imam hassan_and caliphate

8/13/2019 Imam Hassan_and Caliphate

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

ImamHassanandCaliphate

Author

:

Qurrat

ul

Ain

Abidiy

Editor'sIntroduction

ImamHassan(AS)andAllegiance

HistoricalBackgroundofKoofa

ImamMujtaba

(AS)and

Caliphate

WarPreparations

TheConstituentsofTheArmyandItsQualityTheStrengthofTheArmy

TheStrengthofTheArmy

SelectionsofTheLeader

FromMaskin

To

Madain

SomeHistoricalExtracts

TheTermsofThePeaceTreaty

3 TherestorationofPeaceandOrder

TheFormalAnnouncementofPeace

Editor'sIntroduction


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ThelifeofImamHasan(as)wasbotheventfulandfulloflessons,andyetthesignificanceof

hisroleseemstohavebeenignored,forgotten,oreclipsedbytheextentoffocusonImam

Hussain(as).WhyhashistoryblackenedtheradiantfaceofthatImaminwhoseadoration

fortythousandpeopleunanimouslyraisedtheirhandstopledgeallegiance,andtheoutsideof

whosehouse

was

continually

overflowing

with

people?

Acommonmisconceptionisthathewasjustapeacemaker,yetnothingcouldbefurther

fromthetruth.ForImamHasan(as)wasoverwhelminglyandpopularlyappointedasCaliph

duetohischarisma,knowledgeandeminentpiety.ThenheledtheIslamicCaliphateforsix

monthswithauthorityandcontrol,andhepreparedhisarmy,leadingittowaragainst

Muawiyaandexhortingittobebraveandunflinching.Onlywhenhismenbecameweakat

thekneesandfellpreytobribery,didhehavetoresorttopeaceinordertoachievehis

objectives.Andbythatmeans,heforevermadeabsolutelyclearthedifferencebetween

CaliphateandMonarchy,thusputtinganendtoMuawiyasschemes.

Sowhatweseeinourhistoryandcommunitiesisthatthereisanimbalanceoftreatment

betweenImamHasan(as)andImamHussain(as),whereastheProphet(saw)declaredthem

bothastheleadersoftheyouthofParadise.Thisbookverynicelyredressesthatbalanceby

displayingthebrillianceofImamHasansleadership,thefarsightednessofhisthinking,andhis

ironlikeresolveinservingAllah(swt)allcharacteristicssoreminiscentofhisfatherbefore

him.

Moreover,theauthordemonstrates,withexactingscholarshipusingauthenticsourcesand

themotherbooksofhistory,howtherewouldhavebeennoKarbalawithoutthegroundwork

laidbyImamHasan(as).

ThebookalsohasgreatvalueasamanualofinstructiononhowoneshouldobeytheImamof

onestime,inwarandinpeacethusmakingitanexcellentwayofpreparingforthe

emergenceoftheTwelfthImam(atf).

Theauthor,HujjatulIslamSayyidMuhammadQuratulAinAbidy,hasbeenintheHolyCityof

Qomfortwentyyears,firstasastudentintheIslamicSeminary&thenasateacherofQuran

TafseerandFiqh.Amonghispublicationsarethefollowingworks:

IslahIjtimaiDarIslam(SocialReformsinIslamicSociety),

SeerateAli(TranslationtoUrduofthebiographyofImamAli(as)).

Ghina(TranslationintoPersianofatreatiseonmusic).

Thelinked imagecannotbedisplayed.Thefilemay havebeen moved,renamed,or deleted.Verify thatthelink pointsto thecorrectfileand location.


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HeisalsoafoundingmemberoftheIslamiAfkarFoundationinPakistanandaseniorteacher

intheAlAsrorganizationofLondon.

Ihopethatthisbookisofbenefittobothscholars,whowillappreciatethethoroughnessofits

investigations,and

to

lay

people,

who

will

appreciate

the

excitement

of

a

narrative

depicting

theriseandfallofrulersandthebattlesfoughtbetweenthem.Inparticular,studentsof

Islamichistoryfrom40AH50AH,andthosestudyingthecausesoftheshiftfromIslamic

Government(Caliphate)tomaterialisticMonarchy,willfindthisworkvaluable.

ZahirDavdani(MEng)Qom 30/9/05.

ImamHassan(AS)andAllegiance

AlthoughthereisdifferenceofopinionamongtheMuslimsaboutthevicegerencyoftheHoly

Prophet(saww),orinotherwords,aboutwhoshouldhavebeenthecaliphofMuslimsafterthe

deathoftheHolyProphet(saww),Shi'abelievethatthecaliphshouldhavebeenappointedbythe

HolyProphet(saww)ashadalwaysbeenthepracticeinaccordancewiththecommandsof

Almighty

God,

while

Ahle

Sunnat

believe

that

the

Holy

Prophet

(saww)

had

left

the

method

of

selectionofthecaliphtothediscretionofthepeople.Accordingtothem,ifpeoplepayallegiance

toaperson,thenheisacaliph,otherwisenot.

Ifforamomentthiscriterionisaccepted,thentherewillbeleftnochoicebuttoacceptthatonly

HazratAli(as)andthefirstcalipharecaliphs,asthecommonMuslimshadonlypaidallegianceto

thesetwopersons.Asagainstthis,thesecondcaliphwasnominatedwhilethethirdcaliphwas

selectedthroughacommitteeofsixpersons.Therefore,itbecomesclearthattheallegianceby

thepeoplealoneisnotenoughforapersontobedeclaredImamorcaliph.Ontheotherhand,it

isknownthattherehasalwaysbeenadifferenceofopinionamongtheMuslimsaboutthe

caliphateand

the

vicegerency

of

the

Holy

Prophet

(saww).

To

be

just

and

fair,

after

the

Holy

Prophet(saww),itwasonlyImamHasan(as)'seminentandundisputedpersonalityaboutwhom

nodifferenceofopinionwaswitnessedintheIslamicsocietyregardinghiscaliphate.Whetherthe

HolyProphet(saww)'shadith,orthenominationofthenextcaliphbytheearliercaliph,orthe

people'sallegiance,orthelearnedandeminentpersonalityofImamHasan(as)istakenasthe

criterionforthetrueIslamiccaliphateorImamat,ImamHasan(as)emergesasthemostsuitable


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personamongtheMuslimsofthetimeforthehighrankofIslamiccaliphate.Thatiswhyallthe

Muslimstatesofthatperiodhadacknowledgedhimasthecaliph.Theonlyexceptionwasagroup

ofinsurgentswhodidnotpayallegianceandvowedtofightagainsthim.

TheHolyProphet(saww),asextensivelyquotedbytheShi'aandSunniHadithnarrators,had

statedthat

there

would

be

twelve

caliphs

after

him

and

emphatically

said

that

all

of

these

would

befromamongtheQuraish.ThereisnodoubtthatthesecondnameamongtheseisthatofImam

HasanMujtaba(as).

Apartfromthis,theHolyProphet(saww)hadspecificallymentionedtheImamatofImamHasan

(as)andhisbrotherImamHusain(as)inmanyofhisHadith.Forexample:

"Thesetwo(ImamHasanandImamHusain(as))areImam,whethertheytakeafirmstandagainst

anissueorobservepeace."

AlthoughtheaboveHadithoftheHolyProphet(saww)hasadeeprootedmeaningandmany

otherpointstoreflectupon,heretheHolyProphet(saww)isemphasizingthattheImamatand

thecaliphateofthesetwobrothersissosoundthatanydecisionoftheirsregardingpeaceorwar

wouldbecorrectandwouldnotadverselyaffecttheirstatus.Thereisnodoubtthatsome

MuslimsofthetimehadraisedsomeobjectionsagainstthepeacetreatyofImamHasan(as)and

therevolutionarystrategyofImamHusain(as),buttheHolyProphet(saww)hadalreadyreplied

totheseobjectionsinadvanceandhadinstructedtheMuslimstofollowtheminallconditions,

whetherinpeaceorwar,andtotreatthemastheirImam.

SimilarlythereisthefollowingHadithoftheHolyProphet(saww)whichhasbeenquoted

repetitivelybythehistorians:

"ThissonofmineistheleaderandAlmightyGodwillarrangepeacebetweentwogroupsthrough

him."

(Ifthishadithistrue),thenitisclearthatImamHasan(as)hadtheeminentstatusduetowhich

thetwogroupsacknowledgedhimastheirleaderandguide,followedhimandacceptedthe

peacearrangedbyhim.Thereisnodoubtthatcaliphateisanothernameofsuchaneminent

positionandundisputedpersonality.

Similarly,ifthenominationofacaliphistakenasthecriterionofcaliphate,thenhistoryrecords

thatHazratAli(as)hadassignedmanyresponsibilitiestoImamHasan(as)ondifferentoccasions

andhaddirectedhimtoleadtheprayersinhisplacejustbeforehismartyrdom.ImamHasan(as)

washisvicegerentabouttreatingIbneMuljim,theassassinofImamAli(as),andaboutother

issues.AccordingtoShi'anarrations,AmirulMomineenHazratAli(as)hadmadethefollowingwill


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infavourofhimjustbeforehismartyrdom:

"Omyson,youarethecaliphaftermeandyouarethevicegerantaftermeregardingmy

assassin."

Regardingthe

above

will,

he

had

taken

as

witness

not

only

Imam

Husain

(as),

Mohammad

b.

Hanafia,hisothersons,butanumberofprominentShi'aswell.Afterwardshegavehiscopyofthe

HolyQuranandhisarmamenttohimandsaidthatthesehadbeengiventohimbytheHoly

Prophet(saww)whohaddirectedthatheshouldhandoverthesetohim,declaringhim(Imam

Hasan(as))ashisheir.

Asagainstthis,somehistoricalrecordsshowthatwhenImamAli(as)wasaskedastowhomhe

wasnominatingthecaliph,hehaddeclinedtonameanyoneandhadleftittothechoiceof

Muslims.

Wefeelthatsuchnarrationsarefarfromthetruthandhavebeenconcoctedbythosewhowere

bentupondeclaringallegianceorconsultation('shoora')asthebasisforcaliphate,becausethe

viewsofHazratAli(as),asreflectedinNahjulBalaghaandotherhistoricalbooks,arequite

different.HeconsideredonlytheAhleBait(as)andmembersofthehouseholdoftheHoly

Prophet(saww)asfitforcaliphateandinthepresenceofImamHasan(as),hewouldnormally

haveappointedhimasthecaliph.

Again,iftheconditionsprevailingatthetimearetakenintoaccount,thecaliphateandthe

governmentofHazratAli(as)wasfacingacrisissituation.Nearlyallhistoricalnarrationsrecord

thatatthetimeHazratAli(as)waspreparingforadecisivebattleagainstMoawiyaandforty

thousandsoldiershadvowedtofightalongwithhimtilldeath.Inthatsituation,forsurehewas

likelytoappointashisheirandnextincommandapersonwhowouldtrulyguidealargearmyand

uproottherebelliousgroupinanappropriatemanner.Notdoingsowouldhaveendangeredthe

centerofIslamiccaliphate!

NotonlyisitthatnoobjectionagainstthecaliphateofImamHasanMujtaba(as)wasraisedby

theMuslimsofthetime,butratherthewholeMuslimhistoryrecordsthatMuslimsuptothe

currentperiodregardhimastheirImamandcaliph,despitesomanyotherdifferencesamong

them.'AhleSunnatvalJama'at'considerhimastheorthodoxcaliphandclaimthattheIslamic

caliphateendedforeverafterImamHasan(as)andthemonarchicalsystemcommenced.They

furtherquotethathisgrandfather,theHolyProphet(saww),hadearlierprophesiedthesamein

thefollowingwords:

"Thecaliphatewilllastthirtyyearsafterme.Afterthat,itwillbemonarchy."


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Accordingtothehistorians,thethirtyyearswerecompletedwhenImamHasan(as)agreedfor

peacewithMoawiyaandhandedovertheoutwardlypowertohim.

TheabovehadithisnotonlywellknownbutthelearnedandtheoldnoblesamongAhleSunnat

treatImamHasan(as)asthetrueIslamiccaliph.Onthisbasisanobjectioncanberaisedagainst

thosescholars

who,

writing

about

caliphate

and

monarchy,

have

mentioned

only

four

orthodox

caliphsofIslamandhavethusignoredImamHasan(as),whilethereisnodoubtthatmonarchy

commencedwithMoawiyaandthereisagapofsixtoeightmonthsbetweenthesameandthe

martyrdomofHazratAli(as),whichistheperiodoftheorthodoxcaliphateofImamHasan(as).

