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Abdullah Ibn Saba (Part IV)
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Who Started The Battle of Camel?
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The battle of Camel (Jamal) was the first war declared against Imam Ali
(AS) in Basra in year 36/656 after people appointed Ali as their leader of
the Muslim community. It was called so, because Aisha, one of the leaders
of the opposition group was riding a camel. The other leaders among the
opposition were Talha and Zubair who were two well-known companions of the
messenger of Allah. This war is also known in the history as the battle of
Basra. The result was shedding the blood of more than ten thousand Muslims.
The circulators of false accusation against the Followers of the Members of
the House of the Prophet quote from Sayf that the followers of Ibn Saba
started the battle of Basra at night just before the negotiations between
Imam Ali and his three opponents (Aisha, Talha, and Zubair) were about to
succeed. They started the battle at night by attacking the two armies
simultaneously in order to make them plunge into battle. Ibn Saba wanted to
make each of the two armies accuse the other of starting the battle. This
would abort the peaceful efforts whose stipulations were supposed to
include the punishment of Uthman's killers.
This allegation is in contradiction with many clear historical facts,
of which the following events were recorded by the Sunni historians and
traditionists:
1. al-Sha'bi (Amir Ibn Sharahil al-shi-abi) reported the following:
The right side of the army of the Commander of Believers (Ali)
attacked the left side of Basra's army. They fought each other
and people resorted to Aisha and most of them were from Dhubbah
and al-Azd tribes. The Battle started after sunrise and continued
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
until afternoon. The Basrites were defeated and a man from the tribe
of al-Azd said: 'Come back and attack.' Muhammad (Ibn al-Hanafiya),
son of Ali, hit him with his sword and severed his hand. The man
shouted: 'Azdites, run away.' When the Azdites were overwhelmed by
the army of the Ali, the Azdites shouted: 'We belong to the religion
of Ali Ibn Abi Talib.'
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, Arabic version, Events of year 36 AH
v4, p312. (The English version of this part is not yet
published at the time of writing of this article)
The above report gives evidence to the fact that the fight did NOT start
during the night as the inventor of Ibn Saba claimed. Rather it started
AFTER the sunrise. This collapses the whole alleged conspiracy of
simultaneous attack to both armies during the night.
2. Qatadah reported the following:
When the two armies faced each other, Zubair appeared on his horse
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
while he was well armed. People said to Ali, 'This is Zubair.' Upon
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
that Ali said: 'Zubair is the more expected of the two to remember
God, if he is reminded.' Talha also came to face Ali. When Ali faced
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
them, he said: 'Certainly you have prepared arms, horses, and men. Did
you prepare an excuse for the Day of Judgment when you meet your Lord?
Fear God and do not be like the lady who unravels her weaving after
she had woven it strongly. Was I not your brother and you used to
believe in the sanctity of my blood? Did anything happen to make it
legal for you to shed my blood?' Talha said: 'You have instigated
people against Uthman.'
Imam Ali replied, quoting from the Quran: 'On that day (the day of
judgment), Allah will pay them their just due, and they will know
that, indeed, Allah is the Manifest Truth.(Quran 24:25).' Then
Ali continued: 'Talha, you are fighting for the blood of Uthman?
May God curse those who killed Uthman. Zubair, do you remember
the day when you passed by with the Messenger of God at Banu Ghunam
and he looked at me and smiled? I smiled back at him and you said
to him: 'Ibn Abu Talib is always conceited. 'The Messenger of God
said to you: 'He is not conceited, and you shall fight him unjustly.'
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Zubair said: 'By God, this is true. Had I remembered that, I would
not have made this journey. By God, I shall never fight you.' Then
Zubair left and informed Aisha and his son Abdullah that he took an
oath to never fight Ali. His son counseled him to fight against Ali
and pay atonement (Kaffaarah) for breaking his oath. Zubair agreed
and made his atonement by freeing his slave Mak'hul.
Sunni references:
- History of al-Tabari, Arabic version, Events of year 36 AH, v4, pp501-502
- History of Ibn al-Athir, v3, p240
- al-Isti'ab, Ibn Abd al-Barr, v2, p515
- Usdul Ghabah, v2, p252
- al-Isabah, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v2, p557
This event clearly tells us that Talha and Zubair confronted Imam Ali (AS)
BEFORE the start of the battle, and the confrontation was in the day time
rather than at night. Otherwise, people could not have seen the
confrontation or heard the conversation between the Imam and his opponents
and recognize each other in the Helmet (metal head-cover). We are sure that
there was no electricity for light, nor was there any voice amplifier to
make conversations heard.
Since the conversation and the confrontation took place before the start of
the battle, it is clear that the report of Sayf about the battle starting
during the dark night and unpredictably, is a sheer lie.
3. al-Dhabbi narrated:
We were in the camp of Ali on the day of Battle of Camel, where Ali
sent for Talha to talk to him (before the beginning of war). Talha
came forward, and Ali told him: I adjure you by Allah! Didn't you hear
the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) when he said: `Whoever I am his
MAWLA, this Ali is his MAWLA. O God, love whoever loves him, and be
hostile to whoever is hostile to him'?" Talha replied: "Yes." Ali
said: "Then why do you want to fight me?"
Sunni references:
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 169,371
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, on the authority of Ilyas al-Dhabbi
- Muruj al-Dhahab, by al-Mas'udi, v4, p321
- Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p107
4. Yahya Ibn Sa'id narrated:
Marwan Ibn al-Hakam who was in the ranks of Talha, saw Talha is
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
retreating (when his army was being defeated in the battlefield).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Since he and all Umayad recognized him and al-Zubair as the murderers
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
of Uthman, he shot an arrow at him and severely wounded him. He then
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
said to Aban, the son of Uthman, that: "I have spared you from one of
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
your father's murderers." Talha was taken to a ruined house in Basra
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
where he died.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sunni references:
- Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'ad, v3, part 1, p159
- al-Isabah, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v3, pp 532-533
- History of Ibn al-Athir, v3, p244
- Usdul Ghabah, v3, pp 87-88
- al-Isti'ab, Ibn Abd al-Barr, v2, p766
- History of Ibn al-Kathir, v7, p248
- A similar report is given in al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 169,371
5. al-Zuhri, another important Sunni narrator who is famous for his dislike
of Ahlul-Bayt, reported the following dialogue of Imam Ali with Zubair and
Talha before the battle:
"Ali said: 'Zubair, do you fight me for the blood of Uthman after you
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
killed him? May God give the most hostile to Uthman among us the
^^^^^^^^^^
consequence which that very person dislikes.' He said to Talha:
'Talha, you have brought the wife of the Messenger of God (Aisha) to
use her for war and hid your wife at your house (in Medina)! Did you
not give me your allegiance?' Talha said: 'I gave you the allegiance
while the sword was on my neck.'
(At this point, Ali tried to invite them to peace, leaving them no
excuse.) Ali addressed his own army saying: 'Who among you will
display this Quran and what is in it to the opposing army with the
understanding that if he loses one of his hand he will hold the Quran
with his other hand...?' A youth from Kufa said: 'I will take the
mission.' Ali went through his army offering them the mission. Only
that youth accepted it. Then Ali said to him: 'Exhibit this Quran and
say to them: It is between you and us from its beginning to its end.
Remember God, and spare your blood and our blood.'
As the youth called upon them to resort to the Quran and surrender to
its judgment, the Basrites army attacked and killed him. At this time,
Ali said to his army: 'Now the fight has become legal.' The battle
then started.
