Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2060
The caliphate of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib
ابْتِدَاءُ وَقْعَةِ الْجَمَلِ سبب وقعة الجمل لَمَّا وَقَعَ قَتْلُ عُثْمَانَ بَعْدَ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ، كَانَ أَزْوَاجُ النَّبِيِّ، ﷺ، قَدْ خَرَجْنَ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فِي هَذَا الْعَامِ فِرَارًا مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ النَّاسَ أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ قَدْ قُتِلَ، أَقَمْنَ بِمَكَّةَ بَعْدَ مَا خَرَجُوا مِنْهَا، رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهَا فَأَقَامُوا بِهَا، وَجَعَلُوا يَنْتَظِرُونَ مَا يَصْنَعُ النَّاسُ، فَلَمَّا بُويِعَ لِعَلِيٍّ وَصَارَ أَحْظَى النَّاسِ عِنْدَهُ - بِحُكْمِ الْحَالِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرَّأْيِ لَا عَنِ اخْتِيَارٍ مِنْهُ لِذَلِكَ - رُءُوسَ أُولَئِكَ الْخَوَارِجِ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوا عُثْمَانَ، مَعَ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا فِي نَفْسِ الْأَمْرِ يَكْرَهُهُمْ، وَلَكِنَّهُ تَرَبَّصَ بِهِمُ الدَّوَائِرَ، وَيَوَدُّ لَوْ تَمَكَّنَ مِنْهُمْ لِيَأْخُذَ حَقَّ اللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ، وَلَكِنْ لَمَّا وَقَعَ الْأَمْرُ هَكَذَا وَاسْتَحْوَذُوا عَلَيْهِ وَحَجَبُوا عَنْهُ عِلْيَةَ الصَّحَابَةِ، فَرَّ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَغَيْرِهِمْ إِلَى مَكَّةَ، وَاسْتَأْذَنَهُ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ فِي الِاعْتِمَارِ، فَأَذِنَ لَهُمَا، فَخَرَجَا إِلَى مَكَّةَ وَتَبِعَهُمْ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَجَمٌّ غَفِيرٌ. ندب علي ؓ أهل المدينة لقتال أهل الشام وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ لَمَّا عَزَمَ عَلَى قِتَالِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ قَدْ نَدَبَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى الْخُرُوجِ مَعَهُ، فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ، وَطَلَبَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَحَرَّضَهُ عَلَى الْخُرُوجِ مَعَهُ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ، فَإِنْ خَرَجُوا خَرَجْتُ، وَعَلَيَّ السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ، وَلَكِنْ لَا أَخْرُجُ لِلْقِتَالِ فِي هَذَا الْعَامِ. ثُمَّ تَجَهَّزَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَخَرَجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ. وَقَدِمَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ أَيْضًا فِي هَذَا الْعَامِ يَعْلَى بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ - وَكَانَ عَامِلًا عَلَيْهَا لِعُثْمَانَ - وَمَعَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ بَعِيرٍ وَسِتُّمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَقَدِمَ إِلَيْهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَامِرٍ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ، وَكَانَ نَائِبَهَا لِعُثْمَانَ. تحريض عائشة ؓ على الخروج للمطالبة بدم عثمان ؓ فَاجْتَمَعَ فِيهَا خَلْقٌ مِنْ سَادَاتِ الصَّحَابَةِ، وَأُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَقَامَتْ عَائِشَةُ، ؓ، فِي النَّاسِ تَخْطُبُهُمْ وَتَحُثُّهُمْ عَلَى الْقِيَامِ بِطَلَبِ دَمِ عُثْمَانَ، وَذَكَرَتْ مَا افْتَاتَ بِهِ أُولَئِكَ مِنْ قَتْلِهِ فِي بَلَدٍ حَرَامٍ وَشَهْرٍ حَرَامٍ، وَلَمْ يُرَاقِبُوا جِوَارَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، ﷺ، وَقَدْ سَفَكُوا الدِّمَاءَ وَأَخَذُوا الْأَمْوَالَ. فَاسْتَجَابَ النَّاسُ لَهَا، وَطَاوَعُوهَا عَلَى مَا تَرَاهُ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ، وَقَالُوا لَهَا: حَيْثُمَا سِرْتِ سِرْنَا مَعَكِ. فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ: نَذْهَبُ إِلَى الشَّامِ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَدْ كَفَاكُمْ أَمْرَهَا. وَلَوْ قَدِمُوهَا لَغَلَبُوا، وَاجْتَمَعَ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ لَهُمْ ; لِأَنَّ أَكَابِرَ الصَّحَابَةِ مَعَهُمْ. وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: نَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَنَطْلُبُ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ إِلَيْنَا قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ فَيُقْتَلُوا. وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: بَلْ نَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ فَنَتَقَوَّى بِالْخَيْلِ وَالرِّجَالِ، وَنَبْدَأُ بِمَنْ هُنَاكَ مِنْ قَتَلَتِهِ. فَاتَّفَقَ الرَّأْيُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَوَافَقَ بَقِيَّةُ أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَلَمَّا اتَّفَقَ النَّاسُ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ رَجَعْنَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، وَقُلْنَ: لَا نَسِيرُ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ. وَجَهَّزَ النَّاسَ يَعْلَى بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، فَأَنْفَقَ فِيهِمْ سِتَّمِائَةِ أَلْفٍ وَسِتَّمِائَةِ بَعِيرٍ، وَجَهَّزَهُمُ ابْنُ عَامِرٍ أَيْضًا بِمَالٍ كَثِيرٍ: وَكَانَتْ حَفْصَةُ بِنْتُ عُمَرَ أُمُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ وَافَقَتْ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، فَمَنَعَهَا أَخُوهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَبَى هُوَ أَنْ يَسِيرَ مَعَهُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَسَارَ النَّاسُ صُحْبَةَ عَائِشَةَ فِي أَلْفٍ. وَقِيلَ: تِسْعِمِائَةِ فَارِسٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَكَّةَ. وَتَلَاحَقَ بِهِمْ آخَرُونَ، فَصَارُوا فِي ثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ، وَأُمُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةُ تُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجٍ عَلَى جَمَلٍ اسْمُهُ عَسْكَرٌ، اشْتَرَاهُ يَعْلَى بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ بِمِائَتَيْ دِينَارٍ. وَقِيلَ: بِثَمَانِينَ دِينَارًا، وَقِيلَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ. يوم النحيب وَسَارَ مَعَهَا أُمَّهَاتُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى ذَاتِ عِرْقٍ فَفَارَقْنَهَا هُنَالِكَ وَبَكَيْنَ لِلْوَدَاعِ، وَتَبَاكَى النَّاسُ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ يُسَمَّى يَوْمَ النَّحِيبِ. موقف عائشة من ماء الحوأب وَسَارَ النَّاسُ قَاصِدِينَ الْبَصْرَةَ، وَكَانَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ عَنْ أَمْرِ عَائِشَةَ ابْنُ أُخْتِهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَمَرْوَانُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ يُؤَذِّنُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي أَوْقَاتِ الصَّلَوَاتِ، وَقَدْ مَرُّوا فِي مَسِيرِهِمْ لَيْلًا بِمَاءٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْحَوْأَبُ. فَنَبَحَتْهُمْ كِلَابٌ عِنْدَهُ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ ذَلِكَ عَائِشَةُ قَالَتْ: مَا اسْمُ هَذَا الْمَاءِ ؟ قَالُوا: الْحَوْأَبُ. فَضَرَبَتْ بِإِحْدَى يَدَيْهَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى وَقَالَتْ: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، مَا أَظُنُّنِي إِلَّا رَاجِعَةً. قَالُوا: وَلِمَ ؟ قَالَتْ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ﷺ، يَقُولُ لِنِسَائِهِ: لَيْتَ شِعْرِي أَيَّتُكُنَّ الَّتِي تَنْبَحُهَا كِلَابُ الْحَوْأَبِ. ثُمَّ ضَرَبَتْ عَضُدَ بَعِيرِهَا فَأَنَاخَتْهُ، وَقَالَتْ: رُدُّونِي، أَنَا وَاللَّهِ صَاحِبَةُ مَاءِ الْحَوْأَبِ. وَقَدْ أَوْرَدْنَا هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ بِطُرُقِهِ وَأَلْفَاظِهِ فِي دَلَائِلِ النُّبُوَّةِ كَمَا سَبَقَ. فَأَنَاخَ النَّاسُ حَوْلَهَا يَوْمًا وَلَيْلَةً وَقَالَ لَهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ: إِنَّ الَّذِي أَخْبَرَكِ أَنَّ هَذَا مَاءُ الْحَوْأَبِ قَدْ كَذَبَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّاسُ: النَّجَاءَ النَّجَاءَ ! هَذَا جَيْشُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ. فَارْتَحَلُوا نَحْوَ الْبَصْرَةِ. فَلَمَّا اقْتَرَبَتْ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ كَتَبَتْ إِلَى الْأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنْ رُءُوسِ النَّاسِ أَنَّهَا قَدْ قَدِمَتْ. فَبَعَثَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ وَأَبَا الْأَسْوَدِ الدُّؤَلِيَّ إِلَيْهَا لِيَعْلَمَا مَا جَاءَتْ لَهُ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَا عَلَيْهَا، سَلَّمَا عَلَيْهَا، وَاسْتَعْلَمَا مِنْهَا مَا جَاءَتْ لَهُ، فَذَكَرَتْ لَهُمَا مَا الَّذِي جَاءَتْ لَهُ مِنَ الْقِيَامِ بِطَلَبِ دَمِ عُثْمَانَ ; لِأَنَّهُ قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فِي شَهْرٍ حَرَامٍ وَبَلَدٍ حَرَامٍ. وَتَلَتْ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى: لَا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنْ نَجْوَاهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ الْآيَةَ [ النِّسَاءِ: 114 ] فَخَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِهَا فَجَاءَا إِلَى طَلْحَةَ فَقَالَا لَهُ: مَا أَقْدَمَكَ ؟ فَقَالَ: الطَّلَبُ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ. فَقَالَا: أَمَا بَايَعْتَ عَلِيًّا ؟ قَالَ: بَلَى وَالسَّيْفُ عَلَى عُنُقِي، وَلَا أَسْتَقْبِلُهُ إِنْ هُوَ لَمْ يُخَلِّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ. فَذَهَبَا إِلَى الزُّبَيْرِ فَقَالَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: فَرَجَعَ عِمْرَانُ وَأَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، فَقَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ: يَا ابْنَ حُنَيْفٍ قَدْ أَتَيْتَ فَانْفِرِ وَطَاعِنِ الْقَوْمَ وَجَالِدْ وَاصْبِرِ وَاخْرُجْ لَهُمْ مُسْتَلْثِمًا وَشَمِّرِ فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، دَارَتْ رَحَا الْإِسْلَامُ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ، فَانْظُرُوا بِأَيِّ زَيَفَانٍ تَزِيفُ. فَقَالَ عِمْرَانُ: إِي وَاللَّهِ لَتَعْرُكَنَّكُمْ عَرْكًا طَوِيلًا. يُشِيرُ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ إِلَى حَدِيثِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ مَرْفُوعًا: تَدُورُ رَحَا الْإِسْلَامِ لِخَمْسٍ وَثَلَاثِينَ، أَوْ سِتٍّ وَثَلَاثِينَ. الْحَدِيثَ كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ لِعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ: أَشِرْ عَلَيَّ. فَقَالَ: اعْتَزِلْ فَإِنِّي قَاعِدٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي. أَوْ قَالَ: قَاعِدٌ عَلَى بَعِيرِي فَذَاهِبٌ. فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ: بَلْ أَمْنَعُهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِلُبْسِ السِّلَاحِ وَالِاجْتِمَاعِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَاجْتَمَعُوا فَأَمَرَهُمْ، بِالتَّجَهُّزِ، فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ وَعُثْمَانُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنْ كَانَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ جَاءُوا خَائِفِينَ فَقَدْ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَلَدٍ يَأْمَنُ فِيهَا الطَّيْرُ، وَإِنْ كَانُوا جَاءُوا يَطْلُبُونَ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ فَمَا نَحْنُ بِقَتَلَتِهِ، فَأَطِيعُونِي وَرُدُّوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ جَاءُوا. فَقَامَ الْأَسْوَدُ بْنُ سَرِيعٍ السَّعْدِيُّ فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا جَاءُوا يَسْتَعِينُونَ بِنَا عَلَى قَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ مِنَّا وَمِنْ غَيْرِنَا. فَحَصَبَهُ النَّاسُ، فَعَلِمَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ أَنَّ لِقَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ بِالْبَصْرَةِ أَنْصَارًا فَكَسَرَهُ ذَلِكَ. نزول عائشة ؓ المربد وَقَدِمَتْ أُمُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَنْ مَعَهَا مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَنَزَلُوا الْمِرْبَدَ مِنْ أَعْلَاهُ قَرِيبًا مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ، وَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهَا مَنْ أَرَادَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ، فَكَانَ مَعَهَا، وَخَرَجَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ بِالْجَيْشِ، فَاجْتَمَعُوا بِالْمِرْبَدِ، فَتَكَلَّمَ طَلْحَةُ - وَكَانَ عَلَى الْمَيْمَنَةِ - فَنَدَبَ إِلَى الْأَخْذِ بِثَأْرِ عُثْمَانَ وَالطَّلَبِ بِدَمِهِ، وَتَابَعَهُ الزُّبَيْرُ فَتَكَلَّمَ بِمِثْلِ مَقَالَتِهِ، فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمَا نَاسٌ مِنْ جَيْشِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، وَتَكَلَّمَتْ أُمُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَحَرَّضَتْ وَحَثَّتْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَتَثَاوَرَ طَوَائِفُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ الْجَيْشَيْنِ، فَتَرَامَوْا بِالْحِجَارَةِ، ثُمَّ تَحَاجَزَ النَّاسُ وَرَجَعَ كُلُّ فَرِيقٍ إِلَى حَوْزَتِهِ، وَقَدْ صَارَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ جَيْشِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ إِلَى جَيْشِ عَائِشَةَ، فَكَثُرُوا. وَجَاءَ جَارِيَةُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ السَّعْدِيُّ فَقَالَ: يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَاللَّهِ لَقَتْلُ عُثْمَانَ أَهْوَنُ مِنْ خُرُوجِكِ مِنْ بَيْتِكِ عَلَى هَذَا الْجَمَلِ عُرْضَةً لِلسِّلَاحِ، إِنْ كُنْتِ أَتَيْتِنَا طَائِعَةً فَارْجِعِي مِنْ حَيْثُ جِئْتِ إِلَى مَنْزِلِكِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَتَيْتِنَا مُكْرَهَةً فَاسْتَعِينِي بِالنَّاسِ فِي الرُّجُوعِ. بدء القتال ثم الصلح وَأَقْبَلَ حُكَيْمُ بْنُ جَبَلَةَ - وَكَانَ عَلَى خَيْلِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ - فَأَنْشَبَ الْقِتَالَ وَجَعَلَ أَصْحَابُ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَكُفُّونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَيَمْتَنِعُونَ مِنَ الْقِتَالِ، وَجَعَلَ حُكَيْمٌ يَقْتَحِمُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاقْتَتَلُوا عَلَى فَمِ السِّكَّةِ، وَأَمَرَتْ عَائِشَةُ أَصْحَابَهَا فَتَيَامَنُوا حَتَّى انْتَهَوْا إِلَى مَقْبَرَةِ بَنِي مَازِنٍ، وَحَجَزَ اللَّيْلُ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الثَّانِي قَصَدُوا الْقِتَالَ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيدًا، إِلَى أَنْ زَالَ النَّهَارُ، وَقُتِلَ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ ابْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، وَكَثُرَتِ الْجِرَاحُ فِي الْفَرِيقَيْنِ، فَلَمَّا عَضَّتْهُمُ الْحَرْبُ تَدَاعَوْا إِلَى الصُّلْحِ عَلَى أَنْ يَكْتُبُوا بَيْنَهُمْ كِتَابًا وَيَبْعَثُوا رَسُولًا إِلَى أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْأَلُ أَهْلَهَا ; إِنْ كَانَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ أُكْرِهَا عَلَى الْبَيْعَةِ، خَرَجَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ عَنِ الْبَصْرَةِ وَأَخْلَاهَا لَهُمَا، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونَا أُكْرِهَا عَلَى الْبَيْعَةِ، خَرَجَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ عَنْهَا وَأَخْلَوْهَا لَهُ. وَبَعَثُوا بِذَلِكَ كَعْبَ بْنَ سُورٍ الْقَاضِي، فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ، فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ فَسَأَلَهُمْ: هَلْ بَايَعَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ طَائِعَيْنِ أَوْ مُكْرَهَيْنِ ؟ فَسَكَتَ النَّاسُ فَلَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ إِلَّا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، فَقَالَ: بَلْ كَانَا مُكْرَهَيْنِ. فَثَارَ إِلَيْهِ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ فَأَرَادُوا ضَرْبَهُ، فَجَاحَفَ دُونَهُ صُهَيْبٌ، وَأَبُو أَيُّوبَ، وَجَمَاعَةٌ حَتَّى خَلَّصُوهُ وَقَالُوا لَهُ: مَا وَسِعَكَ مَا وَسِعَنَا مِنَ السُّكُوتِ ؟ فَقَالَ: لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ الْأَمْرَ يَنْتَهِي إِلَى هَذَا. كتاب علي ؓ إلى عثمان بن حنيف وَكَتَبَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ يَقُولُ: إِنَّهُمَا لَمْ يُكْرَهَا عَلَى فُرْقَةٍ، وَلَقَدْ أُكْرِهَا عَلَى جَمَاعَةٍ وَفَضْلٍ، فَإِنْ كَانَا يُرِيدَانِ الْخَلْعَ فَلَا عُذْرَ لَهُمَا، وَإِنْ كَانَا يُرِيدَانِ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ نَظَرَا وَنَظَرْنَا. وَقَدِمَ كَعْبُ بْنُ سُورٍ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ بِكِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ، فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ: هَذَا أَمْرٌ آخَرُ غَيْرُ مَا كُنَّا فِيهِ. وَبَعَثَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَأَبَى. فَجَمَعَا الرِّجَالَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُظْلِمَةٍ وَشَهِدَ بِهِمْ صَلَاةَ الْعِشَاءِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْجَامِعِ، وَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَتَّابِ بْنِ أَسِيدٍ، وَوَقَعَ مِنْ رِعَاعِ النَّاسِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ كَلَامٌ وَضَرْبٌ، فَقُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ نَحْوٌ مَنْ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلًا، وَدَخَلَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ قَصْرَهُ، فَأَخْرَجُوهُ إِلَى طَلْحَةَ وَالزُّبَيْرِ، وَلَمْ يَبْقَ فِي وَجْهِهِ شَعْرَةٌ إِلَّا نَتَفُوهَا، فَاسْتَعْظَمَا ذَلِكَ وَبَعَثَا إِلَى عَائِشَةَ فَأَعْلَمَاهَا الْخَبَرَ، فَأَمَرَتْ أَنْ تُخَلَّى سَبِيلُهُ، فَأَطْلَقُوهُ وَوَلَّوْا عَلَى بَيْتِ الْمَالِ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، وَقَسَّمَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ أَمْوَالَ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ فِي النَّاسِ، وَفَضَّلُوا أَهْلَ الطَّاعَةِ، وَأَكَبَّ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّاسُ يَأْخُذُونَ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ، وَأَخَذُوا الْحَرَسَ، وَاسْتَبَدُّوا بِالْأَمْرِ فِي الْبَصْرَةِ. مقتل حكيم بن جبلة أحد قتلة عثمان فَحَمِيَ لِذَلِكَ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ قَوْمِ قَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ وَأَنْصَارِهِمْ، فَرَكِبُوا فِي جَيْشٍ قَرِيبٍ مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، وَمُقَدَّمُهُمْ حُكَيْمُ بْنُ جَبَلَةَ، وَهُوَ أَحَدُ مَنْ بَاشَرَ قَتْلَ عُثْمَانَ، فَبَارَزُوا وَقَاتَلُوا، فَضَرَبَ رَجُلٌ رِجْلَ حُكَيْمِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ فَقَطَعَهَا، فَزَحَفَ حَتَّى أَخَذَهَا وَضَرَبَ بِهَا ضَارِبَهُ فَقَتَلَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَّكَأَ عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: يَا سَاقُ لَنْ تُرَاعِى إِنَّ مَعِي ذِرَاعِي أَحْمِي بِهَا كُرَاعِي وَقَالَ أَيْضًا لَيْسَ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَمُوتَ عَارُ وَالْعَارُ فِي النَّاسِ هُوَ الْفِرَارُ وَالْمَجْدُ لَا يَفْضَحُهُ الدَّمَارُ فَمَرَّ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ وَهُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ بِرَأْسِهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: مَنْ قَتَلَكَ ؟ فَقَالَ: وِسَادَتِي. ثُمَّ مَاتَ حُكَيْمٌ قَتِيلًا هُوَ وَنَحْوٌ مَنْ سَبْعِينَ مِنْ قَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ وَأَنْصَارِهِمْ، فَضَعُفَ جَأْشُ مَنْ خَالَفَ طَلْحَةَ وَالزُّبَيْرَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ.. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْبَصْرَةِ بَايَعُوا طَلْحَةَ وَالزُّبَيْرَ، وَنَدَبَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَلْفَ فَارِسٍ يَأْخُذُهَا مَعَهُ وَيَلْتَقِي عَلِيًّا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِيءَ، فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ أَحَدٌ، وَكَتَبُوا بِذَلِكَ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يُبَشِّرُونَهُمْ بِذَلِكَ. وقت وقعة الجمل وَقَدْ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْوَقْعَةُ لِخَمْسِ لَيَالٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ رَبِيعٍ الْآخَرِ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَثَلَاثِينَ. وَقَدْ كَتَبَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ صُوحَانَ تَدْعُوهُ إِلَى نُصْرَتِهَا وَالْقِيَامِ مَعَهَا، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِئْ فَلْيَكُفَّ يَدَهُ وَلْيَلْزَمْ مَنْزِلَهُ، أَيْ لَا يَكُونُ عَلَيْهَا وَلَا لَهَا، فَقَالَ: أَنَا فِي نُصْرَتِكِ مَا دُمْتِ فِي مَنْزِلِكِ. وَأَبَى أَنْ يُطِيعَهَا فِي ذَلِكَ، وَقَالَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أُمِرَتْ أَنْ تَلْزَمَ بَيْتَهَا، وَأُمِرْنَا أَنْ نُقَاتِلَ، فَخَرَجَتْ مِنْ مَنْزِلِهَا وَأَمَرَتْنَا بِلُزُومِ بُيُوتِنَا الَّتِي كَانَتْ هِيَ أَحَقَّ بِذَلِكَ مِنَّا. وَكَتَبَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ وَالْكُوفَةِ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ.
Translation
✧ The Beginning of the Battle of the Camel The cause of the Battle of the Camel When ʿUthmān was killed after the Days of Tashrīq, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ had gone out to perform the ḥajj that year, fleeing from the fitnah. When news reached the people that ʿUthmān had been killed, they stayed in Makkah after they had left it; they returned to it and stayed there, waiting to see what the people would do. When ʿAlī was given the bayʿah and the most favored people with him—by the circumstances and the prevailing opinion, not by his own choice—were the leaders of those Khawārij who had killed ʿUthmān, even though ʿAlī in truth disliked them, he bided his time with them, wishing that he could get the better of them and take God's due from them. But when the matter fell out thus, and they gained control over him and screened the eminent Companions from him, a group of the Banū Umayyah and others fled to Makkah. Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr asked his permission to perform the ʿumrah, and he permitted them. They went out to Makkah, and a great multitude followed them. ʿAlī ؓ summoning the people of Madinah to fight the people of Syria When ʿAlī resolved to fight the people of Syria, he had summoned the people of Madinah to go out with him, but they refused. He sought ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb and urged him to go out with him, but he said: "I am only a man from the people of Madinah. If they go out, I go out. I owe hearing and obedience, but I shall not go out to fight this year." Then Ibn ʿUmar made ready and went out to Makkah. Also, in that year, Yaʿlā b. Umayyah arrived in Makkah from Yemen—he had been ʿUthmān's governor there—with six hundred camels and six hundred thousand dirhams. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿĀmir arrived there from al-Baṣrah, having been its governor for ʿUthmān. ʿĀʾishah ؓ urging departure to demand the blood of ʿUthmān ؓ A host of the leading Companions and the Mothers of the Believers gathered there. ʿĀʾishah ؓ stood before the people, addressing them and urging them to rise and demand the blood of ʿUthmān. She mentioned what those people had done in killing him in a sacred land, in a sacred month, without regard for the neighborhood of the Messenger of God ﷺ. They had shed blood and seized property. The people responded to her and agreed with her view of the matter. They said to her: "Wherever you go, we will go with you." Someone said: "We go to Syria." Others said: "Muʿāwiyah has spared you its affair," and had they come to it, they would have prevailed and the whole affair would have been theirs, because the great Companions were with them. Still others said: "We go to Madinah and ask ʿAlī to hand over to us the killers of ʿUthmān so they may be killed." Others said: "Rather, we go to al-Baṣrah, where we can strengthen ourselves with horses and men, and begin with those of his killers who are there." Opinion settled on that. The rest of the Mothers of the Believers agreed with ʿĀʾishah on going to Madinah, but when the people agreed to go to al-Baṣrah, they withdrew and said: "We shall not go to any place other than Madinah." Yaʿlā b. Umayyah equipped the people, spending on them six hundred thousand and six hundred camels. Ibn ʿĀmir also equipped them with much wealth. Ḥafṣah bt. ʿUmar, the Mother of the Believers, had agreed with ʿĀʾishah on going to al-Baṣrah, but her brother ʿAbd Allāh forbade her, and he refused to go with them to any place other than Madinah. The people set out in ʿĀʾishah's company, one thousand or, it is said, nine hundred horsemen from the people of Madinah and Makkah. Others joined them, so they became three thousand. The Mother of the Believers, ʿĀʾishah, was carried in a howdah on a camel named ʿAskar, which Yaʿlā b. Umayyah bought from a man of ʿUraynah for two hundred dinars, or it is said eighty dinars, or something else. The Day of Weeping The Mothers of the Believers went with her as far as Dhāt ʿIrq, then parted from her there and wept at farewell. The people wept together, and that day was called the Day of Weeping. ʿĀʾishah's stance at the water of al-Ḥawʾab The people went on toward al-Baṣrah. The one who led the people in prayer by ʿĀʾishah's command was her nephew ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Zubayr, and Marwān b. al-Ḥakam called the adhān for the people at the times of prayer. During their journey, at night, they passed by a watering place called al-Ḥawʾab. Dogs barked at them there. When ʿĀʾishah heard that, she said: "What is the name of this water?" They said: "Al-Ḥawʾab." She struck one hand on the other and said: "Indeed we belong to God, and to Him we return. I think I shall turn back." They said: "Why?" She said: "I heard the Messenger of God ﷺ say to his wives: 'Would that I knew which of you the dogs of al-Ḥawʾab will bark at.'" Then she struck the foreleg of her camel and made it kneel, and said: "Take me back! By God, I am the woman of the water of al-Ḥawʾab." We have cited this ḥadīth with its chains and wordings in the Proofs of Prophethood, as previously mentioned. The people camped around her for a day and a night. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Zubayr said to her: "The one who told you that this is the water of al-Ḥawʾab lied." Then the people said: "To safety, to safety! This is the army of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib advancing." So they departed toward al-Baṣrah. When she drew near to al-Baṣrah, she wrote to al-Aḥnaf b. Qays and other leading men that she had arrived. ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf sent ʿImrān b. Ḥuṣayn and Abū al-Aswad al-Duʾalī to her to learn why she had come. When they came to her, they greeted her and asked her why she had come. She mentioned to them that she had come to rise in demanding the blood of ʿUthmān, because he was killed unjustly in a sacred month and a sacred land, and she recited the words of the Almighty: "There is no good in much of their private conversation, except for him who enjoins charity or kindness or reconciliation between people" [al-Nisāʾ: 114]. They left her and went to Ṭalḥah and said to him: "What brought you here?" He said: "The demand for the blood of ʿUthmān." They said: "Did you not give the bayʿah to ʿAlī?" He said: "Yes, with the sword at my neck, and I shall not face him unless he leaves us free to deal with the killers of ʿUthmān." They went to al-Zubayr, and he said the same. ʿImrān and Abū al-Aswad returned to ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf. Abū al-Aswad said: "O Ibn Ḥunayf, you have been summoned, so go forth, Thrust at the people, strike, and be patient. Go out to them veiled and gird yourself." ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf said: "Indeed we belong to God, and to Him we return. The mill of Islam has turned, by the Lord of the Kaʿbah. See how it sways." ʿImrān said: "Yes, by God, it will grind you a long grinding." ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf was alluding to the ḥadīth of Ibn Masʿūd, raised to the Prophet: "The mill of Islam will turn for thirty-five or thirty-six," as previously mentioned. Then ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf said to ʿImrān b. Ḥuṣayn: "Advise me." He said: "Withdraw, for I am staying in my house," or he said, "sitting on my camel, and so I am leaving." ʿUthmān said: "Rather, I shall prevent them until the Commander of the Faithful comes." He called to the people, ordering them to put on their weapons and gather in the mosque. They gathered, and he ordered them to prepare. A man stood up while ʿUthmān was on the pulpit and said: "O people, if these people have come in fear, they have come from a land where even birds are safe. If they have come seeking the blood of ʿUthmān, we are not his killers. Obey me and turn them back the way they came." Then al-Aswad b. Sarīʿ al-Saʿdī stood up and said: "They have only come to seek our help against the killers of ʿUthmān, among us and others." The people threw pebbles at him, and ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf knew that the killers of ʿUthmān had supporters in al-Baṣrah. That distressed him. ʿĀʾishah ؓ stopping at al-Mirbad The Mother of the Believers arrived with those who were with her, and they stopped at al-Mirbad, at its upper end, near al-Baṣrah. Those of the people of al-Baṣrah who wished went out to her and sided with her. ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf went out with the army, and they all gathered at al-Mirbad. Ṭalḥah spoke—he was in command of the right wing—and urged the pursuit of revenge for ʿUthmān and the demand for his blood. Al-Zubayr followed him and spoke similarly. People from the army of ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf replied to them. The Mother of the Believers spoke, inciting and urging that. Factions from the edges of the two armies rose against each other and threw stones at one another. Then the people restrained one another, and each group returned to its own side. A faction of ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf's army had gone over to the army of ʿĀʾishah, so they grew numerous. Jāriyah b. Qudāmah al-Saʿdī came and said: "O Mother of the Believers, by God, the killing of ʿUthmān is lighter than your going out of your house on this camel, exposed to weapons. If you have come to us willingly, then return from where you came to your home. If you have come to us under compulsion, then seek the people's help in returning." The beginning of fighting, then reconciliation Ḥukaym b. Jabalah, who commanded ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf's cavalry, advanced and started the fighting. The companions of the Mother of the Believers held back their hands and refrained from fighting. Ḥukaym pressed upon them, and they fought at the mouth of the street. ʿĀʾishah ordered her companions to move to the right until they reached the cemetery of Banū Māzin. Night separated them. On the second day, they set out to fight and fought a severe battle until the day declined. Many of Ibn Ḥunayf's companions were killed, and wounds were many on both sides. When the war bit them, they called for peace on the condition that they write a document between them and send a messenger to the people of Madinah to ask its people: if Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr had been compelled to give the bayʿah, then ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf would leave al-Baṣrah and vacate it for them; but if they had not been compelled to give the bayʿah, then Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr would leave it and vacate it for him. They sent Kaʿb b. Sūr the judge with that. He arrived