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→The Caliphate of Ali
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===The Caliphate of Ali=== | ===The Caliphate of Ali=== | ||
Aisha had expected that the next caliph would be one of her brothers-in-law, Talha ibn Ubaydullah<ref>{{Tabari|15|pp. 238-239}}. Talha was the husband of her younger sister Umm Kulthum.</ref> or Al-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam.<ref></ref> But on the road to Medina after her ''Hajj'', she heard that Ali had been elected,<ref>Jarrett/ | Aisha had expected that the next caliph would be one of her brothers-in-law, Talha ibn Ubaydullah<ref>{{Tabari|15|pp. 238-239}}. Talha was the husband of her younger sister Umm Kulthum.</ref> or Al-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam.<ref></ref> But on the road to Medina after her ''Hajj'', she heard that Ali had been elected,<ref>Jarrett/Suyuti pp. 166, 176.</ref> and exclaimed, “If this is true, I wish the sky would fall down!”<ref></ref> She suddenly remembered that Muhammad had thrice told Uthman, “If Allah ever places you in authority, and the hypocrites want to rid you of the garment, do not take it off,” and when she was asked why she had not told everyone that ''hadith'' earlier, she replied, “I was made to forget it.”<ref>Ibn Majah 1:112.</ref> She turned back to Mecca and called for Uthman’s murder to be avenged, an inconsistency for which she was criticised.<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp. 52-53}}.</ref> Ali denied any involvement with the assassination,<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp. 180-181}}. Despite the convenience of Uthman’s murder to Ali, it has never been seriously suggested that he was actively involved.</ref> but nevertheless he claimed he was powerless to punish the murderers<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 18}}.</ref> and he refused to comment on whether the killing had been just or unjust.<ref>{{Tabari|17|p. 26}}.</ref> Al-Zubayr and Talha, who claimed they had only sworn allegiance to Ali under duress, now joined her in Mecca.<ref>Jarrett/Suyuti, p. 176.</ref> The anti-Ali faction gathered around them,<ref>Muir (1924), pp. 240-241.</ref> and they vowed to avenge Uthman.<ref>Jarrett/Suyuti, p. 176.</ref> According to the British historian Sir William Muir: “The cry of vengeance on the regicides really covered designs against … 'Ali,”<ref>Muir (1924), p. 243.</ref> whom they intended to depose in favour of one of themselves. | ||
Aisha raised an army of 30,000<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 121}}.</ref> and marched out to Syria. There she defeated the Governor of Basra and took over the city.<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 76}}; Muir (1924), pp. 243-244.</ref> Talha and Al-Zubayr put to death everyone who was implicated in the assassination of Uthman and shaved off the beard of the deposed Governor.<ref>Muir (1924), p. 244.</ref> For several weeks, it seemed that Aisha had won. But Ali called up reinforcements,<ref>Muir (1924), pp. 246-247.</ref> and he entered Basra with a professional army of 20,000.<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 121}}.</ref> At first each side held up copies of the Qur’an, urging the other not to fight.<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp. 129, 130, 152}}.</ref> Aisha’s side cursed Uthman’s killers, and Ali’s side started cursing them too.<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 132}}.</ref> If the conflict really had been about avenging Uthman, negotiations might well have averted the battle. But in the end hostilities erupted, and on 7 December 656 Aisha’s warriors began to fight.<ref></ref> | Aisha raised an army of 30,000<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 121}}.</ref> and marched out to Syria. There she defeated the Governor of Basra and took over the city.<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 76}}; Muir (1924), pp. 243-244.</ref> Talha and Al-Zubayr put to death everyone who was implicated in the assassination of Uthman and shaved off the beard of the deposed Governor.<ref>Muir (1924), p. 244.</ref> For several weeks, it seemed that Aisha had won. But Ali called up reinforcements,<ref>Muir (1924), pp. 246-247.</ref> and he entered Basra with a professional army of 20,000.<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 121}}.</ref> At first each side held up copies of the Qur’an, urging the other not to fight.<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp. 129, 130, 152}}.</ref> Aisha’s side cursed Uthman’s killers, and Ali’s side started cursing them too.<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 132}}.</ref> If the conflict really had been about avenging Uthman, negotiations might well have averted the battle. But in the end hostilities erupted, and on 7 December 656 Aisha’s warriors began to fight.<ref></ref> | ||