The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 41
41 centres where the material for conflict was being prepared, i. e. Basrah, Kufah and Egypt. Egypt was the headquarters. However, Ibnus-Saud a ’ had kept himself hidden behind veils, just like the experienced and philosophically minded anarchists of that era. He was the spirit behind this entire scheme but others had been pushed to the forefront. Due to being nearby and on account of the political superiority which Basrah and Kufah enjoyed at the time, the people of these two cities appear to be at the forefront of this revolution. However, if one looks closely, the pages of history clearly indicate that the reins of all these schemes was in the hands of Ibnus-Saud a ’, who lived in Egypt. I have already mentioned that a party of men robbed the house of ‘ Al i bin H aisum a n Al-Khaz a ‘ i in Kufah and then killed him, after which these murderers were executed at the gate of the city. The fathers of these young men were extremely shocked by this and desired to seek revenge from Wal i d bin ‘Utbah, the governor of that region. They waited eagerly for an opportunity to seek revenge. These people became an excellent weapon for the rebels, and fully utilised them. In order to seek revenge from Wal i d, they appointed spies so that they could find a shortcoming in Wal i d and inform them. The spies had to report something, so, one day, they came and relayed that Wal i d meets with a Muslim friend Ab u Zubair, who was previously a Christian, and drinks alcohol. The rebels rose up and began to announce to the whole city that this was the state of their governor. The fervour of the masses is, after all, uncontrollable. Upon hearing this, a large party joined them and they all besieged the house of Wal i d. There was no door as such and everyone recklessly entered through the mosque (the door to his