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

ISLAM
Period of His Khilafat
The period of Hazrat Ali’s Khilafat extending to four years and about nine months, was marked by civil war. His rule was characterised by a series of revolts for the first time in the history of Islam. He was elected as the Caliph in the most critical period of Islamic history. The martyrdom of Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) was an extraordinary event about which the Holy Prophet had already prophesied. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was in a very difficult situation. On the one hand the assassins and the insurgents were creating endless
Dr. Maj id Ah Khan, P. 216.
Hazrat Ali (Rad. A.) 321
trouble for him, and on the other hand Banu Umayyah (Usman’s family) fled to Syria and incited Amir Mu’awiya to stick to his demand for avenging Hazrat Usman’s assassins. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) faced these problems and difficulties with extraordinary courage and presented before us an exemplary character. He never had full support even from his friends in Kufa but still remained firm in his position.^
As it has been described before, he could never locate the real assassins of Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) and this could not b’j achieved until peace was established. Therefore his first task was to create an atmosphere of peace in the state. But the Sabaites (insurgents) never wanted peace. They worked on both sides. On the one side they made it difficult for Hazrat Alt (Rad.A) to find out the assassins, and on the other hand they sent their agents to Syria to incite the people (especially Umayyads) against Hazrat Ali (Rad.A). Their main aim was to let the Muslims fight among themselves so that they might proposer. Although Hazrat Ali knew all this but he was unable to take any firm action because of the civil war.
The third problem faced by Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was the Kharijite movement. They were extremists and misled a number of innocent Muslims. They did not hesitate to use sword igainst persons who did not agree with them. They developed man) beliefs foreign to Islam, although they appeared to be very pious but very politically, they were corrupt. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) dealt with them with an iron hand. He realized that if they were ’iot wiped out in the beginning they would mislead future generations. He was successful in destroying their strong hold. However some of them, who escaped, went underground but they -ere never in a strong position.14
Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) tried his utmost >»o unite the Muslims and bring them back on one platform but he was not successful. The tragic death of Hazrat U -man (Rad.A) wrs a signal for blood shed among the Muslims. The • ompanions werj not to be blamed for it at all. This was caused by anti-Islamic elements in the form of Sabaites. (Abdullah Ibn Saba and his followers). Historical facts bear it out that ’Abdullah Ibn Saba became the greatest enemy of Islam. It was he who shattered the unity of Muslims forever. After completing their mission the Sabaites made a pretence of being Ali’s friends but
Dr. Majid Ali Khan, P. 219.

322
Political and Cultural History of Main

they never helped him nor the cause of Muslim unity, no sooner had Hazrat AH (Rad.A) assumed Khilafat than a group of the same miscreant Sabaites who had brought about the cold-blooded assassination of Hazi’at Usman (Rad.A) began to demand due retribution for the murder of the Caliph and started to incite Muslims only to create division among them. Thus they played a double role. A group of them showed themselves as friends of Ali and another group (much smaller than the first) went to Syria and other part” of Islamic State to incite the Muslims against Hazrat Ali (Rad.A).Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) faced all these problems with courage and never lost heart. He was a man of strong will cower and determination and was quite right in his ”.ecisions.