(689)

THE AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS OF THE SYRIANS

After the ignominy of al-Basrah, Mu`awiyah realized that attacking the Iraqi cities and achieving success was difficult. However, making raids on suburbs and remote hamlets to frighten and terrorize the people was to his advantage. Therefore, he started attacking the border habitations and the army barracks and in no time the pleasant habitations were rendered into veritable ruins. There was a flood of the blood of innocents everywhere. The purpose of these nefarious activities was to spread disturbance and unrest in the realm.

The Imam (a.s) did not get any respite from handling these disturbances to give his attention to reform and development, as he would have wished to do. In 39 H Mu`awiyah sent al-Nu`man ibn Bashir with 2,000 troops to attack `Ayn al-Tamr. There Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) had an arms depot. Malik ibn Ka`b al-Arhabi was in charge of this depot. Under him 1,000 troops always used to be there. When Malik heard of al-Nu`man’s move, he had only 100 men with him and the rest had taken permission and had gone to al-Kūfah. He wrote to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) that a contingent of 2,000 Syrians was headed to attack him and the men present were not sufficient to meet the onslaught. He therefore requested for urgent reinforcement. The Imam (a.s) told al-Harith al-Hamdani to proclaim, in al-Kūfah that all people must urgently assemble at al-Rahbah. The next morning the Imam (a.s) went to al-Rahbah after the Morning Prayer. He found about 300 men assembled there.

When he saw the lack of interest in the people, he said, “O people of al-Kūfah! I had called you to rise to the help of your brothers! But when the troops of the Syrians hover over your heads, you shirk from fighting. `Adi ibn Hatam, finding the Imam (a.s) disturbed, said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s)! In my tribe of Banū-tay there are 1,000 strong fighters. If you order, I shall take them to teach a lesson to the enemy” The Imam (a.s) said, “I do not like that to face the enemy, people from only one tribe volunteer. This gives an impression that the other tribes are not interested in taking part in the campaigns. You go to al-Nukhaylah and invite others to participate as well” Therefore he went and talked to the people and in addition to Banū-tay he raised another 1,000 men. `Adi ibn tay was about to start with his contingent


(690)

when a message came from Malik ibn Ka`b that they were able to force the enemy away and they were no more in need of the reinforcements. It happened that Malik thought it would take time to get help from al-Kūfah and he took the precaution of sending `Abdullah ibn Hawzah al-Azdi to Qarazah Ibn Ka`b and Mikhnaf ibn Salim and sought help from them. Qarazah said that he was stationed for collection of the tribute and the men under him were not suitable for battle, but Mikhnaf ibn Sulaym sent 50 men under the command of his son, `Abd al-Rahman. When around the time of `Asr Prayer the group reached near Ayn al Tamr, they found that Malik and his men were standing with their backs to the wall and, having broken the sheaths of their sword, they were ready to fight unto death. When al-Nu`man saw this small group he thought this must be the front guard and the larger contingent must be coming from behind. He immediately turned back his troops and ran away. Malik chased them and killed three of their men.

In the same 39 H Mu`awiyah sent 6,000 troops with Sufyan ibn `Awf al-Ghamidi to attack al-Anbar and al-Mada’in. He ordered him to destroy the army cantonments of the Imam (a.s). Sufyan first went to Hit. The governor of Hit, Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha`i heard that at Qarqisiyah some troops of the Syrians had assembled and had plans to attack Hit. He therefore left the city to meet the invaders, although he was instructed not to leave the place. The result was that when Sufyan’s contingent reached Hit, there was none in the city to defend it. He proceeded to al-Anbar without any resistance at Hit. At al-Anbar there was stationed a group of 500 men but when the Syrians arrived, there were only 200 present and the rest were not there. Sufyan wanted to gather intelligence about the number of troops there.

They caught hold of a few local youths and asked them. They said that presently there must be about 200 men there. When he knew that the number of defenders was very small, he became bold. He advanced with his contingent. From that side, Ashras ibn Hassan al-Bakri, who was the chief of the men, came out to fight with his small group. When the men saw the huge contingent, more than half of the 200 men fled. And the rest fought with the enemies from the street corners playing the game of hide and seek! When Ashras saw that it was difficult to save their lives through the tactics of hide and seek, he shouted his instructions, “Those who wish to give their lives in the way of Allah, and they should come out in the open and fight with the enemy!” At this call thirty men came out and fighting with great bravery they were martyred! Now there was none to stop the atrocities of the Syrians. They looted each and every house, snatched jewelry from the women and gathered whatever they could lay their hands on.


