Part of The Ten Given Glad Tidings of Paradise (series completed)
· Lesson 19 of 30
The ten promised Paradise | Episode (19) | Ali bin Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him (Part 5) The famous Battle of the Camel
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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Mawaddah Association
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presents:
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The Ten Promised Paradise:
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'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
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may Allah be pleased with him.
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"Love for the Companions and the Prophet’s kin is a foremost Sunnah,
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with which I hope to meet my Lord whenever He grants me life."
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Loving the Companions and the Prophet's family.
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The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, looked down
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from one of the fortresses of Medina
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and said to his Companions,
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"Do you see what I see?"
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They replied, "No, O Messenger of Allah."
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He, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
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"Indeed, I see tribulations falling among your homes like raindrops."
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That is, tribulations would engulf Medina
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and spread throughout it just as rain pours down
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upon houses and roads.
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This contains an indication of the trials that were destined to occur;
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and Medina was specifically mentioned
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because the assassination of 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, took place there,
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after which the tribulations spread across the lands.
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And indeed, what the Prophet, peace be upon him, foretold came to pass.
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Following the assassination of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan, may Allah be pleased with him,
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the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, divided
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into four groups regarding his matter.
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One group believed in proceeding cautiously concerning the killers
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and delaying legal retribution (qisas) until affairs stabilized, tempers calmed,
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and the noble assembly of the Ummah united.
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At the head of this group
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was the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
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and those with him, such as 'Ammar Ibn Yasir and others, may Allah be pleased with them.
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Another group
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gave the pledge of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
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but demanded that he hasten to initiate retribution against the murderers of 'Uthman.
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At the head of this group
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were Talhah and al-Zubayr,
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and the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them all.
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A third group
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demanded that the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
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exact retribution from 'Uthman’s killers first,
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making this a prerequisite for pledging allegiance to him.
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At the head of this group
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were Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan
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and 'Amr Ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with them both,
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along with the people of the Levant (al-Sham).
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As for the fourth group,
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who constituted the majority,
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they pledged allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful,
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'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
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but they kept their distance
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and withdrew from this turmoil,
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taking no part in the fighting.
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At their head were Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas,
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Muhammad Ibn Maslamah,
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Usamah Ibn Zayd,
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and a great multitude of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
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The division and disagreement among the Companions,
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and even the fighting that erupted between them,
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was never out of worldly ambition
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or a craving for leadership.
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Rather, everyone acknowledged that 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib was the rightful claimant to the caliphate;
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however, they were exercising independent judgment (ijtihad) based on differing interpretations,
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and this does not compromise their uprightness, may Allah be pleased with them and make them well-pleased.
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For 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
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accepted the caliphate to prevent the unlawful shedding of Muslim blood
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and to preserve the unity of the Muslims in the midst of those tribulations.
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Meanwhile, the people of the Levant demanded the surrender of 'Uthman’s killers
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and that retribution be enacted upon them prior to offering the pledge of allegiance.
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Mu'awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, was once asked,
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"Are you disputing 'Ali's right to the caliphate?"
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He replied, "No, by Allah, I know that he is superior to me and has the greatest right to the affair.
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But do you not know that 'Uthman was unjustly murdered,
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and I am his cousin and heir, seeking justice for his blood?"
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'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the people of the Levant,
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"Enter into the pledge of allegiance, then demand the truth through the proper course, and you shall obtain it."
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They replied, "You are not entitled to our pledge while 'Uthman's killers are in your midst,
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seen by us morning and evening."
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'Ali was indeed the soundest in judgment and most correct in his stance,
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for had he begun retaliating against them without legal evidence or due process,
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and before his authority was universally consolidated,
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their tribes would have rallied behind them in fanatical zeal, sparking another full-scale war.
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Thus, he bided his time until authority was firmly established, the general pledge was secured,
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the heirs of the slain presented their claims before a judicial assembly,
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and each criminal could be held accountable for his specific crime.
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However, some Companions, including Talhah, al-Zubayr,
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and the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them all,
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felt that nothing could absolve them of their perceived shortcomings in coming to 'Uthman's defense
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except rising up to demand justice for his blood and exacting retribution from his murderers,
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believing that if they failed to do so, they would incur the wrath and punishment of Allah.
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So they came to 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
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and asked him to enforce the prescribed legal penalties.
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He excused himself, explaining that these perpetrators possessed strong reinforcements and supporters,
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making it impossible to carry out immediately,
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but that he would defer it until he had the full capacity to do so.
