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believed that their invasion of Bassrah was less harmful
than invading Kufa where the most important Arab forces
were settled.
He went on until he arrived to Thee Qar. He sojourned
there after he sent a message to the people of Kufa urging
them to join him for the sake of bringing peace
preventing evil and supporting truth.
The three leaders were already in control of Bassrah.
They drove Othman Ibn Huneif out of his office. Othman
came to Thee Qar. When he met the Imam
he told him:
"Ameer Al-Mumineen when you sent me to Bassrah I
was bearded but I returned to you without a beard." The
Imam said to him:
"May God reward you for what you have suffered.
Two persons before me ruled the people and both followed the Book; then the third one followed them. People
spoke about him and dealt with him the way they did.
Then they elected me. Talhah and Al-Zubeir elected me
then they breached their covenant with me and instigated
people against me. It is one of the wonders that they
obeyed Abu Bakr and Omar and now they antagonize me.
By God they know that I am not less than any of those
who passed away. God I ask Thee to untie what they
knotted and abort what they plotted and make them meet
the evil consequences of what they have done."(19)
ABU MUSA AL-ASHAARI
After the three leaders' party occupied the
City of Bassrah Ayeshah Mother of believers
took a further step. She wrote to the leaders of Kufa
informing them that her party had already occupied Bassrah
urging them to avenge the blood of Othman and discouraging them
from supporting the Imam.(20) Of course she wrote to Abu
Musa (the Imam's appointed governor of the city) and
asked him to use his influence in preventing the Kufites
from sending any recruits to the army of the Imam. Abu
(19) Al-Tabari his History part 4 p.480.
(20) Al-Tabari his History part 4 p.480.
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