Thoughalotcanbewrittenontheissue,letusseewhatdetailshistoryhasrecordedaboutthe

allegiancetoImamHasan(as).

Itwasalittlebeforedawnonthe21stRamadhanandthepeopleinthecityofKoofawere

mourningthemartyrdomofAmeerulMomineenHazratAli(as).ApartfromKoofa,thesorrowand

shockofthemartyrdomofHazratAli(as)wasbeingfeltbyMuslimsinallothercitiesaswell.

AccordingtothewillofHazratAli(as),ImamHasan(as)hadperformedhisburialritesalongwitha

groupofImamAli(as)'sfollowers.AtthesametimealargenumberofMuslimswereawaitinghim

inthemosqueofKoofa.TheseincludednotonlytheresidentsofKoofaandthosewhohadcome

fromthenearbyareas,butalsowellknownpersonalitiesamongtheMohajireenandAnsarand

thesincereandtrustedcompanionsofhisfatherHazratAli(as).Allofthemperformedtheir

morningprayersundertheleadershipofImamHasan(as),whogavealongsermononthis

occasionofgrief.Inthesermonhepaidtributetotheleaderofthepiousonesinamannermost

appropriatetotheuniqueandunparalleledpersonalityofthelateImam(as).Allthehistorians

havequotedthissermon,withverylittlevariation.AfterdulypraisingAlmightyGodforHis

beneficenceandmercyandinvokingGod'sblessingsontheHolyProphet(saww)andhisprogeny,

hesaid:

"Thisnighthasgonebeyondthistransitoryworldapersonwhomnoonehadsurpassedearlier

andnonewouldbehisequalinfuture.ThereisnodoubtthathewaswiththeHolyProphet

(saww)inthereligiouswarsandusedtoprotecthimeventotheextentofputtinghisownlifeat

risk.OnanymissionthathewasassignedbytheHolyProphet(saww)tolead,Gabrielusedtobe

onhisrightandMichaelonhisleft,andhewouldnotreturnuntilAlmightyGodhadgrantedhim

success.HehasbeenmartyredinthesamenightinwhichProphetMosesb.Imranhaddied,

ProphetJesusChristwaselevatedtotheskyandtheHolyQuranwasrevealed.Hehasnotleftany

worldlywealthexceptsevenhundredDirham,whichwereleftoverfromhisdistributionashe

wantedtomakearrangementforaservantforhishouseholdandthesetoohehasinstructedme

toreturntoBaitulMaal."

Aftertheabovewords,tearswelledupinhiseyesandseeinghiminsuchgriefabouthisfather,


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thewholegatheringweptandcried.

Afterawhile,whenquietnesshadreturnedtothemosqueatKoofa,ImamHasan(as),continuing

hissermon,said:"Omen!apartfromthosewhoknowme,thosewhodon't,shouldbeawarethat

IamHasan,sonofAli(as);IamthesonoftheHolyProphet(saww)andthesonofhisheir;Iam

theson

of

one

who

has

been

called

the

lamp

resplendent;

Iam

one

of

the

Ahle

Bait

to

whom

Gabrielusedtocomeandflybackfromthem;IamfromthefamilyoftheHolyProphet(saww)

whichhasbeenkeptawayfromeverykindofuncleanlinessbyAllahandHehaspurifieduswitha

thoroughpurification.OurloveandrespecthasbeenmadeobligatorybyAllahoneveryMuslim

(manandwoman).IntheHolyQuranAllahhascommanded:'Say(OMuhammad)"Idonotaskof

youanyrecompenseforit(thetoilsoftheprophetship)saveloveof(my)relatives"andwhoever

earnsgood,Weincreaseforhim(moreandmore)goodtherein.' AshShura,23;So,earninggood

reallyisourlove."

ThelearnedscholarSheikhRaaziAaleYasin,explainingtheabovesermon,writes:

"Whilepayingtributetohisfather,ImamMujtaba(as)adoptedauniquestylewhichis

unparalleled.Neitherhereferredtotherespectablelifeandgreatachievementsofhisillustrious

father,norhislearning,modesty,eloquence,bravery,highstatus,noblegenealogywasnarrated,

asisthenormalpractice.Headoptedsuchauniqueapproachwhichcannotbetracedinanyother

historicalrecord.ImamHasan(as)viewedHazratAli(as)fromamoralandreligiousangle.Itis

clearthatreallyoneImamisfocussinghisattentionontheonewhoisanotherImam.Thus,the

oneleavingthistransitoryworldwassuchauniquepersonalitythathislife,viewedfromany

angle,wasunmatchedevenbythetrustedangels,holymenorthepiouspersons.

Heisahumanbeing yetsuchabeingthatneitheranypersonearlierthanhimnorlatercould

equalhim.HeisahumanbeingbutsurroundedbyGabrielandMichael;isn'theanangellike

person?

"HeleavestheearthlylifeonthesamedaythatprophetJesusChristwaselevatedtothesky;he

wasmartyredthesamedaythatprophetMoseshaddied;heisloweredinthegravethesame

nightthattheHolyQuranisbeingrevealed."Thesearethelevelsofhighstatusthatareattained

bythetrustedangels,'ululazm'prophets(possessorsofdetermination)andtheholybooks.

"HewassuchapersonwhousedtofightalongwiththeHolyProphet(saww)andwouldprotect

himevenputtinghisownlifeatrisk.Whenhewasworthyofsuchhighrewardsinthehereafter,

thenonecanimaginewhathisworldlyqualitiesandachievementswouldbe!!"

Asmentionedbythelearnedscholar,ImamHasan(as)adoptedauniquestylewhiledescribing

thelifeoftheleaderofthepiousones.Similarly,hismannerofintroducinghimselfwasalso


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unique.HenotonlyexplainedhiscloserelationshipwiththehouseholdoftheHolyProphet

(saww),indicatinghisownverycloselineage,butalsoreferredtotherelevantversesoftheHoly

Quranwhichprovedthathewasoneofthefivepersonswhohadbeenkeptawayfromeverykind

ofuncleanlinessbyAllahandHehadpurifiedthemwithathoroughpurification.Thismeansthat

hehadanidealcharacterandbelongedtothatillustriousfamilyofpietyandchastitywhoselove

hadbeen

made

obligatory

on

all

Muslim

men

and

women

by

Almighty

God.

Aquestionarisesastowhocanbemorefitforcaliphateandtobeacandidatefortheleadership

(Imam)oftheMuslimsthantheonewhobelongedtosuchadistinguishedandpiousfamily,

whosecharacterwasanidealonewheretherewasnochanceoferror,andwhoselovehasbeen

madeobligatoryoneveryMuslimmanandwoman?Thatwasthereasonthatassoonashehad

finishedhissermon,hisuncleandthegovernorofHazratAli(as)inYemen,Ubaidullahb.Abbas,

gotupandinvitedthepeopletopayallegiancetoImamHasan(as),andsaid:"Omen!heisthe

sonoftheHolyProphet(saww)andtheheirtoyourImam.So,payallegiancetohim."10_/

Peoplewelcomedtheofferofallegianceandsoonbecamethefollowersofsucharespected

leaderthroughtheallegiance.Theyshowedtheloveandrespectthattheyhadforthesonofthe

HolyProphet(saww),indicatedtherightthathehadoverthem,andthefactthatnonehada

greaterrighttocaliphateandallegiancethanhim!Perhapsitwasforthefirsttimethatacitylike

Koofa,despiteallsortsofdifferences,disunityandbeingahotbedofintrigue,hadshownsuch

unitywhiletakingsuchamajordecision.Thefirstpersonwhocameforwardtoofferallegianceto

ImamMujtaba(as)wasQais,thesonofS'adb.'AbadahAnsari.QaiswasaclosefollowerofHazrat

Ali(as)andhadbeenhisrepresentativeinAzerbaijanduringthecaliphateofHazratAli(as).While

HazratAli(as)wasplanningforadecisivewaragainstMoawiyabeforehismartyrdom,hewas

commandingaveryimportantregimentcalled'theThursdaysoldiers'('ShurtahalKhamees'),

whichwassimilartotheEliteCommandosoftoday.

Anyway,QaiscameforwardandsaidtotheImam(as):"KindlyextendyourhandsothatImaypay

allegiancetoyouinaccordancewiththecommandsoftheHolyQuran,theSunnahoftheHoly

Prophet(saww)andtofightagainstthosewhodeclarelawfulwhathasbeenforbiddenby

AlmightyAllah."ThegrandsonoftheHolyProphet(saww)lookedatS'adwithkindnessandlove

andsaid:"theallegianceinaccordancewiththeHolyBookrevealedbytheGraciousGodandthe

SunnahoftheHolyProphetincludesallthatisrightandexcludesanyotherunnecessary

condition.Asprayers,fasting,zakat(thereligioustax)andotherobligationshavebeenmade

compulsoryaccordingtotheHolyQuranandSunnah,similarlytofightagainstthosecreating

disturbance,thetraitorsandthosedeclaringlawfulwhathasbeenforbiddenbyAlmightyGod,

hasbeenmadeobligatorybyHim.

ImamMujtaba(as)furtherstated:"Icanacceptyourallegianceontheconditionthatyouwillfight

withonewithwhomIfightandwillobservepeacewithonewithwhomImakepeace."11_/Some


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historicalrecordsshowthatafterhearingthesewordsfromtheImam(as),somepersonsstarted

doubtinghiswillingnessto

wagewarwhilethosewhowerefavouringpeaceandunderstanding,feltthathewouldfightjust

likehisillustriousfather.Wewilldiscussthesepointsindetailinsubsequentchapters.

AftertheImam(as)hadexpressedtheabovewords,Qaisb.S'adpaidallegiancetohimandthe

massesinlargenumbersvowedtofollowhimandimmediatelystartedtopayallegiancetohimas

thetrueIslamiccaliph.ApartfromKoofa,Basra,Hijaz,Yemen,Persiaandallotherareasthatwere

inthecaliphateofhisillustriousfatheralsoacceptedhimasthetrueIslamiccaliphandcame

underhisrule.Nocity,noteventheholycitiesofMakkahandMadina,raisedanyvoiceofdissent

oropposition.Onlythegroupoftraitors,whohadnotacceptedthecaliphateofImamAli(as),

consideredthisallegianceasathreattothemandstartedtheirnefariousactivities.

Commentingontheaboveevent,Dr.HusainMohammadJ'afariinhisbook'OriginsandEarly

DevelopmentofShi'aIslam,'writes:"TheelectionofImamHasan(as)asthecaliph,withoutany

oppositionorobjectionfromKoofa,Hijazoranyotherarea,isaclearevidenceofhiscapabilities,

nobilityandhighstatus.Qaisb.S'adb.'Abadah,thesincerecompanionandloyalgeneralof

HazratAli(as)wasthefirstpersontopayallegiancetoImamHasan(as).Thefortythousand

soldiers,whohadvowedwithHazratAli(as)tofightagainstMoawiyatilldeath,congratulated

himonbeingelectedthecaliph.OutwardlyexpressinghisownfeelingsandthoseoftheIraqi

army,Qaistriedtoinclude,alongwithfollowingtheHolyBookandSunnah,waragainst

'Muhilleen',i.e.thosewhohadconsideredpermissiblewhatAllahhadforbidden,asoneofthe

basisofallegiance.However,ImamHasan(as),explainingthatitwasincludedinthefirsttwo

conditions,convincedhimtodeletethiscondition.TheIraqisoldiers,whowereinclinedtofight

againstMoawiya,didnotwanttodeletethisthirdcondition,yettheyallpaidallegiancetohim

despitethesame.LatereventsshowthatperhapsImamHasan(as)wasapprehensivethatIraqis

wouldrunawayfromwaratanhouroftrial.Therefore,hedidnotwanttobindhimselfunderan

emotionaldecisionwhichmightresultinthetotaldestructionofpersons.Despiteallthat,

accordingtothemajoritynarrations,allthosewhowerepresentontheoccasion,paidallegiance

onthespecificconditionthattheywillfightonewhowageswaragainstImamHasan(as)and

wouldmakepeacewithwhomtheImam(as)madepeace."