(691)

When Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) knew about the events, he wrote an angry note to Kumayl ibn Ziyad and warned him against leaving the city unprotected without the unit of the guards. H gave a sermon from the pulpit and invited the people to do Jihad and go in pursuit of the enemy. But there was hardly any response from the gathering. When he saw them quiet and in a mood of avoiding the battle, he stood up angrily and decided to go alone and pursue the enemy. Now the people felt ashamed and they went behind the Imam (a.s). When they reached the valley of al-Nukhaylah, they said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin! You may go back! We are sufficient to deal with the enemy.” When their insistence increased, he went back to al-Kūfah and under the command of Sa`id ibn Qays a contingent of 8,000 troops went in hot pursuit of the Syrians. When this army reached `Anah via Euphrates, Sa`id sent Hani’ ibn al-Khattab al-Hamdani to reconnoiter for the enemy troops. He went until the limits of Qannisrin but Sufyan’s contingent had gone far ahead and there was no sense in further pursuit.

When Sa`id ibn Qays returned to al-Kūfah, the Imam (a.s) gave a sermon about the importance of jihad and exhorted those who were reluctant to battle with the enemy. On this Jundub ibn `Afif al-Azdi stood up and said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin! I can speak on my behalf and on behalf of my nephew, `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Abdullah! Whatever command you give us, we shall abide by it implicitly!”

The Imam (a.s) said, “What I want cannot be done by only two persons!” The Imam (a.s) wanted to punish the people who played havoc at Hit and al-Anbar in such a way that they should not have courage to make incursions into the Iraqi borders in the future. After the return of Sa`id, the Imam (a.s) kept quiet for some time. And again he gave a sermon to the people of al-Kūfah, “O People! You are much more in numbers than the Ansar of al-Madinah! They gave shelter and protection to the Prophet (a.s) and the Muhajirūn. They bore hardships but did not stop supporting Islam and the Muslims, until the Standard of Islam started flying all over Arabia! “At this a mischievous, tall person stood up and said, “You are neither Muhammad (a.s) nor are we the Ansar! Please put on us weight that we might bear!”

The Imam (a.s) said, “Understand the talk, and then speak! When did I say that I am Muhammad (a.s) and you Ansar! I gave the example that you too tread the path of the Ansar and create in yourself the spirit that they had and protect the Realm of Islam from the depredations of the enemy!” At this another person stood up and said, “Today Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) must have felt the need of the people of Nahrawan whom we killed with our own hands!”


(692)

Now voices were raised from different directions and there was a sort of pandemonium. One person said, “If Malik al-Ashtar was here today, these persons would not have dared to behave in this manner!” The Imam (a.s) said, “Pity on you! Malik al-Ashtar had right over you as any other Muslim has a right over another Muslim! My rights are far greater which you have to guard as a bounden duty!” In the end Sa`id Ibn Qays and Hijr ibn `Adi said, “Whatever commands you give us, we shall not disobey them in any manner even if we have to forego our lives and properties in abiding by them!” The Imam (a.s) said, “You stand up for the punishment of the enemy and crush him!” He then came down from the pulpit and went to Bayt al-Sharaf, his home. Some of his sincere companions too followed him. He continued discussion with them and said, “Who is the person in your opinion who is himself very active and can also enthuse the Iraqis to agree for warfare. We must mobilize the army under the command of such a person.”

Sa`id ibn Qays said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin! For this campaign none other than Ma`qil ibn Qays al-Tamimi is better. He is your sincere friend and is a valorous warrior.” The Imam (a.s) said, “Yes! He is the right person for the job!” Then Ma`qil was called and entrusted the command of the campaign.

During the same year Mu`awiyah sent `Abdullah ibn Mas`adah al-Fazari with 1,700 troops towards Taymah. He ordered him to keep advancing towards Makkah and al-Madinah and collect zakat and sadaqah from the settlements that fall in his way. Those who refuse to pay must be immediately executed. Therefore, he started on his journey and the people of his tribe gathered under his flag. When the Imam (a.s) heard about this, he sent Musayyab ibn Najbah al-Fazari with 2,000 troops to fight with them. When Mas`adah reached Taymah, killing and looting the people on the way, the troops of the Imam (a.s) too reached there. Both the contingents took out their arms and the fight started. The fight went on from morning until midday. Musayyab, who was also from the same tribe, attacked Mas`adah lightly with the sword, and asked him quietly to escape. Therefore, he took a small troop of men and locked himself up in a small fort nearby.

