CHAPTER CONCERNING HIS BRIEFING ABOUT THE TWO ARBITRATORS WHICH WERE SENT IN THE ERA OF ALI
The two arbitrators were from the best of the Companions and they were Amr Ibn Al-As As-Sahmi from the party of Ash-Sham (Mu‘awiyah) and the second was Abu Moosa Abdullah Ibn Qais Al-Ash‘ari from the party of Iraq (Ali). They were only chosen in order to bring peace between the people and agree on a matter which entails ease for the Muslims and saving their blood. This is what occurred and because of them none was misguided due to them except for the Khawarij sect. Because they rebuked the two leaders for their use of arbitration, rebelled against them and labeled them as disbelievers. Ali Ibn Abu Talib fought against them and Ibn Abbas challenged their views. Then some of them returned to the truth yet the remainder continued until most of them were killed at An-Nahrawan and in areas from their defeated stances as we shall mention.
The Prophet’s mention of the exit of the Khawarij
Narrated by Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri: While we were with the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and he was distributing something, Dhul-Khuwaisirah came – and he was a man from the tribe of Tameem – and said, “Be just, O Messenger of Allah.” He replied, “Woe to you, and who will be just? You have indeed lost if I was not just.” Umar said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission so that I may strike his neck.” He replied, “Leave him, for he has companions and if you compare your prayers with theirs, and your fasting with theirs, you will look down upon your prayers and fasting in comparison to theirs. They recite the Qur’an but it doesn’t leave their throats. They will leave this religion just as an arrow darts through the games body in which case, if the point of the arrow was examined, nothing will be found on it, and when its stem was examined, nothing will be found on it; and if its feathers are examined nothing will be found on it. The arrow has been too fast to be smeared by dung and blood. The sign by which these people are recognized will be a black man. One of his upper arms will be like the breast of a woman or like a moving piece of flesh and they will appear at a time of discord between the people (Muslims).” Abu Sa‘eed said, “I testify that I heard this Hadith from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and I testify that Ali fought against them while I was with him, then he ordered that man be sought. He was searched for and brought and I saw that he was bearing the description that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) made about him.”
Muslim narrated in his Saheeh from Abu Sa‘eed, who said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A group shall emerge at a time of discord between the Muslims, the nearest of the two parties to the truth shall kill it.” He also narrated it from the Hadith of Abu Ishaq Ath-Thawri from Habeeb Ibn Abu Thabit from Ad-Dhahhak Al-Mishraqi from Abu Sa‘eed from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
Muslim narrated from (Yusair) Ibn Amr, who said, “I asked Sahl Ibn Hunaif, did you hear the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) speak about those Khawarij?” He replied, “I heard him, then he pointed toward the East – and in another narration, toward Iraq – and said, ‘A group shall emerge, they shall recite the Qur’an with their tongues yet it doesn’t pass their throats. They shall leave this religion just as an arrow passes through its game, they have shaved heads.’”
In the Saheehain from Ali: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “A group will emerge toward the end of time, with new teeth (young people), with foolish aspirations, and they speak with words from the best of creation (i.e., the Prophet’s sayings), their faith will not pass their throats. Wherever you meet them then kill them, for lies a reward for the one who kills them till the Day of Resurrection.”
Narrated by Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqas, he said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) mentioned the man with a (female) breast and said, “The devil of the mountain spring is like the one who tends to horses, a man from Bajeelah shall bring him.” He was known as: Al-Ashhab or Ibn Al-Ashhab; he is the sign of an oppressive people. Sufyan said: Ammar (Ad-Duhni) that a man brought him known as Al-Ashhab or Ibn Al-Ashhab.
Narrated by Abu Sa‘eed, he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “There will be someone from you who will fight in defense of the interpretation of the Qur’an just as I fought in defense of its revelation.” Abu Bakr said, “Is that me, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “No.” Umar said, “Is that me, O Messenger of Allah.” He replied, “No, but he is Khasifun-Na‘l.” He intended Ali.
Narrated from Lahiq, he said, “The ones who rebeled against Ali in An-Nahrawan were 4,000 in iron. The Muslims mounted them and killed them and they didn’t kill from the Muslims except 9, and if you wish then go to Abu Barzah, for he will testify to that.”
I say: The narrations from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) concerning fighting against the Khawarij are Mutawatirah (many in number providing certainty in the narrations’ authenticity) because they are from many paths that provide certainty with the Imams of this field (i.e. Hadith). And its occurrence in the era of Ali is known by necessity among all the people of knowledge. And as for how they rebelled, and Ibn Abbas’ debating with them concerning that and the return of many of them to him then it shall be mentioned – if Allah wills – at its appropriate place.