HefurtherwritesthatthedeclarationofthecaliphateofImamHasan(as)fromIraqandits

supportfromHijaz,Yemen,Farasandotherareas,meantagreatdangertoMoawiya,whohad

startedhisschemetocapturepowersoonafterthedeathofHazratUsman.12_/Afterthe

allegiance,theImam(as)gotdownfromthepulpitandgotbusyinearnestinperformingthe

responsibilitiesofcaliphate.Theappointmentofthegovernors,otherresponsibleofficebearers

ofthevastterritoriesandthesolutionofmanyotherissueswastakeninhandinearnestbythe

nobleImam(as).


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DaarAhyaalKutub1960,p.216;Hakim

Naishapuri,'alMustadrakalSaheehain',Beirut,DarulMa'rifa,vol.3,p.172;Yaqoobi 'Tareekhe

Yaqoobi',Beirut:DareSadir,vol.2p.213;HafizZahbi,'TareekhalIslam',Beirut,DarulKutubal

Arabi,1987,'AhdeKhulafaeRashideenp.52;IbneA'sam 'AlFutooh,Hyderabad:DairaalMa'arif

alUsmania,1971,vol.4,p.15;IbneAseer 'AlKamil',Beirut:DarAhyaalTurasalArabi,1989,vol.


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2p.442;Tabari 'TareekhalTabari',Beirut:DaarulKutubalIlmiah1988,2ndedition,vol3,p.

164;MuhibalTabari 'ZakhairalU'qbi,Cairo,MaktabaalQudsi,1356A.H.,p.138;Sheikh

Mufeed,'KitabulIrshad',Teheran,'IntisharaateIlmiah'vol2,p.4;Balazari 'AnsaabalAshraaf',

Beirut,DaralTa'ruflilMatbu'at,1977,vol.3,p.28.

8.Abul

Faraj

'Maqatil

al

Talibeen',

Najaf,

Maktaba

al

Haidar

iya,

1965,

vol.1,

pp.32

33;

Ibne

Abee

alHadeed,'SharheNahjulBalagha',Cairo:DarAhyaalKutubalArabia,1962,vol.16,p.30;Hakim

Naishapuri,'alMustadrakalSaheehain',Beirut,DarulMa'rifa,vol.3,p.172,(thebookM'arifatas

Sahaba);MuhibalTabari 'ZakhairalU'qbi,Cairo,MaktabaalQudsi,1356A.H.,p.138;Sheikh

Mufeed,'KitabulIrshad',Teheran,'IntisharaateIlmiah'vol2,p.4;HashimalM'roof 'Seeratal

AimmaalAsnaAshar',Beirut,DarulT'aruf,1986,vol.1,p.501.

9.SheikhRaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',Qum;MunshooraatalRazi,1373A.H.pp.5657.

10.RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',p.58;AbulFaraj,'MaqatilalTalibeen,Najaf,Maktabaal

Haidariyah,1965,vol.1,p.33;Tabari 'TareekhalTabari',Beirut:DaarulKutubalIlmiah1988,vol

3,p.166;Balazari 'AnsaabalAshraaf',Beirut,DaralTa'ruflilMatbu'at,1977,vol.3,p.28;

HashimalM'roof 'SeeratalAimmaalAsnaAshar',vol.2,p.501.

11.Balazari 'AnsaabalAshraaf',Beirut,DaralTa'ruflilMatbu'at,1977,vol.3,p.29;IbneKaseer

'AlbidayahvalNihaya',Beirut,MaktabaalM'arif.1974,vol.8p.17;IbneAseer 'AlKamilfeeal

Tareekh',vol.2p.443;IbneA'sam 'AlFutooh,Hyderabad:DairaalMa'arifalUsmania,1971,vol.

4,p.148;AbdulQadirBadran,'TahzeebeTareekheDamishq',Beirut,DarulAhyaalTurasalArabi,

1987,vol.4,p.223;IbneAsakir 'TareekheMadinateDamishq,TarjumaalImamalHasan',Beirut

p.174;Tabari 'TareekhalTabari',vol3,p.167.

12.Dr.HusainMohammadJ'aferi,'TheOrigin&EarlyDevelopmentofShia

Islam',(Persiantranslation)Dr.AyetIlahi,Tashay'odarTareekh,Tehran,IslamicCulturalPublishing

Centre,1993,pp.158161.

HistoricalBackgroundofKoofa

InShi'itehistory,Koofahashadacentralposition.FromthetimeofthecaliphateofHazratAli(as)

totherevolutionaryperiodofImamHusain(as)andfurthertillthesteadfastandfirmstandtaken

byHazratMukhtar,manyimportantincidentstookplacethere.Oneofthemostimportantof

thesewasthepeacetreatyofImamHasan(as).Itwouldbeappropriatetogiveabriefdescription


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ofthehistoricalbackgroundofKoofabeforethepeacetreatyofImamHasan(as),sothatthe

conditionsthroughwhichtheresidentsofKoofawerepassingorhadfacedearlier,wouldbecome

clear.

Koofawasfoundedin17A.H.whentheMuslimarmyhadachievedsuccessintheQadsiyawars

andthe

2nd

Caliph

had

asked

S'ad

b.

Abee

Waqas,

the

commander

of

the

Muslim

army

to

stay

on

inIraq.ThiswayhecouldadvancetowardsPersiaafterstrengtheningtheMuslimarmy.However,

theMuslimssoldierswereonthelookoutforasitewhichmay,apartfrombeingasuitableplace

forthearmy,offeragoodclimateandhavesuitablelivingconditions.Afteratwoyearsearch,a

locationonthewesternsideoftheriverEuphrateswasselectedasthearmygarrison,where

Muslimsoldierscouldcomefromothercitiestostay,andaftergettingduetraining,planforan

attackonthethengreatPersiankingdom.InthebeginningKoofahadapopulationof24,000,of

whichtwelvethousandwerefromsouthernArabia(Yemen)whileeightthousandwerefrom

northernArabia(Nazaar).Apartfromthese,therewerefourthousandPersianprisonersofwaror

slaveswhohadbeenarrestedduringQadsiyabattlesandhadconvertedtoIslam.

Initially,KoofawasinhabitedbythosepersonswhohadcometofightintheQadsiyawars,but

later,Muslimsmigratedtothecityfromothercities.AfterthedeclineofthegreatIranian

kingdom,alargenumberofIranianshadalsosettledthere.Thesewereinadditiontothosewhom

theMuslimshadbroughtastheirslavesormaids.BythetimeofthecaliphateofHazratAli(as),a

newgenerationfromthemaidshadgrownup.ApartfromtheMuslims,asizablenumberof

ChristiansfromNajranhadalsosettledthere.ItissaidthatatthetimeofthecaliphateofHazrat

Ali(as)therewerefortythousandMuslimsoldiers,andKoofaanditspopulationhasbeen

estimatedataboutonehundredthousandinhabitants.

Whereasothercitiesnormallyhadatribalsetup,Koofa,havingbeenfoundedonconquestand

strategicconsiderations,consistedofpersonsfromdifferenttribesandareas.Duetothese

conditions,S'adb.AbeeWaqasfacedmanyproblemsinsettlingthepersonsofdifferentcolour

andraceundervarioustribalgroupsortoassimilatetheminonesocialandculturalsetup.After

sometimehedividedthemintosevengroups.

Ithasbeenreportedthatduringtheperiodofthe2ndCaliph,someeffortwasmadetospread

IslamiccultureinKoofaandtotraintheMuslimarmyonanIslamicpattern.Forthispurpose,

AmmarYasirwasappointedthegovernorofKoofa.However,duetothefactthatthecaliphused

totreattheMuslimsoldiersbetterthroughthedistributionofBaitulMaal,andthenumberof

slavesandmaidshadconsiderablyincreasedduetoextensivevictories,thevalueshadchanged

andwealth,authorityandsuchotherconsiderationshadtakentheplaceofIslamicandmoral

values.Asaresult,thewealthypersonshadacquiredamuchhigherstatusinKoofa.Later,during

theruleofthe3rdCaliph,withtheappointmentofWaleedb.'Aqabaasgovernor,thetribal

aristocracywasrevivedandtheIslamicvalueswereevenridiculed.Duringthisperiod,the


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Umayyadshadattained

dominationinthepoliticsofKoofabutthereligiousandthefaithfulpersonsofKoofacouldnot

beartheridiculeofreligiousvaluesandstoodagainsttherulers.ThusKoofahadbecomedivided

intodifferentgroups.Ononesidewasthereligiousgroupwhoweredevotedtotheteachingsof

theHoly

Quran

and

the

Sunnah,

while

on

the

other

side

was

the

ruling

clique

who

wanted

to

strengthenitsruleandthecapitalisticsystem.DuringthecaliphateofHazratAli(as),thereligious

grouphadattainedanupperhandinKoofaasmanyMuhajireen,AnsarsandtheCompanionsof

theHolyProphet(saww)hadimmigratedthereduetoitsbecomingthecapital.Apartfromit,a

largenumberofShi'ashadappearedinKoofaduringthecaliphateofHazratAli(as).However,the

influenceofnonbelieversandtribalchiefs,whohadbeenagainstthereligiousgroupfromthe

beginningandhadbeenintriguingagainstreligioneversince,wasnotaninsignificantone.Thatis

whytheresidentsofKoofahad,inthebeginning,decidedtoremainneutralinthecamel('Jamal')

warandthereligiousgrouphadnotsucceededintheireffortsuntilthearrivalofImamHasan(as),

whosucceeded,afterlongdiscussion,inrecruitingtwelvethousandsoldiersforthearmy,though

fortythousandsoldierswerepresentthereatthetime.

DuringthecaliphateofImamHasan(as),anothergroup,knownas'Khawarij'hadgained

considerableinfluenceinKoofa.ThesepersonshadbecometheenemiesofHazratAli(as)after

theSiffinwarandhadparticular,specificideas.Itissaidthattheirspeechesusedtoswiftly

influencethethinkingofthepeoplewhowereacceptingtheirideas.Thecommonpeoplewere

confused,beingdividedintothesethreegroups.Duetothevaryingviews,ideasandopinions,

theywereunabletodecidewhowasrightandwhowaswrong!Forfurtherunderstandingthe

conditionsprevailingatthetimeofthecaliphateofImamHasan(as),threepointsshouldbewell

understood:

Aftercrushingtheinternalrebellionofthecamel('Jamal')war,HazratAli(as)decidedin36A.H.to

declareKoofaasthecapital.ThereisnodoubtthatthiswasamajorstepinthehistoryofKoofa.

Thehistoricalrecordsdonotreflectanyclearreasonforthisdecision.Nohistorianhasgivenany

indicationthattheImam(as)wished,beforethe'Jamal'war,toannouncetheshiftingofthe

capitaltoKoofa.However,someresearchershavewrittenthatwhentheImam(as)heardthe

newsofthedeathanddestructionbytherebelliousgroupinBasra,hewasbusyatthetimein

preparingforwaragainsttheinsurgentsofSyria.But,realizingthenatureoftherebellion,hehad

topostponetheearlierwarplansandtomarchtowardsBasra.AfterrestoringpeaceinBasra,his

firstprioritywastobringtheSyrianinsurgentsbackontherightpathasdirectedbyAlmighty

Allahandtofightthem,asorderedbytheHolyProphet(saww).Fromamilitarypointofview,

KoofawasanideallocationwherealargeMuslimarmywaspresentandsoldiersfromotherareas

couldalsobegatheredthere.Moreover,hecouldalsocontaintheinternalandexternal

conspiracieswhichhadbeenhatchedagainsttheMuslimsandreachedacitylikeKoofa.Onelink

oftheseconspiracieswasthe'Jamal'waritselfwhichhadbeenplannedbytheSyrianrebellious


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group,andwasdifficulttocontrolfromMadina.

ThehistoricalperspectivedescribedheremakesitclearthatamajorityoftheinfluentialsinKoofa

belongedtothegroupofselfseekersandthoseafterstatus.Theyhadoldassociationswiththe

mutineersofSyria.AlthoughtheywerewiththeleaderofthefaithfulintheSiffinwar,yetbehind

thescenes

they

had

been

intriguing

against

the

Imam

(as).

These

aversive

intrigues

at

first

led

to

theImam(as)'soutwardsetbackintheSiffinwar,thedisobedienceofhisorders,andfinallyhis

martyrdom.