The remaining contingent escaped towards Syria. The camels that had been collected by Mas`adah as zakat and sadaqah were taken away by the nomads. When three days since passed Mas`adah locked himself into the fort, it was decided to set fire to the fort. Therefore, firewood was put near the door and the fire was lighted. Ibn Mas`adah said, “O Musayyab! You are burning the persons from your own tribe!” Musayyab ordered the fire to be put out. After the fire was put out, he told his troops that he had intelligence that a bigger


(693)

contingent of men was coming from Syria. His men assembled at one place. Ibn Mas`adah got an opportunity and escaped in the night with his men towards Syria. When news spread about his escape `Abd al-Rahman ibn Shabib said that they must chase and capture Mas`adah. But Musayyab did not agree to that suggestion. At this `Abd al-Rahman said, “You have sold yourself to the enemy against Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) and your attitude is certainly indicative of hypocrisy!”

In the same year, 39 H, Mu`awiyah sent al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fahri towards al-Hirah and asked him to kill the nomads who had owed their allegiance to `Ali (a.s) and plunder their goods. Therefore, he went on destroying habitations on the way and reached Salabiyah. He attacked one caravan of Hajjis and looted them. Then passing through Waqasah and Sharaf he proceeded towards Qatqatanah. There he killed `Amr ibn `Umays and Ibn Mas`ūd and their companions. When Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) got news of these atrocities, he asked his men to pursue him. But the men did not show any interest. The Imam (a.s) expressed anger at their attitude and tried to stir their conscience! In the end a contingent of 4,000 men under the command of Hijr ibn `Adi went in pursuit of the enemy and reached Samadah. Here Hijr met the father of Rabab—the consort of the Master of Martyrs—as well as `Imarah al Qays ibn `Adi and some men from his tribe went along to guide the contingent to the cisterns of water and the way. When they reached the environs of Tadmur, they found the camps of al-Dahhak. When they came across each other, the swords were drawn and the fighting started. In this battle, al-Dahhak lost 19 men and two men were martyred from the army of the Imam (a.s). In the darkness of the night al-Dahhak ran away with his men. Hijr went back with his men to al-Kūfah.

The same year Mu`awiyah sent Yazid ibn Shajarah to Makkah during the Hajj period. To act as the emir for the Hajj and chase away the functionaries appointed by Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) and take bay`ah from the people for Mu`awiyah. He started with 3,000 men for Makkah. When the functionary at Makkah, Qathm ibn `Abbas heard about the arrival of this contingent, he went to the pulpit and informed the people that the army of Syria was coming to the Holy Land to cause bloodshed. You must take up arms and stop the enemy before he comes here. But except Shaybah ibn `Uthman al-`Abdari, everyone else took his word lightly. When Qathm ibn `Abbas saw that the people of Makkah were not concerned, he wanted to go out to the hills and take shelter and inform Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) to seek help from him. Abū-Sa`id al-Khidri, on learning that Qathm was thinking of leaving Makkah, opposed his


(694)

plans and asked him to await the arrival of the Syrian forces. He advised that if it was felt possible to fight with them, they could fight. Otherwise they could then leave Makkah. Qathm agreed with this suggestion and wrote to the Imam (a.s) for help. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) sent one contingent of men on the first of Dhul-Hijjah in which Abul-tufayl and Rayyan ibn Samarah were there. Yazid ibn Shajarah reached Makkah two days prior to the Day of Tarwiyah with his army. He asked Abū-Sa`id al-Khidri to tell Qathm to stop leading the prayers and acting as the Emir of Hajj and that he too would demit his office. Then they should give the people choice to select the successors. Qathm ibn `Abbas showed some reluctance But realizing his own helplessness, he agreed to quit. Other people suggested the name of Shaybah ibn `Uthman for leading the prayers and emirate of Hajj. He was thus selected for the position. When the Hajj was over, Ibn Shajarah went towards Syria. In that time the contingent sent by the Imam (a.s) reached Makkah. When they learned that the Syrian army had left, Ma`qil ibn Qays took the lead of the contingent in his hands and went in pursuit of them and after crossing the Valley Al-Qira, they came face to face with it. The Syrians tried to escape but Ma`qil’s men took captive some of the Syrians and returned to al-Kūfah.

