Whoever wants to understand the truth of Islam must read about the wars of the Companions. We will shed light on seven topics, which are: the first is the killing of Uthman, the Battle of the Camel, the Battle of Siffin, the Battle of Nahrawan, the Battle of Karbala, the Battle of Harrah, and the Battle of Abdullah bin al-Zubayr
The Sedition of the Assassination of Uthman: The Bloody Beginning
After the death of the Messenger of Islam, the Quran did not specify who would succeed him, nor did the hadiths, and death came suddenly. There was the family of the Prophet who wanted to seize or take power, given that they were the family of the Prophet and the companions were divided. The Ansar in Saqifah Bani Sa'idah and the immigrants, especially the generation who were among the first Muslims or from Quraysh, tried to do otherwise. Of course, they were the ones who won, so the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr was quickly made, and Muhammad had not yet been buried. Thus, the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr was made after him. Omar came and remained for about ten years.
When Uthman assumed the caliphate, he was accused of favoritism towards his relatives and enabling them to hold high positions, which increased the resentment of many companions. He dismissed Amr ibn al-Aas and appointed Abdullah ibn Saad ibn Abi Sarh as governor of Egypt. He had apostatized from Islam, and the Messenger of Islam wanted to kill him in the year of the conquest. Of course, he and Uthman were his foster brothers, so Uthman interceded with the Messenger of Islam so that he would not be killed, and Abdullah ibn Abi Sarh returned to Islam.
He also appointed Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan as governor of the Levant, and he was Uthman's cousin, and appointed his relatives in Kufa and Basra, so the four centers of power were in his hand, and he was ruling in Medina, which led to widespread resentment due to dependency and corruption.
Uthman was lavishing gifts to his relatives, meaning he gave them from the state's money and employed his relatives in power, so the strife began.
Some of the companions began to incite against him, such as Aisha bint Abi Bakr, Ali bin Abi Talib, Al-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam, and Talha bin Ubaid Allah, so the revolutionaries gathered from Egypt and Kufa and besieged Uthman in his house, and even prevented him from water. In the end, they stormed his house and killed him, to begin one of the most violent strifes in Islamic history.
After Uthman's death, his body was left in the garbage dump for three days, then a few of his supporters buried him in Hash Kawkab, the Jewish cemetery where they bury their dead, instead of burying him in the Muslim cemeteries. These events shocked the Islamic community, as his funeral was stoned, and only a few people reached him.
The question I ask is: Why did no one defend him? Why did the companions not protect him?
The truth is that the conflict was not about Uthman as a person, but rather a power struggle between several parties, each with its own interest.
The Battle of the Camel: The Confrontation between Aisha and Ali
After Ali ibn Abi Talib assumed the caliphate, Aisha, along with Talha and al-Zubayr, demanded retribution for the killers of Uthman. But in reality, the conflict was about power. Aisha and al-Zubayr wanted the rule to be in their hands instead of it passing to Ali.
At the heart of the political conflict that erupted after the murder of Uthman ibn Affan, the Battle of the Camel was one of the most prominent events that revealed the deep tensions between the parties competing for power. It was not merely a religious dispute or a demand for retribution, but was, at its core, a struggle for power, which was clearly evident in the movements and developments that preceded and accompanied this confrontation
Aisha's movements and the beginning of the conflict
Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, had taken a firm stance against Ali ibn Abi Talib, as she considered that he had not taken sufficient measures to hold Uthman's killers accountable. But the question is: Why did she not stay in Medina to negotiate directly with Ali instead of heading to Basra with an army of about thirty thousand fighters? If her goal was just to talk to Ali, why did she need this large number of soldiers
In contrast, Ali went out to confront her with twenty thousand fighters, and among the senior companions who accompanied him were Ammar ibn Yasir and Abdullah ibn Abbas, in addition to Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, who, despite being the son of Abu Bakr, was loyal to Ali, due to his upbringing under his care.