Fromtheabovefactsitcanbeconcludedthatinadditiontodifferencesduetorace,colour,ideas

andbeliefs,Koofawasalsoahotbedofmalice,mistrustandintrigue.Themainaimofthe

intrigueswastoweakenthetrulyIslamicAlavigovernment.So,theseextendedtillthetimeof

ImamHasan(as)andbeyond.ImamHasan(as)alsofacedgreatdangerduetotheseintrigues,as

theyhadreachedacrisisstageduringthetimeofhiscaliphate.

ItisahistoricalfactthattheresidentsofKoofausedtosaysomanythingsemotionally,yetatthe

momentoftrialtheywouldrunawayfromthebattlefieldandlackedpatienceandsteadfastness.

ThisfactemergesmoreclearlyatthetimewhenImamHusain(as)wenttoKoofaattheinvitation

ofitsnationalsandwishedthemtoparticipateinhisrevolution.Thenthepeopleadvisedhim

otherwise,explainingthenatureoftheresidentsofKoofaasfollows:

"Nodoubttheirheartsarewithyou,buttheirswordsarewithyourenemy",whichmeantthat

thosepeoplewereveryemotionalwhileexpressinglove,regardandrespectforsomeonebut

wouldabandonhimatthetimeoftrialandtribulation.Atthattimetheyonlyworriedabouttheir

personalinterests.

ThereisnodoubtthatintheSiffinwarthesepeoplewereresponsiblefortheleaderofthefaithful

sufferringasetbackfromavictoriousposition;theydidnotfollowthecommandofImamHasan

(as)forwarandlefthimaloneatMadain,duetowhichthecarpetwaspulledunderhisfeetand

hewasseverelyinjuredinadaggerattack.Subsequently,whenHajarb.Adi,theCompanionof

theHolyProphet(saww),startedamovementagainsttherepresentativeofMoawiya,the

residentsofKoofawithdrewtheirsupportforhimatadifficulthour.HazratMuslimb.Aqeelfaced

thesamefateandImamHusain(as)hadtofaceuntoldproblemsandtribulations,eventhoughit

weretheresidentsofKoofathemselveswhohadinvitedImamHusain(as)tocometoIraq.

WehavetoregretfullystatethefactthatwhenthehistoriansdiscussthepeacetreatyofImam

Hasan(as),theyignorethesehardrealities,asiftheresidentsofKoofahad,againsttheirvery

nature,becomefullypreparedforwarandthatImamHasan(as)hadorderedthemtoaccept

peacetoavoidbloodshed!ThereisnodoubtthatalargenumberofShi'aandthedevoteesofthe


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householdoftheHolyProphet(saww)('AhleBait')werepresentinKoofa,whohadfaithinImam

Hasan(as)andacceptedhimastheircaliphandImam,butonlytillsuchtimeastheirown

interestswerenotendangeredandImamHasan(as)hadnotinstructedthemtofaceanymajor

responsibility.TherewereveryfewShi'awhoweredeterminedtoremainfaithfultotheImam(as)

tilldeath.

ThetimeoftheaccessiontocaliphateofImamHasan(as)wassuchasensitiveanddifficultone

thatthepeopleofIraqhadbythenbecomeextremelydisheartenedduetoprolongedinternal

wars.Thewarshadresultedinhugedestructionandtheirsocialandpoliticalconditionshad

becomemiserable.

ThepeopleofIraqwerefacingaverycunningandformidableenemy.Undertheleadershipof

HazratAli(as),theyhadtried,intheSiffinwar,tofinishofftherivalwhowasbasedinSyria,but

thewardidnotresultinsuccessduetosomemoneyedpersonsandselfseekingofficers.A

numberofwarscontinuedlatertillthepeoplegottiredofthesame,somuchsothattheystarted

disobeyingtheordersoftheleaderoffaithfulhimself.Theunendingwars,beginningwiththe

camel('Jamal')war,andcontinuingwiththeSiffinwar,theNahrwanwaragainstthe'Khawarij',

theskirmisheswiththedetachmentsoftheSyrianarmysentbyMoawiya,andtheuseofthearmy

toquellrevoltsincertainareasallhadresultedinasituationwherethepeopleofKoofahad

startedtobetraytheleaderofthefaithful.TheyhadopenlystartedtodisobeyHazratAli(as)due

towhichtheImam(as)hadcondemnedthem.InthesermonsoftheImam(as),quotedin'Nahjul

Balagha',hisviewsareclearlyreflected.Hestatesthatwhilethepeoplehadbecometiredand

sad,theyhadalsodisappointedhim.Amongtheconsequencesofthesewars,twopointsneed

seriousattention:

(a)AlargenumberoftheCompanionsoftheHolyProphet(saww)andsincereandreligious

personalitieshadlosttheirlivesinthesewarsandthegroupdevotedtoreligiousvalueswhich

couldpresenttheIslamicideals,hadbecomeweak.Forthatreason,thecommonpeoplehadlost

thesenseofdeepervaluesoflifeandthehereafter.Theywereafteronlytheworldlybenefits.

(b)InthebitterSiffinwaralargenumberofthesoldiersfromIraqandKoofahadlosttheirlives

andthosewhohadsurvivedwererememberingtheirlovedonesingrief.Later,whentheirnear

onesfoughttheNahrwanwarasthe'Khawarij',remainingrebelliousdespitetheadviceofthe

leaderofthefaithful,andwereeliminated,ithadaverybadeffectontheresidentsofKoofa

whobecamerevengeful.TheselfishIraqileaders,takingadvantageoftheprevailingconditions,

disobeyedtheordersofHazratAli(as)aftertheNahrwanwar,togotofightagainsttherebellious

groupofSyria,whichtheImam(as)hadplanned.Theseleaders,pretendingexcuses,forcedthe

Imam(as)topostponethewar.

ThesituationinKoofaatthetimewassuchthatthesoldiershadamixedfeelingofgriefand


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revenge.Itwasnotanordinarysituation,astheyhadlostmanyoftheirrelatives.Thustheycould

notbeexpectedtofightaformidableenemyverysoon.Therestofthepeople,whoincludedthe

wealthygroup,preferredpeaceandunderstanding.Inthosedistressedconditionstheyhadalso

losttheirImamandcaliphandwerefacingtheaggressiverulersofSyriawhohadbeentheirrivals.

However,theywereveryhopefulthatImamHasanMujtaba(as)wouldfindsomepolitical

solutionto

the

existing

hatred

between

Syria

and

Iraq,

so

that

peace

and

tranquility

would

prevail

inKoofa.

Inhissermons,ImamHasan(as)hashimselfdescribedthepatheticconditionsprevailinginKoofa

atthetime,whichwewoulddiscussinsubsequentchapters.Apartfromthese,another

considerationforImamHasan(as)wasthathehadtotakeintoconfidencethosepersonsfrom

KoofaandothercitieswhohadgatheredforafinalbattlewithMoawiyaandwhohadtakenavow

withhisillustriousfathertofighttilldeath.TheywerepressingtheImam(as)tomarchagainst

Moawiyaimmediately.

REFERENCES

1.HusainMohammadJ'afari 'TheOriginsandEarlyDevelopmentofShiaIslam',Persian

translation,AyetIlahi,Tashay'odarMasla(?)eTareekh,Tehran,OfficeofIslamicCulturalPublica

tions,1993,pp.125154;Yaqoot 'M'oajjimalBaladan;RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',Qum;

MunshooraatalRazi,1414A.H.pp.6377;HashimM'aroof 'SeeratalAimmahAsnaAshar',Beirut,

DaarulT'aruf,1986,vol.1,p.420andp.493;JawwadFazlullah 'SulhulImamHasan',Qum,Darul

Musaqqaf,p.65;NahjulBalaghah,sermonNo.25,(SharheIbneAbeealHadeed,vol.1,p.333,

Cairo.

ImamMujtaba(AS)andCaliphate

Astudyofthehistoricalrecordshowsthatthehistorianshaveignoredtheperiodbetweenthe

accessiontocaliphatebyImamHasan(as)andthecommencementofthewar.Althoughthis

ambiguityisreflectedindescribingthewholelifeofImam(as),yetitismorevisibleforthis

period.The

fact

that

no

major

conflicts

or

clashes

took

place

in

the

disturbed

political

and

economicconditionsofKoofaduringthebriefcaliphateperiodofImamHasan(as),showsagreat

successofhisbriefcaliphateperiodandreflectshisgreatqualitiesofcoolpoliticalplanningand

statesmanlikepolicies.Asatruecaliph,itwasthestatesmanshipoftheImam(as)whichkept

Koofainpeaceunderhiscentralizedeffectivecontrol,despiteallitsdifferencesandmistrust.


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ThesoundpoliticalplanningofImamMujtaba(as)wasvisiblefromtheverydaywhenthepeople

wantedtopayallegiancetohim.Hehadpermittedthemtheallegianceonthespecificcondition

thattheywouldmakepeacewiththeonewithwhomhewoulddosoandwouldfightonewho

wouldfightagainsthim.DuetothisstandoftheImam(as),Koofaremainedunitedandpeaceful,

andhemaintainedaneutralpositionbetweenthosewantingtofightandtheseekersofpeace.

DeclaringtheHolyBookandtheSunnahasthebasisofallegiance,hedemonstratedapractical

proofforbeingthegrandsonoftheHolyProphet(saww)aswellashistruecaliph.Thereisno

doubtthattheHolyProphet(saww)commandedthepeopletofollowtheHolyBookandSunnah

andusedtomakeitcleartothemthatthesolutionofalltheirproblemslayinfollowingthesame.

ItcannotbedeniedthattheHolyBookandtheSunnahcontainthecommandsforwaraswellas

peaceanditisfortheImamandthecaliphoftheHolyProphet(saww)todecideastowhento

fightandwhentomakepeace.ThepeoplemustfollowtheImamineithercase.

Afterassumingtheofficeofcaliph,thefirststepthatImamHasan(as)tookwasthatheraisedthe

salaryofthesoldiersby100Dirhameach.Beforehim,theleaderofthefaithfulhaddonethe

sameatthetimeoftheCamelwar,whilehediditatthetimeofbecomingthecaliph.

Subsequentlyallthecaliphsfollowedhiminthisrespect.

Thoughtheraiseinthesalaryofsoldiershasalwaysbeenconsideredasstrengtheningthefighting

spiritofthesoldiers,particularlyatthecriticalmomentofwar,yetthegrandsonoftheHoly

Prophet(saww),bydoingso,didnotintendtowagewarimmediately.Rather,hewantedto

revivethemoraleoftheIraqiarmywhichhadbeenadverselyaffectedduringtheearlieryearsdue

tointernalconflicts.Hemighthavetakenotherstepsaswelltorestorethemilitarystrengthof

thevictoriousforces,butthatisnotknowntous.However,thefactthathedirectedhisurgent

attentionattheseissueswhilefacingadangerousenemy,reflectshisfullcommandoverthe

prevailingconditions.

OnImamHasan's(as)emergingasthetrueIslamiccaliph,whoseallegiancewastakenbyallthe

governedareas,Moawiyahadfeltaggrieved.Hehadstronglyreactedagainstthecaliphateofthe

Imam(as)asitwasbeyondhisimaginationthattheMuslimswhohadalwaysbeenvoicing

differencesontheissueofcaliphate,wouldcollectivelyacceptImamHasan(as)asthecaliph,

especiallyinacitylikeKoofawherehehadconsiderableinfluence.Itwasalsoabadomenforhim

ashehadbecomeacandidateforcaliphateafterthedeathofHazratUsmanandwasconstantly

tryingtograbthesame.ThemainmotiveofalltheintriguesagainstHazratAli(as),whichresulted

inhismartyrdom,wasnoneotherthanthecaliphateitself.Therefore,healsorefusedtoaccept

ImamHasan(as)asthecaliph,justlikehehaddoneinthecaseofHazratAli(as),andplanned

rebellionagainsthim.

AftertheassumptionofthecaliphatebyImamHasan(as),MoawiyawrotetoZiyadb.Abih,the


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Imam(as)'sgovernorinPersia,tojoinhim,whilethreateninghimifheactedotherwise.Ayear

earlierthanthemartyrdomofHazratAli(as),disorderlyconditionshaddevelopedinPersia,sohis

confidantshadadvisedtheImam(as)toappointZiadb.Abihasthegovernortocontrolthe

situation,whichhehadaccepted.

