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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Role of Aishah in the History of Islam (volume 2) Part Two : Battle of Al-jamal The first battle begins 'A'ishah's soldiers beheaded some and cunningly killed others.

at-Tabari says; when 'A'ishah's army entered Basra, 'Uthman ibn Hunayf, 'Ali's governor, came forward and addressing the army, said: "What is your objection to 'Ali That gives you a reason for rising up against him?" They said: "Our first objection is that he has no superiority over us at all, but he wants to govern us, and this is not acceptable.

Secondly he has done something that leaves room for every objection and criticism." 'Uthman ibn Hunayf said: "I am the governor of this city by 'Ali's order, and have no personal view or authority. Give me a period of grace to write a letter to the commander of the faithful to inform him of your demands and proposals and see what he says and what instruction he gives." They accepted 'Uthman's suggestion, and made and agreement to which they called God as witness, thus reinforcing the pact.

'Uthman wrote to 'Ali about this matter, but within two days 'A'ishah's army disturbed the peace of the city, and rushed upon 'Uthman and arrested him.

Then they whipped him and plucked out the hair of his head and face.48 Some other historians like al-Ya'qubi, al-Mas'udi and the author of al- Isti'ab49 have described the event as follows: A peace agreement was concluded between 'A'ishah's army and 'Uthman ibn Hunayf to the effect that both sides should abstain from war and bloodshed, and allow 'Uthman to govern Basra as before and keep order there until the arrival of 'Ali to negotiate with the opponents himself or to express his view in writing.

The peace agreement was written for and by both forces, and then on the basis of this pact 'Ali's governor ordered his supporters and soldiers to lay down their arms in order to make peace and order more attainable. But within a few days on a very cold and rainy night a number of 'A'ishah's soldiers commanded by 'Abd Allah ibn az-Zubayr attacked the governor's house in Basra, arrested 'Uthman, 'Ali's governor, and then raided the treasury, History of at-Tabari 5/178.

This event is also narrated in al-'Iqd al-farid. scattered the guards and killed forty of them.50 al-Mas'udi gives the number of the killed in addition to the wounded at seventy, of whom fifty were beheaded in front of others after their arrest in order to frighten the people.