The hostility among the survivors of the expected battle...

The hostility among the survivors of the expected battle would have been inflamed leaving no room for reuniting them to fight the enemy again. Had the Imam insisted on continuing the war and refused to withdraw Al-Ashtar and his division from the battle all evidence indicated that the fanatics who surrounded the Imam were ready to assassinate him or hand him to Muawiya. This could have happened without the knowledge of Al-Ashtar and his division.