Moawiya with pleasure said: "This is our first Victory'.

Moawiya with pleasure said: "This is our first Victory'." Only one man, Amr bin Al-Aas, the shrewd minister of Moawiya did not think it a good policy. On the other side, Ali himself had arrived and was informed of the situation. He sent a letter with Saasa'a to Moawiya notifying: "We have come here, but, as far as possible we do not like to wage a war of fratricide between the Muslims. We earnestly hope to settle our dif- ferences through negotiations and discussions.

But we observe that you and your followers have started 56 using weapons of destruction before trying anything else. Besides, you have denied water on my com- panions. Instruct them to desist from this act, so that we can start negotiations. Of course, if you do not like anything but war, we are not afraid of Moawiya consulted his advisor. The general opinion was to take advantage of the golden op- portunity and ignore the letter. Only Amr bin Al Aas against this view. He said, "You are mistaken.

The fact is that Ali and his men do not want to start the war themselves, and it is because of this that they are silent at present and have tried to dissuade you from your scheme through this letter. Do not think they will retreat if you ignore their letter and continue denying them the water.

Because then they will take out arms and will not stop till they have driven you away from Euphrates with disgrace." But the majority of advisors was of the opinion that the denial of water would weaken the 57 enemy compelling them to retreat. Moawiya per- sonally was in favour of this idea. Discussion came to end; Saasa'a asked for the reply; Moawiya, using the delaying tactics, said that he would send the reply afterwards.

meanwhile, he ordered his sol- diers guarding water to be extra alert and to prevent coming and going of the soldiers of Ali. Ali was distressed at this development, because it brought to an end every hope of any amicable settlement through talks and negotiations, and showed that the opposite side was devoid of every goodwill.

Now, the only way out was to use force He stood before his soldiers and delivered a short but forceful address, the contents of which were as follows: "These people have started oppression, and opened the door of conflict and welcomed you with hostility. They are hungry for war and are demanding war and blood-shed from you. They have denied you water. Now you have to choose between the two paths. There is no third course.