And from the Manaqib of Abu al-Mu'ayyad: that Umar addressed the people and said: If we were to turn you from what you know to what you reject, what would you do? They fell silent. He said this three times. So Ali (AS) said to him: In that case we would call upon you to repent; and if you repented, we would accept you. He said: And if I did not repent? He said: Then we would strike that in which your two eyes are. So he said: Praise be to God, who has placed in this community one who, when we go crooked, straightens our crookedness. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 63)
Umar was delivering a sermon to the people, and in the course of it he said: If I were to summon you away from what you hold to be good toward what you count as bad, what would you do? All remained silent. He repeated these words three times. Then Ali (AS) rose and said: If you did such a thing, we would ask you to repent; and if you repented, we would accept your repentance. Umar said: And if I did not repent? He (AS) said: Then we would strike your head from your body! Umar said: Praise be to God that there is among the community one who, whenever we go crooked, will bring us back.
Al-Khwarazmi narrated, saying: Ubayd Allah ibn A'isha related to us, from his father, who said: Whenever the polytheists caught sight of Ali in battle, they would make their final testaments to one another. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 84)
Al-Khwarazmi narrates that in the wars, whenever the polytheists saw that Ali (AS) too was among the army of the Muslims, they would make their final testaments to one another, because they reckoned the likelihood of being killed to be great.
And one day he (AS) went out to the market with his sword to sell it, and said: Who will buy this sword from me? By Him who split the grain, how long have I dispelled with it distress from the face of the Messenger of God (PBUH)! And had I possessed so much as a waist-wrapper, I would not have sold it. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 87)
One day Ali (AS) went to the market to sell his sword. He said: Who will buy this sword from me? By God, this sword has wiped away sorrows from the face of the Prophet (PBUH). Then he said: Had I possessed a garment, I would not have sold it.
He (AS) had appointed a man of Thaqif over Ukbara, and he (AS) said to him: When you have prayed the noon prayer tomorrow, come back to me. He said: So I returned to him and found no chamberlain to keep me from him. I found him seated, and beside him a bowl and a jug of water. He called for a vessel that was sealed and stoppered, and I said to myself: He has trusted me so far as to bring out his jewels to me. He broke the seal and opened it, and behold, in it was parched barley meal. He took out a handful of it into the bowl, poured water over it, drank, and gave me to drink. I could not restrain myself and said: O Commander of the Faithful, do you do this in Iraq, whose food is as plentiful as you see? He (AS) said: By God, I do not seal it out of miserliness with it; rather I buy only as much as suffices me, and I fear that it may be opened and something other than it put into it, and I hate to put into my belly anything but what is wholesome. That is why I take precautions as you see. So beware of taking what you do not know to be lawful. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 88)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said to a man of Thaqif whom he had chosen as governor of Ukbara: Come to see me tomorrow after the noon prayer! The man says: I went to him and saw no doorkeeper to bar my entry. I found Ali (AS) seated, and beside him a bowl and a jug of water. Then he ordered that a sealed vessel be brought. I said to myself: He has counted me trustworthy, and will show me his jewels. He broke the seal from the vessel and opened it, and I saw that in it there was only a quantity of parched barley meal. He took out a handful of it, poured it into the bowl, added a little water, and began to eat, and gave some to me as well. I said: O Commander of the Faithful! Food is abundant in Iraq; why do you act thus? He said: By God, it is not out of miserliness. I hold it right to buy only as much as suffices me, and I seal the vessel because I fear someone may open it and put other food inside it, and I do not like to eat anything that is not wholesome. Then he said: You too must take care not to eat what you do not know to be lawful!
(I say: 'Ukbara is a place near present-day Baghdad on the bank of the Tigris, and sawiq is flour made from grains that have been heated and roasted — for example barley sawiq, wheat sawiq, lentil sawiq, and so on. Usually, while it is being heated, oil and salt, and sometimes sugar, are added to it. Among the reasons for sealing food in the past was the fear that it might be laced with poison.)
When he wished to cross the Euphrates at Babylon, many of the companions were occupied with getting their mounts and baggage across, and he (AS) himself prayed the afternoon prayer with a group who were with him. The people had not finished crossing before the sun set, so the prayer was missed by many of them, and the majority lost the merit of praying in congregation with him; and they spoke about this. When he heard their words concerning it, he asked God Almighty to return the sun to him, so that he might gather all his companions for the afternoon prayer within its proper time. God Almighty answered him by returning it to him, and it stood on the horizon in the position it occupies at the time of the afternoon prayer. When the people gave the closing salutation of the prayer, the sun set, and a mighty rumbling was heard from it. That terrified the people, and they multiplied their glorification, their sanctification, their declaring of God's oneness, and their seeking of forgiveness. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 112)
When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) wished to cross the Euphrates at Babylon, the troops were busy taking the beasts of burden and the baggage across. He himself prayed the afternoon prayer with a group who had crossed earlier. The rest were still crossing the Euphrates when the sun set, and the prayer of many of them was missed. They protested to him about this. When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) heard their words, he asked God to bring back the sun, so that all of them might again pray in congregation under his leadership. God answered the prayer of the Commander of the Faithful (AS), and the sun suddenly stood at the point on the horizon where it stands at the time of the afternoon prayer. As soon as the congregation had given the closing salutation of the prayer, the sun disappeared, and a loud roar was heard from the sky. This sound terrified the people, and they occupied themselves with glorification, sanctification, declaring God's oneness, and seeking forgiveness.
