On the contrary...

On the contrary, Mu’awiya also wrote to Amr ibn al-As to join him in Damascus, possibly to draw on his political and military expertise, or perhaps he hoped that Amr would bring neighbouring Egypt under his rule [4] . In the spring of 657 CE, Mu’awiya left Damascus with his army to carry the war into Iraq. He crossed the boundary and halted at a village called Siffin – on the bank of the river Euphrates. His first act was to occupy the waterfront.

The Beginning of the Battle Both armies settled in a place popularly known as “Qanāsrin” near Siffin. Where the armies had stationed near the Euphrates, there was just a single place where water could be found. Mu’awiya was stationed there and the Imam (peace be upon him) ordered his troops as follows: “Do not fight them unless they initiate the fighting. You are on the right and to leave them till they begin fighting will be another proof from your side against them.

If, by the will of Allah, the enemy is defeated, then do not kill the runner away, do not strike a helpless person, and do not finish off the wounded. Do not inflict pain on women even though they may attack your honour with filthy words and abuse your officers, because they are weak in character, mind and intelligence. We have been ordered to desist from them although they may be unbelievers.

Even in the pre-Islamic (al-jahiliyyah) period if a man struck a woman with a stone or a stick he was rebuked along with his offspring after him.” Mu’awiya ordered not to let Ali’s army take water. The Imam (peace be upon him) therefore sent him a message: “We have not come here to fight over water.” Amr ibn ‘As also advised Mu’awiya not to prevent them from taking water, but he refused.

It thereafter led to a conflict and Ali’s army drove Mu’awiya’s troops away and stationed near the water, the Imam directed his troop thus: “Don’t stop the Syrians from taking water.” In addition, his Eminence made this speech after his troops drove the Syrian troops out of the water source: “I saw you in the ranks from the place of being cut off and returning.

The unknown, lowly desert dwellers from among the Syrian people were driving you back, while you are the chosen Arabs and the souls of the seeds of honour and the forerunner in nobility, high rank and vision. Finally, my heart burned when I saw that you drove them away, just as they had driven you from their place, as they were driven from your place.