When Yazid ibn Shajarah reached Syria, Mu`awiyah learned about some of his men becoming captive. He sent al-Harth ibn Namr al-Tanūkhi towards al-Jazirah, where there were people who had owed their allegiance to the Imam (a.s), to capture some of them and bring as captives. He reached al-Jazirah and captured seven men of Banū-Taghlib. When these persons reached the court of Mu`awiyah, some men of Banū-Taghlib who had left the camp of the Imam (a.s) and joined Mu`awiyah, came to him and pleaded for the release of their tribesmen. But Mu`awiyah did not agree. At this, Banū-Taghlib were unhappy with him and left his side. Mu`awiyah wrote to `Ali (a.s) that Ma`qil had made some men from Yazid ibn Shajarah’s army captive. He suggested they could be exchanged with the men from Banū-Taghlib who were with him. (a.s) agreed to this suggestion and the exchange was affected.

The same year Mu`awiyah sent `Abd al-Rahman ibn Qabat to plunder the habitations of the area of al-Jazirah. When the governor of al-Jazirah, Shabib ibn `Amir, learned about this, informed Kumayl ibn Ziyad, who was the governor of Hit, and sought help from him. He took 600 men with him and went towards the area of al-Jazirah. The enemy troops under `Abd al-Rahman ibn Qabat and Ma`an ibn Yazid salami came across him. Kumayl fought with them with his small contingent and killed a good number of the enemy troops. From his side two men were martyred. Now the enemy was not able to bear


(695)

the onslaught and his men fled the scene. He ordered that the fleeing men need not be pursued nor the injured be killed. After defeating the Syrians, he informed Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) of his success. The Imam (a.s) was very happy with his performance and the mistake that he had made of abandoning his post in the past was condoned.

When Shabib ibn `Amir arrived with his contingent from Nasibahin, he found that Kumayl had defeated the enemy. He congratulated Kumayl and proceeded in pursuit of the enemy force. He crossed the river Euphrates and reached until Ba`labak. When Mu`awiyah knew about this, he sent a contingent under Habib ibn Maslamah, but it could not get near the contingent of Shabib. Now, instead of pursuing the enemy, Shabib attacked al-Riqqah, a settlement of the supporters of Mu`awiyah. He confiscated their arms and horses and took away other livestock. When he returned, he wrote in detail to the Imam (a.s) about his campaign. The Imam (a.s) replied, “You have a right over the arms and the animals that the enemy uses during the battle. But you have no right to confiscate the livestock”. Then appreciating his valor the Imam said:

“May Allah be kind on Shabib. He went attacking for a long distance and did not abstain from contending with the enemy.”[1]

In the same year Mu`awiyah sent Zuhayr ibn Makhūl al-`Amiri to the town of al-Samawah, which was under the Imam (a.s), for collecting the zakat and sadaqah. When the Imam (a.s) knew about this, he sent Ja`far ibn `Abdullah al-Ashja`i, `Urwah ibn `Ushbah al-Kalbi and Jallas Ibn `Umayr al-Kalbi to collect taxes from the tribes of Banū-Kalab and Banū-Wa’il. When these persons reached there, they had a confrontation with the men of Mu`awiyah. Ja`far ibn `Abdullah was killed. Ibn `Ushbah was given a horse by Zuhayr and he escaped. He became a suspect in the eyes of the Imam (a.s) He reprimanded the person. Ibn `Ushbah moved over to the camp of Mu`awiyah. Jallas too escaped. On the way, he exchanged his expensive cloak with the cloak of a shepherd to avoid identification. Thus he reached al-Kūfah with difficulty.

During those days, Mu`awiyah sent Muslim ibn `Uqbah Mari to Dawmat al-Jandal. The people there owed their allegiance neither to `Ali (a.s) nor to Mu`awiyah. When the Imam (a.s) learned about the movements of Muslim, he sent Malik ibn Ka`b al-Hamdani with a patrol of troops. When they came face


[1] Al-Kāmil fit-Tārīkh, Vol 3, Page 191.

(696)

to face, there was fight that went on for the complete day. In the end, `Uqbah ran away. After he went, Malik asked the people there to owe their allegiance to the Imam (a.s). They did not agree and said that unless there is total consensus they will not accept anyone as the caliph.

It can well be imagined from these events that while there were sincere friends of the Imam (a.s) in al-Kūfah, there was no shortage of hypocrites who had Khariji tendencies. They used to spread rumor and dissent and always tried to make the administration weak. On the one hand were these traitors and on the other were the machinations of the Syrians. The way he managed the affairs despite all the odds is a proof of his political and administrative acumen.