One day during the war of Siffin he was engaged in war and combat, yet even so, between the two ranks, he kept watching the sun. Ibn 'Abbas said to him: "O Commander of the Faithful, what is this you are doing?" He said: "I am watching for the sun's going down, so that we may pray." Ibn 'Abbas said to him: "Is this a time for prayer? We are occupied with fighting rather than with prayer!" 'Ali (AS) said to him: "And for what do we fight them? We fight them only for the sake of prayer." (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 121)
One day at Siffin, in the thick of the fighting, the Commander of the Faithful (AS) kept turning round and looking at the sky. Ibn 'Abbas said: "O Commander of the Faithful, what are you doing?" He said: "I am watching for when the sun sets, so that we may pray." Ibn 'Abbas said: "Are we to pray in such a tumult? We are in the middle of a battle!" 'Ali (AS) said: "And what are we fighting them for? For prayer!"
(We say: this hadith is among the countless hadiths that are explicit that the time of the maghrib prayer is the setting of the sun, and not the disappearance of the redness in the eastern sky, which has now become the common practice.)
And he never once omitted the night prayer, not even on the Night of Harir. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 121)
The narrator says: on no night did the night prayer escape the Commander of the Faithful (AS), not even on Laylat al-Harir.
(Concerning Laylat al-Harir: the battle of Siffin took place in the year 37 AH beside the Euphrates, between Raqqa and Aleppo. This war lasted roughly one hundred and ten days and consisted of countless scattered engagements between the two armies, and altogether one hundred and ten thousand men from the two armies were killed. The number of the slain of the Syrian army was greater than that of the Iraqi army. The practice of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) was not to begin the fighting, and to postpone engagements until late afternoon, so that with the coming of night the fighting would end. But at dawn on Thursday the ninth of Safar, the Commander of the Faithful (AS), contrary to his usual practice, after completing the morning prayer, put on the coat of mail of the Prophet (PBUH), placed his turban upon his head, girded on Dhu'l-Fiqar, delivered a magnificent sermon, and ordered his army into battle formation. Then he mounted his horse, turned toward the qibla, raised his hands to heaven, and said: "O God, O Merciful, O Compassionate, O One, O Unique, O Eternal Refuge: we complain to You of the absence of our Prophet, the multitude of our enemy, and the dispersion of our desires. Our Lord, decide between us and our people with the truth, for You are the best of deciders." The Imam (AS) began the battle, and with the whole army of Kufa, which amounted to some one hundred and twenty thousand, he attacked the Syrian army, which amounted to some three hundred thousand. From around noon the fighting grew fierce and continued until late afternoon, and not even the setting of the sun held the two armies back from the fighting. They all prayed by gestures and fought on without pause. The night passed its midpoint and still they fought, until the time of the morning prayer arrived. In this span of twenty-four hours, the two armies were so locked together and slaying one another that the arrows ran out, the spears were shattered, and the swords went blunt. Yet the battle still continued. The Imam (AS), who on that day and night was himself present on the field of battle, slew 523 men with his own hand, most of whom were counted among the champions of Syria. With every stroke of the sword by which he cast an enemy to the ground, the Imam (AS) pronounced a takbir, and the number of his takbirs, as they were counted, reached this figure. Laylat al-Harir was a cold and dark night, and because of the great number of the wounded, the sound of moaning (harir) rose to the sky from every side. Altogether, seventy thousand men from the two sides were killed on that night. At dawn, when no strength remained in either army, they broke off the fighting and occupied themselves with the morning prayer. With the sunrise of Friday the tenth of Safar, the Commander of the Faithful (AS) once more gave the order to attack. Before noon Malik al-Ashtar, by driving back the regiments of the Syrian army, was able to bring his own forces close to the command tent, when the ruse of 'Amr ibn al-'As took effect: the Syrian army raised the copies of the Qur'an upon their spears, and the Iraqis, who had no strength left for combat, welcomed this. Division fell upon the army of the Imam (AS). It seems that on this same morning a slight solar eclipse also occurred, which helped to bring the fighting to a halt. The Syrians had raised the copies of the Qur'an on their spears from dawn, and before noon they succeeded in forcing the Imam (AS) to halt the war.)
Then the fighting was joined, and a man called 'Abd Allah, from the companions of the Camel, came forward and ranged between the ranks, saying: "Where is Abu'l-Hasan?" So 'Ali (AS) went out to him, pressed hard upon him, and struck him with the sword so that his shoulder was severed and he fell dead. Then another man came out and confronted 'Ali (AS); he went out to him and struck him upon the face, so that half of the crown of his skull fell away. Then Ibn Abi Khalaf al-Khuza'i came out and said: "Will you meet me in single combat, O 'Ali?" 'Ali said: "I do not shrink from that; but woe to you, O Ibn Abi Khalaf — what ease is there for you in being killed, when you already know who I am?" He said: "Spare me your arrogance, O son of Abu Talib, and come near me, that we may see which of us kills the other." So 'Ali (AS) turned the rein of his horse toward him, and Ibn Abi Khalaf struck first with a blow, which the Commander of the Faithful (AS) took upon his shield; then he turned upon him and cut off his right hand, then struck a second time and sent the crown of his head flying. And the war blazed up until the camel was hamstrung and fell. The number of those killed from the army of the Camel was sixteen thousand six hundred and ninety, out of thirty thousand; and of the companions of the Commander of the Faithful (AS), one thousand and seventy men, out of twenty thousand. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 152)
A scene from the battle of the Camel: the fighting broke out, and a man named 'Abd Allah from the side of the Camel was ranging among the ranks, saying: "Where is Abu'l-Hasan?" So 'Ali (AS) went toward him and closed in upon him, and with a stroke of the sword cut through his neck, and he fell to the ground. Then another man came and stood before 'Ali (AS). 'Ali (AS) went toward him and dealt him a blow to the face, so that half of the crown of his skull fell to the ground. Then Ibn Abi Khalaf al-Khuza'i came toward 'Ali (AS) and said: "Do you wish to fight me in single combat?" 'Ali (AS) said: "I do not turn away from this; but woe to you, O Ibn Abi Khalaf — how lightly you go to meet death, while you know who I am!" Ibn Abi Khalaf said: "O son of Abu Talib! Set aside your pride and come near me, so that you may know which of us will kill the other." 'Ali (AS) turned the rein of his horse toward him, and Ibn Abi Khalaf struck the first blow at him, which the Commander of the Faithful (AS) parried; then he dealt him a blow and cut off his right hand, and with a single turn sent his head flying. The fire of the war blazed up, until the camel was hamstrung and brought down. The number of the army of the Camel killed in this battle was sixteen thousand six hundred and nine out of a total of thirty thousand, and the martyrs among the companions of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) were one thousand and seventy out of a total of twenty thousand.
And at the encounter of Siffin, al-Mikhraq ibn 'Abd al-Rahman came out from the army of Mu'awiya and called for single combat, and from the army of 'Ali (AS) al-Mu'ammal ibn 'Ubayd Allah al-Muradi went out to him, and the Syrian killed him. Then a youth of the Azd went out to him, and the Syrian killed him too. So the Commander of the Faithful (AS) disguised himself and went out while the Syrian was still calling for single combat, and killed him. Then a horseman came out and he killed him, and so on until he had killed seven, and the people held back from him, not knowing who he was. Mu'awiya said to a slave called Harb, who was a brave man: "Go out to this horseman and rid me of him." He said: "I know that he will kill me. If you wish, I will go out to him; and if you wish, spare me for someone else." He said to him: "Do not go out." Then the Commander of the Faithful (AS) returned to his camp, since no one came out to him. Then a man from among the champions of Syria named Kurayb ibn al-Sabbah came out calling for single combat. Al-Mubarqa' al-Jawlani went out to him, and the Syrian killed him; and another went out to him, and he killed him as well. So 'Ali (AS) went out to him and said to him: "Fear God and preserve your life." He said: "Who are you?" He said: "I am 'Ali ibn Abi Talib." He said: "Come near me." So he walked toward him, and they exchanged two blows, and 'Ali (AS) struck first and killed him. Then another came out to him and he killed him, until he had killed four of the champions. Then he said: "O Mu'awiya, come out to single combat with me, and do not have the Arabs killed between us." Mu'awiya said: "I have no need of that." Then 'Urwa ibn Dawud came out and said: "O 'Ali, if Mu'awiya finds combat with you distasteful, then come to combat with me." So 'Ali (AS) struck him and he fell dead. Then night came, and on another day the Commander of the Faithful (AS) went out in disguise and called for single combat, and 'Amr ibn al-'As came out to him, not knowing that he was 'Ali, though 'Ali (AS) knew him. He drew back before him so as to lead him away from his camp, and 'Amr followed him; then he recognized him and turned and fled at a gallop. But 'Ali (AS) overtook him and thrust at him, and the spear caught in the loose part of his coat of mail, so that he fell. And fearing that he would kill him, he raised his legs so that his private parts were exposed; so the Commander of the Faithful (AS) turned his face away from him and went back to his camp. 