ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Examples of Imam `ali’s (a.s.) Moral Virtues The Battle of Siffin Siffin was a region by the river Euphrates. When the army of `Ali reached it, he was told to block the army of Mu`awiyah from having access to the river, but `Ali did not accept the idea. Mu`awiyah took advantage of this situation, seized all the ways leading to the river and blocked the army of `Ali from having access to the river. By his command, the army opened ways to the river.

To retaliate, Imam `Ali’s companions decided to block Mu`awiyah’s army from access to river, but again `Ali did not permit. The Battle of Siffin lasted for eighteen months. The offensive by `Ali’s army was started hoping that the Syrians would give up and less blood would be shed! The Battle Of Nahrawan The best definition we can use in describing the Kharijites is that they were people afflicted with the disease of enmity with `Ali and they did not stop this enmity until they killed him.

If we use the word disease, it is because enmity with anyone needs a reason. A person bears enmity to someone for personal reasons, for being jealous of that person’s position, for having been hurt or harmed by that person, for having experienced a tyranny, a family feud or religious differences. None of those reasons existed for those who were hostile to `Ali. They simply could not see `Ali alive and victorious.

These people were in the army of `Ali in the Battle of Siffin but when he overcame the enemy, they drew their swords against him and deprived him of victory. They did not accept the intelligent arbiter Imam `Ali had chosen and selected the arbiter who was `Ali’s enemy! They were the enemies of Mu`awiyah too but unknowingly assisted him and compelled `Ali to accept the mediation of the arbiters.

When the treachery of mediation became clear, they started to disagree with `Ali so much so that they disrespected him in his presence and absence. `Ali too had left them to themselves showing no reaction to what they said and did. `Ali’s friends who could not tolerate hearing their sarcastic and insulting remarks would often ask `Ali to suppress and imprison them or check their activities.

However, `Ali would not agree, saying, “As long as they do not do anything against us, we will not harm them nor will we cut their stipend from the public fund. We will allow them to come to the mosque but if they kill anyone, we will retaliate.” The inner disease of Kharijites was being intensified.