The Battle of Islam at Siffin

part 1

 However, Jarir became so engrossed in the entertainment that Muawiya put his way, that he wasted his time in Syria. He finally returned three months later with the useless message that peace could only be negotiated if the murderers of Uthman were brought to justice.

Malik al-Ashtar accused him of having wasted time in effeminate pleasures with Muawiya, who purposely kept him long enough to mature his plans of hostilities. Jarir left Kufa and joined Muawiya.Imam Ali (A.S.) decided that matters could be only decided by war, so he marched without delay through the Mesopotamian desert to Riqqa at the banks of the Euphrates. After crossing the river by constructing a bridge they came across the Syrian outposts at Sur al-Rum.

There were a few skirmishes between the armies but the Syrians gave way and in the month of Zilhaj of 36 A.H., the army of Imam Ali (A.S.) came into sight of Muawiya's main forces, which had already camped at Siffin. At Siffin, Muawiya had stationed his general, Abul Awr, with 10,000 men on the river to stop the access to water for Imam Ali's (A.S.) army. Imam Ali (A.S.) sent Sasaa Bin Sauhan al-Abdi to Muawiya that this action was not necessary because, after all, the people whom he was refusing water were also Muslims. He further assured Muawiya that if the situation had been reversed, the river would have been open to both armies.

However, Muawiya sent back a message that the murderers of Uthman had not allowed him any water when they had laid siege to his palace, and Muawiya was avenging that action. Imam Ali (A.S.) knew that this situation would be intolerable and he launched an attack under Malike Ashtar. The brave commander secured the river after heavy fighting and Abul Awr was dislodged from its banks. Having control of the river, Imam Ali (A.S.) kept to his word and allowed unlimited access to Muawiya's side.

Imam Ali (A.S.) divided his army of 90,000 men into seven units each commanded by brave warriors. Muawiya similarly divided his army of 120,000 men into seven columns. Everyday one column from each army would engage one another in combat. The battles were mostly restricted to single combats or small groups fighting because Imam Ali (A.S.) was trying to avoid the serious loss of Muslim lives that would have resulted from a full scale battle. The month of Zilhaj ended in this manner and the month of Muharram, in which fighting is forbidden, set in. During this month, Imam Ali (A.S.) tried hard to resolve the crisis by negotiation, but to no avail.

He pointed out that he was ready to punish the murderers of Uthman if Muawiya would point them out. However, Muawiya did not wish the matter to end so easily, because it was the issue of Uthman's unavenged death that had enabled him to gather such a large army. In the month of Safar fighting was resumed. For a week, fierce battles raged all day. Everyday the conflict got more severe and bitter. In the second week Imam Ali (A.S.) came to the battlefield for the first time. After a series of single combats, in which he overcame every opponent with his awesome skill, no body would come to fight him. He was forced to disguise himself to get anybody to challenge him.

Those who watched thought that the blow had missed, and it was only when the horse moved and the two halves fell to the ground, that people realized what had happened. Day after day the loss of lives increased, especially in the ranks of Muawiya.

However, Imam Ali (A.S.) also lost several distinguished Companions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) from his side. Amongst them were Hashim bin Utba and Ammar Yasir. Ammar, who was 93 years old, had been informed by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) that he would die fighting rebels and enemies of Islam. This was well known by all, and when he died there was some commotion in Muawiya's army. He managed to quieten them down by saying that, since Ammar had been brought to fight by Imam Ali (A.S.), it was he who was the cause of his death. He said that Imam Ali (A.S.) therefore was the rebel that the prophecy talked about, and not Muawiya.

To be continued ...

Other Links:

Imam Husains Revolution: Analytical Review-Part 3

Imam Hussains Revolution: Analytical Review-Part 4

Imam Husains Revolution: Analytical Review-Part 5