Imam Ali (A.S.) asked them: "What is it that you so disapprove of in me that you seek other than mea"
They said: "You made our share of allowance the same as the others; you made us equal to those who are not like us."
The Imam (A.S.) replied to them: "As to what you say about equal distribution of wealth, I should say it is not my opinion which I follow, nor is it a desire of mine to control. It is what I and you found the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) doing. There, too, I needed no help from you, since Allah had already ordained its dividends. Therefore, neither you nor anyone else is justified in blaming me for this. May Allah guide our hearts and yours to the truth and grant us patience. May Allah have mercy upon him who, when he sees the truth, helps it to spread, who, when he sees inequity, rejects it, and who rightly backs his companions."
Thus, concepts and starting points differ. Imam Ali (A.S.) started from what Allah, the Exalted, and His Messenger (S.A.W.) enjoined, whereas his opponents started from what their own interests said to them.
The Battle of Basra: It was natural that Talha and Zubair were unhappy with the reformative movement led by Imam Ali (A.S.) in Islamic life. They started preparations for rebellion against the Imam (A.S.) and stirred the Muslims against him. The result was a calamity that caused the nation grave losses. They (Talha and Zubair) persuaded A'isha, the daughter of Abu Bakr - the Prophet's wife - to go out with them to Basra to lead the opposition front against Imam Ali (A.S.).
Imam Ali (A.S.) exerted great efforts to avoid the conflict.
In Basra, Imam Ali (A.S.) continued to give his advice to prevent bloodshed. He even sent envoys to the Nakithun (those who broke their allegiance) inviting them to peace and reconciliation.
He (A.S.) met Zubair and reminded him of certain incidents which happened to them during the life of the Prophet (S.A.W.). Among them, the Prophet's speech to Zubair: "Verily, you will one day unfairly rise against him (i.e. Imam Ali)."
"O! Yes," replied Zubair, "but I forgot it. Now that you have reminded me, I would give it up."
Consequently, Zubair decided to retire from public life. But his son, Abdullah, accused him of cowardice for doing so.
Thus, the situation exploded and war was waged between the two camps.
The fight ended with a crushing victory achieved by the Imam's army. Imam Ali (A.S.) proclaimed a general amnesty to all those who fought against him. He (A.S.) even returned A'isha to Madinah.
Because A'isha went to Basra riding on a camel, this war was called the War of the Camel (Jamal).
The Battle of Siffin: The most difficult problem faced by Imam Ali (A.S.) during his caliphate was the problem of the rulers who were appointed before and were ruling the Muslims lands.
Such rulers were not on a high level of piety, asceticism and loyalty in order to be as models and Imams (leaders) for people whom they lead toward guidance and reform, while most of the rulers were appointed before and who lacked such qualifications and even worse than that. Most of them were characterized by corruption, oppression and transgressing against the wealth of people and themselves.
Some rulers and commanders were among those who were severely in enmity and annoyance to the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.). Among them were: * Hakam bin Aas who was the most severe enemy to the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) to the extent that he (S.A.W.) expelled him and his son from Madinah.
* Walid bin Aqaba bin Abi Mo'it, the ruler of Kufa during the reign of Uthman. This man (Walid) was a drunkard and had a Christian drinking companion. Once, this man offered four Rak'a (units of prayer) instead of two when he led people at dawn prayer because he was drunk.
* Abdulla bin Sa'id bin Aadi was the Prophet Muhammad's clerk and betrayed the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) in his writings and therefore, he (S.A.W.) dismissed him, therefore, he turned away from Islam, but later one of the caliph, Uthman, appointed him as a ruler for Eygpt.
Mu'awiya bin Abi Sufyan, the ruler of Sham (Syria). He used to govern the whole land of Sham and was appointed as a ruler before and led a luxurious life which was not limited by Islamic law nor controlled by a religion. Ahmad bin Hanbal, in his authentic book, on the authority of Abdullah bin Boraida, said: I and my father visited Mu'awiya. He made us sit and then brought food for us. After having finished eating, they brought a drink (wine); first Mu'awiya began to drink, then he passed it to my father and then he (Abu Boraida) said: I did not drink it since the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) forbade it.
It seems that Mu'awiya was never embarrassed about drinking alcoholic beverages. It was brought to him on camels after passing through roads and markets. It happened that a group of camels, carrying, bottles of alcoholic beverages to Mu'awiya passed near Abada bin Samit, a companion who was in Sham at that time. He asked them: "What are thesea Are they oila"
They said: "No, it is a wine which should be sold to Mu'awiya." This man took a plowshare from a market and with which he tore the bottles.
