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Caliph Ali

<p><b >Ali</b>&#160;was the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate" title="Caliphate" >caliph</a>&#160;between 656 and 661 CE which was one of the hardest periods in&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_history" class="mw-redirect" title="Muslim history" >Muslim history</a>&#160;that coincided with the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Fitna" title="First Fitna" >first Muslim civil war</a>. He reigned over&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_empire" class="mw-redirect" title="Rashidun empire" >Rashidun empire</a>which was extended from&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia" >Central Asia</a>&#160;in the east to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa" title="North Africa" >North Africa</a>&#160;in the west. Many Muslims consider his government as the Islamic style of justice and tolerance on one side and tough following of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia" title="Sharia" >Islamic law</a>&#160;on the other.

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<h2 >Election as Caliph[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_as_Caliph&#38;action=edit&#38;section=2" title="Edit section: Election as Caliph" >edit</a>]</h2>

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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali" title="Ali" >Ali</a>&#160;is credited as the first male to convert to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam" >Islam</a>.</div>

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<p >After the assassination of the third Caliph,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uthman_Ibn_Affan" class="mw-redirect" title="Uthman Ibn Affan" >Uthman Ibn Affan</a>, rebels had to elect a new Caliph. But this&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election" title="Election" >election</a>&#160;encountered with some difficulties. The rebels were divided into several groups comprising&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhajerin" class="mw-redirect" title="Muhajerin" >Muhajerin</a>,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansar_(Islam)" title="Ansar (Islam)" >Ansar</a>,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt" >Egyptians</a>,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufa" title="Kufa" >Kufans</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassorah" class="mw-redirect" title="Bassorah" >Basntes</a>, and the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharijites" class="mw-redirect" title="Kharijites" >Kharijites</a>. There were three candidates Ali,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talhah" title="Talhah" >Talhah</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Zubayr" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Zubayr" >Al-Zubayr</a>. First they referred to Ali and asked him to accept the caliphate. Also some&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahaba" class="mw-redirect" title="Sahaba" >Companions of Muhammad</a>&#160;tried to persuade him to accept the office.<sup id="cite_ref-Sermon_3_1-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Sermon_3-1" >[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Iranica_2-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Iranica-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-3" >[3]</a></sup>&#160;But he refused and answered: Leave me and seek someone else. We are facing a matter which has (several) faces and colors, which neither hearts can stand nor intelligence can accept. Clouds are hovering over the sky, and faces are not discernible. You should know that if I respond to you I would lead you as I know and would not care about whatever one may say or abuse. If you leave me then I am the same as you are. It is possible I would listen to and obey whomever you make in charge of your affairs. I am better for you as a counselor than as chief.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-4" >[4]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-5" >[5]</a></sup>

Then rebels offered the caliphate to Talhah and Al-Zubayr and some other companions but they refused it too. Therefore, they threatened that, unless the people of Medina choose a caliph within one day, they would be forced to take some drastic action. In order to resolve the deadlock all of the Muslims gathered in&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Masjid_al-Nabawi" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Masjid al-Nabawi" >Mosque of Prophet</a>&#160;on 18 June 656CE. (25th&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhu_al-Hijjah" title="Dhu al-Hijjah" >Dhu al-Hijjah</a>&#160;35AH.) to choose the caliph. Ali refused to accept caliphate by the fact that the people who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he therefore declined at first. When the notable companions of Muhammad as well as people who live in Medina urged him, however, he finally agreed. According to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Mekhnaf" class="mw-redirect" title="Abu Mekhnaf" >Abu Mekhnaf</a>'s narration Talhah was the first prominent companion who gave his pledge but the other narrations claim they didn't do so or even somebody forced them to do so. However he and Al-Zubayr later claimed they did so reluctantly, but Ali refused this claim and said that they did so voluntarily.&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilferd_Madelung" title="Wilferd Madelung" >Mudelong</a>&#160;believe that force was not used to urge people to give their pledge and they pledged in public in the mosque.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-6" >[6]</a></sup>&#160;<sup id="cite_ref-firstfourcaliphs_7-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-firstfourcaliphs-7" >[7]</a></sup>

