Suspicion against Qais
Because of Qais’s wise policy, Mu’awiya was unable to make any headway amongst the Egyptians. Seeing that his propaganda had failed, the governor of Syria next decided to try and win over Qais himself and, after several abortive attempts, went so far as to promise Egypt to him in perpetuity and to promote all his kinsmen to high offices. Having once more failed to win him over, Mu’awiya tried other tactics, sending Qais a letter in which he admonished him for having backed the wrong man -one whose hands were still smeared with the blood of Uthman. This letter had no effect on Qais, who replied that there was no evidence to prove the complicity of Ali in the murder and that, in the absence of conclusive proof, his loyalty to Ali would remain unshakeable.
Mu’awiya, foiled in all these attempts to win Qais over to his side, decided that his only hope lay in stirring up friction between Qais and Ali. Contrary to all the facts, the crafty governor of Syria let it be known throughout Arabia that Egypt would shortly declare for him. Qais, his propaganda maintained, was now Mu’awiya’s friend and ally and about to make common cause with him. To strengthen his assertion his agents pointed out that Qais had not suppressed the party of
demanded retribution for
the Egyptian rebels who had the blood of Uthman; on the contrary, with the assistance of Qais, this rebel party had become increasingly powerful and the vacillating policy of Ali’s chosen governor was daily strengthening Mu’awiya’s position. At first these insinuations against Qais were advanced with the greatest caution but Mu’awiya’s agents increased their campaign of rumours until the alleged disloyalty of Qais had become an open secret. The fires of suspicion were further fanned by those who were jealous of his popularity and Ali began to entertain- doubts about the loyalty of the best of all his officers. As a test case he instructed Qais to follow an aggressive policy against the malcontents, but Qais who did not see eye to eye with Ali on this matter pointed out how impolitic such a course of action would be, for it would certainly jeopardise the peace of Egypt. This was interpreted by Ali as conclusive proof of Qais’s treachery. Qais was forthwith deposed and Muhammad bin Abu Bakr appointed in his place.
Qais and Ali are Re-united
to Qais obeyed the royal summons and gave over the charge of Egypt to Muhammad bin Abu Bakr. Greatly incensed at the treatment he had received from Ali, Qais decided to leave the political arena and retire to Medina. There too, he found himself surrounded by hostility and insults. Thus taunted, especially by Merwan bin Hakem, a cousin of Mu’awiya, he decided go to Ali at Kufa and demand a fair hearing from the master he had served so loyally and faithfully. Ali received him with open arms and made him his chief adviser, news which caused Mu’awiya to chide his loquacious cousin, Merwan, in a letter which ran, “A fool thou art indeed. Had you given a hundred thousand men to Ali, it had been a lesser evil to me than to give the counsel of such a man as Qais to my enemy. Nevertheless Mu’awiya was overjoyed that Qais was no
longer holding Egypt together.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 