Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

Hazrat All’s Final Invitation to Hazrat Mu’awiya
Hazrat AH (Rad.A) now turned his attention towards Hazrat Mu’awiya (Rad.A). He was then ruling over the whole Islamic State with the exception of Syria. The peace minded Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) wanted a peaceful settlement. He, therefore, wrote a letter to Hazrat Mu’awiya (Rad.A) asking him to take pledge of loyalty at his hand in the interest of Islam and the unity of the Muslims. But Hazrat Mu’awiya (Rad.A) again demanded of him to avenge Hazrat Usman’s assassins first. The show of Hazrat Usman’s blood-stained shirt and the chopped-off fingers of his wife, Hazrat Naila, was still going on in the Jami Masjid of Damascus. The powerful Syrians had rallied round Hazrat Mu’awiya (Rad.A). On the other hand Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was still unable to overcome the insurgents, when Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was still unable to overcome the insurgent. When Hazrat Amir Mu’awiya’s messenger came to Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) to put the demand to hand over the assassins, 10,000 men of Hazrat Ali’s army said with one voice: ”All of us are the assassins of Usman (Rad.A).” Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) then said to the messengers, Hazrat Muslimah, ”You can see for yourself the situation. I am still unable to find out of the real assassins.” But Hazrat Mu’awiya was determined not to give up his demand. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) finding no other way, was compelled to declare war against Hazrat Mu’awiya (Rad.A). The Battfe of Siffm (657 A.D./37 A.H.)
The above situation forced Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) to march out against Syria. In the beginning there was not much response to Hazrat Ali’s call. But when Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) explained the position to the Muslims, a large army gathered around Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) and 50,000 Muslims came out under his banner to fight the Syrians. When Mu’awiya (Rad.A) came to know about Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) advance, he too proceeded with a vast army and occupied a better position in the field. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) encamped at Siffm, and Amir Mu’awiya on the other side of Siffm.9
Hazrat Ali’s intention was not to shed Muslim blood in vain. He therefore again tried and sent a deputation of three men on peace mission to Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A). Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A) again demanded that the assassins of Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) must be slain before any compromise can be reached and that he was demanding
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this as a ”Wali” (next of kin of murdered person) of Hazrat Usman (Rad.A). The demand was again refused by Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) on the ground that he was not able to locate the real assassins and it would need some time, and that the Pledge of Loyalty must be taken without any condition.
In the montn of Zhul Hijjah 36 A.H. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) ordered his troops to take positions. But there seemed unwillingness to fight on both sides. Muslims were facing Muslims. However in the beginning fighting began with single combats followed by light encounters of single battalions. Thus the whole month of Zhul Hijjah ended without any big fight. When the moon of Muharram appeared, Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) and Mu’awiya made a truce for one month. During this time he again got an opportunity for renewed peace talks. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) sent another mission led by Adi bin Hatim Tai to Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A). But this time Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A) took it as a threat and refused to recognize Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) as the Caliph unless he avenged Hazrat Usman’s assassination. In this way the last attempt proved to be fruitless.
On the evening of the last day of Muharram 37 A.H. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) gave orders to his army to attack the Syrian forces because they had been given enough time to think; The war started the following morning. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) gave strict orders that no person should be killed if he left the field or ran away. Women and old people would be secure. Hazrat Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A) also gave the same order to his army.
The wai started on Tuesday 1st Safar , 37 A.H. On the first day a battalion of Hazrat Ali’s army, led by Ushtar fought with the Syrians led by the Habib bin Muslimah. On the second day another battalion led by Hashim bin Utbah from Hazrat Ali’s side fought with the Syrians led by Abul A’war Salama. On the third day the battalion from Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) side was led by Hazrat ’Ammar bin Yasir and the Syrians were led by Amir bin A’s (Rad.A). During the battle Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (Rad.A) was martyred but no result came out. The martyrdom of Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir, however, proved that Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was right because of the following Hadith mentioned in Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and other authentic books of Hadith: According to this Hadith the Holy Prophet said, ”Ammar bin Yasir would be killed by a group of rebels.” Since Hazrat Ammar was fighting in favour of Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) and was killed by the
1 G. T. Hawting, The First Dynasty of Islam. London, 1986, P. 28.

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army of Hazrat Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A) Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was in the right and his opponents were the rebels.
For seven days the battle continued in this way. A new battalion used to fight from each side under a new commander. On the 8th day the whole army of Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) clashed with the of Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A). A fierce battle was fought but with no end in sight. According to most of the historians, Hazrat ’ Ammar bin Yasir was martyred on that day. However no result came out till the evening. The death of Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir was a shock to Hazrat Ali (Rad.A). The battle went on the whole night. At one time Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) reached the tent of Hazrat Mu’awiya and challenged him to fight personally with him instead of shedding Muslim blood, the winner would be the Caliph. But Hazrat Mu’awiya (Rad.A) did not accept the challenge because Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was a noted warrior of Arabia.
On the second day of the battle Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A) was about to lose the battle. But, Amir Mu’awiya was a shrewd person and had been the governor of Syria from Hazrat Umar’s time. He had with him Hazrat Amir bin A’s, the conqueror of Egypt and a recognized statesman of Arabia. Seeing the impending defeat he consulted Hazrat Amr bin A’s who advised Amir Mu’awiya to give orders to the troops of the front ranks to fasten the Holy Qur’an to their lances as a sign that war would cease and that the decision would be referred to the Holy Book.
Seeing copies of the Holy Qur’an on lances, Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) recognized it as a clever move of the enemy but a good many men of his army did not share his view and stopped fighting. Being helpless he ordered his troops to stop fighting.