While the overwhelming majority of people who lived in Medina as well as rebels gave their pledge, some major figures did not.&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad" class="mw-redirect" title="Umayyad" >Umayyads</a>, kins of Uthman, escaped to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant" title="Levant" >Levant</a>&#160;or remained in their houses and later refused Ali's legitimacy.&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%60ad_ibn_Abi_Waqqas" class="mw-redirect" title="Saad ibn Abi Waqqas" >Saad ibn Abi Waqqas</a>&#160;were absent and&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_ibn_Umar" title="Abdullah ibn Umar" >Abdullah ibn Umar</a>&#160;abstained from offering his allegiance but both of them assured Ali that they wouldn't do anything against Ali.&#160;<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-8" >[8]</a></sup>&#160;Another prominent figure who was in&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca" title="Mecca" >Mecca</a>&#160;at that time and later opposed Ali, was&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%27isha" class="mw-redirect" title="A'isha" >A'isha</a>, Muhammad's widow.</p>

<h2 >Reign as Caliph[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_as_Caliph&#38;action=edit&#38;section=3" title="Edit section: Reign as Caliph" >edit</a>]</h2>

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Domains of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_empire" class="mw-redirect" title="Rashidun empire" >Rashidun empire</a>&#160;under&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun" title="Rashidun" >four caliphs</a>. The divided phase relates to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_caliphate" class="mw-redirect" title="Ali caliphate" >Ali caliphate</a>.

<div class="legend">&#160;&#160;Strongholds of Rashidun Caliphate</div>

<div class="legend">&#160;&#160;Vassal states of Rashidun Caliphate</div>

<div class="legend">&#160;&#160;Region under the control of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muawiyah_I" title="Muawiyah I" >Muawiyah I</a>&#160;during civil war 656–661</div>

<div class="legend">&#160;&#160;Region under the control of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amr_ibn_al-As" class="mw-redirect" title="Amr ibn al-As" >Amr ibn al-As</a>&#160;during civil war 658–661</div>

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<p >At the beginning Ali told people that Muslim polity had come to be plagued by dissension and discord and he want to purge Islam of all evil from which it had come to suffer. Then warned all concerned that he would tolerate no sedition and all found guilty of subversive activities would be dealt with harshly. He advised people to behave as true Muslims.<sup id="cite_ref-Ashraf_2005.2C_p.121_9-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Ashraf_2005.2C_p.121-9" >[9]</a></sup>

But he soon found that he was helpless and the prisoner of the people who didn't obey him. The caliphate had come to him as the gift of the rebels and he didn't have enough force to control or punish them.<sup id="cite_ref-Ashraf_2005.2C_p.121_9-1" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Ashraf_2005.2C_p.121-9" >[9]</a></sup>&#160;When some people asked Ali to punish those who killed Uthman, Ali answered, "How do I have the power for it while those who assaulted him are in the height of their power. They have superiority over us, not we over them."<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-10" >[10]</a></sup>&#160;While&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%27isha" class="mw-redirect" title="A'isha" >A'isha</a>, Talhah, Al-Zubayr and Umayyad especially&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muawiyah_I" title="Muawiyah I" >Muawiyah I</a>wanted to take revenge for Uthman's death and punish the rioters who had killed him. However some historians believe that they use this issue to seek their political ambitions due to finding Ali's caliphate against their own benefit.<sup id="cite_ref-Iranica_2-1" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Iranica-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Tabatabae191_11-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Tabatabae191-11" >[11]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-12" >[12]</a></sup>

Soon after Ali became caliph, he dismissed provincial governors who had been appointed by Uthman, and replaced them with trusted aides. He acted against the counsel of<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mughrah_ibn_Shobah&#38;action=edit&#38;redlink=1" class="new" title="Mughrah ibn Shobah (page does not exist)" >Mughrah ibn Shobah</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Abbas" class="mw-redirect" title="Ibn Abbas" >Ibn Abbas</a>, who had advised him to proceed cautiously. Madelung says Ali was deeply convinced of his right and his religious mission, unwilling to compromise his principles for the sake of political expediencey, ready to fight against overwhelming odds. Muawiyah, kinsman of Uthman and governor of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant" title="Levant" >Levant</a>&#160;refused to submit to Ali's orders - the only governor to do this.<sup id="cite_ref-Iranica_2-2" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Iranica-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-firstfourcaliphs_7-1" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-firstfourcaliphs-7" >[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-13" >[13]</a></sup>

