A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Pious Caliphate
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Ali inflicted the Kharjites a decisive defeat at Nahrawan. Thousands
of them were killed in the battlefield. But this defeat did not end
the Kharjite opposition for they were spread out in different parts
of the country. The extremist among them preached lawlessness,
saying: “All authority belongs to Allah, so there should be no
government”.
Ali was engaged in extirpating the Kharjites and Muawiya found
enough time to increase his influence among the people.
Displaying great diplomacy Muawiya managed to cut the ground
from under Ali’s feet steadily, by adopting an aggressive policy
against the Caliph. Ultimately by the end of 600 Ali had lost
control of Egypt and Hijaz. His popularity was diminishing day by
day.
The forces of Ali and Muawiya met at Siffin. When Muawiya
realized that he was going to lose the battle he managed to force
the end of the fighting by having pages of the Quran fixed to the
lances of his troops. Ali was obliged to accept arbitration. When
Ali agreed to this some of his supporters abandoned him. They
were not willing to accept compromise and submit the will of God
to human judgement. In the months of discussions between the
arbiters, Ali’s alliance grew weaker. The Kharjites who had revolted
against their method of arbitration ultimately decided to assassinate
Ali.
Early one morning while he was praying in a mosque at Kufa in
Iraq, a Kharjite struck him with a poisoned sword to avenge the
men slain at Nahrawan. Two days later Ali died and was buried
