The figure of those who received injuries and the number of severed arms...

The figure of those who received injuries and the number of severed arms, and blinded eyes is more than can be imagined. At-Tabari finds the number of the dead at six thousand, but Ibn A'tham says in his history book that, the number of those killed totaled nine thousand in 'A'ishah's army, and seven thousand and five hundred in 'Ali's army. Ibn 'Abd Rabbih writes in al-'Iqd al-farid that in the battle of al-Jamal twenty thousand followers of 'A'ishah were killed, and five hundred of 'Ali's army.

The history book of al-Ya'qubi says that the number of those killed in both armies in the battle of al-Jamal, was more than thirty thousand.149 Thus in this battle much economical loss many mental and physical sufferings were inflicted on both sides. Many a woman lost her sons or became a widow, and many children became orphans.

All these losses and damages were inflicted on the Islamic society in a limited area, but the damages and evil consequences of this war gradually appeared after the battle during many long subsequent years, and involved many part of the Islamic realm and the majority of the Muslims, about which no figure can be given. We can only quote some pages of history related to this matter for the reader and enumerate some of those consequences.

Subsequent results 1-One of the bitter results of the battle of al-Jamal was the kindling of the fire of the Siffin battle, for this battle served as a complement to the former battle and one of its ill-omened vestiges. These two battles were connected together with a firm cord, one end of which Basra was tied and the other end Siffin, the middle of which was in 'A'ishah's hand, pulling both ends together.

For, the uprising of 'A'ishah who was of the Taym house and had no kinship with 'Uthman, paved the way for the uprising of Mu'awiyah who was of the 148. History of at-Tabari 5/218, al-'Iqd al-farid 4/32. History of at-Tabari 5/225, al-'Iqd al-farid 4/224 (published by Li-jant at-ta'lif), History of Ibn A'tham and History of al-Ya'qubi in the Chapter on the battle of al-Jamal. Umayyads and related to 'Uthman, and gave him a pretext.

For, if alien 'A'ishah could rise to avenge 'Uthman's blood, then Mu'awiyah could on the basis of his kinship with 'Uthman and his priority find a better excuse and claim vengeance for 'Uthman's blood, and thus start the battle of Siffin against 'Ali.