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, Arabic version, Events of year 36 AH
v4, p905
All these reports and the similar ones clearly indicate that the battle
started in the day time rather than at night as Sayf Ibn Umar alleged. The
breaking war was not abrupt since the two armies met and talked to each
other just before the start of battle. Had the confrontation between Imam
Ali and Talha and Zubair taken place at night, the final call of Imam Ali
would have had no benefit because the two armies would not have been able
to witness it or hear their conversation. Also, the confrontation between
the carrier of the Holy Quran and the Basrites would have been useless.
None of the opposing soldiers could have seen the Quran in the hands of the
young man at night.
Furthermore, the alleged agreement between the Imam and the three
rebellious leaders, to punish the individuals who murdered Uthman, would be
logical only if the three leaders were serious in seeking punishment for
the killers. But the three leaders (Aisha, Talha, and Zubair) were the main
agitators who provoked people to kill the Third Caliph. As we see in the
above tradition, Imam Ali clearly stated that Zubair was among those who
killed Uthman.
Had the revolters elected Talha or Zubair instead of Imam Ali (AS) as
Caliph, they would have given the killers of Uthman the biggest prize.
Certainly the leaders did not seek revenge for the blood of Uthman, for
they themselves were behind the plot. They only pretended to do that as a
means of destroying the Imam's caliphate.
Imam Ali said in the battle of Camel:
"Truth and falsehood can not be identified by the virtue of people.
First understand the truth, you will then realize who is adhering to
it." (Nahjul Balaghah, by Imam Ali)
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Short Summary of Comparing reports on the Character of Abdullah Ibn Saba
========================================================================
Story of Abdullah Ibn Saba based Story of Abdullah Ibn Saba based
on the reports provided by Sayf on the reports whose chain of
Ibn Umar and those who quoted him authorities do not include Sayf
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1) Sayf provided a mass of 1) The number of these reports
information and a huge number of which have the chain of narrators
lengthy and verbose reports for do not exceed 14. And they are very
which there exists no similar short.
report by the sober traditionists.
2) These and all other reports 2) These few traditions were NOT
of Sayf were rejected since he rated authentic by Shia or Sunni
was accused of forgery, heresy, scholars, and thus, the existence
inquisition and manichaeism by of a person in the name of Abdullah
the leading Sunni scholars. Ibn Saba remains under question.
3) Abdullah Ibn Saba appeared when 3) Abdullah Ibn Saba appeared when
Uthman came to power. Imam Ali (AS) came to power.
4) Ibn Saba claimed that Prophet 4) Nothing was reported about Ibn
Muhammad will return like Jesus Saba in this regard. Other Sunni
before the day of judgment. He reports claim that Umar was the
claimed that Prophet Muhammad has first who claimed the return of
not died. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF) and that
he did not die.
5) Abdullah Ibn Saba claimed that 5) Abdullah Ibn Saba claimed that
Ali is the successor of Prophet. he is a prophet and Ali is God.
6) Ibn Saba claimed that Uthman 6) Nothing was reported about Ibn
should be overthrown because he has Saba in this regard. Other Sunni
occupied the seat of Ali. Ibn Saba reports claim that Talha, Zubair,
was the main agitator in revolt Aisha, and Amr Ibn al-Aas were the
against Uthman. The agitation did main agitators against Uthman. They
not start from Medina, and Talha started the campaign in Medina and
and Zubair did not oppose Uthman. then invited others to join them.
7) Ibn Saba instigated the battle 7) Nothing was reported about Ibn
of Camel at night in order to Saba in this regard. Yet other
plunge the two armies into battle. Sunni reports say that the battle
started after sunrise and after the
final speech of Imam Ali to the
rebellions when the two armies
faced and met each other.
8) Some of the pioneers of Islam 8) No report about the relation of
among the companions of Prophet any companions of Prophet with
such as Abu Dar and Ammar Ibn Yasir Abdullah Ibn Saba. Other authentic
were the students of this Jew. Sunni traditions indicate that Abu
Dar and Ammar were among the best
companions and the most beloved
ones to the Prophet (PBUH&HF).
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