In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Mawaddah Association
presents:
The Ten Promised Paradise:
'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
may Allah be pleased with him.
"Love for the Companions and the Prophet’s kin is a foremost Sunnah,
with which I hope to meet my Lord whenever He grants me life."
Loving the Companions and the Prophet's family.
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, looked down
from one of the fortresses of Medina
and said to his Companions,
"Do you see what I see?"
They replied, "No, O Messenger of Allah."
He, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
"Indeed, I see tribulations falling among your homes like raindrops."
That is, tribulations would engulf Medina
and spread throughout it just as rain pours down
upon houses and roads.
This contains an indication of the trials that were destined to occur;
and Medina was specifically mentioned
because the assassination of 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, took place there,
after which the tribulations spread across the lands.
And indeed, what the Prophet, peace be upon him, foretold came to pass.
Following the assassination of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan, may Allah be pleased with him,
the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, divided
into four groups regarding his matter.
One group believed in proceeding cautiously concerning the killers
and delaying legal retribution (qisas) until affairs stabilized, tempers calmed,
and the noble assembly of the Ummah united.
At the head of this group
was the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
and those with him, such as 'Ammar Ibn Yasir and others, may Allah be pleased with them.
Another group
gave the pledge of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
but demanded that he hasten to initiate retribution against the murderers of 'Uthman.
At the head of this group
were Talhah and al-Zubayr,
and the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them all.
A third group
demanded that the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
exact retribution from 'Uthman’s killers first,
making this a prerequisite for pledging allegiance to him.
At the head of this group
were Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan
and 'Amr Ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with them both,
along with the people of the Levant (al-Sham).
As for the fourth group,
who constituted the majority,
they pledged allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful,
'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
but they kept their distance
and withdrew from this turmoil,
taking no part in the fighting.
At their head were Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas,
Muhammad Ibn Maslamah,
Usamah Ibn Zayd,
and a great multitude of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
The division and disagreement among the Companions,
and even the fighting that erupted between them,
was never out of worldly ambition
or a craving for leadership.
Rather, everyone acknowledged that 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib was the rightful claimant to the caliphate;
however, they were exercising independent judgment (ijtihad) based on differing interpretations,
and this does not compromise their uprightness, may Allah be pleased with them and make them well-pleased.
For 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
accepted the caliphate to prevent the unlawful shedding of Muslim blood
and to preserve the unity of the Muslims in the midst of those tribulations.
Meanwhile, the people of the Levant demanded the surrender of 'Uthman’s killers
and that retribution be enacted upon them prior to offering the pledge of allegiance.
Mu'awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, was once asked,
"Are you disputing 'Ali's right to the caliphate?"
He replied, "No, by Allah, I know that he is superior to me and has the greatest right to the affair.
But do you not know that 'Uthman was unjustly murdered,
and I am his cousin and heir, seeking justice for his blood?"
'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the people of the Levant,
"Enter into the pledge of allegiance, then demand the truth through the proper course, and you shall obtain it."
They replied, "You are not entitled to our pledge while 'Uthman's killers are in your midst,
seen by us morning and evening."
'Ali was indeed the soundest in judgment and most correct in his stance,
for had he begun retaliating against them without legal evidence or due process,
and before his authority was universally consolidated,
their tribes would have rallied behind them in fanatical zeal, sparking another full-scale war.
Thus, he bided his time until authority was firmly established, the general pledge was secured,
the heirs of the slain presented their claims before a judicial assembly,
and each criminal could be held accountable for his specific crime.
However, some Companions, including Talhah, al-Zubayr,
and the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them all,
felt that nothing could absolve them of their perceived shortcomings in coming to 'Uthman's defense
except rising up to demand justice for his blood and exacting retribution from his murderers,
believing that if they failed to do so, they would incur the wrath and punishment of Allah.
So they came to 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
and asked him to enforce the prescribed legal penalties.
He excused himself, explaining that these perpetrators possessed strong reinforcements and supporters,
making it impossible to carry out immediately,
but that he would defer it until he had the full capacity to do so.
Four months passed following the pledge to the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
without the retribution against 'Uthman's killers being carried out.