in Madinah on a Friday, stood before the people, and asked them: "Did Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr give the bayʿah willingly or under compulsion?" The people were silent, and none spoke except Usāmah b. Zayd, who said: "They were compelled." Some people rose against him and wanted to strike him, but Ṣuhayb, Abū Ayyūb, and a group shielded him until they rescued him. They said to him: "Could you not have kept silent as we did?" He said: "No, by God, I did not think the matter would reach this." ʿAlī ؓ's letter to ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf ʿAlī wrote to ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf, saying: "They were not compelled to separation; rather, they were compelled to unity and virtue. If they want to renounce the bayʿah, they have no excuse. If they want something else, let them consider, and we will consider." Kaʿb b. Sūr came to ʿUthmān with ʿAlī's letter. ʿUthmān said: "This is another matter, different from what we were in." Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr sent to ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf to come out to them, but he refused. They gathered men on a dark night and had them attend the ʿishāʾ prayer in the congregational mosque. ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf did not go out that night, so ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿAttāb b. Asīd led the people in prayer. There was talk and beating among the rabble of the people of al-Baṣrah, and about forty men were killed. The people entered ʿUthmān b. Ḥunayf's palace, brought him out to Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr, and not a hair remained on his face but they plucked it. They deemed that outrageous, and sent to ʿĀʾishah, informing her of the news. She ordered that he be released. They released him, and they appointed ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Abī Bakr over the treasury. Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr distributed the money of the treasury among the people, favoring the people of obedience. The people crowded upon them, taking their allowances. They took the guard and took sole control of affairs in al-Baṣrah. The killing of Ḥukaym b. Jabalah, one of the killers of ʿUthmān A group of the people of the killers of ʿUthmān and their supporters became enraged at that. They rode out in an army of nearly three hundred, led by Ḥukaym b. Jabalah, one of those who had directly participated in killing ʿUthmān. They came out and fought. A man struck Ḥukaym b. Jabalah's leg and cut it off. He crawled until he took it and struck his striker with it, killing him. Then he leaned on him and began to say: "O leg, do not fear, For with me is my arm, With which I protect my shin." And he also said: "It is no disgrace for me to die; Disgrace among people is flight. Glory is not shamed by ruin." A man passed by him while he was leaning his head on that man, and said to him: "Who killed you?" He said: "My pillow." Then Ḥukaym died, killed—he and about seventy of the killers of ʿUthmān and their supporters. The courage of those who opposed Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr among the people of al-Baṣrah weakened. It is said that the people of al-Baṣrah gave the bayʿah to Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr. Al-Zubayr summoned a thousand horsemen to take with him and meet ʿAlī before he arrived, but no one answered him. They wrote of that to the people of Syria, giving them the good news. The date of the Battle of the Camel This battle took place on the fifth night remaining of Rabīʿ al-Ākhir in the year thirty-six. ʿĀʾishah wrote to Zayd b. Ṣūḥān, calling him to support her and rise with her, and if he did not come, then to hold back his hand and stay in his house—that is, to be neither against her nor for her. He said: "I am in your support as long as you stay in your house." He refused to obey her in that, and said: "May God have mercy on the Mother of the Believers. She was commanded to stay in her house, and we were commanded to fight. She went out of her house and commanded us to stay in our houses, which she was more entitled to do than we." ʿĀʾishah wrote to the people of al-Yamāmah and al-Kūfah with the like of that.
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