The Battle of the Camel broke out between Aisha's army and Ali's army, and a large number of people were killed, including Talha and al-Zubayr, and the matter ended with Ali's victory. This led to bloody conflicts in Islamic history.
Al-Tabari mentioned in his book, History of Al-Tabari, Part Three, Page 543, that the number of those killed in the Battle of the Camel was around ten thousand, half of whom were Ali’s companions, and half of whom were Aisha’s companions on the same page. Aisha, may God be pleased with her, said: I continued to hope for victory until the voices of Banu Adi died down. The reference is below
The question is, was it necessary to have a battle to hold Uthman's killers accountable? Of course not, but the truth is, the struggle for power was behind this war
From the Camel to Siffin: The Clash with Muawiyah
After the Aisha problem was over, Ali found himself in a confrontation with Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan, who had strengthened his authority in the Levant under the banner of demanding retribution for Uthman. But it was clear that this demand was only a pretext, as Muawiyah would not accept submission to Ali even if retribution was carried out, as the matter was a clear struggle for power.
Muawiyah insisted that he would not pledge allegiance to Ali until retribution was carried out for the killers of Uthman, a condition that was practically impossible, given the involvement of many parties in the murder of the third caliph. Thus, the conflict became inevitable, and the armies went out to Siffin, where the same slogans were repeated: "Establishing the punishment of God" and "Retribution for the killers of Uthman", while the reality was that each party sought to consolidate its authority and control the government.
Details of the Great Confrontation between Ali and Muawiyah
In one of the bloodiest stages in Islamic history, the armies of Ali bin Abi Talib and Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan faced each other in the Battle of Siffin. The number was huge, as Ali led an army of 130,000 fighters, while Muawiyah's army included 135,000 fighters.
Ali's army included a number of prominent companions, such as Ammar ibn Yasir, Abdullah ibn Abbas, and Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, in addition to al-Ash'ath ibn Qays. As for Muawiyah's army, its prominent leaders included Amr ibn al-'As, Ubayd Allah ibn Amr, al-Walid ibn Uqba, and Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, who were also important Islamic figures.
After bloody clashes, approximately 70,000 were killed, as Ali's army lost about 25,000 fighters, while Muawiyah's army lost 45,000. The stated reason for this battle was to demand retribution for the killing of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, but in reality, the conflict was about power.
The Trick of Putting the Qur’an on Spears
As losses mounted, Muawiyah resorted to a plan proposed by Amr ibn al-Aas, where he ordered the Qur’an to be raised on the tips of spears, calling for the rule of God’s law. Although the Qur’an calls for retaliation, the details of how justice would be achieved in this context were not clear. Ali responded to the call for arbitration to spare blood, despite realizing that it might not be in his favor.
The Death of Ammar ibn Yasir and its Impact on the Course of Events
The death of the great companion Ammar ibn Yasir during the battle was one of the most prominent events, especially since he was one of the first to convert to Islam and was known for his firm positions. His death increased tension, especially since there is a hadith indicating that the rebellious group will kill him, which made many review their positions on the conflict.
The Results of Arbitration and its Implications
After Ali agreed to arbitration, it was agreed to choose representatives to resolve the dispute, but the result was not decisive. Muawiyah took advantage of this postponement to gain more time and reorganize his ranks, while Ali faced internal divisions, which led to the emergence of a new crisis represented by the Battle of Nahrawan.
The Kharijite Rebellion and the Beginning of the New Crisis
After the arbitration, some of Ali's followers turned against him, believing that he should have settled the battle without resorting to arbitration. These were known as the Qur'an reciters, due to their memorization of the Qur'an and their familiarity with its rulings, and they declared that "there is no rule except for God", refusing any concession of the caliphate to Muawiyah
The Battle of Nahrawan: The First Confrontation
The crisis began when internal fighting broke out, and the Islamic army was divided into warring factions, among whom was a group who later became known as the Kharijites. The declared reason for this conflict was the resort to the Book of God, but the real reason was the struggle for power.
