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The Battle of Jamal - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Battle of Jamal 2024-11-09 1626 Views Battle of Jamal , Battle of Basra The Battle of Jamal (Battle of the Camel), is the second civil war in Islam. The first civil war was waged by the government against some of its dissident subjects during the caliphate of Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafa; the second civil war was waged by some of the dissident subjects against their government.

It was a war that took place between the Oath-breakers and the army of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) during the caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib in 36 AH/656 CE. The Arabic term “Jamal” means male camel; the battle became famous as the Battle of Camel because Aisha was riding a male camel in this battle. It is pertinent to mention that the battle is also known as the Battle of Basra.

After breaking their allegiance to Ali, Ṭalha and Zubair went to Basra with Aisha until they reached the well of Abu Musa near Basra, where they stopped and sent a letter to Uthman ibn Hanīf, the appointed governor of Basra by Ali. They sent a letter, in which it was written, “Leave the government house and the government of Basra to us!” Uthman ibn Hanīf asked for Abu al-Aswad Du’alī and sent him along with a man named Imrān ibn Haṣīn Khazā’ī to have discussions with the pledge breakers.

The two of them moved and reached the camp of Ṭalha, Zubair and Aisha. Initially, they went to Aisha, warned her, reminded her of Allah and made her swear to stop this act, which would lead to nothing but sedition, chaos and bloodshed. Aisha, therefore, directed them to discuss with Ṭalha and Zubair.

They got up from Aisha and came to Zubair who said thus: “We have come to seek the [revenge] over the blood of Uthman, and we want to invite the people to vote for the caliphate, and whoever the people choose for themselves will be the Caliph.” The two of them thereafter came to Ṭalha, but they found him more hard-hearted and determined to create sedition and start a battle. Thus, the two later returned to Uthman ibn Hanīf and informed him about the matter.

After this incident, Ṭalha and Zubair came to Basra and committed a terrible crime there. Four hundred guards were beheaded that day, and this was the first beheading that happened in Islam. The treachery of the pledge breakers with Uthman ibn Hanīf was also considered the first treachery done in Islam.