The Prophet’s mention of Ali Ibn Abi Talib’s murder, and then it occurred exactly as he mentioned
Narrated Ammar Ibn Yasir, who said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Ali when he was made in charge of the Battle of Al-Ushairah, “O Abu Turab – because of what he saw upon him from Turab (soil) – shall I not inform you of the two worst men the people?” We said, “Indeed, O Messenger of Allah.” He replied, “Uhaimir Thamood, the one who slayed the she-camel (see Soorah Shams) and the one who will hit you on this, O Ali – (he pointed to) the top of his head – until this is wet from it,” (he pointed to) his beard (i.e. until his beard will be full of blood).
Narrated by Zaid Ibn Wahb, he said: The leader of the Khawarij came to Ali and said to him, “Fear Allah because you are going to die.” He replied, “No, by the One Who cleaves the grain and the One Who created human being, but I am going to be murdered from a blow to this which will dye this – and he pointed to his beard – is a fixed covenant and a decreed decree and he has failed who invents (such falsehood).”
It is renowned from Ali that when Abdur Rahman Ibn Muljam Al-Khariji stabbed him while he was exiting for the morning prayer at the door, Ali remained alive for two days since the stabbing and Ibn Muljam was held. Ali nominated his son Al-Hasan for being the Caliph as shall be mentioned and commanded him to lead the armies and said to him, “Ali doesn’t flow like the river.” When he died, Abdur Rahman was killed by means of Qawad (punishment for murder) and it is mentioned that he was killed by means of Hadd (punishment). And Allah (SWT) knows best. Al-Hasan Ibn Ali led the armies and went to Mu‘awiyah as shall be explained later.
The Prophet’s mention of the event between Mu‘awiyah and Al-Hasan and the nobility of his grandson Al-Hasan by resigning
Narrated by Abu Bakrah, he said: The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) took Al-Hasan Ibn Ali one day and he ascended the pulpit with him and said, “This son (grandson can be called “son” in Arabic) of mine is Sayyid (noble) and Allah will bring peace with him between two great parties of the Muslims.”
Al-Bukhari said from Al-Hasan (Al-Basri) in the book of Sulh (peacemaking):
By Allah, Al-Hasan Ibn Ali led large battalions like mountains against Mu‘awiyah Ibn Abu Saufyan. Amr Ibn Al-As said (to Mu‘awiyah), “I surely see battalions which will not turn back before killing their opponents.” Mu‘awiyah who was really the best of the two men said to him, “O Amr! If they killed those and those killed these, who would be left with me for the jobs of the public, who would be left with me for their women, who would be left with me for their children?”
Then Mu‘awiyah sent two Quraishi men from the tribe of Abd-Shams called Abdur Rahman Ibn Sumurah and Abdullah Ibn Amir Ibn Kuraiz to Al-Hasan saying to them, “Go to this man (i.e. Al-Hasan) and negotiate peace with him and talk and appeal to him.” They went to Al-Hasan and talked and appealed to him to accept peace. Al-Hasan said, “We, the offspring of Abdul-Muttalib, have got wealth and people have indulged in killing and corruption (and money only will appease them).” They said to Al-Hasan, “Mu‘awiyah offers you so-and-so, and appeals to you and entreats you to accept peace.” Al-Hasan said to them, “But who will be responsible for what you have said?” They said, “We will be responsible for it.” Whatever Al-Hasan asked they said, “We will be responsible for it for you.” Al-Hasan concluded a peace treaty with Mu‘awiyah.
Al-Hasan (Al-Basri) said: I heard Abu Bakr say, “I saw Allah’s Messenger on the pulpit and Al-Hasan Ibn Ali was by his side. The Prophet was looking once at the people and once at Al-Hasan Ibn Ali saying, ‘This son of mine is a Sayyid (i.e., a noble) and may Allah make peace between two big groups of Muslims through him’.”
