Can you imagine that I move away from the emirate of the...

Can you imagine that I move away from the emirate of the person who is most capable of leading the Muslims, and whose veracity, nobility and nearness to the Prophet (a.s) is unquestionable? Do you want me to put the yoke of your obedience in my neck when you do not have anything to do with the emirate and leadership? You are deceitful and the son of a deceit and member of the group of the offspring of Iblis! In your letter, you have talked about the armies. By Allah!

If you save your life from my onslaught, you must count yourself lucky!” When Mu`awiyah read this letter, he was very angry. In the end Mu`awiyah lost all hope of winning over Qays. When no subterfuge worked, he turned his mind to cunning. He forged a letter purported to be from Qays in which it was written, “From Qays ibn Sa`d to Mu`awiyah, emir of Syria: I have decided after much thought that we should not side with those people at whose hand one pious and noble leader of Islam was killed.

We repent from our sins and expect and pray to Allah for preserving our Faith. We assure you of our obedience and are ready to fight with the killers of the oppressed `Uthman and shall soon forward our military and monetary help.” Besides this forged letter, they had also started spreading the story through the word of mouth that Qays was Mu`awiyah’s friend and well-wisher.

They said that he had already given all sorts of facilities to the residents of Kharbatah and he treats all who go to him from there with kindness. Mu`awiyah not only publicized this letter in Syria, but through his agents he spread the story in al-Kūfah as well to poison the environment there against Qays. Therefore, the story was taking rounds in the streets of al-Kūfah. The word also reached the ears of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) as well.

He called some of his close persons and had a discussion with them. They said that Qays ibn Sa`d is unhappy with him and was conspiring with Mu`awiyah and that it would be better to relieve him of his position. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) understood that it should be the trick of Mu`awiyah. Therefore, he told his advisers: “By Allah!

I cannot believe these talks about Qays!”[1] In this period Qays wrote a letter to the Imam (a.s) wherein he wrote, “In [1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 3, Page 554 these surroundings some fans of `Uthman who want to be spared from taking the bay`ah. Their representatives have told me that until the circumstances do not normalize, they should be left to their own scruples.