After the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bassorah" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Bassorah" >Battle of Bassorah</a>&#160;Ali transferred his capital from Medina to Kufa, the Muslim garrison city in&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq" >Iraq</a>. Kufa was in the middle of Islamic land and had strategic position.<sup id="cite_ref-firstfourcaliphs_7-2" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-firstfourcaliphs-7" >[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-14" >[14]</a></sup>

Ali resumed the land which had been granted by Uthman and swore to resume whatever some elites had taken before him. He opposed the centralization of capital control over provincial revenues and favored an equal distribution of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_tax" class="mw-redirect" title="Islamic tax" >taxes</a>&#160;and booty among the Muslims; in contrast to Umar he distributed the entire revenue of the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divan" title="Divan" >divan</a>&#160;among Muslims without keeping anything in reserve. When asked to pay more money to elites he said "Do you command me that I should seek support by oppressing those over whom I have been placed? By Allah, I won't do so as long as the world goes on, and as long as one star leads another in the sky. Even if it were my property, I would have distributed it equally among them, then why not when the property is that of Allah."<sup id="cite_ref-Iranica_2-3" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Iranica-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-15" >[15]</a></sup>

Ali believed that people and governors have rights over each other and God created these rights so as to equate with one another. The greatest of these rights that Allah has made obligatory is the right of the ruler over the ruled and the right of the ruled over the ruler. If the ruled fulfill the rights of the ruler and the ruler fulfills their rights, then right attains the position of honor among them, the ways of religion become established, signs of justice become fixed and the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnah" title="Sunnah" >sunnah</a>&#160;gains currency. He wrote directions for his officials which clearly show what form of regime he wanted to introduce. It was not to be a regime whose officers had an upper hand and were fattened on public money. It was to be a regime where the governed and the tax-payers were at premium. It was their convenience for which the State was to function. It was a welfare-state working solely for the welfare of the people living under its rule, a regime where the rich cannot get richer while the poor are made poorer; a regime where canons of religion hold the balance between the governed and the ruler. He asked people not to speak with him as they spoke with cruel governors and be honest with him.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-16" >[16]</a></sup>

Ali had decisive beliefs that he shouldn't start a war with other Muslims but when the enemy started it his army wouldn't retreat unless they wanted to attack again. He ordered his soldiers not to kill who would become injured, or not be able to defend himself, or escape from the battlefield and injuries and wanted his warriors not to injure women.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-17" >[17]</a></sup></p>

<h2 >First Fitna[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_as_Caliph&#38;action=edit&#38;section=4" title="Edit section: First Fitna" >edit</a>]</h2>

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<li ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Camel" title="Battle of the Camel" >The Camel</a></li>

<li ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Siffin" title="Battle of Siffin" >Siffin</a></li>

<li ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nahrawan" title="Battle of Nahrawan" >Nahrawan</a></li>

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<div role="note" class="hatnote" >See also:&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Fitna" title="First Fitna" >First Fitna</a></div>

<p >The First Fitna, 656–661 CE, followed the assassination of the caliph Uthman Ibn Affan, continued during the caliphate of Ali, and was ended, on the whole, by Muawiyah's assumption of the caliphate. This civil war is often called the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitna_(word)" title="Fitna (word)" >Fitna</a>, and regretted as the end of the early unity of the Islamic&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummah" title="Ummah" >ummah</a>&#160;(nation). Ali was first opposed by a faction led by Talhah, Al-Zubayr and the Muhammad's wife,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisha" title="Aisha" >Aisha</a>&#160;bint Abu Bakr. This group was known as&#160;<i>disobedients</i>&#160;(Nakithin) by their enemies. First they gathered in Mecca then moved to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra" title="Basra" >Basra</a>&#160;with the expectation of finding the necessary forces and resources to mobilize people in what is now Iraq. The rebels occupied Basra, killing many people. When Ali asked them for obedience and a pledge of allegiance, they refused. The two parties met at the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bassorah" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Bassorah" >Battle of Bassorah</a>&#160;(Battle of the Camel) in 656, where Ali emerged victorious.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-18" >[18]</a></sup>