WhenMoawiya's

letter

reached

Ziad,

he

addressed

the

masses

standing,

wherein

he

said:

"I

am

surprisedatthesonofthelivereater,thecentralintriguer,thechiefoftherebelliousgroup,that

hethreatensmewhilebetweenhimandmeistheregardoftwograndsonsoftheHolyProphet

(saww)(ImamHasan(as)andImamHusain(as)),withwhomareseventythousandsoldiersready

tofight,withopensword.ByGod,ifhetriestoattackme,hewillfindmeatoughsoldieranda

strongswordsman."

Inthespeech,ZiadhadexaggeratedthearmystrengthtofrightenMoawiya;hehadnotputdown

hisarmstillImamHasan(as)'speacewithMoawiya,andhadbeenloyaltotheImam(as)allalong.

Apartfromtheaboveplans,MoawiyahadsentalargenumberofspiestoIraq.Thelearned

scholarBaqarQarshiwritesinthisregard:

"Moawiyainvitedhiscloseassociates,informedthemaboutImamHasan(as)'saccessionto

caliphateanddrewtheirattentiontothefactthatiftheydidnotmanagetocontrolthesituation,

theywouldneverbeabletoestablishtheirkingdom.Afterlongdeliberationsitwasdecidedto

taketwokeysteps:

(a)"SpiesshouldbesenttothoseareasthathadpaidallegiancetoImamHasan(as),particularly

toKoofaandBasratoassessthesocialandculturalatmospherethere,todeterminetheirplans

andtofindouttheextentoftheirloveforthe'AhleBait'(as).Apartfromthat,theyshouldbe

madetofeeltheterrorofMoawiya,hispowerandstrength.

(b)"Correspondenceshouldbestartedwiththedignitariesandtriballeaders,theyshouldbe

bribedandprovidedlargesumsofmoneysothattheymayobeyMoawiya."

ItcannotbedeniedthatthespiesofMoawiyawereactiveinYemen,Hijaz,PersiaandIraqsince

thetimeofthecaliphateofHazratAli(as).DuringtheperiodofImamHasan(as),thespynetwork

wasextended.Thehistoriansmentioninparticularthearrestoftwospies,oneofwhomwas

arrestedinKoofaandtheotherinBasra.ImamHasan(as)sentencedthemtodeath,thereby

suppressingthespymovementandperfidythroughIslamicpenallaw.LatertheImam(as)wrote

thefollowinglettertoMoawiya:

"Thereisnodoubtthatyouhavesentmanyspiestowardsuswhichimpliesthatyouareplanning

waragainstus.Ihavenodoubtaboutthesame.IfAlmightyGodsowills,youshouldwaitforthe


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same.Ihavealsolearntthatyouhaveexpressedyourrejoicingatthesadincident,whichnosane

personwoulddo."

InthisletterImamMujtaba(as)hadwarnedMoawiyaagainsthisdestructiveinclinations.Onthe

onehand,heinformedMoawiyathathewasawareofhisintentiontowageawar,whileonthe

other,he

stated

that

he

was

determined

and

fully

prepared

to

face

him

in

the

battle

field.

In

addition,hecastigatedhimatrejoicingatthemartyrdomofHazratAli(as).

ThebriefpeacefulperiodofthecaliphateoftheImam(as)lastedforfourtofivemonths.Hafiz

Zahbiwritesinthebook'Al'Abar'thatImamHasan(as)hadmarchedforwarinRabiII,41A.H.

Accordingly,thisperiodwouldbesixmonths.So,ifthedurationofwaristakenasoneandahalf

monthsandtheperiodofthecaliphateoftheImam(as)istakenassixmonthsandfewdays,still

adurationoffourtofivemonthsremains,thoughaccordingtosomeothernarrationsthe

peacefulperiodofthecaliphateoftheImam(as)wouldbemorethanthat.Duringthisperiod,the

religiousgroupwhichwasloyaltohisillustriousfather,startedpressinghimforwaragainst

Moawiya.IbneAbbas,hisfather'scousinandhisgovernorinBasra,wrotealettertohim,which

reflectsthereligiousfeelingsandhashistoricalsignificance:

"TothebondsmanofGodandtheleaderofthefaithful;fromAbdullahb.Abbas,thebondsmanof

God.Aftersalutation.TheMuslimshavehandedoverthereigntoyou.Theyhaveobjectedtoyour

notlaunchingwaragainstMoawiyaandnotclaimingyourrights.So,youshouldfinalizetheplans

forwarandstartthesameearly;youshouldtreatyourcloseassociateskindly;youshouldwinthe

heartsofthenoblesanddignitariesthroughgivingthemimportantpostsandhighstatus.

Moreover,youshouldfollowreformsjustliketheearlierjustandfairrulers,sothattheybe

attractedtowardsyou.Knowthatwarisasortofdeceptionandthereisscopeforyouinittillany

Muslims'srightsdonotsuffer.Youcertainlyknowthatpeoplehadleftyourfatherandjoined

Moawiyaasyourfatherwasmaintainingjusticeandfairplayinthedistributionofprizemoney

andtheBaitulMaalfunds,whichwasnotlikedbythosepersons.

"YouarealsoawarethatyouareatwaragainstthosepersonswhowerefightingtheHolyProphet

(saww)himselftilltheIslamicvictory(theconquestofMakkah).Thesepersonsoutwardly

embracedIslamonlyafterallmenhadembracedit,thesymbolsofpolytheismandidolworship

hadbeenremovedandthevoicespraisingtheUnityofGodwereheardallaround.Theywould

recitetheHolyQuran,yetmakefunofitsversesaswell;theywouldstandinprayershalf

heartedly;theywouldobservethedutiesascommandedbyAllah,yetintheirheartofheartsthey

dislikedthese.Later,whentheyrealizedthatonlytheapostlesofGod,goodnaturedpersonsand

piousulamawereentitledtorespectanddignifiedstatus,theyalsopretendedtobeabstinentand

pious.Outwardly,theyobtainedwhattheirancestorscherishedbuttheirlonglifeprovedthat

theyweremisledandatrapfortheMuslims!"Therefore,OrespectedImam,mayGod'sblessings

beuponyou,youshouldstartthewaragainstthemandshouldnotacceptsurrenderatanycost.


21/101


YourfatherHazratAli(as)hadalsonotacceptedarbitrationuntilitwasforcedonhim.

Andwhenthathappened,hehadagreedtoitontheconditionthatthearbitratorswouldfollow

justiceandfairplay.But,whentheyannouncedtheirdecisionbasedonselfishaimsandpersonal

interest,thenherevertedtohisearlierpolicy(ofwagingwar).Tillhismartyrdom,hewas

determinedto

fight

them.

May

God's

blessings

be

upon

him.

Therefore,

O

highly

respected

Imam!

donotsurrenderthisrightofyourswhichyoudeservemorethananyoneelse,eventhoughthe

undeservingonesmayarguewithyouagainstit.Withregards,andmaytheblessingsofGlorified

Godbewithyou."

Inthisletter,IbneAbbas,expressingthefeelingsofthesupportersoftheImam,hasemphasized

theneedforwar.Heanalysesthereasonsfortheoutwardsetbackofhisillustriousfatherand

throwsconsiderablelightontheUmayyads'truefeelingswithregardtoIslam.Thereisnodoubt

thatthereligiouselitewhoweresincereandwhohadprovedtheirloyaltytowardshisfather,

werepressingtheImam(as)forwar.TheywereaggrievedthatthepeopleofKoofahad

disappointedhisfatherastheycouldnotarrangethearmywhichcouldattacktherebellious

groupandfinishthemoff.ToremovethatfeelingtheywerepressingtheImam(as)tostartthe

war.TheletterofIbneAbbaswassupportiveofthesame.ButitwasprematurefortheImam(as)

totakesuchabigstep.Hehadnotyethadthechancetoreformtheareasunderhiscontroland

toeffectivelyreorganizehisarmy.Moreover,themajority,whichwasundertheinfluenceofthe

leadersandselfseekers,wasagainstwarandtheycouldleavetheImam(as)atanycrucial

moment,thusdeclaringhimresponsibleforallthebloodshed.Inthecircumstances,itwas

essentialthatheshouldsettletheissuepeacefullybeforestartingthewar,sothat,incaseofwar,

theyshouldhavenogroundtorunawayfromthewarandthusbetrayhim.

HistoriansrecordthatjustafterreceiptoftheletterofIbneAbbas,theImam(as)calledtheletter

writeranddictatedthefollowingdetailedlettertoMoawiya:

"FromthebondsmanofGodandtheleaderofthefaithfulHasan,toMoawiyab.Sakhar:Thereis

nodoubtthattheGlorifiedGodsenttheHolyProphet(saww)asadivineblessingforthe

universe.Throughhim,therightachievedmastery,falsehoodwasdefeatedandtheQuraishgota

highstatus.ThenHecommandedthechiefofHiscreationthus:

"Forsurethisisanoccasionofwarning,learningalesson,foryouandyournation."

WhentheHolyProphet(saww)breathedhislast,therewasadisputeamongtheArabsabouthis

successor.TheAnsar(MadenitecompanionsoftheHolyProphet)demandedthat'oneshouldbe

fromusandonefromyou'.Onthis,theQuraishrepliedthat'wearefromhisfamilyandtheclan.

So,itisnotappropriatethatyoushoulddisagreewithusontheissueofthesuccession'.So,the

ArabsgavetherighttoQuraishbutwhenwedemandedourrightonthebasisofkinship,i.e.


22/101


belongingtothefamilyoftheHolyProphet(saww),theQuraishdeclinedanddidnotdojusticeto

us,which,wethought,wasverystrange.Thoughthesepersonshadsomepriorityinembracing

Islamandrespect,yetIamverysurprisedtodaywhenapersonlikeyou,whohasnocredible

performanceforthereligiouscause,norhasheserveditinanysignificantmanner,andwhoisthe

sonoftheworstenemyoftheHolyProphet(saww)fromtheQuraishclan,hasclaimedthe

candidacyof

caliphate.

So,

Almighty

God

will

hold

you

accountable!

"Moreover,Imusttellyouthatafterthemartyrdomoftheleaderofthefaithful,theMuslims

havegiventhereinoftheiraffairstomeandIpraytheGraciousGodthatHemaymercifullykeep

meawayfromtakingsuchathingintheworld,whichmaycausealesserrewardformeinthe

hereafter.

"OMoawiya!Desistfromfalsehoodandfurtherrevoltandpayallegiancetomelikethemasses

havedone,asyouarewellawarethatIamentitledtocaliphatemuchmorethanyouintheeyes

ofAlmightyGod,hisangelsandthosehavingarationalmind.So,youshouldfearGodand

abandoningrevolt,donotshedthebloodofMuslims.But,ifyoucontinuethepolicyof

waywardnessandrebellion,thenIwillattackyoualongwiththeMuslimsandtrytofinishyouoff

tillAlmightyGodmaysendHiscommandandthereisnodoubtthatHeistheOnewhose

commandsarethebest."

ThelearnedscholarSheikhRaaziAleYasin,analyzingtheabovehistoricalletterofImamMujtaba

(as),writes:"ImamHasan(as)advisedMoawiyatogiveupwaywardnessandrebellionandtojoin

themassesbygivingallegiancetotheImam(as).Itwasthethoughtfulpoliticalapproachofthe

timewhichwasmeanttoweakentheenemyandtherebytoweakenhispolicyofopposition.But

theImam(as)addressedMoawiyawiththesewordsafterhehadadvancedsolidargumentsinhis

ownfavour.Heinvitedhim,likealeaderandguide,towardstherightpath;likeoneinauthority,

threatenedhimandultimatelygavehimaclearultimatumforwar.Thus,hefollowedthe

approachofhisillustriousfather,asiftheperiodofHazratAli(as)wasstillthere;nodoubthewas

histruesuccessor.Ifwarwasinevitableduringthecaliphateofhisfather,thenitssignificance

duringhisownperiodcouldnotbeoverlooked.Hisowncaliphatewasbasedonsuchauthority

andfirmnesswhichleftnoscopeformischiefmongersinthereligionofGod.Forthatreasonhe

admonishedMoawiyainstrongwordsandfrightenedhimwiththeconsequentialpunishmentin

thehereafter."

