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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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TurasalArabi,1964,vol.1,p.274;CarlBrockelmann 'TareekhalSh'oobalIslamiah,Beirut,Darul
Ilmlil Mabain,1965,4thedition,p.120.
6.IbnulSabbaghalMaliki 'alFusoolalMuhimmah,Najaf,DarulKutub,p.146;IbneKhallakan
'Wafeeyatal'ayan',Qum,ManshooratalRazi,1985,vol.2,p.66;IbneKaseer 'Albidayahval
Nihaya',Beirut,MaktabaalM'arif,1974,2ndedition,vol.8p.16,andvol.6p.220(thebook'Dalail
alNubooah');AbdulQadirBadran,'TahzeebeTareekheDamishq',Beirut,DarulAhyaalTuras
1987,3rdedition,vol.4,p.22;IbneAsakir 'TareekheMadinateDamishq,TarjumaalImamal
Hasan'(AlMahmoodiresearch)Beirut,MoassasahalMahmoodi,1980,p.171,traditionNo.289;
Mas'oodi 'MurawwijalZahab',Beirut,DarulFikr,1989,vol.3,p.7.
7.Mas'oodi 'MurawwijalZahab',Beirut,vol.2,p.426;Dinavari 'AlAkhbaralTawaal',Cairo:
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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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_/
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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.
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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.
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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
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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