Then he appointed&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Abbas" class="mw-redirect" title="Ibn Abbas" >Ibn Abbas</a>&#160;governor of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra" title="Basra" >Basra</a>&#160;and moved his capital to&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufa" title="Kufa" >Kufa</a>. Later he was challenged by&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muawiyah_I" title="Muawiyah I" >Muawiyah I</a>, the governor of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant" title="Levant" >Levant</a>&#160;and the cousin of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uthman" title="Uthman" >Uthman</a>, who refused Ali's demands for allegiance and called for revenge for Uthman. Ali opened negotiations with him with the hope of regaining his allegiance but Muawiyah insisted on Levant autonomy under his rule. Muawiyah replied by mobilizing his&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant" title="Levant" >Levantn</a>&#160;supporters and refusing to pay homage to Ali on the pretext that his contingent had not participated in his election. The two armies encamped themselves at&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siffin" class="mw-redirect" title="Siffin" >Siffin</a>&#160;for more than one hundred days, most of the time being spent in negotiations. Although, Ali exchanged several letters with Muawiyah, he was unable to dismiss the latter, nor persuade him to pledge allegiance. Skirmishes between the parties led to the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Siffin" title="Battle of Siffin" >Battle of Siffin</a>&#160;in 657. After a week of combat was followed by a violent battle known as laylat al-harir (the night of clamor) the Muawiyah's army were on the point of being routed when&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amr_ibn_al-Aas" class="mw-redirect" title="Amr ibn al-Aas" >Amr ibn al-Aas</a>&#160;advised Muawiyah to have his soldiers hoist&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushaf" class="mw-redirect" title="Mushaf" >mushaf</a>&#160;(either parchments inscribed with verses of the Qur'an, or complete copies of it) on their spearheads in order to cause disagreement and confusion in Ali's army.<sup id="cite_ref-Iranica_2-4" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Iranica-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-19" >[19]</a></sup>

The two armies finally agreed to settle the matter of who should be Caliph by arbitration. The refusal of the largest bloc in Ali's army to fight was the decisive factor in his acceptance of the arbitration. The question as to whether the arbiter would represent Ali or the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufa" title="Kufa" >Kufans</a>&#160;caused a further split in Ali's army.&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash%27ath_ibn_Qays" class="mw-redirect" title="Ash'ath ibn Qays" >Ash'ath ibn Qays</a>&#160;and some others who later became the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharijites" class="mw-redirect" title="Kharijites" >Kharijites</a>&#160;rejected Ali's nominees,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%60Abd_Allah_ibn_%60Abbas" class="mw-redirect" title="Abd Allah ibn Abbas" >Abd Allah ibn Abbas</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malik_al-Ashtar" title="Malik al-Ashtar" >Malik al-Ashtar</a>, and insisted on&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Musa_Ash%27ari" class="mw-redirect" title="Abu Musa Ash'ari" >Abu Musa Ash'ari</a>, who was opposed by Ali, since he had earlier prevented people from supporting him. Ali was urged to accept Abu Musa but he never did. Those who preferred Abu Musa went decided to continue with the arbitration anyway. The&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharijites" class="mw-redirect" title="Kharijites" >Kharijites</a>&#160;(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schisma" title="Schisma" >schismatics</a>), later opposed the decision to choose Abu Musa blaming Ali for his appointment and rebelled and Ali had to fight with them in the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nahrawan" title="Battle of Nahrawan" >Battle of Nahrawan</a>. The arbitration resulted in the dissolution of Ali's coalition and some have opined that this was Muawiyah's intention.<sup id="cite_ref-Iranica_2-5" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Iranica-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-20" >[20]</a></sup>