ThescholarHashimM'aroofalHasaniwritesthatImamMujtaba(as)knewverywellthat

MoawiyawouldneveraccepttheofferoftheImam(as),especiallywhen,afterthemartyrdomof

HazratAli(as),hewasconsideringhimselftobeinarelativelymoresoundposition.However,the

Imam(as)wantedinthiswaytomakeitabundantlycleartothewholeMuslimworldtheextentto

whichMoawiyaandhishouseholdwerehidingtheirmaliceandenmitytowardsIslam,theHoly

Prophet(saww)andthemembersofhishousehold.Thisenmitytheyhadinheritedfrom


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Moawiya'slivereatingmotherandhisfather.

ImamHasan(as)handedoverthislettertoHandabb.AbdullahAzdiandHarisb.Suwaid

Tameemi,twoofhiscompanions.TheytookittoMoawiyasothattheymayformallyaskhimto

submitandtogiveallegiancetotheImam(as).OnreceiptofImamHasan(as)'saboveletter,

Moawiyareplied

thus:

"IhavefullyunderstoodthecontentsofyourletterandwhenyoumentionthattheHolyProphet

(saww)wasbetterthanallhumanbeings,Ihavenodoubtthatheembodiedallexcellence;after

thatyouhavementionedthedifferenceamongMuslimsandhaveparticularlygiventhenamesof

AbuBakrSiddiq,UmerFarooq,AbuUbaidah,Ameen,Talha,ZubairandgoodnaturedMohajirs

(therefugeesinMadina)andAnsars.OAbuMohammad!Idonotlikethisforyouforthereason

that,whenthedisputeamongtheUmmaharoseontheissueofsuccessionafterthedeathofthe

HolyProphet(saww),theysawthattheQuraishhadaspecialstatusintheeyesoftheHoly

Prophet(saww)duetotheirlineageaswell,andthustheyweremoreentitledtoit.Thenthe

respectableandreligiousMuslimsamongtheQuraishandAnsaragreedthattherankshouldbe

giventoonewhomaybebetterinlearningandpietyandwhomayhavebeenaheadinembracing

Islam.So,theychoseAbuBakr.AndiftheyhadconsideredsomeonemorerespectablethanAbu

Bakr,whohadalsoembracedIslamearlierthanhimandwouldhavebeenabletosafeguardIslam

betterthanhim,thentheywouldnothaveignoredhim.Yourandmysituationissimilar.IfI

realizedthatyouaremoreexperiencedinrulingoverthepopulace,havegreaterrightoverthe

Ummah,aremorecapableinpoliticalissuesanddeceivingtheenemyandsuchothermatters,

thenIwouldhandovertheruletoyou.Irealizethatyouaredemandingitasyourfather's

successorthoughhefoughtawaragainstmewhichresultedintheselectionofonepersonbyhim

andonebymesothatthesetwoarbitratorsmaygiveadecisionintheinterestoftheUmmah

whichmayestablishbrotherhoodamongthem.Wetookavowandagreementfromthemonthe

issue.Afterthat,theyunanimouslydecidedtodethroneyourfatherfromcaliphate.So,howcan

youdemandsomethingasaclaimonbehalfofyourfather,whenhewasdeprivedofthesame?

"So,onaccountofmybeingmoreexperiencedthanyouandbeingelderthanyou,youshould

submittome.Afterme,thecaliphatewillbelongtoyourhousehold.Whateveryouwant,youcan

takefromtheBaitulMaalofIraq.Further,youcantakethetaxofanyareaofIraqforyour

personalexpenses.So,OthefatherofMohammad!thinkovercarefullyaboutyourselfandyour

religion.Mycomplimentstoyou."

ThescholarHashimM'aroofalHasaniexpresseshisviewsabouttheaboveletterofMoawiya

thus:

"ThefirstletterofMoawiyaisbasedonfallacy,deceitandfraud,ofwhichhewasamaster.On

theonehand,hepersonateshimselfasoneoftherespectableswhocannotdenythedignified


24/101


statusofthedignitarieseveniftheyaretheirworstenemies,whileontheother,hetriestofind

faultwithHazratAli(as),theleaderofthefaithful,bywritingthattheUmmahhadtoselectone

whowasaheadofothersinlearning,pietyandembracingIslamearlierthanothers,sothey

selectedAbuBakr.Moawiyafurtherwrotethat'youandIarelikeyourfatherandAbuBakr;ifI

realizedthatintheinterestofthepopulaceyouarebetterthanmeandthatyouareanexpert

andmore

experi

enced

than

me

in

protecting

the

rights

of

the

Ummah,

politics,

collecting

taxes

andindeceivingtheenemy,thenIwouldhavepositivelyrespondedtoyourinvitation'."

HashimM'aroofwrites:"thismeantthatthequalitieswhichMoawiyahad,werenotinImam

Hasan(as),justlikethesequalitieswerenotsupposedtobeinhisillustriousfatherwhenpeople

gaveallegiancetoAbuBakr!Therefore,itwasexpedientfromanIslamicpointofviewthatthe

caliphateshouldbegiventohim(Moawiya)justlikeitwasexpedienttohandoverthecaliphate

toAbuBakrafterthepassingawayoftheHolyProphet(saww)."

HashimM'arooffurtherwrites:"Thisstyleofdeceptionandfraudhecouldnotapplytothe

illustriousfatheroftheImam(as).Butitseemsnowallthefavourableconditionshadbecome

availabletohim;themajorityoftheleadersinKoofahadpromisedtheirsupporttohim;further,

thatthroughmonetarytemptationhehadtriedhisbesttoturnthemasses'opinionagainstthe

Imam(as)."10_/

ThescholarSheikhRaaziAleYasingivesacomprehensivereplytothesefallaciesofMoawiyainhis

book'SulhulHasan(as)',(thepeaceofHasan(as)).Hewrites:

"ThelettersofMoawiyacontainedmaterialthemainobjectiveofwhichwastowidenthe

differencesamongtheMuslimsandtoincitethemformischiefandrioting;hewantedtoraisethe

deadissuesandtodestroytheunityofMuslimswhichwasthefoundationoftheirreligion.When

hefailedtopresenthisfatherandhimselfaschallengers,hetookthenamesofothersandstarted

tomentiontheirdifferenceswiththemembersofthehouseholdoftheHolyProphet(saww)

('AhleBait').Intheseletters,letaloneanyargument,hecouldnotmentioneventhefalseground

of'therevengeofthebloodofUsman',ashistoriansclaimthatImamHasan(as)hadbeenthe

supporterofHazratUsmanandhadtriedtillthelastmomenttosavehim;andifthatwastrue,

thenwhatargumentdidMoawiyahave?Theonlyargumentthathehadwas:'thatIhavebeena

rulerlongerthanyouand,beingelderthanyou,Ihavemoreexperience'.Ifhehadanyother

argumenthewouldhaveadvancedthesameratherthanmentioningthedifferences!

ItisnotunderstoodwhatthefatherofYazeedmeantbyhisexperiences.Washereferringtothe

daywhentheSyrianshadlodgedacomplaintagainsthimtoHazratUmarandthecaliphhad

askedhimtoappearincourtalongwithhismessenger,andhewastremblinglikeanordinary

slavefromfearofthelashesofthecaliph?Or,wasitthedaywhenhehaddeclinedtosupport

HazratUsmanandhadlaterconfessedthathehimselfwasoneofthereasonsforHazratUsman's


25/101


failureanddefeat?!!Or,wasitthedaywhen,asarebel,hehadfoughtawar,alongwithhislarge

army,againsttheImamofthetime,withoutconfessinghissinorerror?!!!Cantheseexperiences

ofhisentitlehimtobecomeacaliph?Ifthatisso,thenwhereisthejustificationtocaliphate?

Moreover,cansucharule,whichisbasedonfalsehood,slanderandbloodshed,formabasisfora

highreligious

status?

As

far

as

the

question

of

age

is

concerned,

we

find

no

logic

in

religious

philosophywhereincaliphatemaybehandedovertosomeoneduetohisoldage,asitispossible

thatsuchapersonmaybemorecleverinbuyingthefavourofthepeoplethroughmoneyorin

spreadingmalice,butthatdoesnotmeanthatheshouldbeselectedasthesuccessortotheHoly

Prophet(saww).

Itisalsopossiblethatapersonmayhavemorepatienceandhumility,buttheleadershipcannot

begiventohim,asthehumilitywhichisobservedinanImammayalsobenoticedintheleaders

ofhypocrites.

ThescholarAleYasinconcludesthat:"thesecannotformthebasisofcaliphateastheviewsofa

calipharebasedonthecommandmentsoftheHolyQuran;hiswholerelianceisonthetraditions

andheconsidershimselfanswerabletoAlmightyGod."11_/

DoctorMohammadHusainJ'aferihasalsogivenaveryfineanalysisoftheaboveletterof

Moawiya.Hewrites:"ThisletterofMoawiyaisverysignificantinthesensethatitpresentsaclear

pictureofhispoliticalthinkingregardingrulership thegovernmentwhichhehadbeen

continuouslystrivingtoget.Inhisview,theinterestofthekingdomandthosequalitiesshould

formthebasisofcaliphatewhichhadnothingtodowithreligionormoralvalues.Accordingtothe

argumentsadvancedbyMoawiya,thefollowingqualitiesformtheessentialconditionsfor

caliphate:

Theindividual'sauthorityandability,hispoliticalandorganizationalskill,andhisabilitytoextend

theboundariesofthestate,protecttheMuslimsanddefendthem.Thisway,whateverwas

ambiguous,hasbeenmadeclearbyMoawiya i.e.separationbetweenpoliticsandreligious

principles."12_/

Later,MoawiyasentanotherlettertoImamHasan(as)inwhichhewrote:"Thereisnodoubtthat

AlmightyGodtreatsHisbondsmenthewayHewishes.NoonecanchangeHiscommandor

decisionandHeisgoingtotakeaccountverysoon.So,donothaverelianceonthecommon

people;donotthinkthatyouwillfindanyweaknessinme;ifyougiveupthecaliphateandgive

allegiancetome,Iwillfulfillallmypromisesandwillabidebytheagreementwithyou.Moreover,

afterme,thecaliphatewillbelongtoyouasyoudeserveitmostamongthepeople.My

complimentstoyou."13_/


26/101


ThisletterofMoawiyashowsthathavinglostonarguments,hehadresortedtodemonstratinghis

powerandwantedtofrightenImamMujtaba(as)sothathemaysurrenderinhis(Moawiya's)

favour,whichresignationhewouldhaveusedasthejustificationandreligiousgroundforhis

caliphate.ButthegrandsonoftheHolyProphet(saww)understoodhismotivesverywell.He

ignoredhisthreatandgaveaverylogicalreply,saying:"Ihavereceivedyourletterinwhichyou

havementioned

many

points,

but

avoiding

to

use

indecent

words,

Icannot

reply

to

you

in

the

samemannerandseekprotectionofGod.YoushouldfollowwhatisrightandknowthatIamthe

oneontherightpathanditwillbeasinifImakeawrongstatement."14_/

AlthoughImamMujtaba(as)avoidedcomingdowntothelevelofMoawiyawhilewritingtohim,

yethestucktohisstandthathewasontherightpathandifMoawiyadidnotwanttobecounted

amongthefollowersoffalsehood,thenheshouldpayallegiancetotheImam(as)andgiveuphis

opposition.ThatiswhywhenthemessengersoftheImamtookhislettertoMoawiya,heasked

themtogobacksayingthatnowthesword(meaningwar)willdecidebetweenthem.Thus,the

chancesofpoliticalsettlementofthedisputedisappearedforthetimebeingandwarwas

threatened.15_/

TheexchangeoflettersbetweenImamMujtaba(as)andMoawiyamakesforinterestingreading.

ThroughtheselettersthereveredImam(as)wantedtomakeitcleartotheMuslimsastowho

wasrightandwhowaswronginthestruggleforcaliphate.Inthiswayheputpoliticalpressureon

MoawiyathroughpublicopinionsothathemaygiveupoppositiontotheImam(as)andhostility

towardshimandpayallegiance,thusjoiningthelearnedcompanionsandotherMuslims.With

thispeacefulnegotiatedapproach,whichistodayconsideredmuchbetterthanwar,neitherany

religiousprinciplewasbeingsacrificed,norwastheIslamicgovernmentcomingunderany

criticism.Rather,ifwarbecameinevitable,theopponentsofthewarcouldnotfindanyexcuse

nottosupporttheImam(as).Thisway,theImam(as)alsogotanopportunitytoattendto

reformsinhiscaliphateforashorttime.HisnextsteptowardstheaggressivepolicyofMoawiya

wasnowawaited.

