The Biography of Hazrat Ali, May Allah Be Pleased with Him (Part 28)
2. The second factor was the significant killing and bloodshed that engulfed both armies, leading to fears that everyone would eventually be killed or destroyed. Thus, the request to stop the war was an issue that both groups were inclined to consider.
3. The third factor was the fatigue and helplessness of the people, who had lost their strength due to the prolonged wars. Such a situation had arisen that it seemed everyone was waiting for a message of peace and reconciliation. Most of Hazrat Ali’s troops were inclined to end the conflict. Consequently, they often expressed the sentiment: «قد أكلتنا الحرب و لانری البقاء الا عن الموادعة»; “The war has exhausted all our forces, and we have no choice but to leave the conflict for our survival.” This phrase, which was echoed among the majority of Hazrat Ali’s soldiers, indicates that raising the Qur’ans to stop the war was not a deception or a trick on the part of Hazrat Amr bin As and was not even his initiative. Rather, during the Battle of Jamal, Ka’b bin Sur, the judge of Basra, had taken similar action to stop the battle, but the rebels among the warlords and the followers of Sabai shot him to prevent his success.
4. The fourth factor was the positive response to the call of revelation, where Allah instructed His servants: «فان تنازعتم فی شیء فردوه الی الله و الرسول» [An-Nisa: 59]; “Whenever you disagree on something, refer it back to Allah and the Messenger (that is, to the ruling of Sharia in light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah).”
For this reason, when Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was advised to let the Qur’an make the decision, he said: “I am more worthy than you in this regard, and I am more interested in the wisdom and judgment of Allah’s Book. Allah’s Book will judge between me and you.”
Another event that occurred during the Battle of Safin and helped clarify the distinction between right and wrong was the martyrdom of the high-ranking companion Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir at the hands of the Syrian troops. Hazrat Mu’awiya and the people of Sham believed that their demand for the blood of Hazrat Usman (may Allah be pleased with him) and their refusal to pledge allegiance to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) until the matter of Hazrat Usman’s killers was addressed represented a just position. They confronted Hazrat Ali until the battle of Safin ensued.
The high-ranking Companions alive at the time took one of these three positions: 1) A group sought the blood of the third caliph and defended this position; 2) A group supported Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and aligned with him; 3) The third group, which included the majority of companions, opposed conflict and chose isolation.
In this context, the martyrdom of Hazrat Ammar occurred, and in light of the Prophetic hadith: «تقتلك الفئة الباغیة» [You will be killed by the rebellious group], it became clear to everyone that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was right and that everyone should pledge allegiance to him and follow him. This incident clarified the position of right and made the continuation of the battle pointless, encouraging all to seek an end to the conflict. Under such circumstances, the issue of wisdom arose and was accepted.
Upon hearing the news of Hazrat Ammar’s martyrdom, Hazrat Amr bin As stated: «وددت أنی مت قبل هذا الیوم بعشرین سنة»; “I wish I had died twenty years before this day.”
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