cBay'ah (oath of allegiance) of caliphate:

A week after the martyrdom of 'Uthmaan Ibn Affaan, may Allah be pleased with him, Bay'ah (oath of allegiance) was taken on Thul-Hijjah 25, 35 AH, at the hands of 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, in Al-Madeenah. Following the martyrdom of 'Uthmaan Ibn Affaan, his murderers were going strong in Al-Madeenah.

At first, they forced the people of Al-Madeenah to elect a caliph under threat. The majority of the rioters leaned towards 'Ali and the same situation prevailed throughout Al-Madeenah. When the people went to 'Ali to take Bay'ah, he, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "You pledge your allegiance to me but this is not enough unless the Companions of Badr (those who participated in the battle of Badr along with the Prophet) accept me as caliph." Hearing this, they went to the Companions of Badr and brought them in a group to 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. Maalik Al-Ashtar, was the first to take Bay'ah, and then the others followed him.

'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, then asked them to find out the intentions of Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them. Maalik Al-Ashtar went to Talhah and Hukaym Ibn Jabalah contacted Az-Zubayr and both of them were forcibly brought to 'Ali, who told them that he was ready to take Bay'ah at the hands of anyone who had a desire to become the Caliph. They flatly rejected the offer. They were then asked to take Bay'ah at the hands of 'Ali. At this, they began to ponder. Thereupon Maalik Al-Ashtar said to Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, drawing his sword, "The matter is to be decided right now."

In response to the demand of the situation, Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, said to 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, "I will take Bay'ah provided you issue orders to take actions according to the limits set by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger  (may Allah exalt his mention), and take Qisaas (retaliation) from the murderers of 'Uthmaan Ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him."

'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, promised to do the needful. Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, took Bay'ah extending his hand which had become lame following the injuries he received during the battle of Uhud. Some people took it as an ill omen. Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, also agreed to take Bay'ah with the same conditions put forward by Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him.

Second day of the caliphate:

Next day Talhah and Az-Zubayr called on 'Ali and said that they had pledged their support to him on the condition that retaliation measures would be taken against the murderers of 'Uthmaan. If he failed then their Bay'ah would stand as null and void. 'Ali said, "I shall take the necessary Qisaas from the murderers of 'Uthmaan, and do full justice to one and all. But until now the rioters are too strong and the state of caliphate has not yet been consolidated, I can only pay attention to this after the return to normalcy. Nothing can be done at present."

Mu'aawiyah's position:

'Ali sent a letter to Mu'aawiyah through Jareer Ibn 'Abdullaah and Sabrah Al-Juhani, may Allah be pleased with them, in Damascus. For three months no reply came and Mu'aawiyah kept the Caliph's emissary waiting. After that he handed over a sealed letter to his emissary Qabisah Al-'Absi and sent him accompanied by Jareer Ibn 'Abdullaah. The letter was clearly addressed to all. They reached in the month of Rabee' Al-Awwal 36 AH. The emissary gave Mu'aawiyah's letter to 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. When the envelope was opened, it contained no letter. 'Ali looked towards the emissary angrily. The emissary shuddered from within and said, "I am an emissary and safety of life is my right." 'Ali said: "Yes, you are safe." The emissary then said, "Nobody will pledge support to you. I have seen sixty thousand souls weeping over the bloodstained shirt of 'Uthmaan Ibn Affaan. They have also put the shirt on the grand mosque of Damascus to provoke the people." 'Ali said, "They want to take the revenge of 'Uthmaan on me even though I stood absolved from 'Uthmaan's blood. May Allah deal with the murderers of 'Uthmaan." Saying this, he returned the emissary to Mu'aawiyah.

Preparations for the invasion on Syria:

When the people of Al-Madeenah came to know of the strained relations between 'Ali and Mu'aawiyah, they feared further bloodshed. They sent Ziyaad Ibn Hanthalah to 'Ali as a feeler. 'Ali asked him to get ready. "What for?" Ziyaad asked. "For invading Syria " 'Ali firmly replied. "You should deal with them rather gently," he suggested. "No, the insurgents must be punished," 'Ali said. Knowing the intentions of 'Ali, both Talhah and Az-Zubayr called on 'Ali and sought permission to go to Makkah to perform 'Umrah.