Thereupon, Talhah and al-Zubayr sought permission from 'Ali to depart for Mecca,
and he granted them permission.
There, they met the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them all.
People gathered around them
and rallied to the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah,
complaining to her of the grave turmoil and chaos that had engulfed the people,
hoping for her blessed intervention to achieve reconciliation;
they hoped that the people would feel reverence and shame before her
if she stood before them and called for peace.
She, too, thought this would be the case,
so she resolved to set out for Basra,
accompanied by Talhah and al-Zubayr,
and three thousand men, seeking reconciliation,
guided by the words of Allah, the Exalted.
Along the march of the army of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah,
they stopped overnight by the waters of Banu 'Amir,
where they heard the barking of dogs.
She asked, "What water is this?"
They replied, "The water of al-Haw'ab."
She said, "I think I must turn back."
Some of those with her said,
"Rather, press forward so the Muslims may see you,
and perhaps Allah will reconcile their differences through you."
She said, "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
said to his wives one day,
'Which of you will have the dogs of al-Haw'ab bark at her?'—
that is, the rider of the shaggy camel,
around whom many will be slain,
and she will barely escape."
The army was intercepted by Hakim Ibn Jabalah al-'Abdi,
one of those who had participated in the assassination of 'Uthman.
He fought them with seven hundred men,
while the companions of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
initially held their hands back
and refrained from fighting.
But Ibn Jabalah charged against them,
and when they realized fighting was unavoidable,
they engaged them, and Hakim Ibn Jabalah was killed
along with a number of his men,
while the rest were routed,
and a large number of them joined the army of the Mother of the Believers.
The Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, recognized
the gravity of the situation in Basra
and the danger that this discord could lead
to the tearing apart of the Islamic state.
Thus, he resolved to march toward Basra
and summoned the people to set out with him.
Seven hundred men marched out with him from Medina,
and by the time he reached Basra,
the number of troops with him had swelled
after being joined by a great multitude
from the people of Kufa and Basra,
as well as the tribes he passed along his route.
'Ali Ibn Abi Talib dispatched
al-Qa'qa' Ibn 'Amr
to the encampment of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
to hear their concerns and convey his stance.
He arrived among them and met with 'A'ishah,
Talhah, and al-Zubayr,
asking them the reason for their coming.
'A'ishah replied,
"O my son, we came to make peace among the people."
Talhah and al-Zubayr affirmed,
"We are in full agreement with her."
Al-Qa'qa' spoke with them,
and they continued discussions until they agreed to defer
to the judgment of 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
committing to unite the two factions
and cast discord aside.
Al-Qa'qa' returned to 'Ali,
informing him of the reconciliation they had agreed upon,
which pleased him greatly.
'Ali then marched toward the army of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
with his forces,
and the two encampments met;
the people rejoiced,
and hearts found relief and tranquil peace.
However, this development did not please the murderers of 'Uthman,
so they spent the most sinister night,
conspiring among themselves
and saying, "If this peace is finalized
between the two camps,
it will mean our doom, and retribution will be exacted from us."
They resolved to ignite a battle before daybreak.
A faction of these criminals stealthily crept
toward the encampment of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
in the dead of night, while the people were unsuspecting,
and killed several men.
The people awoke to the sounds of slaughter,
while the traitors retreated back toward the camp of 'Ali.
Those in the camp of the Mother of the Believers exclaimed,
"'Ali's army has launched a night attack against us!"
They rushed to their weapons,
donned their coats of armor,
mounted their horses,
and assaulted 'Ali's camp.
The other army rose in self-defense,
full-blown war erupted,
and fierce fighting broke out.
“There is no reproach for the Prophet in that which Allah maketh his due. That was Allah's way with those who passed away of old - and the commandment of Allah is certain destiny -” (33:38)
'Ali met Talhah, may Allah be pleased with them both,
During the fighting,
'Ali admonished him, so Talhah abandoned the fight
and withdrew to the rear ranks,
moving toward the servants of Allah.
Then a stray arrow struck him in the knee,
at the very spot where he had been wounded on the day of Uhud
while defending the Messenger of Allah,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
He bled profusely until he passed away, may Allah be pleased with him.
