Understanding the stance of Imam Ali and those who opposed him at the battle of Siffin | CIMS
Understanding the stance of Imam Ali and those who opposed him at the battle of Siffin | CIMS
9th January 2021
The battle of Siffin was fought in 37AH, in a period known as the first fiṭna (sedition), a period of civil war within the Muslim community. This battle saw Ali ibn Abi Talib, the caliph of the Muslim community fight against Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan, the governor of Syria. It ended in an arbitration which arguably had lasting impacts on the Muslim community. A discussion on this battle from Shia and Sunni perspectives was held by The Centre for Intra-Muslim on the 9th of January 2021. The Sunni presentation was carried out by Syed Naveed Shah, an Imam for over 10 years currently serving in Medina Mosque in Bradford, and the Shia presentation by Syed Jaafar Fadlallah, a faculty member at Al-Mahdi Institute and The Islamic Sharia Institute Beirut.
[1] Muhammad al-Tabari, Tarikh Al-Tabari, vol. 3 (Beirut: Manshurat Muassat al-I’lami, 1879), 450; Ali Ibn Athir. Al-Kamil Fi Al-Tarikh, vol. 3 (Beirut: Dar Sadir, 1965), 190.
[2] According to Syed Fadlallah, Muawiya’s nepotism started during the time of the second caliph Umar al Khattab, however Umar restricted him in doing so. He had a more freedom at the time of the third caliph Uthman. Ref: al-Tabari vol 3 (pp. 388), Bidaya wal-Nihaya vol 7 page 169
[3] Such as him deceiving Shurahybil bin Samt, an influential figure in Syria, in opposing Ali. Ref Ibn Muzahim. (1962) Waq’atu al Siffeen (pp.44-47)
[4] Such as his appointment of Amr al Aas as the governor of Egypt. Ref Ibn Muzahim (pp. 34-40)
[5] Khalid El Fadl, The doctrinal foundations of the laws of rebellion. In Rebellion and Violence in Islamic Law Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001), 32-61.
[6] Quran 2:134: “That was a nation that has passed: for it there will be what it has earned, and for you there will be what you have earned, and you will not be questioned about what they used to do.”
[7] Quran 12:111 “There is certainly a moral in their accounts for those who possess intellect.”
Speakers