'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, allowed them to leave Al-Madeenah. He then announced throughout Al-Madeenah to get ready for the invasion on Syria. Furthermore, he wrote letters to 'Uthmaan Ibn Hunayf in Basrah, Abu Moosaa in Koofah and Qays Ibn Sa'd in Egypt to make military preparations from their respective resources and send them to Al-Madeenah on demand.

When most of the people of Al-Madeenah got ready for this purpose, 'Ali placed Al-Madeenah in the charge of Qatham Ibn 'Abbaas and made his son Muhammad Ibn Al-Hanafyyah the standard-bearer of the army. 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abbaas the commanding officer of the right wing and 'Amr Ibn Abu Salaamah that of the left while he put Abu Laylaa Ibn Al-Jarraah, the brother of Abu 'Ubaydah Ibn Al-Jarraah on the vanguard.

However, he was cautious enough not to engage anyone from among the rioters for any military service. 'Ali had not finished the job of allotting military positions when news was given to him that the Makkans were making preparations against him. Following this news he postponed his march against Syria.

'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, returned to Makkah on hearing the news of 'Uthmaan's martyrdom. On reaching near to Makkah she was also told that the people of Al-Madeenah had taken the oath of allegiance at the hands of 'Ali. She returned to Makkah in such a state that people grouped around her mount. She said to them, "By Allah, 'Uthmaan has been killed without any fault and I shall take revenge on his behalf."

Hearing this, all the men from Banu Umayyah who had reached Makkah after the martyrdom of 'Uthmaan rose in support of action against the murderers.

When Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them, reached Makkah from Al-Madeenah 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, sent for both and inquired of them the reason behind their arrival in Makkah. They gave the reason that the rioters being in control, the noble and saner people found it totally unsafe to live in Al-Madeenah. 'Aa'ishah then said, "You should then rise against them along with us." Both of them expressed their favor and support to this plan. The entire population of Makkah was obedient to the Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her. Four persons, 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Aamir and Ya'laa Ibn Munyah, the former governors of Basrah and Yemen Talhah and Az-Zubayr, were among the commanders of 'Aa'ishah's army and considered to be men of sense and determination.

Talhah was on the right wing and Az-Zubayr on the left. Hukaym Ibn Jabalah began the fight by attacking the army of 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her. But the battle stopped in the evening. The next day Hukaym Ibn Jabalah drew the battle line again and the two forces attacked one another. Hukaym was killed on the battlefield and 'Uthmaan Ibn Hunayf had to taste defeat. Basrah was captured by Talhah and Az-Zubayr. 

The battle of the Camel (Al-Jamal)

'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, headed to Koofah from Al-Madeenah, when he heard that fighting broke out between 'Uthmaan Ibn Hunayf, his governor in Basrah, and the army of Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them. 'Ali organized a ten thousand-man army to fight them.

Al-Miqdaad Ibn Al-Aswad and Al-Qa'qaa' Ibn 'Amr, may Allah be pleased with them, were both sent by 'Ali to negotiate with Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them. The four agreed to refrain from fighting, after each party explained its point of view.

Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them, were of the opinion that the killers of 'Uthmaan should not be left at large. 'Ali thought that the matter should be postponed until things were settled. Therefore, punishment of the killers of 'Uthmaan had already been agreed upon. The difference of opinion between the two sides was only regarding the timing of it.

Following that agreement, the two armies, being relieved, were at rest. However, the followers of 'Abdullaah Ibn Saba', i.e. killers of 'Uthmaan, were not at ease at all because that agreement was against them, as mentioned by At-Tabari, Ibn Katheer, Ibn Al-Atheer, Ibn Hazm and others .

The Saba' sect, therefore, decided to challenge that agreement. Before dawn and while all were sleeping, a group of them attacked the army of Talhah and Az-Zubayr, killed some of its soldiers, and fled. The army of Talhah and Az-Zubayr thought that the army of 'Ali took them by surprise, so they started skirmishes with the army of 'Ali in the morning. Loud cries of war made Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them, come out of their tents. On inquiry they were told that 'Ali's troops had attacked their army. The hue and cry of fighting drew 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, out of his tent and the followers of 'Abdullaah Ibn Saba' told him that Talhah and Az-Zubayr had attacked his army all of a sudden and forced his men to fight back. The army of 'Ali thought that the army of Talhah and Az-Zubayr had tricked them and by noon skirmishes erupted into full battle! Leaders from the two armies tried to stop the fighting but in vain.