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Four months passed following the pledge to the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
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without the retribution against 'Uthman's killers being carried out.
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Thereupon, Talhah and al-Zubayr sought permission from 'Ali to depart for Mecca,
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and he granted them permission.
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There, they met the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with them all.
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People gathered around them
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and rallied to the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah,
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complaining to her of the grave turmoil and chaos that had engulfed the people,
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hoping for her blessed intervention to achieve reconciliation;
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they hoped that the people would feel reverence and shame before her
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if she stood before them and called for peace.
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She, too, thought this would be the case,
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so she resolved to set out for Basra,
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accompanied by Talhah and al-Zubayr,
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and three thousand men, seeking reconciliation,
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guided by the words of Allah, the Exalted.
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Along the march of the army of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah,
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they stopped overnight by the waters of Banu 'Amir,
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where they heard the barking of dogs.
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She asked, "What water is this?"
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They replied, "The water of al-Haw'ab."
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She said, "I think I must turn back."
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Some of those with her said,
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"Rather, press forward so the Muslims may see you,
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and perhaps Allah will reconcile their differences through you."
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She said, "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
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said to his wives one day,
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'Which of you will have the dogs of al-Haw'ab bark at her?'—
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that is, the rider of the shaggy camel,
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around whom many will be slain,
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and she will barely escape."
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The army was intercepted by Hakim Ibn Jabalah al-'Abdi,
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one of those who had participated in the assassination of 'Uthman.
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He fought them with seven hundred men,
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while the companions of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
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initially held their hands back
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and refrained from fighting.
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But Ibn Jabalah charged against them,
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and when they realized fighting was unavoidable,
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they engaged them, and Hakim Ibn Jabalah was killed
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along with a number of his men,
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while the rest were routed,
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and a large number of them joined the army of the Mother of the Believers.
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The Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, recognized
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the gravity of the situation in Basra
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and the danger that this discord could lead
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to the tearing apart of the Islamic state.
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Thus, he resolved to march toward Basra
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and summoned the people to set out with him.
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Seven hundred men marched out with him from Medina,
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and by the time he reached Basra,
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the number of troops with him had swelled
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after being joined by a great multitude
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from the people of Kufa and Basra,
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as well as the tribes he passed along his route.
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'Ali Ibn Abi Talib dispatched
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al-Qa'qa' Ibn 'Amr
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to the encampment of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
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to hear their concerns and convey his stance.
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He arrived among them and met with 'A'ishah,
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Talhah, and al-Zubayr,
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asking them the reason for their coming.
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'A'ishah replied,
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"O my son, we came to make peace among the people."
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Talhah and al-Zubayr affirmed,
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"We are in full agreement with her."
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Al-Qa'qa' spoke with them,
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and they continued discussions until they agreed to defer
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to the judgment of 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
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committing to unite the two factions
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and cast discord aside.
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Al-Qa'qa' returned to 'Ali,
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informing him of the reconciliation they had agreed upon,
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which pleased him greatly.
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'Ali then marched toward the army of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
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with his forces,
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and the two encampments met;
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the people rejoiced,
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and hearts found relief and tranquil peace.
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However, this development did not please the murderers of 'Uthman,
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so they spent the most sinister night,
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conspiring among themselves
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and saying, "If this peace is finalized
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between the two camps,
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it will mean our doom, and retribution will be exacted from us."
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They resolved to ignite a battle before daybreak.
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A faction of these criminals stealthily crept
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toward the encampment of the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah
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in the dead of night, while the people were unsuspecting,
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and killed several men.
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The people awoke to the sounds of slaughter,
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while the traitors retreated back toward the camp of 'Ali.
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Those in the camp of the Mother of the Believers exclaimed,
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"'Ali's army has launched a night attack against us!"
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They rushed to their weapons,
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donned their coats of armor,
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mounted their horses,
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and assaulted 'Ali's camp.
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The other army rose in self-defense,
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full-blown war erupted,
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and fierce fighting broke out.
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“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)
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'Ali met Talhah, may Allah be pleased with them both,
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During the fighting,
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'Ali admonished him, so Talhah abandoned the fight
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and withdrew to the rear ranks,
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moving toward the servants of Allah.
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Then a stray arrow struck him in the knee,
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at the very spot where he had been wounded on the day of Uhud
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while defending the Messenger of Allah,
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peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
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He bled profusely until he passed away, may Allah be pleased with him.