'Amr came to Mu'awiya, and Mu'awiya laughed at him. He said: "What are you laughing at? By God, if there had been shown to 'Ali of your side what was shown to him of mine, he would have made the back of your head ache, orphaned your family, and plundered your wealth." Mu'awiya said: "But an everlasting disgrace has fallen to you." And Busr ibn Artat, one of Mu'awiya's companions, was among the worst of men and the boldest of them in disobedience to God. When he heard 'Ali (AS) calling Mu'awiya to single combat, he said: "I will go out to him." So he went out, and 'Ali (AS) charged upon him, and Busr fell from his horse onto his back and raised his legs, so that his private parts were exposed; and the Commander of the Faithful (AS) turned away from him, and Mu'awiya laughed at him. And a youth from the people of Kufa cried out: "Woe to you, O people of Syria! Have you no shame? Ibn al-'As has taught you to bare your backsides in war!" And on the Night of Harir he engaged in the fighting himself in particular, and whenever he killed a man he pronounced a takbir; and his takbirs were counted and reached five hundred and twenty-three takbirs. And the slain of the two parties were counted on the morning after that night, and they amounted to thirty-six thousand dead. At that point the companions of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) gained the upper hand, and Malik al-Ashtar advanced until he had driven them back to their camp. When 'Amr ibn al-'As saw the state of affairs, he said to Mu'awiya: "Let us raise the copies of the Qur'an and call them to the Book of God Almighty." Mu'awiya said: "You are right." And they raised them, and the Qur'an-reciters withdrew from the fighting. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 178)
A scene from the battle of Siffin: Mikhraq ibn 'Abd al-Rahman came out from the camp of Mu'awiya and called for a challenger, and from the camp of 'Ali (AS) Mu'ammal ibn 'Ubayd Allah al-Muradi came out to fight him, and the Syrian killed him. Another young man from the Azd went toward him, and the Syrian struck him down as well. The Commander of the Faithful (AS), with his appearance disguised, went out to fight the Syrian, who was still calling for a challenger, and killed him. Then a horseman came out, and he killed him too, until their number reached seven men; and the company held back from fighting him while they did not know who he was. Mu'awiya said to a slave named Harb, who possessed courage: "Go out to this horseman and finish him off." The slave said: "I know that he will kill me. If you wish, I will go out to him; and if you prefer, keep me back and send another to fight him." Mu'awiya said: "There is no need for you to go!" Then the Commander of the Faithful (AS) returned to his own camp — a camp toward which no one had dared to go. A man from among the champions of Syria, named Kurayb ibn al-Sabbah, was calling for a challenger. Mubarqa' al-Jawlani went out to him, and the Syrian killed him; and another man went out to fight him, and he too was killed at the hand of the Syrian. So 'Ali (AS) went out to him and said: "Fear God and guard your life." The Syrian said: "Who are you?" He said: "I am 'Ali ibn Abi Talib!" The Syrian said: "Come near." He went toward him, and two blows were exchanged; he struck first and laid him low. Another man came toward him, and he killed him too, until he had cast four of their champions to the ground; and then he said: "O Mu'awiya! Come out to fight me, and do not have the Arabs killed for your sake and mine." Mu'awiya said: "I have no need of this!" Then 'Urwa ibn Dawud came out and said: "O 'Ali! If Mu'awiya finds combat with you distasteful, then come now to combat with me." With a single blow he killed him and cast him to the ground. Night fell, and the next day the Commander of the Faithful (AS) came to the field in disguise and called for a challenger. 'Amr ibn al-'As came toward him, not knowing that this man was 'Ali (AS); but 'Ali (AS) recognized him. He kept withdrawing before him until he had drawn him far from the camp of the Syrians. 'Amr pursued him until he recognized him, drew back, and took to flight; but 'Ali (AS) caught up with him and wounded him, driving the spear into the openings of his coat of mail, and 'Amr fell to the ground. Out of fear that 'Ali might kill him, he raised his two legs so that his private parts were exposed. So the Commander of the Faithful (AS) turned his face away from him and returned to his camp. 'Amr came to Mu'awiya, and Mu'awiya mocked him. 'Amr said: "What are you laughing at? By God, if what became visible of me to 'Ali had become visible of you to him, he would have made your skull ache, orphaned your children, and taken your wealth as spoil." Mu'awiya said: "But an everlasting disgrace has been established for you." Busr ibn Artat was one of the men of Mu'awiya, among the most wicked of people and the most long-practiced of them in sinfulness. When he heard that 'Ali (AS) was calling Mu'awiya to single combat, he said: "I will go out to fight him." When he went toward him, 'Ali charged upon him, and Busr fell backward from his horse, and he too, like 'Amr ibn al-'As, raised his two legs so that his private parts were exposed, and thus saved his life. A young man from the people of Kufa cried out: "Woe to you, O Syrians! Are you not ashamed? Ibn al-'As has taught you to expose your private parts." In the war of Harir, he himself took part in the fighting, and whenever he cast a slain man to the ground he pronounced a takbir. His takbirs were counted, and their number reached five hundred and twenty-three; and on the morning after that night a count was taken of the slain of the two sides, and their total reached thirty-six thousand dead. At that point the companions of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) gained the victory, and Malik al-Ashtar attacked them until he forced them to take refuge in their camp. When 'Amr ibn al-'As saw the situation, he said to Mu'awiya: "We will raise the copies of the Qur'an and call them to the Book of God." Mu'awiya said: "Well said!" And they raised the copies of the Qur'an, and the Qur'an-reciters withdrew their hands from the fighting.
