History Books

Ali had commenced his march on Syria when he received tidings that the Kharijites had attempted a raid on Madaen but were beaten back to their camp; that they were committing horrible outrages in the country all around their camp, condemning as impio...

Ali had commenced his march on Syria when he recei...

The truce having been concluded on 13th Safar, 37 A.H. at San, when Ali was returning homeward with his army, a body of 12,000 men had separated themselves from the ranks and marched at some little distance in the same direction as the main body towa...

The truce having been concluded on 13th Safar, 37 ...

"The carnage, chiefly in the ranks of Moawiya, was very great in these battles. Among the ranks of Ali the loss of certain distinguished Companions was regretted by friends and foes alike. Ammar Yasir was deeply grieved when Hashim b. Obta, the hero ...

"The carnage, chiefly in the ranks of Moawiya, was...

The following interesting incident is related by Major Price as having taken place at the commencement of the war :-"As Siffin commanded, to a considerable distance, the only access to the waters of the Euphrates, Moawiya had stationed Abul Awr, one ...

The following interesting incident is related by M...

1. Never begin a war yourself, God does not like bloodshed; fight only in defence. 2. Never be first to attack your enemy, repulse his attacks, but do it boldly, bravely and courageously. 3. While declaring yourself and your deeds (Rajuz, a custom a...

1. Never begin a war yourself, God does not like b...

It has already been stated that during his sojourn at Medina on the occasion of his visit to Caliph Osman, Moawiya happened one day to ask Kab-al-Ahbar how the prevailing disturbances against Osman would end. Kab predicted that Osman would be murdere...

It has already been stated that during his sojourn...

"Ayesha might have looked for cruel treatment at the hands of Ali, having been his vindictive and persevering enemy, but he was too magnanimous to triumph over a fallen foe." W. Irving's Succ. of Mohd. p. 197. When all the confusion of the battle was...

"Ayesha might have looked for cruel treatment at t...

Such was the end of the two great leaders of the rebels. As to Ayesha, the implacable soul of the revolt, the vindictive lady was still screaming unceasingly with her shrill voice, "Slay the murderers of Osman," and urging her men to fight. But the t...

Such was the end of the two great leaders of the r...

Remorse and compunction had been aroused in the heart of Zubeir at Ali's reminding him of the Prophet's prophecy. He had no doubt entered into the battle at the instance of Ayesha and his own son, but his heart was heavy. 1 Now he saw that Ammar Yasi...

Remorse and compunction had been aroused in the he...

1 During the heat of the battle when victory began to incline towards Ali, Marwan b. al-Hakam (Secy. of the late Caliph Osman) one of the officers in Ayesha's army, noticed Talha urging his troops to fight valiantly. 'Behold the traitor,' said he to ...

1 During the heat of the battle when victory began...

Early next morning, Friday the 16th of Jamadi 11, 36 A.H. (November 656 A.D.) Ayesha took the field, mounted in a litter on her great camel Al-Askar and riding up and down among her troops, animating them by her presence and by her voice. In history ...

Early next morning, Friday the 16th of Jamadi 11, ...

Ayesha's army numbered thirty thousand, but it consisted mostly of raw recruits, while that of Ali's was composed principally of veterans and men who had seen service and were the Companions of the Prophet. When Ali appeared with his forces marshalle...

Ayesha's army numbered thirty thousand, but it con...

About four months after the murder of Osman, Talha and Zubeir, the brother-in-law of Ayesha reached Mecca and found things well in progress. Notwithstanding their oath of allegiance to Ali, which they now said they took under compulsion and were not ...

About four months after the murder of Osman, Talha...

Ayesha, on her way back from the pilgrimage at Mecca, met Ibn Omm Kalab at Safif. He informed her of Osman's murder and All's accession to the Caliphate. When Ayesha heard of Ali's election as Caliph she said, "I wish Heavens had fallen and I had not...

Ayesha, on her way back from the pilgrimage at Mec...

When Sahel returned, Ali asked Talha and Zubeir to mark the extent to which the parties were divided and which he had cautioned them against. They replied that, if they were allowed to go out of Medina, they would be answerable if the disturbance did...

When Sahel returned, Ali asked Talha and Zubeir to...

In the meantime the Umayyads, sparing nothing which could possibly serve to disturb Ali and his government, carried, at the instance of 1 Umme Habiba, a widow of the Prophet and sister of Moawiya, the blood-stained shirt which Osman was wearing at th...

In the meantime the Umayyads, sparing nothing whic...

The next matter for immediate attention of the new Caliph was the removal of the ungodly men, who governed various provinces with such tyranny that it drove the people to desperation, which cost Osman his life. Many abuses had crept in during the rei...

The next matter for immediate attention of the new...

After the inauguration of Ali, Talha and Zubeir with several others came to him and requested that the murder of Osman should by all means be avenged, proferring their services for the purpose. Ali knew full well that the crime was perpetrated hardly...

After the inauguration of Ali, Talha and Zubeir wi...

Next morning (on the fourth day after Osman's murder), the people assembled in large numbers in the peat mosque. Here Ali made his appearance clad in a simple cotton gown and a coarse turban wound round his head and carrying a bow in his right hand a...

Next morning (on the fourth day after Osman's murd...

In this dilemma several of the principal men of Medina approached Ali and desired him to accede to their request. In reply he assured them that he had no wish for temporal power and would willingly accept the authority of any other person elected by ...

In this dilemma several of the principal men of Me...

After the murder of Osman terror reigned in the city and the regicides had the entire mastery of the situation, there being no settled government in Medina. The principal citizens, feeling the tumultuous state of the populace and apprehending civil w...

After the murder of Osman terror reigned in the ci...