Part One: Preliminaries

Section two

·        35 A.H.  The delegations from the provinces universally demand that Ali b. Abu Talib become caliph.  Despite Ali’s initial reluctance, the crowd insists, and Ali is declared caliph, the first and only caliph ever elected by the popular will of the people. 

·        Despite Ali’s nearly universal support in other areas of the Islamic state, Ali’s caliphate was opposed and unrecognized by Muawiyya b. Abu Sufyan, who refused allegiance on the pretext that Ali was refusing to bring the killers of Uthman to justice.  Despite Ali’s insistence that it was nearly impossible to identify the killers, Muawiyya continued to base his opposition on this pretext.

·        Muawiyya continued to build military strength and support in Syria on the grounds of “avenging the death of Uthman.”  Although he did not claim to be qualified for the caliphate himself, he openly challenged the authority of Ali and sought to stir up turmoil and divisions amongst the Muslims.

·        Muawiyya ordered public cursing of Ali from the pulpit, during Friday prayers, and sent attacks on bordering lands, threatening the people so as to force them to give allegiance to him.

·        36 A.H.  The Battle of Jamal.  (Battle of the Camel)  Shortly after the election of Ali as caliph, Talha and Zubayr, two former companions of Muhammad, led a revolt against Ali at the urging of Muawiyya, who promised them high position if they were to overthrow Ali.  They convinced Ayesha b. Abu Bakr, daughter of the first caliph and one of the former wives of Muhammad, to join them.  In this first instance of civil war between Muslims, thousands of Muslims were killed.

·        36 A.H. Following the Battle of Jamal, the seat of the caliphate was transferred to Kufa, in Southern Iraq, from Medina

·        36-38 A.H.  While Ali was busy with the rebellion, Muawiyya himself strengthened his position to prepare to rebel.  Muawiyya prepared an army to lead against Ali.  Ali, in response led an army to meet them in Syria, in an area known as Sifeen.  The battle lasted several months.  Using trickery,  Muawiyya’s army got Ali’s army to stop fighting by ripping apart Qu’rans and attaching the pages to spears.  Ali’s soldiers mutiny, insisting on arbitration to end the dispute.  A vocal party refuses Ali’s suggestion for his representative in the arbitration, and despite Ali’s warnings, they insist on another, less experienced figure to represent them.  This representative is outmaneuvered by his more skilled opponent, and the arbitration ends for the Muslim army on unfavorable terms.

·        A party of kharijite extremists amongst the army of Ali are enraged, blaming Ali for the poor results and calling him an unbeliever.

·        37 A.H. Muhammad b. Abu Bakr is appointed by Ali as governor of Egypt

·        38 A.H. Battle of Nahrawan by Imam Ali’s army against a small group of Kharijite extremists

·        38 A.H.  Muawiyya sends his general, Amr b. al-A’as against Muhammad b. Abu Bakr.  b. Abu Bakr is killed, and his body desecrated.  Shortly before this, Ali sends Malik al-Ashtar, one of his prominent generals at the Battle of Sifeen, to replace him as governor.  Along the way, Malik is poisoned on orders of Muawiyya.  Egypt comes under the control of Muawiyya.

·        40 A.H. Imam Ali is assassinated by a Kharijite extremist in Kufa while leading morning prayers. 

·        40 A.H. Imam Hassan b. Ali becomes caliph.

·        Hassan’s support was nearly universal, including the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the cities of Iraq, and eastward.  Muawiyya held Syria, and continued to oppose Hassan as he had opposed Ali.  Muawiyya dropped all pretences that he was fighting to “avenge” Uthman, and admitted he was simply trying to make himself caliph.

·        Muawiyya prepares for war against Hassan and Hassan prepares forces and leads them out to meet the Syrian troops in Iraq.

·        Muawiyya works to undermine Hassan’s forces through bribes and misinformation.  Hassan’s forces succumb to the temptation and desert him, leaving him badly outnumbered.  Hassan is forced to abdicate the caliphate to Muawiyya.  Hassan abdicates however, only on several conditions:

·        1. That cursing of Ali from the pulpit would be ended

·        2. That Muawiyya would not get to choose his successor, and that Hassan would become caliph after the death of Muawiyya, and if Hassan were dead, his brother, Hussayn

·        3. That Muawiyya would follow the laws of Islam and the precedents of the previous caliphs

·        4. That Muawiyya would pay money for the orphans and widows of the earlier battles caused by his revolts

·        Hassan agrees not to revolt during the lifetime of Muawiyya, and his brother Hussayn reluctantly agrees to follow this condition as well.

·        Muawiyya then addresses the people in the mosque of Kufa.  Muawiyya announced: “Any agreements I have made with Hassan are under my feet (i.e. they are null and void)”  He continues: “I did not take power to make you pray or give alms or fast, for you do those already.  I take power simply to rule over you.”  Muawiyya went on to violate all terms of his agreement.

·        50 A.H. Hassan is murdered by poisoning.  Historical sources indicate that the poisoning was carried out under the order of Muawiyya.

·        53 A.H. Hujr ibn A’di al-Kindi, a former companion of Muhammad known for his piety and good character, leads a revolt against the representative of Muawiyya in Kufa.  He is eventually arrested, and executed.  His execution brought a broad outcry amongst the high ranking members of the Muslim state, including the Kufans, Meccans, and Medinans.  Muhammad’s former wife, Ayesha was one of the outspoken opponents of this action. 

·        Muawiyya makes attempts to secure the caliphate for his son Yazeed by seeking support of the leading living companions and sons of major sahaba.  Muawiyya murders a number of leading contenders for the caliphate after him.

·        Numerous calls are made to Hussayn to revolt against Muawiyya.  Hussayn, however, keeps his word in the agreement with Muawiyya, and refuses to take action until Muawiyya is dead.

·        60 A.H.  Muawiyya dies with Yazeed openly appointed as his successor

Part One: Preliminaries

      Section 1

      Section 2

Part Two: Hussayn's stand at Kerbala

Part Three: Aftermath of Kerbala