As for the Khawarij, they passed out of religion as an arrow passes through its mark. For when the Commander of the Faithful (AS) returned to Kufa from Siffin and the appointment of the two arbiters, he remained waiting for the expiry of the term agreed between him and Mu'awiya, so that he might return to the fighting. Then four thousand horsemen of his companions — and they were the devout worshippers — withdrew and went out of Kufa and opposed 'Ali (AS), and they said: "There is no judgment except God's, and there is no obedience to one who has disobeyed God." Somewhat more than eight thousand joined them, and they marched until they encamped at Harura', and they appointed over themselves 'Abd Allah ibn al-Kawwa'. So 'Ali (AS) sent 'Abd Allah ibn 'Abbas to them to turn them back from their disobedience, but they did not return. So 'Ali (AS) mounted and went out to them, and Ibn al-Kawwa' rode out with a group of them. 'Ali (AS) said to him: "O Ibn al-Kawwa', come out to me from among your companions, that I may speak with you." He said: "And am I safe from your sword?" He said: "Yes." So he came out with ten of his companions. 'Ali (AS) said to him: "Did I not tell you that the people of Syria were deceiving you by raising the copies of the Qur'an and by the affair of the two arbiters, and that the war had bitten them hard? And I said: Leave me to finish them off — but you refused. Did I not wish to appoint my cousin as arbiter, and I said that he would not be deceived, and you would have none but Abu Musa, and you said: We are content with him as arbiter? So I consented to you unwillingly; and had I found at that time helpers other than you, I would not have consented to you. And did I not stipulate upon the two arbiters, in your presence, that they judge by what God has revealed, from its opening to its close, and by the comprehensive Sunna, and that if they did not do so there would be no obedience to them?" Ibn al-Kawwa' said: "You have spoken truly. Then why do you not return to the war against these people?" He said: "Until the term between us and them has expired." Ibn al-Kawwa' and the ten who were with him said: "And are you resolved upon that?" He said: "Yes, and no other course is open to me." So Ibn al-Kawwa' and the ten with him returned to the companions of 'Ali, turning back from the religion of the Khawarij. And the rest scattered, saying: "There is no judgment except God's, and no obedience to one who has disobeyed Him." And they appointed over themselves 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb al-Rasibi and Hurqus ibn Zuhayr al-Bajali, known as Dhu'l-Thudayya, and they encamped at Nahrawan. So the Commander of the Faithful (AS) marched against them until he was within two parasangs of them, and he wrote to them, but they did not accept. So he sent Ibn 'Abbas to them and said: "Ask them what it is that they resent; and I am your support, so do not fear them." They said: "We resent several things." Then 'Ali (AS) said: "O people, I am 'Ali ibn Abi Talib. What are those things?" They said: "First, we fought at your side at Basra, and you made the property lawful to us but not the women and the children." He (AS) said: "They began the fighting against us; and when you were victorious you divided the spoils of those who had fought you. As for the women, they did not fight, and the children were born upon the primordial nature and broke no pledge, and there is no sin upon them. And I saw the Messenger of God (PBUH) show favor to the polytheists — so do not wonder if I show favor to Muslims." They said: "And we resented, on the day of Siffin, your erasing your name from the title of Commander of the Faithful." He said: "I followed the example of the Messenger of God (PBUH), when he made peace with Suhayl ibn 'Amr and he was not satisfied until the designation of the Prophet (PBUH) as Messenger had been erased." They said: "And we resented your saying to the two arbiters: Look into the Book of God, and if I am better than Mu'awiya then confirm me in the caliphate — and this is doubt." He (AS) said: "It is not doubt; rather it is fairness, just as God Almighty said: 'and we invoke the curse of God upon the liars' [Qur'an 3:61]; for had He said 'upon you,' they would not have been content." They said: "And we resented that you appointed an arbiter in a right that was your own." He said: "In following the example of the Messenger of God, when he appointed Sa'd ibn Mu'adh as arbiter over the Banu Qurayza — and had he wished, he would not have done so. Is anything left?" So they fell silent, and a group of them cried out from every side: "Repentance! Repentance!" And eight thousand sought his protection, while four thousand remained at war with him. And 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb and Dhu'l-Thudayya came forward and said: "We desire nothing by fighting you but the Face of God and the Abode of the Hereafter." He (AS) said: "Say: Shall we inform you of those who are the greatest losers in their works?" [Qur'an 18:103]. Then the fighting was joined, and al-Akhfash al-Ta'i charged — and he had been present at Siffin with the Commander of the Faithful (AS) — and split the ranks seeking 'Ali (AS); but 'Ali (AS) struck first and killed him. Then Dhu'l-Thudayya charged in order to kill 'Ali (AS), but 'Ali (AS) got ahead of him and struck him, splitting his helmet and his head; and his horse carried him off and cast him down at the far end of the battlefield, into a hollow of an irrigation channel on the bank of the Nahrawan. And Malik ibn al-Waddah, the cousin of Dhu'l-Thudayya, came out and charged at 'Ali (AS), and 'Ali (AS) killed him. And 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb al-Rasibi came forward and cried out: "O son of Abu Talib! By God, we shall not leave this battlefield until either we make an end of ourselves or we make an end of you. So come out to me and I will come out to you, and leave the people aside." When 'Ali (AS) heard this he smiled and said: "May God fight him — how little shame he has! Indeed he knows that I am the sworn ally of the sword and the intimate of the spear; but he has despaired of life, and he hopes with a false hope." Then he charged at 'Ali (AS), and 'Ali (AS) killed him. And not an hour passed before they were all killed, except for nine persons: two men who fled to Sijistan, and their offspring are there; two men who fled to Kirman; two men who went to Oman, and their offspring are there; two men who went to Yemen, and their offspring are there, and they are the Ibadiyya; two men who went to al-Bawazij; and another who went to Tall Mawzan. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 183)