The battles were intense, most notably the Battle of Nahrawan, where Ali's army faced a group of Kharijites who numbered about 4,000 fighters, while Ali's army numbered about 40,000 fighters, meaning that the ratio was one to ten. The confrontation ended in a massacre, as most of the Kharijites were killed and only a few of them survived.
After the battle ended, Ali believed that he had succeeded in eliminating the sedition, but the reality was different, as these confrontations weakened his political position and aroused a lot of hatred against him, which led to his later killing by Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam while praying in the mosque.
Al-Hasan abdicates to Muawiyah
After the killing of Ali, Al-Hasan ibn Ali became the caliph, but he was unable to confront Muawiyah, who was at the height of his power. Al-Hasan found himself in a difficult position; the army was collapsed, the Kharijites were finished, and internal opposition was escalating. So he decided to abdicate to Muawiyah, on the condition that there would be no inheritance of power, and that the caliphate would return to the Shura Council after Muawiyah's death.
Yazid and the Succession by Inheritance
However, Muawiyah did not abide by this agreement, and after his death, power passed to his son Yazid, which angered Hussein bin Ali, who rejected the principle of inheritance. The stated reason for Hussein's objection was the need to return to the principle of Shura, but the real reason was political ambition and the desire to regain power.
The Battle of Karbala: A Tragic End
Hussein faced a huge army led by Ubayd Allah bin Ziyad, as Hussein had only 72 fighters, while Yazid's army numbered between 20,000 and 30,000 fighters. There was no imbalance in strength, and the battle ended with the complete annihilation of Hussein's army, and his death with all those who were with him, in one of the bloodiest incidents in Islamic history. The rest of his family were taken as captives, and Hussein's head was sent to Yazid.
The Ongoing Conflict
In the end, this conflict was just another example of political conflicts that were covered up with religious slogans, while in reality it was a struggle for influence and power. These scenarios have been repeated throughout history, as leaders fought for power, without considering the principles they raised as slogans during their conflict.
The most important question remains: Where were the true values of religion in all of this? And where was the principle of stopping bloodshed? In the end, power was the real goal for everyone, while slogans remained just words manipulated by the powerful to serve their interests
The Incident of Al-Harrah
Amidst the bloody political conflicts witnessed in Islamic history, the “Incident of Al-Harrah” stands out as one of the bloodiest stations in the era of Yazid bin Muawiyah, which witnessed horrific massacres inside Medina, the city of the Messenger of Islam, after its people rebelled against the rule of the Umayyads.
The beginning of the rebellion in Medina
After the killing of Hussein bin Ali in Karbala, tensions began to escalate inside Medina. Abdullah bin Al-Zubayr led a strong opposition against the rule of Yazid bin Muawiyah, exploiting the state of popular anger due to Yazid’s misconduct, which was described as unbecoming of the Caliph of Muslims. Ibn Al-Zubayr exploited the state of general discontent in Medina, to ignite the rebellion with the help of his supporters who considered Yazid unfit for the caliphate.
The people of Medina decided to depose Yazid, expelled his governor from the city, and appointed Abdullah bin Hanzala as their leader. Yazid considered this rebellion a clear challenge to his authority, so he sent an army led by Muslim bin Uqba to suppress it and regain control of the city.
The Siege and Fall of the City
The Umayyad army, estimated at 12,000 fighters, moved towards the city and besieged it for several days before it was able to breach its defenses. Upon entering it, Muslim ibn Uqba ordered the city to be plundered for three days, during which countless atrocities were committed, during which more than 11,000 people were killed, including 700 Quran reciters and religious scholars. The killing was not limited to killing only, but incidents of women being raped became widespread, to the point that it was said that a thousand women became pregnant as a result of these events, and the newborns of that period were known as "sons of the free woman." Reference: Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Part 14, Page 224
In the book Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah by Ibn Kathir, Part 11, Page No. 521
Al-Madaini said, on the authority of Abu Qurrah, who said: Hisham bin Hassan said: A thousand women from the people of Medina gave birth after Al-Harrah without a husband. And the reference is below
The real goal behind this massacre was not to spread justice or implement Sharia law as the Umayyad state claimed, but rather the struggle for power. The city was only a station in this bloody conflict, which later extended to Mecca, where Abdullah bin al-Zubayr fortified himself and made it his last stronghold.