Ka'b Ibn Sur went to 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, and said, "The battle has begun. It is better for you to mount on a camel and go to the battlefield. Maybe your presence holds them back from fighting and paves the way for peace efforts to begin." But things went contrary to this plan and the flames of war leapt higher and higher.

Fighters from her camp were filled with great fervor when they saw her on the battlefield as if she had come to increase the enthusiasm of her troops.

Talhah and Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them, kept themselves apart right from the beginning of the battle. But small chieftains of various clans were firm in their resolve to fight on behalf of 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her. But she also, on the other hand, was in favor of peace and agreement.

Ka'b was holding the halter of 'Aa'ishah's camel and it was he who had escorted the Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her, to battlefield hoping for peace. The swordsmen of Basrah clustered around 'Aa'ishah's camel to save it at the cost of their lives with the result the battle took a very serious turn.

'Aa'ishah asked Ka'b to leave the halter and advance raising the Quran and calling the people to follow the dictates of the Book of Allah. Ka'b did accordingly. But the followers of 'Abdullaah Ibn Saba' showered arrows on him and he was honored with martyrdom. This tragic event filled the people of Basrah with zeal and fervor and in a short while there was a heap of dead bodies around the camel of 'Aa'ishah. The people of Basrah were laying down their lives to save the camel of 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her. It became clear to 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that the presence of 'Aa'ishah in the battlefield would never allow the situation to cool, for her mount had become the center of killing and bloodshed.

'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered his men to target the camel, for its fall would bring the battle to its end. After a number of attacks and counterattacks someone got an opportunity to strike the legs of the camel, which made it sit down with a shriek. With the fall of the camel, the supporters of 'Aa'ishah dispersed. Al-Qa'qaa' Ibn 'Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, hurried to the spot and asked 'Ali's men to surround the camel on all sides. 'Ali asked Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr to take care of his sister and see that she suffered no harm.

When her litter was taken out of the heap of the dead bodies and put at a distance, 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, reached there and sent his greetings and compliments to her and said, "Dear mother! How are you? May Allah forgive all your sins." 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, replied, "May Allah forgive your sins too!" Following this, commanders of various columns appeared to greet the Mother of the believers. 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, then said to Al-Qa'qaa': "I wish I had died twenty years before the event of this day." At the end of the battle, 'Ali made his way among the dead. There, he found Talhah Ibn 'Ubaydillaah who was killed soon after the beginning of the battle by an arrow that opened an old wound. After removing dust from Talhah's face and making his body upright, 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I am sorry to see you this way, dead and unsheltered, O Abu Muhammad!" He wept and said: "I wish I would have died, twenty years before this."

This battle became known as the battle of the Camel (Al-Jamal) because the camel 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was riding, had become the center of fighting. 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, led the funeral prayers of all the slain and had them buried.

The martyrdom of Az- Zubayr

When the battle broke out, Az-Zubayr Ibn Al-'Awwaam, may Allah be pleased with him, who had already decided not to fight, held himself back. Al-Ahnaf Ibn Qays from Basrah was lying with a large number of men encamped separately as a neutral force. When Az-Zubayr passed by his camp, 'Amr Ibn Jurmuz, a man from the army of Al-Ahnaf Ibn Qays, followed him. He went near to him and began to move along with him. In order to dispel any doubt, he asked Az-Zubayr to give his opinion on some issue. Arriving at As-Saba' Valley, Az-Zubayr stood in prayer. And as he lay prostrate, 'Amr Ibn Al-Jurmuz struck him with his weapon and went straight to 'Ali. Ibn Jurmuz entered 'Ali's place carrying Az-Zubayr's sword. He was repeating the words: "I killed Az-Zubayr, I killed Az-Zubayr!" When 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, heard him, he said: "Give bad tidings of hell to the killer of the son of Safiyyah (Az-Zubayr). He did not permit his entry to see him." (This was narrated by Ibn Sa'ad.) 

Koofah becomes the capital

The most important task before 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, following the battle of Al-Jamal was to subdue Syria and force Mu'aawiyah to take Bay'ah. So, he considered it necessary to make Koofah his capital. The Koofis happened to be the main strength of 'Ali's army. There was another reason behind making Koofah the capital and military center of Islam because Koofah was nearer to Damascus than Al-Madeenah. Kufah spreads its shadow of influence up to the Persian provinces.