The affair occurred exactly how the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) mentioned. When the leadership was passed to Al-Hasan Ibn Ali and he led the armies of Iraq, and Mu‘awiyah came to him and they met at As-Siffeen based upon what Al-Hasan Al-Basri mentioned, then Al-Hasan Ibn Ali was inclined toward bringing peace. He addressed the people and resigned from leadership and gave it to Mu‘awiyah and that was in the Year 40. The leaders of the two armies gave allegiance to him and Mu‘awiyah became in charge of the Ummah. That year was named the Year of Congregation due to the unification in it upon one man. We shall narrate that in detail if Allah wills. The period of the continuous Caliphate that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) made an indication toward ended with this year, as was mentioned earlier in the Hadith of Safeenah, his Mawla, that he said, “The Caliphate after me is for 30 years, thereafter there shall be kingship,” and in another narration, “biting.” And it has been mentioned in another narration from Mu‘awiyah that he said, “We are pleased with it as kingship.”
The Prophet’s mention of the expedition of the sea to Cyprus which was in the era of Mu‘awiyah
Malik narrated from Anas Ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would enter upon Umm Haram Bint Milhan (the aunt of the Prophet through weaning) and she would feed him and she was married to Ubadah Ibn As-Samit. Once he entered upon her and fed him and she sat and inspected his head for lice. The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) slept, and when he woke up laughing she said: “What causes you to laugh, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “I saw a people from my nation battling in the path of Allah riding the waves of this sea, kings on thrones” – or he said “like kings on thrones.” Ishaq (the sub-narrator) doubted. Then I said, “O Messenger of Allah, supplicate to Allah that He makes me from them,” so he prayed for her and slept again. Then he woke up laughing again and she asked him, “What causes you to laugh, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “I saw a people battling in the path of Allah,” as he mentioned the first time. She said: “O Messenger of Allah, supplicate to Allah that He makes me from them.” He replied, “You are from the first of them.” Anas said: Then Umm Haram rode the sea in the era of Mu‘awiyah. She fell from her riding animal when she left the sea and died.
The Hadith has also been narrated by Al-Bukhari from Abdullah Ibn Yoosuf and by Muslim from Yahya Ibn Yahya, both of them from Malik.
Narrated by Khalid Ibn Ma‘dan that Umair Ibn Al-Aswd Al-Ansi informed him that he came to Ubadah Ibn As-Samit while he was staying on the coast of Hims (in Syria) in an apartment he owned with Umm Haram. Umair said: Umm Haram informed us that she heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “The first army from my Ummah to battle in the sea is granted Paradise.” Umm Haram said, “O Messenger of Allah, am I from them?” He replied, “You are from them.” She said: Then the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The first army that battles against the city of Qaisar shall have their sins forgiven.” I said, “Am I from them, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “No.”
It is similar to the meaning of the first Hadith. Also in this Hadith there are 3 signs of the Prophethood. The first is the mention of the first battle at sea which occurred in Year 27 with Mu‘awiyah when he was on an expedition to Cyprus while he was a governor of Syria (Sham) under Uthman Ibn Affan. (Second) Umm Haram Bint Milhan who accompanied Ubadah Bin As-Samit – her husband, one of the chiefs in the night of the Aqabah (Pact). She died when she was returning from the battle although it has been mentioned in Sham according to what was mentioned earlier in the narration of Al-Bukhari. Ibn Zaid said: She died in Cyprus in the Year 27. (Thirdly) the second battle was the Battle of Constantinople with the first army which went their and the leader (of the army) was Yazeed Ibn Mu‘awiyah and that was in Year 52, Abu Ayyoob, Khalid Ibn Zaid Al-Ansari was with them when he died there. And this woman was not with them because she had died before that in the first expedition.
So this Hadith has 3 signs from the signs of the Prophethood; the mention of the 2 battles, the mention that the woman is from the first and not the last and this is exactly what happened.
Information of the war against India
Narrated Abu Hurairah, who said: My close friend informed me the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “There will be an army from this Ummah that will go to Sind (an area now a province of Pakistan) and Al-Hind (India).” If I reach it and become martyred then so be it, and if I – he (Abu Hurairah) mentioned a word – return then I am Abu Hurairah the free whom was freed by him (the Prophet) from the fire.” Only Ahmad narrated this Hadith.
The Muslims went to battle in India at the time of Mu‘awiyah in Year 44 and there were events that occurred there which shall be explained later. And the great King Mahmood Ibn Subuktikeen of Ghaznah (Ghazni a city in modern Afghanistan) in around Year 400 invaded the land of India and he fought therein, he killed, captured, carried of slaves and gained war booty. He even entered Somanath and destroyed the biggest idol (Shiva) which they worshiped and he took its earrings and chains (or necklaces) and then returned safe and victorious as shall be mentioned.
By Ibn Katheer
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.