When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) returned from Siffin to Kufa, four thousand of his horsemen, who were devout worshippers, chose to withdraw and went out of Kufa and set themselves in opposition to 'Ali (AS), and they said: "Judgment belongs to none but God, and one who has disobeyed God must not be obeyed." Little by little another eight thousand men inclined toward them, and they all set out until they reached Harura', and they chose 'Abd Allah ibn al-Kawwa' as their commander. 'Ali (AS) sent 'Abd Allah ibn 'Abbas to them to hold them back, but they did not return. So 'Ali (AS) mounted and went out toward them, and Ibn al-Kawwa' too, with a group of them, mounted. 'Ali (AS) said to him: "O son of al-Kawwa'! Come forth to me from among your men, that I may speak with you." Al-Kawwa' said: "Am I safe from your sword?" He said: "Yes." So he went to him among ten of his companions. 'Ali (AS) said to him: "Did I not tell you that the people of Syria would deceive you by raising the copies of the Qur'an and by the affair of the two arbiters, and did I not say: Let me fight them — but you refused? Did I not wish to make my cousin the arbiter, and say that he would not be deceived, and you would accept none but Abu Musa, and said: We consent to his arbitration alone? And I submitted to your wish under compulsion, whereas if at that time I had found helpers other than you, I would not have submitted to your wish. And did I not, in your presence, stipulate upon the two arbiters that they should judge by the Book of God and by the comprehensive Sunna, and that otherwise I would not obey them?" Ibn al-Kawwa' replied: "You have spoken truly; then why have you not returned to the war against these people?" He said: "Until the term between us and them has run out." Ibn al-Kawwa' and the ten men with him said: "Are you resolved upon this?" He said: "Yes, and no other course remains for me." Ibn al-Kawwa', along with the ten men who were with him, joined the companions of 'Ali and turned back from the religion of the Khawarij. Then division entered among the rest, while they said: "Judgment belongs to none but God." They chose 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb and Hurqus ibn Zuhayr al-Bajali, known as Dhu'l-Thudayya, as their commanders, and encamped at Nahrawan. The Commander of the Faithful (AS) went toward them until he came within two parasangs of them. He corresponded with them, but they did not accept. He sent Ibn 'Abbas to them and said: "Ask them why they bear this rancor." They said: "We bear rancor over several things." Then 'Ali (AS) himself went out to the field and said: "O people! I am 'Ali ibn Abi Talib. What are these several things?" They said: "First, that we fought at your side at Basra, and you deemed lawful only the taking of property as spoil, and not the taking of the women and the children." He said: "The women did not fight against you, and the children were born upon their primordial nature, have broken no covenant, and no sin has issued from them! I saw the Prophet (PBUH) show kindness to the polytheists; so do not be astonished if I show kindness to Muslims." They said: "We are displeased about the day of Siffin, when you erased your own name from the title of Commander of the Faithful." He said: "I followed the example of the Messenger of God (PBUH), when he made peace with Suhayl ibn 'Amr at Hudaybiyya and Suhayl was not satisfied until he had erased the mention of his being a Messenger." They said: "We are displeased at these words of yours to the two arbiters: 'Look into the Book of God, and if I am better than Mu'awiya then confirm me in the caliphate' — for these words show your doubt and hesitation." He said: "These words are not doubt; rather they are fairness, as God says: 'and we invoke the curse of God upon the liars' [Qur'an 3:61], whereas if the Qur'an had said 'upon you,' the Christians of Najran would not have submitted to it." They said: "We are displeased that you accepted arbitration in a matter that was your own right." He said: "I took the Prophet as my model, for in the case of the Banu Qurayza he accepted Sa'd ibn Mu'adh as arbiter, and had he wished, he would not have done so. Is there anything else left?" They all fell silent, and from every side a group cried out: "Repentance! Repentance!" So eight thousand men asked him for safe-conduct, and four thousand remained in conflict with him. 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb and Dhu'l-Thudayya came forward and said: "We fight you only for the sake of God and for the sake of that other abode!" He said: "Say: Shall we inform you of those who are the greatest losers in their works?" [Qur'an 18:103]. Then the fighting broke out, and al-Akhfash al-Ta'i, who at Siffin had been with the Commander of the Faithful (AS), split the ranks and sought out 'Ali (AS); but 'Ali (AS) struck first and killed him. Then Dhu'l-Thudayya charged in order to kill him, but he got ahead of him and dealt him a blow that split his helmet and his head, and his horse carried off his corpse and cast him into a pit at the far end of the battlefield. Malik ibn al-Waddah, the cousin of Dhu'l-Thudayya, came onto the field and attacked 'Ali (AS), and 'Ali killed him. 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb came forward and cried out: "O son of Abu Talib! By God, we will not leave the field of this battle unless either you kill us or we kill you. So set the people aside and come toward me, and I will come toward you." When 'Ali (AS) heard his voice, he said: "May God kill him — how shameless he is! Does he not know that I am the sworn ally of the sword and the close companion of the spear? He has despaired of life and harbors a false greed in his heart." He charged at 'Ali (AS), and 'Ali (AS) laid him low; and an hour later they were all killed, except for nine men: two fled to Sistan, and the offspring of those two are there; two fled to Kirman; two to Oman, and the offspring of those two are there; two to Yemen, and the offspring of those two are also present there, and they are the Ibadiyya; two also fled to al-Bawazij; and one set off for Tall Mawzan.