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'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came and stood over his body,
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gently wiping the dust from his face,
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while saying,
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"May Allah have mercy upon you, O Abu Muhammad!
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It grieves me deeply to see you struck down beneath the stars of heaven."
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Then he said,
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"To Allah alone do I complain of my grief and deep sorrow!
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By Allah, I truly wish that I had died
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twenty years before this day!"
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As for al-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him,
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he never intended to fight at all,
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nor had he set out for battle.
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He departed from the battlefield without fighting
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and stopped at a valley known as Wadi al-Siba'.
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But 'Amr Ibn Jurmuz pursued him—
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may Allah disfigure him!
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He came upon him while he was sleeping and assassinated him treacherously.
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Then he rushed back to 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib
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to give him the 'glad tidings.'
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Thereupon 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
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"Give the killer of Safiyyah's son tidings of the Hellfire!
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Truly, I hope that I,
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Talhah, al-Zubayr, and 'Uthman
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will be among those concerning whom Allah said [that they are brothers upon thrones facing one another]."
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As for the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,
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she mounted her camel litter (howdah)
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and moved among the people upon her camel,
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attempting to calm them and stop the fighting,
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but she was unsuccessful.
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The fighting intensified fiercely, and many people were killed
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around the camel upon which she sat,
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among them seventy men, all of whom had memorized the entire Qur'an.
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Then 'Abdullah Ibn Budayl came to her
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while she was in the litter,
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accompanied by her brother, Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them both.
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So they called out to the people to hamstring the camel,
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and they hamstrung it; then they carried the litter
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until they placed it before 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
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'Ali gave instructions regarding her,
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and she was escorted into the house of 'Abdullah Ibn Budayl, may Allah be pleased with him.
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Thus did Allah, Glorified is He, deliver
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the Mother of the Believers after
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severe harm had nearly befallen her,
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just as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had said:
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"Many will be killed around her,
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and she will barely escape."
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And 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) proclaimed
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among the people: "Do not finish off any wounded person—
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that is, do not dispatch him—
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do not kill anyone who flees,
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and whoever shuts his door and lays down his arms is safe."
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'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) did not take any spoils of war
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from that battle, so some people asked him,
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"How can we fight them and yet not take spoils from them?"
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'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied,
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"Which of you then would take 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
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as his share of the spoils?" At this, they fell silent.
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A man from his army said to him,
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"The opposing party is shouting:
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'Vengeance for 'Uthman!'"
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'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his hands
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and supplicated: "O Allah, cast down the murderers of 'Uthman
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this day upon their faces!"
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When the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), prepared
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to depart from Basra
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and return to Mecca,
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'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sent her everything she required
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in terms of mounts, provisions, supplies, and the like.
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He also granted permission to all who had survived among those who came with her
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to return home if they wished to do so.
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He selected forty women
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from among the women of Basra to accompany her,
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and sent along with her her brother Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him.
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When the time of her departure arrived,
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'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came
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and stood at the doorway.
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The people gathered,
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and she came out of the house inside her litter.
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She bid farewell to the people, prayed for them, and said,
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"O my children, let none of us reproach one another.
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By Allah, there was never anything between me and 'Ali
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in the past, may Allah be pleased with him,
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except what commonly arises between a woman and her in-laws;
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and despite any reproaches I had,
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he is truly among the very best of men."
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Thereupon 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
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"By Allah, she has spoken the truth! There was never anything between her and me
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except for that, and she is indeed the wife of your Prophet,
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peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in this world
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and the Hereafter." And 'Ali, may Allah be pleased
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with him, rode alongside her,
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seeing her off and escorting her for several miles,
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and sent his sons to accompany her for the remainder of that day.
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There is no doubt that the Mother of the Believers,
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'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,
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deeply regretted her march to Basra
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and her presence at the Battle of the Camel.
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Whenever she remembered that day,
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she would weep until her tears soaked her veil.
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Likewise, the foremost early Companions universally regretted
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their involvement in that fighting;
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Talhah, al-Zubayr, and 'Ali all regretted it,
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may Allah be pleased with them all.
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On the day of the Camel, none of them had
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any prior intention to fight,
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rather the conflict erupted beyond their control.
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May Allah be pleased with them and make them well-pleased.
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In the Gardens of Eternity,
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two textual promises bestowed further honor upon them:
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they are Talhah,
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and Ibn 'Awf,
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and al-Zubayr, along with
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Abu 'Ubaydah,
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the two Sa'ds, and the Rightly-Guided Caliphs.