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Muslims have traditionally perceived the Battle of the Camel, the first war where Muslim fought Muslim, as “proof” that “woman was not created to poke her nose into politics.”<ref>[http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_401_450/female_leadership_in_islam.htm/ Sa’id Al-Afghani], cited in Shehabuddin, S. “Female Leadership in Islam” in ''Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.''</ref> In fact Aisha was no more aggressive than her male counterparts, and the war was no more disastrous than the hundreds of wars, including Muslim-against-Muslim wars, that male Muslims have fought ever since. The real problem was not that Aisha was a woman but that her Islamic world-view had taught her to solve problems by authoritarianism, assassination and open war. Aisha regretted the Battle of the Camel; she said she wished she had died twenty years beforehand,<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 162}}.</ref> or even, “I wish I had been a leaf on a tree! I wish I had been a stone! I wish I had been a clod of earth! By Allah, I wish that Allah had not created me as anything at all!”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:52.</ref> Sunni Muslims believe that she repented of leaving her home and dabbling in politics.<ref></ref> However, it is not completely clear whether she regretted starting the war or whether her real regret was only that she had lost. When a man told her to “repent, for you have made a mistake,” he was sentenced to 100 lashes.<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp.165-166}}.</ref> | Muslims have traditionally perceived the Battle of the Camel, the first war where Muslim fought Muslim, as “proof” that “woman was not created to poke her nose into politics.”<ref>[http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_401_450/female_leadership_in_islam.htm/ Sa’id Al-Afghani], cited in Shehabuddin, S. “Female Leadership in Islam” in ''Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.''</ref> In fact Aisha was no more aggressive than her male counterparts, and the war was no more disastrous than the hundreds of wars, including Muslim-against-Muslim wars, that male Muslims have fought ever since. The real problem was not that Aisha was a woman but that her Islamic world-view had taught her to solve problems by authoritarianism, assassination and open war. Aisha regretted the Battle of the Camel; she said she wished she had died twenty years beforehand,<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 162}}.</ref> or even, “I wish I had been a leaf on a tree! I wish I had been a stone! I wish I had been a clod of earth! By Allah, I wish that Allah had not created me as anything at all!”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:52.</ref> Sunni Muslims believe that she repented of leaving her home and dabbling in politics.<ref></ref> However, it is not completely clear whether she regretted starting the war or whether her real regret was only that she had lost. When a man told her to “repent, for you have made a mistake,” he was sentenced to 100 lashes.<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp.165-166}}.</ref> | ||
The remainder of Ali’s reign was dominated by his conflict with Muaawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, a brother-in-law of Muhammad<ref>Muaawiya’s sister Ramla had been one of Muhammad’s wives (Ibn Hisham note 918).</ref> and kinsman of Uthman. In due course, Muaawiya captured Aisha’s brother Muhammad, killed him “in retaliation for Uthman,” then “cast him into the corpse of a donkey and set fire to it.” Although Aisha had demanded vengeance on Uthman’s assassins, she apparently had not meant her brother, for whom she grieved deeply and made extra prayers.<ref>{{Tabari|17|pp. 157-158}}.</ref> Ali was assassinated within five years,<ref>{{Tabari|17|pp. 213-216, 226-227}}; Jarrett/ | The remainder of Ali’s reign was dominated by his conflict with Muaawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, a brother-in-law of Muhammad<ref>Muaawiya’s sister Ramla had been one of Muhammad’s wives (Ibn Hisham note 918).</ref> and kinsman of Uthman. In due course, Muaawiya captured Aisha’s brother Muhammad, killed him “in retaliation for Uthman,” then “cast him into the corpse of a donkey and set fire to it.” Although Aisha had demanded vengeance on Uthman’s assassins, she apparently had not meant her brother, for whom she grieved deeply and made extra prayers.<ref>{{Tabari|17|pp. 157-158}}.</ref> Ali was assassinated within five years,<ref>{{Tabari|17|pp. 213-216, 226-227}}; Jarrett/Suyuti p. 178.</ref> and Aisha was “joyous” at the news.<ref>{{Tabari|17|p. 224}}.</ref> | ||
===The Caliphate of Muaawiya=== | ===The Caliphate of Muaawiya=== |