12. A’ISHAH AND THE FITNAH (DISORDER)
The Companions used to visit asking her juridical opinion regarding many issues. Due to the murder of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), fitnah (disorder) had erupted. The news of Uthman’s murder had reached x A’ ishah while she was in Makkah. She was informed of people gathering against 
The Mother of the Believers was informed the news while she was at Saraf (a place near to at-Tan’im) after she had performed the Umrah of Muharram and decided to stay in Makkah until death. Then, she returned from Saraf to Makkah, headed for the sacred mosque, and took the Black Stone as a veil. People gathered around her and the governor of Makkah came and asked her, “What is your opinion, Mother of the Believers?” Upon this she replied, ‘Uthman has been killed wrongfully and the matter will not be corrected as long as those rebels are in power. Thus, seek the blood money of Uthman, thereby, Islam will be strengthened.
On deciding to set out to Madinah, the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them all) agreed to set out with her. But when she changed her mind and intended to set out to the city of Basrah, they did not agree to be in her company. When some people went to Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her) asking her opinion concerning that matter, she replied them, “I agree with A’ishah in her decision.” Thus, she agreed to accompany N A’ishah during that journey. But, her brother, s Abd Allah, convinced her not to do that. Accordingly, Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her) informed N A’ishah her decision.
A’ishah, (may Allah be pleased with her) along with those set out heading for al-Basrah reached Zat (a place) wherein they would separate, Aishah would leave to al-Basrah while they would head to Madinah. On departing, they and all people wept so impressively. They felt that they would miss her. This day was known, later on, as the day of weeping.
A’ishah went out to al-Basrah for nothing but to put an end to the disorder among people. People might return to their Mother and respect their Prophet’s sanctity, and then they might stop fighting each other. She (may Allah be pleased with her) set out with the intention of reforming and judging between the two conflicting groups so that they may come to their senses and return to the right way.
When A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reached al-Haw’ab (a place in the route to al-Basrah) she heard the barking of dogs. Thereby, she said, “I think that I should return. That is because I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying to us, “Which one of you will the dogs of al-Haw’ab bark
at?” Az-Zubayr said to her, “Why? May Allah let you bring peace between the conflicting groups.
Then, the conflicting parties reached a compromise whose propitious signs emerged and thereby Muslims were very happy. But the murderers of (may Allah be pleased with him) agitated the fitnah, blotted their conspiracy, and thus fighting broke out. The judge of al-Basrah, Köb ibn Sawr, hastened to the Mother of the Believers, S A’ishah, saying, “Get into people for Allah may let you rectify (because of your presence) what the corrupters have done.” She stayed in her howdah on top of her camel. People veiled her howdah by shields so that she may not be harmed. The judge of al-Basrah, by asking to go out to people, intended to mollify people’s turmoil but he was unaware that her setting out as she did would drive people to fighting.
Actually, (may Allah be pleased with her) saw with her own eyes what the two parties had committed of murder and bloodshed. Then, she gave a Mushaf (a copy of the Qur’an) to Ka’b ibn Sawr and said, “Call them to be judged by it.” But the murderers of Uthman did not accept this call. Yet, they killed those who called them to Allah and His Book.
The situation was aggravated and fierce fighting broke out. Then, the camel was hamstrung in order to spare blood. This day was called later on the day of al-Jamal (The Camel). That was because the followers of Abd Allah ibn Saba’, the Jew, took the howdah of as a target to be shot by arrows. By their doing, they only wanted to kill the Mother of the Believers and get rid of her. Soon after the falling of the camel, people separated and the battle came to an end.
Afterwards, ibn Abu Talib commanded Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr and ibn Yasir to carry the howdah. Al-Qa’b ibn Amr came to the Mother of the Believers and greeted her. Then, she said, “By Allah, I wish I were killed twenty years before this day.” ibn Abu Talib came, saluted her, and said, “How are you, O my mother? “I am all right,” She answered. He said, “May Allah forgive you!” “You too,” She replied.
On supplying A’ishah with all her needs of a riding camel, provisions, and the like, Ali ibn Abu Talib bade her farewell and chose forty well known women of the people of al-Basrah to be in her company. He also commanded her brother, Abd Allah ibn Abu Bakr, to set out with her and permitted those who were rescued from the army and who had come with her to go back with her unless they would like to stay.
Whenever A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) recited Allah’s saying, end stay quietly in your houses… she used to weep to the extent that her veil became wet due to her wailing. Indeed, she felt that to stay at home on the day of al-Jamal would have been better for her than to go out.
(SOURCE: Wives of Prophet Muhammad, Their Strives and Their Lives by Muhammad Fathi Mus’ ad)
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