Through plots...

Through plots, they achieved their goal, hence MU'AWIYAH IBN (son of) ABI SUFYAN proclaimed his domination over the country of AL-SHAM (greater Syria: Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon plus today's Syria). He accumulated a great wealth and forced his authority on the Muslim world. Following the assassination of the third Caliph, OTHMAN IBN 'AFFAN, people swore allegiance to the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law Ali (as), father of AL-HASAN and AL-HUSAIN.

As soon as Ali (as) became the Muslims' Caliph, the hypocrites and the deviated openly unveiled their hostility towards Ali (as) and waged wars against him. Thus, within a short period of time during his caliphate, he had to fight in the Battle of the Camel, the Battle of SIFFIN and the Battle of AL-NAHRAWAN. It was the irony of fate to see the "followers of the camel" siding with "the followers of ABI SUFYAN" along with the misled KHARIJITES.

The enemies of Islam and those of AHLUL BAYT mobilized their forces and raised their swords in the face Imam Ali (as). During the course of those events, three deviated men conspired under the claim of sparing the Muslims the perils of the deteriorated situation which they thought was the result of the confrontation of three dangerous men: MU'AWIYAH, AMRO IBN AL-'AS and Imam Ali (as).

They though that they would reform the Muslim community if they killed all three of them at one and the same time. The result of their sick mentality was the martyrdom of Imam Ali (as), the pious and just caliph, while the other two survived. IMAM AL-HASAN'S RULE At such situations, when MU'AWIYAH'S mercenaries were in control of the Muslims' affairs, IMAM AL-HASAN'S (as) became the Muslims' Caliph. He had to face the worst officials the majority of whom belonged to the UMAYYAD clan.

They had been in office since OTHMAN'S rule when they devoured the Muslims' wealth just as cattle devour Spring's fresh buds. Imam AL-HASAN'S Caliphate covered large areas of the Muslim world including: Persia, KHURASAN, Yemen, HIJAZ, KUFA and BASRA (Iraq). Although the people of those countries had sworn allegiance to the Imam (as), the area suffered unrest as a result of MU'AWIYAH'S conspiracy.

They Imam knew that MU'AWIYAH was personally making preparations to fight him, so he sent his envoys to the governors of the region to get ready to fight back. He (as) also sent a letter to MU'AWIYAH to warn and to advise him through reasonable facts relevant to the Imam's right to the caliphate.