The Struggle for Power: The Story of Abdullah bin al-Zubayr and the Umayyads
Islamic history witnessed bloody struggles between the warring parties for power, and perhaps the most prominent of these struggles is the conflict between Abdullah bin al-Zubayr and the Umayyad Caliphate, which lasted for years and culminated in a bloody confrontation that ended with the killing of Abdullah bin al-Zubayr.
The Beginnings of the Conflict
After the death of Caliph Yazid bin Muawiyah, the conflict intensified between Abdullah bin al-Zubayr, who declared himself Caliph in Mecca, and the Umayyads who sought to regain their control. Yazid had sent an army led by Muslim bin Uqba to suppress the rebellion, and after his death, the leadership was taken over by Hussein bin Numayr, who besieged Mecca and struck the Kaaba with a catapult during a long battle that lasted 64 days.
The Role of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf
After the death of Yazid ibn Muawiyah, power passed to Muawiyah ibn Yazid, then to Marwan ibn al-Hakam, who began working to restore the Umayyad hegemony. With Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan assuming power, eliminating Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr became a priority. He sent al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, who was known for his brutality and unforgiving treatment of opponents.
The Siege of Mecca and the End of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
The siege of Mecca lasted eight months, led by al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, who again used the catapult to strike the Kaaba. Despite Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr’s resistance, his forces retreated, and even his closest people betrayed him, so he was eventually killed and crucified in Mecca. His body remained crucified for days as a lesson to anyone who thought of opposing Umayyad rule.
With the fall of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, the Umayyad state was able to fully consolidate its power. However, the questions raised by this conflict remain: were these wars really for religion, or were they merely a struggle for power?
In light of these bloody events, an important question arises: Who are the real martyrs in these conflicts? Who deserves heaven, and who deserves hell? If the killer and the killed are in hell as in the authentic hadith
https://dorar.net/hadith/sharh/122862
if two Muslims meet with their swords, and one of them kills the other, then the killer and the one killed will be in Hellfire. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, this is the killer, but what about the one killed? He said: He was keen to kill his companion.
Narrator: Abu Bakrah and Abu Musa | Narrator: As-Suyuti | Source: Al-Jami` As-Saghir | Page or number: 483 | Summary of the narrator’s ruling: Sahih
I went to help this man, and Abu Bakrah met me and said: Where do you want to go? I said: Help this man. He said: Go back; I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: When two Muslims meet with their swords, the killer and the killed will both be in Hellfire. I said: O Messenger of Allah, this is the killer, but what about the killed? He said: He was keen to kill his companion.
Narrator: Abu Bakra Nafi` ibn al-Harith | Narrator: Al-Bukhari | Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari
Page or number: 31 | Summary of the narrator’s ruling: [Sahih]
Graduation: Narrated by Muslim (2888) without the story at the beginning
There are also other questions about the sanctity of Islamic sites, such as the Kaaba and Medina, which were violated during these conflicts. While neither Christians nor Jews destroyed these sites, we find that Muslims themselves did so during their internal conflicts.
In the book Al-Jami` li-`Ulum al-Imam Ahmad - Aqeedah, Part Four, Page 524
Ibn Hani` said: I heard Abu `Abdullah - and Daluwayh said to him: I heard `Ali ibn al-Ja`d say: By Allah, Mu`awiyah died as a non-Muslim
And the reference is below
https://shamela.ws/book/20879/1115
0 تعليقات