Khilafat-e-Rashidah — Page 70
70 KHILAFAT-E-R A SHIDAH dispute of Hadrat Muawiyah ra remained unsettled, and that became the cause of the battle of S af i n. Battle of S af i n In this battle, the comrades of Hadrat Muawiyah ra made a clever move and raised the Qurans on their spearheads, and declared that they would consent to the verdict of the Quran, and for this, arbiters should be appointed. On this, the mischievous people who were involved in the conspiracy of Hadrat Usman’s ra murder, and who, just after his martyrdom, associated themselves with Hadrat Ali ra to protect themselves, started pressuring Hadrat Ali ra to appoint arbiters. Hadrat Ali ra refused vehemently, but the mischievous persons, and other weak-natured persons who fell prey to their connivance, forced Hadrat Ali ra to appoint arbiters. Hadrat ‘Amr bin Al-‘ As from the side of Hadrat Muawiyah ra , and Hadrat Abu Musa Ash‘ari from the side of Hadrat Ali ra , were appointed arbiters. The issue to be settled was the murder of Hadrat Usman ra , under the condition that the decision would be according to the Holy Quran. However, ‘Amr bin Al-‘ As and Abu Musa Ash‘ari, after consultation, decided that Hadrat Ali ra and Hadrat Muawiyah ra should be dissolved from their offices, for it was they who had put all the Muslims to trouble, and then, the Muslims should be allowed to decide freely to elect the Khalifah of their choice. They were not appointed to make a decision in this respect.