Hazrat Aisha Goes to Basrah While Hazrat Aisha was on her way to Basrah more people joined her in the way. By the time she reached Basrah, there were three thousand men under her flag. The governor of Basrah, Usman
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bin Hanif (appointed by Hazrat AH (Rad.A), sent some men to find out the object of her visit. She and other Muslims told them that they wanted to tell people of their duty towards the late Caliph so that proper action would be taken to punish the assassins. The messenger of the governor asked Hazrat Talha and Zubair for what reason they were breaking the Bai’at on the hands of Hazrat AH (Rad.A). They told them that the pledge (Bai’at) was taken from them at the point of sword, and that they would have kept the pledge if Hazrat AH (Rad.A) had avenged Usman’s assassination.
The governor of Basrah decided not to allow them to enter the city till he got help from Hazrat AH (Rad.A). He called a public meeting and asked people to fight against them. In the meeting some people favoured the governor while some of them supported Hazrat Aisha, Talha and Zubair. The supporters of Hazrat AH (Rad.A) and the governor came out to fight. Hazrat Aisha (RacLA) Takes Over Basrah Hazrat Aisha (Rad.A) gave a stirring speech before the Muslims. It was so impressive that half of the supporters of the governor left him and joined Hazrat Aisha (Rad.A). Seeing this she tried to settle the matter peacefully instead of fighting. But there were some agents of Abdullah bin Saba (Sabaites) specially his famous disciple., Hakim bin Hublah, who did not allow any settlement. He attacked Hazrat Aisha’s (Rad.A) army before the governor gave him permission to do so.
The fight took place but no result came out till the evening. In the meantime the-governor got instructions from Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) to resist Hazrat Aisha’s (Rad.A) army if they did not agree to pledge of loyalty to him. Then a furious battle took place in which Usman (Rad.A) bin Hanif, the governor, was defeated and captured. Hakim bin Hublah and some of his followers were killed, and Basrah was occupied by the Hazrat Aisha (Rad.A) and her supporters.5