Concerning the words of God Almighty, "And the companions of the Heights will call out to men whom they know by their marks" [Qur'an 7:48]: from 'Ali (AS), who said: We are the companions of the Heights; whomever we know by his mark, we admit him into Paradise. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 402)
Concerning the verse "And the companions of the Heights will call out to men whom they know by their marks" [Qur'an 7:48], 'Ali (AS) said: We are the companions of the Heights, and whomever we know by his face we bring into Paradise.
And concerning the words of God Almighty, "And when your Lord took from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants" [Qur'an 7:172]: al-Asbagh ibn Nubata recited this verse to 'Ali (AS), and 'Ali (AS) wept and said: Truly, I remember the moment in which God Almighty took the covenant from us. (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 410)
Al-Asbagh ibn Nubata says: I recited to 'Ali (AS) the verse "And when your Lord took from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants" [Qur'an 7:172]. He wept and said: I remember the time when God took the covenant from us.
And from 'A'isha, who said: I saw Abu Bakr looking often at the face of 'Ali (AS), so I said: "O my father, I see you looking often at the face of 'Ali." He said: "O my daughter, I heard the Messenger of God (PBUH) say: Looking at the face of 'Ali is an act of worship." (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 410)
'A'isha says: My father Abu Bakr used to look often at the face of 'Ali (AS). I said: "O father! I see that you look often at the face of 'Ali (AS)." He said: "My daughter! I heard from the Prophet (PBUH) that looking at the face of 'Ali is an act of worship."
Ahmad ibn Abi Tahir related in Tarikh Baghdad, with his chain of transmission, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: I came in to 'Umar at the beginning of his caliphate, and a sa' of dates had been set out for him upon a palm-leaf mat. He invited me to eat, and I ate a single date, while he set to eating until he had finished them. Then he drank from a jug that was beside him and reclined upon a cushion of his. Then he said: "Where have you come from, O 'Abd Allah?" I said: "From the mosque." He said: "How did you leave your cousin?" I supposed that he meant 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far, so I said: "I left him playing with his agemates." He said: "I did not mean that; I meant your great one, the People of the House." I said: "I left him drawing water with a bucket for some palm trees of his, while he was reciting the Qur'an." He said: "O 'Abd Allah, the blood of sacrificial camels be upon you if you conceal it from me: is there still something in his soul concerning the matter of the caliphate?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Does he claim that the Messenger of God (PBUH) appointed it for him?" I said: "Yes, and I will tell you more: I asked my father about what he claims, and he said: He speaks the truth." 'Umar said: "There came from the Messenger of God, concerning his affair, a scattering of words that establishes no proof and cuts off no excuse. He did indeed seek to advance his affair at one time, and in his final illness he wished to state his name openly, but I prevented that out of compassion and out of care for Islam. No — by the Lord of this Edifice, Quraysh would never have united upon him, and had he taken charge of it, the Arabs would have risen against him from every quarter. So the Messenger of God (PBUH) knew that I knew what was in his mind, and he held back; and God would have nothing but the carrying out of what He had decreed." (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 470)
Ahmad ibn Abi Tahir, with his own chain of transmission, relates in Tarikh Baghdad from Ibn 'Abbas: I came in to 'Umar at the beginning of his caliphate, while a dish of dates lay before him. He invited me to eat, and I ate one date, and he began to eat until no dates were left; then he drank water from a jug and leaned back upon a cushion and said: "O 'Abd Allah! Where have you come from?" I said: "From the mosque." He said: "What is your cousin doing?" I supposed that he meant 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far, so I said: "He is busy with his agemates." He said: "I mean the great one among you People of the House, that is, 'Ali." I said: "He is busy with his palm groves and is constantly reciting the Qur'an." He said: "'Abd Allah! Tell me the truth: is there still anything in his heart concerning the caliphate?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Does he suppose that the Prophet (PBUH) appointed the caliphate for him?" I said: "Yes," and I added: "I also asked my father about this, and he too said: He speaks the truth." 'Umar said: "The Prophet (PBUH) would at times utter words that constituted no proof and were ambiguous! From time to time he alluded to 'Ali's succession, and he wished on his deathbed to name him openly; but out of caution and out of fear for Islam I prevented him. By the Lord of the Ka'ba, Quraysh would never have consented to 'Ali's caliphate, and had the caliphate come to him, the Arabs would have attacked us from every quarter. The Prophet (PBUH) too understood on what grounds I had prevented him, and so he chose silence regarding the naming of 'Ali. And in the end, only that comes to pass which God has ratified and willed."