'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came and stood over his body,
gently wiping the dust from his face,
while saying,
"May Allah have mercy upon you, O Abu Muhammad!
It grieves me deeply to see you struck down beneath the stars of heaven."
Then he said,
"To Allah alone do I complain of my grief and deep sorrow!
By Allah, I truly wish that I had died
twenty years before this day!"
As for al-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him,
he never intended to fight at all,
nor had he set out for battle.
He departed from the battlefield without fighting
and stopped at a valley known as Wadi al-Siba'.
But 'Amr Ibn Jurmuz pursued him—
may Allah disfigure him!
He came upon him while he was sleeping and assassinated him treacherously.
Then he rushed back to 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib
to give him the 'glad tidings.'
Thereupon 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
"Give the killer of Safiyyah's son tidings of the Hellfire!
Truly, I hope that I,
Talhah, al-Zubayr, and 'Uthman
will be among those concerning whom Allah said [that they are brothers upon thrones facing one another]."
As for the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,
she mounted her camel litter (howdah)
and moved among the people upon her camel,
attempting to calm them and stop the fighting,
but she was unsuccessful.
The fighting intensified fiercely, and many people were killed
around the camel upon which she sat,
among them seventy men, all of whom had memorized the entire Qur'an.
Then 'Abdullah Ibn Budayl came to her
while she was in the litter,
accompanied by her brother, Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them both.
So they called out to the people to hamstring the camel,
and they hamstrung it; then they carried the litter
until they placed it before 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
'Ali gave instructions regarding her,
and she was escorted into the house of 'Abdullah Ibn Budayl, may Allah be pleased with him.
Thus did Allah, Glorified is He, deliver
the Mother of the Believers after
severe harm had nearly befallen her,
just as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had said:
"Many will be killed around her,
and she will barely escape."
And 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) proclaimed
among the people: "Do not finish off any wounded person—
that is, do not dispatch him—
do not kill anyone who flees,
and whoever shuts his door and lays down his arms is safe."
'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) did not take any spoils of war
from that battle, so some people asked him,
"How can we fight them and yet not take spoils from them?"
'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied,
"Which of you then would take 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
as his share of the spoils?" At this, they fell silent.
A man from his army said to him,
"The opposing party is shouting:
'Vengeance for 'Uthman!'"
'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his hands
and supplicated: "O Allah, cast down the murderers of 'Uthman
this day upon their faces!"
When the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), prepared
to depart from Basra
and return to Mecca,
'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sent her everything she required
in terms of mounts, provisions, supplies, and the like.
He also granted permission to all who had survived among those who came with her
to return home if they wished to do so.
He selected forty women
from among the women of Basra to accompany her,
and sent along with her her brother Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him.
When the time of her departure arrived,
'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came
and stood at the doorway.
The people gathered,
and she came out of the house inside her litter.
She bid farewell to the people, prayed for them, and said,
"O my children, let none of us reproach one another.
By Allah, there was never anything between me and 'Ali
in the past, may Allah be pleased with him,
except what commonly arises between a woman and her in-laws;
and despite any reproaches I had,
he is truly among the very best of men."
Thereupon 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
"By Allah, she has spoken the truth! There was never anything between her and me
except for that, and she is indeed the wife of your Prophet,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in this world
and the Hereafter." And 'Ali, may Allah be pleased
with him, rode alongside her,
seeing her off and escorting her for several miles,
and sent his sons to accompany her for the remainder of that day.
There is no doubt that the Mother of the Believers,
'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,
deeply regretted her march to Basra
and her presence at the Battle of the Camel.
Whenever she remembered that day,
she would weep until her tears soaked her veil.
Likewise, the foremost early Companions universally regretted
their involvement in that fighting;
Talhah, al-Zubayr, and 'Ali all regretted it,
may Allah be pleased with them all.
On the day of the Camel, none of them had
any prior intention to fight,
rather the conflict erupted beyond their control.
May Allah be pleased with them and make them well-pleased.
In the Gardens of Eternity,
two textual promises bestowed further honor upon them:
they are Talhah,
and Ibn 'Awf,
and al-Zubayr, along with
Abu 'Ubaydah,
the two Sa'ds, and the Rightly-Guided Caliphs.