After Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) passed away,
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was elected as the fourth Caliph by the
Muslims. During the period of the first three Caliphs, Madinatul Munawwarah
continued to be the capital of the Muslim world, but Sayyiduna Ali (radi
Allahu anhu) transferred the Islamic capital to Kufah in Iraq.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was the son of Abu
Taalib, an uncle of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was married to Sayyadah Bibi Fathima
(radi Allahu anha), the daughter of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam). They had 3 sons, Sayyiduna Hassan, Sayyiduna Hussain and
Sayyiduna Mohsin (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) took part in the
battle of Badr, Khandaq and Khaibar. At Khaibar, it was Sayyiduna Ali (radi
Allahu anhu) who subdued the Jews with his furious assault. He also held
many important positions during the time of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) and the first 3 Caliphs before him.
He had a love for learning and was a great and learned person
himself. He had been given the title of "Baabul I'lm"or
"Gate of Learning" by Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam). He was also called "Asaadullah" or "Lion of Allah."
The situation in Madinatul Munawwarah after the murder
(Shahaadah) of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) was serious.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu's) first task was to rid Madinatul
Munawwarah of the rebels and to return the situation to normal.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was able to force the
rebels to withdraw from Madinatul Munawwarah and to establish peace and order in
the city. The powerful governor of Syria, Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu
anhu), challenged Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and refused to pay
homage to him. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu anhu) insisted that
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) arrest the murderers of Sayyiduna
'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) and hand them over to him.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was a man with a deep
sense of justice and did not want to accuse the wrong people. He needed a
peaceful period to trace the culprits. But, Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu
anhu) began accusing him of protecting the murderers, and in this way the
old enmity between the two families were revived.
Unlike most of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu's)
governors, Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) displayed great
administrative ability and was very popular. He was a God-fearing man and
especially known for his mercy. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was very
strict in piety and straight forward. Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu)
declared his disobedience to him, because he felt that he was better qualified
to lead the Muslim world.
Another serious development took place. Sayyadah Aishah (radi
Allahu anha) and two leading Sahaba, Sayyiduna Talha and Sayyiduna Zubair
(radi Allahu anhuma) declared their opposition to the Khilaafat of Sayyiduna
Ali (radi Allahu anhu). They left Madinatul Munawwarah for Makkatul
Mukarramah and from there travelled to Basrah where they rallied men and new
supporters.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) had to crush all
opposition. A bloody battle took place near Basrah on the 9th of December 656
A.C. This battle was sparked off by a third force who were the real
troublemakers. Just before the battle, both parties had already reached an
agreement to settle the dispute. But this third force, the real assassinators of
Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu), launched an overnight attack on
both camps simultaneously. Each side were under the impression that the other
had attacked. The battle began. Several thousand men were lost including the two
Sahaba. Sayyadah Aishah (radi Allahu anha) was safe. She was riding a
camel during the battle-hence the name "Battle of the Camel."
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) treated her in a most noble and
dignified manner and respectfully sent her back to Madinatul Munawwarah. She
praised him and deeply regretted opposing Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu).
Kufa was now made the capital of the Islamic world.
Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) rallied an army to
face Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu). A battle took place at Siffin on
the Syrian border in the July of 567 A.C. Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu
anhu) was no match for Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and began to
retreat. By the clever proposal of Sayyiduna Amr bin Al As (radi Allahu
anhu), the retreating army raised pieces of the Holy Quran on their spears
demanding judgement between the two parties. Many pious Muslims on the side of
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) refused to fight seeing the Holy Quran
displayed in the air.
Two men, one from each side, were appointed to settle the
dispute. Sayyiduna Abu Musa (radi Allahu anhu), a pious Sahaba from
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu's) side, and the skilled Sayyiduna Amr
(radi Allahu anhu) from Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu's)
side. Sayyiduna Musa (radi Allahu anhu) declared in front of the Muslims
that it was decided to recommend the removal of both Sayyiduna Ali and Sayyiduna
Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhuma) and that the Muslims should select another
man for the Khilaafat. Sayyiduna Amr (radi Allahu anhu) replied that:
"He has declared the removal of his leader, while I would conform Muaawiyah as
the Caliph." Chaos followed.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) prepared to meet
Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) again in battle, but he was moved
from his task by a serious conflict that occurred among his men. Some
narrow-minded people accused Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) of
accepting a man-made judgement. Their slogan was: "There is no judgment but
with Allah." They declared that Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Muaawiyah and
Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in) were unbelievers and that
Jihad should be declared against them. Ever since this event, they have been
known as the "Khaarijees", which means, "those who left the
fold." They maintained that the Khilaafat should be given to the most
eligible Muslim, regardless of his origin. The Kharijees are not regarded as
Muslims.
On the 17th of July 659 A.C., Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu)
overcame the Khaarijees in a battle near Nahrawan, in which, it is said, that 40
000 lives were lost.
In the early morning of the 24th of January 661 A.C., Abdul
Rahman bin Muljim, a Khaariji fanatic lay in ambush in the Masjid of Kufah and
stabbed Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) when he entered the musjid. He
passed away from the wound. He was 63 years old.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi allahu anhu) lived a simple life. He
refused any luxury food and wore simple clothes thinking of the poor. He should
sleep on the ground and even sit on the floor. He repaired his own clothes and
shoes and even did manual labour. He spent nights in Salaah and should fast for
three days in a row. Honesty, piety, justice and love of truth were the main
marks of his character.
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