Islam Guidance

5. Caliphate to Death

5. Caliphate to Death

 During his caliphate of nearly four years and nine months (35 AH to 40 AH), ‘AlÄ« followed the way of the Prophet and gave his caliphate the form of a spiritual movement and renewal, and began many different types of reforms. He forced the resignation of all the incompetent political elements who had a hand in directing affairs and began a major transformation of a “revolutionary” nature. Naturally, these reforms were against the interests of certain parties that had become used to the privileges during the previous caliphates and sought their own benefit. As a result, a group of the companions (foremost among whom were Talhah and Zubayr, who also gained the support of ‘Ä€ishah, and especially Mu’awiyah) made a pretext of the death of the third caliph to raise their heads in opposition and began to revolt and rebel against ‘AlÄ«.

 In order to quell the civil strife and sedition, ‘AlÄ« fought a war near Basra against Talhah and Zubayr in which ‘Ä€ishah, “the mother of the believers” was also involved. Actually this battle is known in history as the “Battle of the Camel” after the camel on which ‘Ä€ishah was riding.

 Imam ‘AlÄ« fought another war against Mu’awiyah bin Abi Sufyān on the border of Iraq and Syria which lasted for a year and a half and is famous as the “Battle of Siffin.” He also fought against the Khawārij[42] at Nahrawan, in a battle known as the “Battle of Nahrawan.”

 Therefore, most of the days of ‘AlÄ«’s caliphate were spent in overcoming internal opposition. And so it is a sign of ‘AlÄ«’s excellence that in spite of such great problems during his short caliphate, he has left behind a vast and rich legacy in form of sayings, letters, circulars and decisions on the political system of Islam.

 Finally, in the morning of the 19th of Ramadhan in the year 40 A.H., while praying in the mosque of Kufa, he was wounded by one of the Khawārij and died as a martyr during the night of the 21st.

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