ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The Battle of Siffin Part 2 Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) was busy the whole night in preparation for the battle and arranging the rows of the men. He organized the right and the left flanks. And the men too checked their arms. They sharpened their swords and put the tips of the spears to order. By dawn, they were all ready to attack the enemy. With this announcement of `Ali (a.s), Mu`awiyah was really scared.

He ordered the commanders to arrange their formations and to report to him thereafter. Therefore, Abul-A`war al-Salami with the contingent from Hims, Ibn `Amr al-Salami with men from Jordan, Zafar ibn al-Harith with the contingent from Qinnasrin and al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fahri with the fighters from Damascus reported to Mu`awiyah. Then contingent after contingent was arriving and in no time, a crowd of Syrians was occupying the horizon.

They assured the Emir of Syria to fight with bravery and valor. With the dawn, both the armies had their flanks fully organized. The Imam (a.s) gave the command of the right flank to `Abdullah ibn Badil. The left flank was given to `Abdullah ibn `Abbas. The Imam (a.s) stayed at the heart of the formation. He took the sword in his hand, sat on the horse and spurred it on and in no time reached the rows of the enemy formations and ordered `Abdullah ibn Badil to attack.

Ibn Badil wearing double armor, having two swords hanging from his girdle, took the right flank of the army and attacked the left flank of the enemy. Army and destroyed row after row. With this heavy onslaught, the right wing of the Syrian Army was totally dislodged. When Ibn Badil saw the right flank of the enemy getting defeated, he attacked the heart of their formation. Where Mu`awiyah was stationed with all the protection.

Although around him there were five units of men like a steel wall, They were scared of the army advancing towards them. They left their positions and moved backwards. With them, the heart of the formation to went backwards. Then the right flank of the Syrians reorganized after the first defeat and along with the men in the heart of the formation attacked the right flank of the Iraqis. This attack was so severe that it uprooted the feet of the troops. They ran helter-skelter for shelter.

With Ibn Badil only three to four hundred men remained steadfast. They stood back to back with each other and like a wall impregnated with lead they fought the enemy.