REFERENCES

1.AbulFaraj 'MaqatilalTalibeen',Najaf,MaktabaalHaidariya,1965,vol.1,p.34;IbneAbeeal

Hadeed,'SharheNahjulBalagha',Cairo:DarAhyaalKutubalArabia,1962,vol.16,p.33;RaaziAale

Yasin 'SulhulHasan',Qum;MunshooraatalSharifalRazi,1414A.H.p.75;JawwadFazlullah

'SulhulImamHasan',Qum,DarulMusaqqaf,alMuslimp.77.

2.IbneAseer 'AlKamilfeealTareekh',Beirut:DarAhyaalTurasalArabi,1989,vol.2pp.429,

453;Yaqoobi 'TareekheYaqoobi',Beirut:DareSadir,vol.2p.218.

3.BaqarQarshi,'HayatalImamalHasanbinAli',Najaf,Matba'alIlmiah,1954,vol.2,p.19.


27/101


4.AaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',p.76;HashimalM'roof SeeratalAimmaalAsnaAshar',Beirut,Dar

ulT'aruf,1986,vol.1,p.502;BaqarQarshi 'HayatalImamalHasanbinAli',vol2,p.21;Husain

MohammadJ'aferi,'TheOrigin&EarlyDevelopmentofShiaIslam',Persiantranslation,AyetIlahi,

Tashay'odarMasla(?)eTareekh,Tehran,OfficeofIslamicCulturalPublications,1993,p.161;

AbulFaraj

'Maqatil

al

Talibeen',

vol.1,

p.33;

Ibne

Abee

al

Hadeed,

'Sharhe

Nahjul

Balagha',

vol.

16,p.31;SheikhMufeed,'KitabulIrshad',Teheran,'IntisharaateIlmiah'vol2,p.5;Jawwad

Fazlullah 'SulhulImamHasan',p.77.

5.AbulFaraj 'MaqatilalTalibeen',vol.1,p.34;IbneA'sam 'AlFutooh,Hyderabad:Dairaal

Maa'rifalUsmania,1971,vol.4,pp.148150;IbneAbeealHadeed,'SharheNahjulBalagha',Cairo:

DarAhyaalKutubalArabia,1962,vol.16,p.23;Balazari 'AnsaabalAshraaf',Beirut,DaralTa'ruf

lilMatbu'at,1977,vol.3,p.29;HashimalM'roof SeeratalAimmaalAsnaAshar',Beirut,Darul

T'aruf,1986,vol.1,p.503;6.HusainMohammadJ'aferi,'TheOrigin&EarlyDevelopmentofShia

Islam',Persiantranslation,AyetIlahi,p.163;RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',Qum;Munshooraat

alSharifalRazi;BaqarQarshi 'HayatalImamalHasanbinAli',vol2,p.21;HashimalM'roof

SeeratalAimmaalAsnaAshar',vol.1,p.505;SheikhMufeed,'KitabulIrshad',Teheran,

'IntisharaateIlmiah'vol2,p.5;IbneAbeealHadeed,'SharheNahjulBalagha',vol.16,p.24;

Balazari 'AnsaabalAshraaf',vol.3,p.30;IbneA'sam 'AlFutooh',vol.4,p.151;AbulFaraj

'MaqatilalTalibeen',vol.1,p.35.

7.RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',pp.8283.

8.HashimalM'roof SeeratalAimmaAsnaAshar',vol.2,p.506.

9.AbulFaraj 'MaqatilalTalibeen',vol.1,p.37;IbneA'sam 'AlFutooh,vol.4,p.152;Balazari

'AnsaabalAshraaf',vol.3,pp.3132;IbneAbeealHadeed,'SharheNahjulBalagha',vol.16,p.25;

RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',pp.8388;Dr.HusainMohammadJ'aferi,'TheOrigin&Early

DevelopmentofShiaIslam',Persiantranslation,p.164;HashimM'roof SeeratalAimmaAsna

Ashar',vol.2,pp.507508;10.HashimalM'roof SeeratalAimmaAsnaAshar',vol.2,p.509;

11.RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',pp.8487.

12.Dr.HusainMohammadJ'aferi,'TheOrigin&EarlyDevelopmentofShiaIslam',Persian

Translation,AyetIlahi,p.165.

13&14.AbulFaraj 'MaqatilalTalibeen',vol.1,p.38;HashimM'roof SeeratalAimmaAsna

Ashar',vol.2,pp.508,511;JawwadFazlullah 'SulhulImamHasan',Qum,DarulMusaqqafal

Muslim,p.87;RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',p.88;IbneAbeealHadeed,'SharheNahjul

Balagha',vol.16,p.37.


28/101


15.RaaziAaleYasin 'SulhulHasan',p.88.

WarPreparations

ManylettershadbeenexchangedbetweenImamHasan(as)andMoawiya whothoughtthat

throughhiscunningandthreatshewouldbeabletoforcethegrandsonoftheHolyProphet

(saww)toresign,buthewasverysurprisedwhentheImam(as)didnottakeanynoticeofhis

tactics.Rather,heinturnputpoliticalpressureonMoawiyatogiveuptherebelliousapproach

andpayallegiancetohim.Afterbeingdefeatedpolitically,Moawiyadecidedtotakeuparmsand

planned

for

a

large

scale

attack

on

Iraq.

He

sent

the

following

letter

to

his

agents

in

Egypt,

Jordan

andvariousareasinSyria:

"AlmightyGodinHisgracegavethechancetooneofHisbondsmentoassassinateAlib.Abee

Talib.So,heassassinatedhim.Afterhim,hisfollowersaresufferingfromdisturbedconditionsand

division.Wehavereceivedlettersfromtheirrespectablepersonalitieswhereintheyhavesought

protectionfromusforthemselvesandtheirtribes.Assoonasyoureceivethisletterofmine,you

shouldcometomewithyourtotalarmyandarmament.Forsure,youhavetakenrevengeofyour

blood,havegotyourwishesfulfilledandAlmightyGodhaskilledtherebelliousandourenemies.

MycomplimentsandmayGod'sblessingsbeonyou."

OnMoawiya'sorders,thearmedforcesstartedgatheringfromdifferentareas,andwhenall,said

tohavenumberedsixtythousand,hadassembled,hemarchedtowardsIraq.

DoctorHusainMohammadJ'afariwritesthathehadtwomainobjectivesinthisattack:

(1)Throughthedemonstrationofarmamentandhisarmy'sstrength,hewantedtoforceImam

Hasan(as)toabdicatethecaliphate;

(2)Onthefailureofhisaboveplan,hewantedtoattacktheIraqiarmybeforeitcouldgetwell

preparedfor

war.

ImamMujtaba(as)wasregularlyreceivingmessagesregardingtheplannedattackandthepeople

ofKoofahadrealizedthatMoawiyawascomingwithalargearmytoattackthem.Thoughithad

beenthefamilytraditionoftheHashmitribethattheywouldnotbethefirsttoattack,Imam

Mujtaba(as)hadadifferentmotivefornottryingtofightMoawiya,whichwasduetotheattitude


29/101


oftheresidentsofKoofaitself.Inthecircumstances,theImam(as)didnotwanttoinitiatethe

war,butnowthesituationwasquitedifferent Moawiyahadgivenhimtheultimatumforwar

andwasmarchingtowardshisterritory.Therefore,hehadtosavetheIslamicgovernmentandthe

caliphate.TheleaderofthefaithfulHazratAli(as)hadadvisedhimtofollowthisprinciplei.e."Do

notstartawar,butifsomeonewageswaragainstyou,thenfacethechallenge.Thisisbecause

theinitiator

of

war

is

a

rebel

and

the

punishment

for

a

rebel

is

death."

Ifhisfatherwas'thelionofGod',thenhewasthelionofthelionofGod.Thatiswhyheurgently

orderedallhisgovernorstoprepareforwar.HeorderedHajarb.Adi,theCompanionoftheHoly

Prophet(saww)toinstructallthegovernorstogetreadyforwarandforhimtopreparethewar

plan.Thepeoplewereaskedtoassembleinthe'Jame'(maincongregation)mosque.Afterthey

hadgatheredandthemosquewasfull,hegaveaveryremarkablesermon.Hesaid:"Forsure,the

GlorifiedGodhasmade'jihad'(holywar)obligatoryforHisbondsmenandhascalleditanactnot

likedbythem.AfterwardsAlmightyGod,theMostSacred,directedthefaithfulto'bepatientand

steadfastasAlmightyGodiswiththosewhoarepatient.'So,Omen!youcannotachieveyour

desiredaimexceptbybeingpatientaboutwhatyoudonotlike.MayGodbemercifultoyou;you

allshouldjointhearmywhichisgatheringatNakhailasothatweandyoushouldcollectivelythink

andplanwhatwecandonext."

ImamMujtaba(as)waswellawarethatthepeopleofKoofa,asalways,wouldnotwelcomethis

decisionofhis.Hewasalsoawareoftheintriguerswhowereconstantlyspreadingfalserumours

andwerethusfulfillingtheaimsoftheenemy.So,hefurthersaid:"WearethatpartyofAlmighty

Godwhichisalwayssuccessful.Werepresentthemostprominentpersonalitiesofthehousehold

oftheHolyProphet(saww)andarehispureandchaste'AhleBait'.Weareoneofthetwomost

valuablethingswhichtheHolyProphet(saww)leftafterhim;wearethepeersoftheHolyBookof

Godwhichcontainstheexplanationofeverything,andinwhichfalsehoodcannotenteranyway

(fromthefrontorback).So,intheexegesisoftheHolyQuran,reliancehastobeonus,aswe

havenotsufferedfromdoubtorconjectureinitsexegesis;ratherwehavefullfaithinitstruth."

"Therefore,(Opeople!)submittome,assubmissiontousisnearthesubmissiontoGodandthe

HolyProphet(saww).AlmightyGodhascommandedthus:"Oyouwhobelieve!ObeyAllah,and

obeythemessengerandthosevestedwithauthority(from)amongyou;andthenifyouquarrel

concerninganymatter,referittoAllahandthemessengerifyoubelieveinAllahandthelastday

..."AnNisa,AlmightyGodfurthercommands:"...andiftheyhadreferredit(theissueindispute)

tothemessenger,and(to)thosevestedinauthorityamongstthem,thenthey,whocould

discoverthetruth,wouldhaveknownit..."AnNisa,83.

ImamMujtaba(as)furthersaid:"IwarnyouagainstlisteningtotheSatanasheisyoursworn

enemy.Butifyoudoso,thenyouwouldbeconsideredashisfriendtowhomhehadsaid:'today

noonecanovercomeyouandIamyourshelter.'However,whentwogroupscamefacetoface,


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thenheranaway,sayingthathewasdisgustedwiththemandhisviewwasdifferentfromtheirs.

Thus,youwillbethetargetofthespearandswordoftheenemyandwouldbeintherangeof

theirarrows.Insuchasituation,thefaithofonewouldnothelphimunlesshehadenteredthe

foldofreligionearlierorhaddoneanyvirtuousdeedaccordingtohisfaith."

Soonafter

Imam

Mujtaba

(as)

had

finished

his

speech,

awesome

stillness

prevailed,

as

if

the

peoplehadbecomedumb.Theirfacesbecamepaleandtheywereperspiring.Thereasonforall

thatwasthattheyhadgottiredofwarandhadbitterexperienceatthehandsoftherebellious

Syriangroup.Soonafter,Adib.Hatim,arespectedShialeaderoftheImam(as)brokethesilence.

ThebravesonofHatimTaee,whowastheleaderof'Tae'tribeandhadathousandsoldiersunder

hiscommand,shooktheconscienceofthepeople.Hesaid:"IamthesonofHatim.Godbe

glorified.Howshamefulitis;whydon'tyoucomeforwardandputyourselfattheserviceofyour

Imam,thegrandsonoftheHolyProphet(saww)?WherearethoseoratorsofEgyptwhotalkso

fluently,butwhenthesituationoftrialcomestheyrunawaylikeafox?Areyounotafraidofthe

wrathofGod;areyounotashamedofthisconditionandareyounotrealizingitsharmful

effects?"TurningtowardstheImam,Adib.Hatimsaid:

"MayAlmightyGodkeepyouastheguideforalongtime;protectyoufrommischiefandmay

grantyousuccessintheactwhichmayhaveagoodbeginningandahappyending.Forsure,we

listenedtoyou;wewillwholeheartedlycarryoutyourcommandandwillsupportyourdirections;

Iamimmediatelygoingtojointhecampasdirectedbyyouandanyonewhowantstocomewith

me,maydoso."

Sayingthis,Adib.Hatimcameoutofthemosqueandridinghishorse,movedtowardsNakhailaso

thathecouldjointhecampoftheImam(as)there.Heorderedhisservanttotakehisluggageto

thecamp.

AfterAdib.Hatim,thewellknownpersonalitieslikeQaisb.S'adb.Abadah,M'oqilb.QaisRiyahi

andZaidb.S'as'ahTamimeedeliveredstrongspeecheswhereintheyencouragedthemtofight

andadmonishedthemforshowingweaknesstowardswar.

Onthisoccasion,thegrandsonoftheHolyProphet(saww)prayedforGod'sblessingsforthemin

thesamemannerassoughtbytheHolyProphet(saww)forMiqdadandS'adb.M'azfortheir

speechesontheoccasionoftheBadrwar.Historyrecordsthefollowingwordsofgratitudeof

ImamMujtaba(as):

"Youhaveprovedtobejust;MayGod'smercybeuponyou;Ihavealwaysobservedyouacting

withobedience,love,adviceandsincerity.MaytheGraciousGodgrantyouthebestrewardfor

thesame."


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Withgreateffortbythissincereandreligiousgroup,theresidentsofKoofafeltashamedandthey

becamereadyforadefensivewaragainstMoawiya.ImamMujtaba(as)appointedWarqab.Noful

ashisrepresentativeinKoofaandstronglyadvisedhimtokeepencouragingthepeopletoget

readyforwar,tocollectthemandmovethemtowardshiscampinNakhaila.Thesameday,soon

afterattendingtootherimportantmatters,hewent,alongwithasmallarmyofmenfromKoofa,

toNakhaila,

located

at

a

short

distance

from

the

city

towards

Syria.

We

are

not

sure

how

many

menwerewithImamHasan(as)atthetimeofhisdeparturefromKoofa.Therecordedversions

presentaverydisappointingsituation.Anyway,thehistorianshavenodoubtthatthepeopleof

KoofadidnotwelcomethedecisionofImamHasan(as)forwar.Aftergreateffortandpersuasion,

asmallarmymovedwiththeImam(as).Althoughweintendtodiscussthenumberandthe

conditionofthearmyoftheImam(as)inlaterchapters,yetitmaybementionedthatImam

Mujtaba(as)wasfacingashortageofsoldiers,thoughtheresearchersestimatethatatleastforty

thousandsoldierswerepresentinKoofaatthetime.

Anobjectionanditsreply

Afteranalysingtheabovefacts,theobjectionraisedbysomehistoriansthatwhenthemessengers

oftheesteemedImam(as)wenttoMoawiyawithhisletterandsawthewarpreparationsinSyria,

theyadvisedhimtoattackMoawiyabeforehecouldattacktheImam(as)buthedidnotgive

muchimportancetothisadvice,doesnotholdgood.Whenthiswasthesituationaboutthe

defensivewar,ifhehaddeclaredonhisowntoattack,itisquitelikelythattheymighthave

openedafrontagainsthim.TherewasnoshortageofsuchintriguersandsupportersofMoawiya

inKoofa.ThatiswhytheImam(as)hadwarnedthepeopleinhissermontobewareofthe

intriguersandtoignoretherumourswhichheconsideredas'thevoiceofSatan'.

Thesecondobjection

InthedisturbedconditionsofKoofawheretheUmmayadsandtheKhawarijwereactiveandthe

agentsofMoawiyaandhisspieswerealsobusy,whydidImamMujtaba(as)observekindnessand

apolicyoftolerancewhenarulerusesfullforcetosuppresshisadversaries?

ImamMujtaba(as)wasverycarefullywatchingtheconditionsinKoofa,andlikeanalertandwell

informedguideheunderstoodtheproblemsofthepeoplebetterthanthem.Hewasnotunaware

oftheactivitiesoftheintriguers,buthealsorealizedthattheheartsofthesoldiersofhisarmy

wereforworldlybenefit.Hehadnoticedthesetendenciesfromclosequarterssincethetimeof

HazratAli(as).So,hetriedtosolvetheseproblemsthroughkindnessandlove.Ifwegobacktohis

sermons,wewouldrealizethathetriedtorevivetheirconscienceandreligioussenseofhonour.

Hemadethemrealizetheadverseconsequencesiftheywouldnotfollowtheleadercompletely

andwouldlistentorumours.Ontheotherhand,iftheywouldremaincompletelyloyaltothe

grandsonoftheHolyProphet(saww)andwouldnotshirkinhisobedience,theywouldget


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associatedwiththe'partyofGod'whichisalwayssuccessfulandwhichcouldneverbedefeated.

Moreover,byindicatinghisverycloserelationshipwiththehouseholdoftheHolyProphet

(saww),hewantedtomakeitcleartothepeoplethataccordingtotheHolyQuranandSunnahit

wasobligatoryonthepeopletosubmittohimandnottoshowtheslightestdisagreementwith

hisdecisioneithertofightornottowageawar.

Atthiscriticalhour,iftheImam(as)hadadoptedanaggressivepolicy,hiscapitalwouldhave

becomethecentreofintrigueandrebellion;afrontwouldhaveopenedagainsthiminKoofa

itself.ThedangeroftherebellionandintriguewasnotlessthanthatfromMoawiya.Infact,

Moawiyahimselfwantedtogethiminvolvedintheseproblems.ImamMujtaba(as)campedat

Nakhailafortendays.Duringthisperiod,hewaitedformorementojoinhisarmy.Hissincere

commandersarrayedhisarmythereforbattle.Duringtheallegiancetime,therewassomuch

activityandthepeoplewereshowingsomuchlove,affectionandspiritfortheImam(as)asif

theywouldneverabandonhim.However,whenthetimeoftrialcame,thesituationchanged

completely.Somuchso,thatamajorityofthesoldiersofthebrigadewhichHazratAli(S)had

preparedbeforehismartyrdomforattackonMoawiya,andwhichwassaidtoconsistofforty

thousandsoldiers,hadalsolefthim.Alltheremainingonesalsodidnotobeythecommandofthe

Imam(as)forwarasiftheyhadlostthespiritandenthusiasmforwar.Itwasnotforthefirsttime

thattheirattitudeofdisobedienceandindifferencetotheImam(as)hadbeennoticed,asthey

hadadoptedthesameapproachearliertowardsHazratAli(as)and,ashistoryrecords,continued

thesamelater.Thereisanadage:'thepeopleofKoofadonothonourtheirword'.Anyway,Imam

Mujtaba(as)startedthemarchfromNakhailawiththesmallarmyandwentuptotheareaof

'DairAbdulRahman'.Theresomemoresoldiers,whosenumberisnotknown,joinedhim.The

Imam(as)campedthereforthreedays.Itiscertainthathewouldnothavebeenunawareofthe

movementofMoawiya'sarmyandhemusthavebeengettingthelatestinformationaboutthe

same.So,hedecidedtosendavanguardunitoftwelvethousandsoldiersunderthecommandof

Ubaidullahb.AbbastowardsthenorthernbordersofIraqsothatitmayhalttheadvancementof

thearmyofMoawiyaattheIraqiborder.Beforetheirdeparture,hegaveawarcommandto

Ubaidullah,hisfather'scousin,i.e.hisuncle,apartofwhichhasbeenrecordedbythehistorians:

"Omyuncle!IamgivingtwelvethousandEgyptianrecitersoftheHolyQuranandbraveArab

warriorsunderyourcommand.Onesoldieramongthemisequaltoabattalion.Alongwith

them,youshouldkeepmarchingalongtheEuphratesrivertillyoureachMaskinaftercrossingover

Euphrates.ContinuetomarchfurthertillyoucomefacetofacewithMoawiya.Youshouldtreat

thesesoldierswithhumility,listentothemcheerfully,treatthemwellanddonotallowthem

underanycircumstancestokeepawayfromyouasthesearethetrustedonesoftheleaderofthe

faithful,HazratAli(as).IfyoufaceMoawiya,holdhisadvancetillIreachyou.Iamfollowingyou

soon.Youshouldkeepmeinformeddaily.Continuetoconsultthetwoi.e.Qaisb.S'adandS'aeed

b.Qaisanddonottakeanyactionwithouttheirconsent.WhenyoufaceMoawiya,donotbethe

firsttoattack,butifhestartsthebattlethenyoushouldalsofight.Ifsomethinghappenstoyou,


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thenQaisb.S'adwillbeincommandandifheisalsodisabledinanyway,thenS'adb.Qais(will

beincommand)."10_/

WiththiswarcommandheorderedUbaidullahb.Abbastomarchon.Thisway,thearmyofthe

Imam(as)hadbecomedividedintotwofrom'DairAbdulRahman'area.Thevanguardunit

continuedto

move

under

the

command

of

Ubaidullah

and

reached

'Falo

oha'

and

thence

to

'Maskin'.Theotherunit,underthecommandoftheImam(as)marchedfrom'DairAbdulRahman'

toMadain,whichwasestablishedasthegarrisonheadquarter.Beforewritingaboutthe

subsequentevents,itisadvisablethatthesignificanceofthemilitaryandgeographiclocationof

theseareasisbrieflymentionedforthebenefitofthereaders:

Maskin:NearSamra,itisthecitysurroundedbyfertile,lushgreenarea.Duringthecaliphateof

ImamMujtaba(as)itwasconsideredasthenorthernendoftheIraqiborder.Fromanagricultural

pointofview,itwasthemostrich,lushgreenarea.ThearmiesoftheImam(as)andthoseof

Moawiyahadfoughtinthisveryarea.

Madain:ImamMujtaba(as)haddecidedtomakeMadainashisgarrisonheadquarter.Froma

geographicandmilitarypointofview,Madainhadaveryimportantlocation.Itislocated30km.

fromthesouthernendofBaghdadonthebankofTigrisriver.ThestrategiclocationofMadain

becamemoreimportantasitwaslinkedwiththeroutesfromPersia,BasraandKoofa.11_/

ImamMujtaba(as)wasfacingtwomainproblemsatthatmoment:

(1)TheadvancingarmyofMoawiyawhichcouldentertheIraqicitiesandoccupythem,which

wouldfurtherdemoralizetheImam'sarmy,whichwasalreadyfearfuloftheSyrianarmy;(2)He

wasfacingashortageofarmypersonneltofacethefullyarmedsixtythousandsoldiersofthe

Syrianarmy.TheImam(as)hadstoppedtheadvanceofthearmyofMoawiyabysendingthe

vanguardunitunderthecommandofUbaidullahb.Abbas,whichencampedatthebordertown

'Maskin'.Secondly,hemadeMadainashisgarrisonheadquarterandwasawaitingreinforcements

fromKoofa,BasraandPersia,thethreeimportantareasofhisgovernment.HedirectedHajarb.

Adeetocontacthisgovernorsinvariousareastoprepareforwar.Inaddition,heinstructedVarqa

b.Noful,hisrepresentativeinKoofa,toinducethepeopleandtopropagateforwaronamassive

scale.InhisvaststateofPersia,Ziyadb.Ubaidwashisgovernor,whowasstillloyaltohim,and

theImam(as)washopefulofreinforcementfromthere.Therefore,theImam(as)decidedtostay

atMadainpersonallyforsometimeandintendedtojoinhisvanguardunitatMaskin,whichwas

notmorethan120km.awayfromhim,assoonasthearmyhadgainedsufficientstrength.Thatis

whyhehadassuredUbaidullahthathewouldjoinhimverysoonwiththerestofthearmy.

Thus,theheirtotheleaderofthefaithfulhadplannedhisdefensivestrategyveryintelligentlyand

provedtotheworldthathewasanexpertinwartactics,andwasinnowaylessthanMoawiyain

warplan

imam hassan_and caliphate

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