He was one of the grand old aristocrats of Quraysh and a...

He was one of the grand old aristocrats of Quraysh and a leading enemy of the Prophet, who had fled at the time of the conquest of Mecca rather than accepts Islam and eventually the Messenger of God permitted him to stay in Mecca rather than move to Medina.[^4] He saw a chance of getting back at the old enemy allied with the Medinan. In the war council, which was held in 'A’isha's home, it was first suggested that they attack 'Ali in Medina.

The decision to move to Basra and mobilize Basran support for the claim of revenge was influenced by the argument of 'Abd Allah b. 'Amir that he could count on strong support there and by the material means he was willing to provide.[^5] Ya'la b. Munya contributed from the funds he had carried off from the Yemen. He gave 400'000 dirham s and provided the beasts of burden for 70 men of Quraysh.

He paid eighty dinar s for 'A’isha's famous camel 'Asker.[^6] The rebels, taking 'A’isha with them, set off for Basra. As soon as they reached al-Haw'ab, 'A’isha heard dogs barking. She asked where it was.

When she knew that it was al-Haw'ab, she sighed, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and to Him we intend to return: Now I find myself the addressee to this tradition.” She added, “Once the Prophet addressing us asked which of you would go with an army to the South, and the dogs of al-Haw'ab would bark at them.” She wanted to return, but 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr made fifty men of Banu 'Amir swear that it was not al-Haw'ab.[^7] When the rebels approached Basra, 'Uthman b. Hunayf sent Abu Nujayd 'Imran b.

Husayn al-Khuza'i[^8] and Abu al-Aswad al-Du'ali as envoys to enquire about their intention. They met 'A’isha and her companions at Hafar Abu Musa, a watering station on the road from Mecca to Basra. Moreover, they were told that they had come to claim revenge for the blood of 'Uthman and to see that an electoral council was set up to decide on the succession.[^9] Abu al-Aswad told 'A’isha that the Messenger of God had confined her for protection ( habis ).

He had ordered her to stay at home and now she had come knocking the people against each other. She answered, “Is there anyone then who would fight me or say anything different from this?”[^10] The Basran were preparing to fight, but the night separated them.