Muawiyah's army invaded and plundered cities, which Ali's governors couldn't prevent and people didn't support him to fight with them. Muawiyah overpowered Egypt, Yemen and other areas.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-21" >[21]</a></sup>

This civil war created permanent divisions within the Muslim community and Muslims were divided over who had the legitimate right to occupy the caliphate.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-22" >[22]</a></sup></p>

<h2 >Death[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_as_Caliph&#38;action=edit&#38;section=5" title="Edit section: Death" >edit</a>]</h2>

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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulfiqar" title="Zulfiqar" >Zulfiqar</a>&#160;with and without the shield. The&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid" class="mw-redirect" title="Fatimid" >Fatimid</a>&#160;depiction of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali" title="Ali" >Ali</a>'s sword as carved on the Gates of Old Cairo, namely Bab al-Nasr.</div>

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<p >On the nineteenth of Ramadan, while Ali was praying in the mosque of Kufa, the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharijite" class="mw-redirect" title="Kharijite" >Kharijite</a>&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd-al-Rahman_ibn_Muljam" title="Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam" >Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam</a>&#160;assassinated him with a strike of his poison-coated sword. Ali, wounded by the poisonous sword, lived for two days and died on the 21st of Ramadan in the city of Kufa in 661 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-23" >[23]</a></sup>

Ali ordered his sons not to kill a group of people. Since the act was performed by a single member of Kharijite group and not all of them, they had to revenge just the murderer.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-24" >[24]</a></sup>&#160;Thus later Hasan fulfilled&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qisas" title="Qisas" >Qisas</a>&#160;and killed ibn Muljam.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-25" >[25]</a></sup>

In these two days he dictated his will to his household "My advice to you is that you should not consider anyone as a co-worker of the Lord, be firm in your belief that there is One and only One Allah. Do not waste the knowledge given to you by the Muhammad and do not give up and destroy his&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnah" title="Sunnah" >Sunnah</a>&#160;[traditions]. Keep these two pillars of Islam [monotheism and Sunnah of the Muhammad] aloft. If you act according to my advice then you cannot be blamed for damaging or destroying the religion."&#160;<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-26" >[26]</a></sup></p>

<h2 >Burial[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_as_Caliph&#38;action=edit&#38;section=6" title="Edit section: Burial" >edit</a>]</h2>

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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawze-e-Sharif" class="mw-redirect" title="Rawze-e-Sharif" >Rawze-e-Sharif</a>, the Blue Mosque, in&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazari_Sharif" class="mw-redirect" title="Mazari Sharif" >Mazari Sharif</a>,&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan" >Afghanistan</a>&#160;- Where a minority of Muslims believe Ali ibn Abi Talib is buried</div>

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<p >Because Ali did not want his grave to be desecrated by his enemies, he asked his friends and family members to bury him secretly. This secret gravesite is supposed to have been revealed later during the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid" class="mw-redirect" title="Abbasid" >Abbasid</a>&#160;caliphate by&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja%27far_al-Sadiq" title="Ja'far al-Sadiq" >Ja'far al-Sadiq</a>, the sixth Shia Imam.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-27" >[27]</a></sup>&#160;Most Shi'as accept that Ali was buried at the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Ali_Mosque" title="Imam Ali Mosque" >Tomb of Imam Ali</a>&#160;in the&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Ali_Mosque" title="Imam Ali Mosque" >Imam Ali Mosque</a>&#160;at what is now the city of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Najaf" title="Najaf" >Najaf</a>, which grew around the mosque and shrine called Masjid Ali.<sup id="cite_ref-Imam_Ali_Ibn_Abu_Talib_28-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-Imam_Ali_Ibn_Abu_Talib-28" >[28]</a></sup>

However another story, usually maintained by Afghans, notes that his body was taken and buried in the Afghan city of&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazari_Sharif" class="mw-redirect" title="Mazari Sharif" >Mazari Sharif</a>&#160;at the famous Blue Mosque or&#160;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawze-e-Sharif" class="mw-redirect" title="Rawze-e-Sharif" >Rawze-e-Sharif</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_as_Caliph#cite_note-29" >[29]</a></sup></p>

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