Al-Zubayr related from his authorities, saying: Muhqin ibn Abi Muhqin al-Dabbi came in to Mu'awiya and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, I have come to you from the most ignoble of the Arabs, the most miserly of the Arabs, the most tongue-tied of the Arabs, and the most cowardly of the Arabs." He said: "And who is he, O brother of Banu Tamim?" He said: "'Ali ibn Abi Talib." Mu'awiya said: "Listen, O people of Syria, to what your Iraqi brother says!" So they vied with one another as to which of them should lodge him and honor him. And when the people had dispersed from him, he said: "What was it you said?" And he repeated it to him. Then he said to him: "Woe to you, O ignorant man! How can he be the most ignoble of the Arabs, when his father is Abu Talib, his grandfather is 'Abd al-Muttalib, and his wife is Fatima the daughter of the Messenger of God (PBUH)? And how can he be the most miserly of the Arabs, when by God, if he had two houses, a house of straw and a house of gold, he would exhaust his gold before his straw? And how can he be the most cowardly of the Arabs, when by God, no two parties ever met but that he was their horseman beyond dispute? And how can he be the most tongue-tied of the Arabs, when by God, none but he laid down the rules of eloquence for Quraysh? Rather, the more ignoble, the more miserly, the more cowardly, and the more tongue-tied is the one to whom the mother of Muhqin gave birth — shame upon his mother! By God, were it not for what you know, I would have struck off that in which your two eyes are set. So beware — the curse of God be upon you — of ever returning to the like of this." He said: "By God, you are more unjust than I! For what did you fight him, when such is his standing?" He said: "For this seal-ring of mine, so that my command may be carried out by it." He said: "And is that enough for you in exchange for the wrath of God and His painful punishment?" He said: "No, O son of Muhqin; but I know of God what you are ignorant of, where He, the Exalted, says: 'And My mercy embraces all things' [Qur'an 7:156]." (Kashf al-Yaqin, vol. 1, p. 475)
The narrator says: Muhqin al-Dabbi came in to Mu'awiya and said: "O Commander of the Faithful! I have come to you from the most ignoble, the most miserly, the most incapable, the least eloquent, and the most cowardly man among the Arabs." Mu'awiya said: "And who is that?" He said: "'Ali ibn Abi Talib!" Mu'awiya said: "O Syrians! Listen to what your Iraqi brother says! Vie with one another in giving him hospitality and honoring him." When the people had dispersed, Mu'awiya said to him: "What was it you said?" And he repeated his words. Mu'awiya said to him: "Woe to you! How is 'Ali the basest of the Arabs, when his father is Abu Talib, his grandfather is 'Abd al-Muttalib, and his wife is Fatima? And how is he the most miserly, when, if he had two houses, one of straw and the other of gold, he would give away the golden house first? And how is he the most cowardly, when the only horseman who charges the enemy fearlessly is he himself? And how is he the most incapable in speech, when it is none but he who founded eloquence?" Then he said: "In lineage the baser, the more miserly, the more cowardly, and in speech the most incapable — that is you yourself! By God, were it not for that secret which you yourself know, which lies between me and you, I would have struck your head from your body. The curse of God be upon you! Let me not hear such words from you again." Muhqin said: "By God, you are more given to injustice than I am; for you know where his rank stands, and yet you fought him!" Mu'awiya said: "I fought him for the seat of rulership!" Muhqin said: "And what will you do in the face of the wrath of God and His painful punishment?" Mu'awiya said: "O son of Muhqin! I know something of God that you do not know! God says: 'And My mercy embraces all things' [Qur'an 7:156]."