ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Role of Aishah in the History of Islam (volume 2) Mobilization of the Army What do women have to do with campaigning? When on her way to Medina the news of the people's allegiance to 'Ali reached 'A'ishah, she decided to oppose him and returned to Mecca where she raised the banner of opposition to him and openly incited and encouraged the people against him.

Hostile groups and parties, learning of this scheme, rushed from every side to her and joined the forces of opposition. Talhah and az-Zubayr who opposed 'Ali's system of equality, as we said in the last chapter, broke their pact with 'Ali and left his side, proceeding to 19. Description of Nahj al-balaghah, Ibn Abi al-Hadid 7/39-41. History of at-Tabari 5/53. History of al-Ya'qubi 2/127, History of Ibn A'tham 166-167.

Mecca and joining 'A'ishah's army and opposition party.22 On the one hand the Umayyads who had long been hostile to 'Ali and were waiting for an opportunity to rise against his rule, on hearing of 'A'ishah's rise and opposition, left Medina for Mecca and placed themselves under 'A'ishah's banner of opposition to 'Ali.

On the other hand the governors of 'Uthman's time who had been dismissed one after another by 'Ali, left with their enormous wealth gathered from public funds, from various cities towards 'A'ishah and joined her army. Thus all the groups which had some complaint against 'Ali gathered there.

At-Tabari quotes az-Zuhri as follows: Talhah and az-Zubayr came to Mecca four months after 'Uthman's murder and 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amir23 too who had been governor of Basra in 'Uthman's time and was dismissed by 'Ali, left for Mecca with much wealth. Ya'la ibn Umayyah24, governor of Yemen who had been dismissed by 'Ali arrived at Mecca with enormous wealth and more than four hundred camels.

'Abd Allah ibn 'Amir placed much wealth and many camels at the disposal of 'A'ishah's army and her warriors Ya'la ibn Umayyah, too offered az-Zubayr four hundred thousand dinars and provided the equipment of seventy fighters and offered the famous camel called 'Askar to 'A'ishah which he had bought for eighty dinars (and according to al-Mas'udi, for two hundred dinars), and it was this camel that 'A'ishah rode in the battle of al-Jamal.25 They tied her litter firmly behind this camel and 'A'ishah sat in it.

In this way all those who were opposed to 'Ali, assembled in Mecca, and mobilized a huge and well-equipped army ready to fight 'Ali.