Battle of the camel

the battle of the camel is one of the battles between the Moslem first , opposing the clan of the majority Quraych ites to Mecque to faithful of `Alî. It takes place in December 656 close to Bassora.

At the conclusion of this battle, Ali is alive and the two dead chiefs of the insurrection. But nobody is really victorious, the legendary side of the account of this battle implies that God supported `Aïcha which in fate consolidated in its claims and its support for the family Omeyyade.

History

The enmity between Ali and Baited was old, and went back to an incident during which Aïcha was suspected of adultery. Ali had advised with the prophet Mohamed to repudiate it. In spite of that, Aïcha did not intervene in any kind so that his/her father Abû Bakr is the first caliph. Besides Ali lent immediately allégence to the new caliph.

`Ali is however proclaimed Caliph after the death of “assassinated Uthman. Two Quraych ites, Talha and Zoubayr, supported by Baited, dispute this nomination under caliph. He take Bassora and exterminate all those which are suspected of having taken part in the assassination of `Uthman. He send a message to Mu `awîya to inform it that they were prepared to go against `Alî which camps with the surroundings with army which awaits the support of the inhabitants of Bassora.

The battle

After negociations which lasted several days, one small hour of December 656 the armies of `Alî pass to the attack. About Talha midday is reached by an arrow. According to some it is Marwân which would have drawn this arrow mortal. Talha died because of the hemorrhage. Al-Zubayr of sound with dimensions was killed in the combat and its head presented to `Alî.

Baited attended the battle since its litter posed on its camel whose reins are held by certain K' ab :

Ali noticed with concern that the enemies reformed their lines of battle. However his/her companions launched a hail of features on the litter of Baited, which litter, roughcast of a great number of features, of which none penetrated inside, resembled a cane-plantation. The brother of Ka' B, wire of Sour, held the support of the camel. `Ali, having made mander Mâlik, says to him:

- “ As a long time as these men will see this camel upright, they will not move back. Seek to seize the support and to involve it on this side of the battle field ”.

Mâlik, to the head of a many troop, delivered an attack and, of a blow of saber, cut the hand of the brother of Ka' B. Another brother of this one approached and seizes the support, while saying to Aïcha:

- “ It is me, the brother of Ka' b ! Baited retorted: That God you récompense ! ”.

When also had to him the cut hand, just as all those which, sixty and ten, had, after him, successively seized the support, and which the camel had resisted all the efforts that one made to take along it, `Ali gave the order to cut the bulges to him. When the army of Bassora saw the camel falling, it started to flee, and Baited, in the reversed litter with ground, exclaimed:

- “ Father of Hassan, you are the Master; would be clément ! ”

“Ali did not answer. He made call Muhammad, wire of Abu Bakr, and ordered to him to bring back his/her sister to the city. Muhammad being approached, it exclaimed:

- “ It is me, your brother, answered Muhammad; do not fear anything. ”

Aïcha reassured and returned graces to God. Muhammad brought back it to Bassora and made it receive in the house of Abdallah, wire of Khalaf, Khozâ `ite, one of notable of the city. `Ali remained on the battle field until the night. A great number of his/her companions had found death.

After the battle, `Alî made bury deaths and gather all the objects found on the battle field so that the owners can take again their goods.

This battle left deep traces in the Muslim community. Who rightly ? How the savoir ? The dispute omeyyade continued and it is the Bataille of Siffin between Mu `awîya and Ali the following year which definitively devoted the bursting of Islam between Shiite and sunnites.

Random links: