Indeed you know perfectly well that 'Uthman's murderers are...

Indeed you know perfectly well that 'Uthman's murderers are the same people who have started this dispersion and war under the pretext of avenging his blood." At this moment showers of arrows were sent by the enemy towards 'Ammar, and he sang the following poem: " 'A'ishah! You started the war and bloodshed, All these stormy waves of events are caused by you.

It was you who issued the order for 'Uthman's death, It was you who gave a verdict for his infidelity." Arrows continued to pour down on 'Ammar. He whipped his horse and galloped away from the hostile army and returning to 'Ali he said: "O Commander of the faithful, how long are we to wait? As I can see, these people have prepared nothing for you but war." 'Ali gives his last ultimatum God! Be a witness! O friends of mine, offer all arguments to them.

'Ali employed all the possible means to establish peace and used various ways to bring reason to the enemy and left no avenue unexplored. 1-He wrote letters to their commanders, warning them of perfidy, war and bloodshed. 2-He sent messages to 'A'ishah and her army commanders, inviting them to peace and tranquility. 3-He made a direct contact with the enemy commanders, giving them counsel and advice.

4-He sent the Qur'an to the enemy, inviting them to act upon its verdict as a way of solving differences. 5-He prepared a military plan for his followers, recommending such a kind and pacific behaviour and treatment towards the enemy that would have softened the most stubborn of them towards peace and order. 6-Lastly he dispatched 'Ammar who was in the words of the Prophet a criterion of right and justice to reason with 'A'ishah and her army and invite them to peace.

These were the points, which were discussed, in previous chapters on the basis of reliable historical evidence. The last opportunity which 'Ali gave the enemy for peace was that in retaliation for their attacks upon his envoys, he advised his own army to show patience, and fortitude and warned them not to start the fight and said: "O Just God!

Be a witness and O friends, be patient and let the enemy be given every chance, leaving them no room for pretext." But despite all his efforts for peace the enemy showed a greater insistence upon war. Historians describing this final ultimatum of 'Ali and the obstinacy of 'A'ishah's army, write as follows: al-Hakim says in al-Mustadrak: "az- Zubayr, commander of 'A'ishah's army ordered his archers to shoot arrows collectively at them.