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KHARIJITE'S INSURGENCY AND REVOLT
To start with, the Kharijites were peaceful and would feel
contented with free dialogue and criticism. Ali had also been extending the
same treatment to them as we have alluded to above. He in no way interfered
with them. So much so that he did not cut their dues from the Public Treasury.
But gradually when they became disappointed of Ali as he would not repent,
they changed their policy and decided to wage a 'revolution'. They gathered in
the house of one of their collaborators. He made a fiery and provocative
speech and invited his friends to rise in arms and to launch revolt in order
to enjoin Virtue and enforce Prohibitions. He said in his speech:-
"After
His praise. I swear by God! it is not befitting of that people who
have faith in the merciful God and accept the commands of the Quran that the sordid world be more attractive for them than the decree to do
good and to avoid evil and the words of Allah may be that they (the decree and the Divine words) bring losses and involve risks. Whosoever has
fallen in loss or risk in this world he will be rewarded by Divine pleasure
and a life of heavens on doom's day. My brethren! Let us leave this city of
the tyrant's seat for the hills or for some other cities, so that we may rise
up and arrest these innovations of mis-guidance".
By
these words their inflammable spirit got more volcanic. They moved from that
place and rose up in revolt and rebellion. They threatened the peace of the
routes. They adopted dacoity and mischief as a profession. In this way they
attempted to weaken the integrity of the state and to dislodge the sitting
government.
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