Mu'awiya had a severe hartred for Imam Ali (A.S.) because he (A.S.) killed his (Mu'awiya) brother Handhala who was a polytheist in the battle of Badr. He (A.S.) also killed his (maternal) uncle, Walid bin Utbah and a group of his (Mu'awiya) relatives who were fighting in the army of the unbelievers of the Quraish. This was one of the essential elements behind Mu'awiya's enmity towards Imam Ali (A.S.). He (Mu'awiya) even ordered to curse the Imam (A.S.) on the pulpits of the Mosques at every Friday Sermon.
Therefore, Imam Ali (A.S.), being the bearer of the standard of Islam, had no way other than changing such rulers and the like and replacing them with the righteous faithful from the companions of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) and the formers in faith. This movement motivated such damaged people who found no shelter other than Mu'awiya who, in turn, gathered them under his flag. Mu'awiya declared his revolt against the Imam's decision for deposing him and refused obeying the true Caliph, thus, began to prepare himself to confront the Imam (leader) of his time.
After victory in the battle of Basra, the Imam (A.S.) returned with his army to Kufa to reinforce his troops, and then to go on to Sham to liquidate the opposition, led by Mu'awiya bin Abi Sufyan.
Therefore, Imam Ali (A.S.) started his march with his army heading for Sham. But the enemy received news about his move, and decided to meet the Islamic advance on the way. The two armies confronted one another near the Euphrates River. Imam Ali (A.S.) resumed his efforts to set things right through peaceful ways and preserve the unity of the Muslims ranks and join the unanimity of the nation. But Mu'awiya's insisting on fighting caused more than ten thousand victims and because of complicated cir*stances, the battle which lasted two weeks ended without any victory for both sides.
Developments of Judgement: The confusion and disorder caused in the ranks of Imam Ali's (A.S.) army as a result of the raising the copies of the Holy Qur'an by the Ummayyad soldiers had an effective impact on his camp, and the appearance of the forces hidden under righteousness in his army and their pressure to impose the acceptance of the accomplished fact. Consequently, the Imam (A.S.) was forced to respond to the order of judgement between the two sides. Thus, the people of Syria (Sham) chose Amru bin Aas who was famous for his cunning, tricks, and love of the present world, while the other side chose Abu Musa Ash'ari to represent the camp of the Imam (A.S.), under the influence of the stupid ones and the owners of interests who existed inside the army of Imam Ali (A.S.). This man (Abu Musa Ash'ari) was weak minded, in addition to his being among those who isolated himself from the Imam (A.S.) in his war against his enemies.
Some narrations refer that laceration caused in Imam Ali's (A.S.) troops reached its climax that even some chiefs of his soldiers threatened the Imam (A.S.) to act with him like they acted with Uthman or deliver him to Mu'awiya.
When the two arbitrators met each other, Amru bin Aas took advantage of Abu Musa Ash'ari when the latter presented him the idea of deposing both Imam Ali (A.S.) and Mu'awiya. When Abu Musa was pleased with that idea, Amru bin Aas began deposing his companion, whereas he himself did not recommend to precede the Messenger of Allah's (S.A.W.) companion in that.
Therefore, Abu Musa advanced and deposed Imam Ali (A.S.) from the leadership of Muslim affairs and deposed Mu'awiya too, whereas Amru bin Aas announced his consent of deposing Imam Ali (A.S.) and appointing his own companion, Mu'awiya.
Thus, Amru bin Aas betrayed Abu Musa Ash'ari and took advantage of his weaknesses inspite of Abdulla bin Abbas's warnings against Amru's betrayal.
After the two delegations returned, Amru bin Aas submitted the caliphate to Mu'awiya in 37 A.H. and never submitted him the like before.
But, the Commander of Faithul (A.S.) considered that the betrayal of Amru bin Aas and the negligence of Abu Musa Ash'ari, caused the arbitration to end through incorrect and unsafe ways. This betrayal and unseriousness were clearly seen in Amru's speeches and behavior. Therefore, Imam Ali (A.S.) called to resume war and declared his statement to the umma, which says: "O people, I had given you my orders about this arbitration, but you rejected it (my orders) and disobeyed me. By my life, disobedience brings about regret. Consequently, mine and your positions became as the poet of Hawazin says: 'I gave you my orders at Mun'arijil-lliwa but you did not see the good of my counsel till the noon of the next day (when it was too late).' But these two arbitrators neglected the Book of Allah, they caused the death of what the Qur'an revived and revived what caused death. Each of them followed their own low desires without Allah's guidance. They judged without any proof nor with any previous tradition, and bout of them were not guided...therefore, get ready for jihad, prepare (yourselves) for the (right) path and be awakened in your positions."
