ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The Battle of the Camel The Battle of the Camel ( al-jamal ) is the furious battle that was fought at the beginning of the reign of `Ali (a.s) with the excuse of seeking retaliation for the blood of `Uthman. The responsibility for heavy loss of Muslim lives and the schisms that came about in the Ummah thereafter rests on the shoulders of Umm al-Mu’minin `A’ishah bint Abū-Bakr, Talhah and al-Zubayr!

They stood up to claim retaliation for the blood of `Uthman. These three, however, were very much against him during his lifetime and instigated people against him. Therefore, `A’ishah used to keep the Prophet’s footwear and cloak in front of `Uthman and say that still those things have not turned into relics when you have changed his Sunnah and the Commandments. `A’ishah had a great capability of reading the minds of the masses.

She adopted the method of inflaming the thinking of the people that was most effective. She knew that the people had great love for their Prophet (a.s). She also knew that they would love to set eyes on the things that touched his body. When these things came in their view, there will be a feeling of ecstasy in their minds. It happened the way she thought. When they saw these, their anger rose and they surrounded the caliph’s palace.

When Umm al-Mu’minin saw that the siege was strong, despite the best efforts of Marwan ibn al-Hakam, `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Attab and Zayd ibn Thabit she left for Makkah. During her journey, as well, wherever she stopped, she went inciting the people against `Uthman. Therefore, when she reached Salsal, seven miles from Makkah, she told Ibn `Abbas, who was proceeding as the leader of the group of Hajjis, in a very forceful manner: “O Ibn `Abbas! You have the gift of oratory and sleight of tongue.

In the name of Allah, stop people from helping this person (`Uthman).Put the people in doubts about him. As it is, people’s eyes have opened. The path of truth and the tower of light have risen. People from different cities have gathered for a decisive act. You know that Talhah ibn `Ubaydullah has control of the keys of the bayt al-mall .

If the Caliphate comes to him, he will follow his cousin, Abū-Bakr, step for step!”[1] `A’ishah, during the first six years of the caliphate of `Uthman backed him completely. But then they had misunderstandings and she started antagonizing him.