Indeed you have become between two killed (persons)- one was...

Indeed you have become between two killed (persons)- one was killed at (the Battle) of Siffin and you weep over him, and the other was killed at (the Battle) of al-Nahrwan and you avenge his blood. As for the rest, they are betrayers, and as for the weeper is a rebel. Indeed Mu'awiya has summoned us to a matter in which there is neither dignity nor justice. So if you want death, we will answer in kind and judge him for Allah with our swords.

If you want life, we will accept him and take contentment for you.' So the people called al-Hasan from all directions: 'The rest! The rest! Make peace!'" In his book 'Sharh Nahj al-Balagha', b. Abu al-Hadid said: "On the authority of al-Mada'in, who said: 'Then al-Hasan sent 'Abd Allah b. 'Abbas and Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Abbdda to head a vanguard of twelve thousand (fighters) to advance against Sham (Syria). Then he went out to head for al-Mada'in.

However, he was stabbed at Sabat and his provisions were plundered. Then he entered al-Madain. Mu'awiya heard of that news, so he propagated it. The companions whom al-Hasan sent with 'Abd Allah began joining Mu'awiya's camp. They were from the prominent figures and the members of the houses. So 'Abd Allah b. al-'Abbas wrote to al-Hasan concerning that.

For this reason al-Hasan addressed the people and scolded them and said: 'You had disobeyed my father, so he accepted the arbitration while he was reluctant (to do that). Then he summoned you to fight against the Syrians after the arbitration, but you refused that till he passed away. Then you pledged allegiance to me to make peace with him who makes peace with me and to fight him who fights against me. I have heard that the people of honor went to Mu'awiya and pledged allegiance to him.

It is enough for me when you do not desert me and my religion. Al-Hasan sent to Mu'awiya 'Abd Allah (b. al-Harith b. Noufal b. al-Harith b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. His mother was Hind bint (the daughter) of Abu Sufyan b. Harb) to ask him to make peace. Al-Hasan stipulated that Mu'awiya should act according to the Book of Allah and the Sunna (practices) of His Apostle, and that he should not pledge allegiance to anyone after him.

In his book 'al-Irshad', al-Mufid said: "A group of the tribal leaders wrote secretly to Mu'awiya offering to accept his authority (i.e., to listen and obey). They urged him to come to them and they guaranteed to hand over al-Hasan when they got to his camp, or to kill him treacherously.