أ ـ السياسة العلوية والسياسة الاُمويّة
The Alawid Policy and the Umayyad Policy
517. الإرشاد :
517. Al-Irshad, relates,
ومِن كَلامِهِ عليه السلام
from the words of Imam Ali (AS)
لَمّا نَقَضَ مُعاوِيَةُ بنُ أبي سُفيانَ شَرطَ المُوادَعَةِ
when Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan revoked the condition of reconciliation
وأقبَلَ يَشُنُّ الغاراتِ عَلى أهلِ العِراقِ ،
and began to launch raids on the people of Iraq:
فَقالَ بَعدَ حَمدِ اللّهِ وَالثَّناءِ عَلَيهِ :
He said, after he had praised God and lauded Him:
ما لِمُعاوِيَةَ قاتَلَهُ اللّهُ ؟ !
“What is wrong with Muawiyah? May God fight him!
لَقَد أرادَني عَلى أمرٍ عَظيمٍ ،
He desired me [to involve myself] in a dreadful matter.
أرادَ أن أفعَلَ كَما يَفعَلُ ،
He desired me to act as he acts,
فَأَكونَ قَد هَتَكتُ ذِمَّتي ونَقَضتُ عَهدي ،
so that I would violate my pact and revoke my covenant.
فَيَتَّخِذَها عَلَيَّ حُجَّةً ،
He would then employ it as proof against me,
فَتَكونَ عَلَيَّ شَينا إلى يَومِ القِيامَةِ كُلَّما ذُكِرتُ .
and it would be a disgrace against me until the Day of the Resurrection.
فَإِن قيلَ لَهُ : أنتَ بَدَأتَ ،
If it is said to him: “You have begun it”,
قالَ : ما عَلِمتُ ولا أمَرتُ ،
he would say: “I did not know [about those raids] and I did not order them”.
فَمِن قائِلٍ يَقولُ : قَد صَدَقَ ،
So some will say: ‘He spoke the truth’
ومِن قائِلٍ يَقولُ : كَذِبَ .
and others will say: ‘He lied’.
أمَ واللّهِ ، إنَّ اللّهَ لَذو أناةٍ وحِلمٍ عَظيمٍ ،
Indeed, by God, verily God is the [true] possessor of compassion and great forbearance.
لَقَد حَلُمَ عَن كَثيرٍ مِن فَراعِنَةِ الأَوَّلينَ وعاقَبَ فَراعِنَةً ،
He treated with forbearance many of the first Pharaohs and punished other Pharaohs.
فَإِن يُمهِلهُ اللّهُ فَلَن يَفوتَهُ ،
If God gives him respite, he will never elude Him.
وهُوَ لَهُ بِالمِرصادِ عَلى مَجازِ طَريقِهِ .
He is at the observation post at the beginning of his path.
فَليَصنَع ما بَدا لَهُ
Let him do what seems appropriate to him,
فَإِنّا غَيرُ غادِرينَ بِذِمَّتِنا ،
for indeed, we will not break our pact
ولا ناقِضينَ لِعَهدِنا ،
nor will we revoke our covenant,
ولا مُرَوِّعينَ لِمُسلِمٍ ولا مُعاهَدٍ ،
nor will we terrorize a Muslim, or one who has made a covenant
حَتّى يَنقَضي شَرطُ المُوادَعَةِ بَينَنا ،
until the terms of the truce between us expire,
إن شاءَ اللّهُ .
if God wills.”
الإرشاد : ج1 ص275 .
Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 275.
ب ـ غارَةُ النُّعمانِ بنِ بَشيرٍ
The Raid of al-Numan ibn Bashir
518. الكامل في التاريخ :
518. Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, relates:
في هذِهِ السَّنَةِ [39 ه ] فَرَّقَ مُعاوِيَةُ جُيوشَهُ فِي العِراقِ في أطرافِ عَلِيٍّ ،
“In 39 AH Muawiyah separated his armies inside Iraq around Ali.
فَوَجَّهَ النُّعمانَ بنَ بَشيرٍ في ألفِ رَجُلٍ إلى عَينِ التَّمرِ ،
He directed al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir with [a contingent of] two thousand troops to Ayn al-Tamr,
وفيها : مالِكُ بنُ كَعبٍ مَسلَحةً لِعَلِيٍّ في ألفِ رَجُلٍ ،
where Malik ibn Ka‘b with a thousand armed men were residing on behalf of Ali.
وكانَ مالِكٌ قَد أذِنَ لِأَصحابِهِ فَأَتُوا الكوفَةَ ولَم يَبقَ مَعَهُ إلّا مِئَةُ رَجُلٍ ،
Malik had permitted his companions to go to Kufah, so only a hundred men had remained with him.
فَلَمّا سَمِعَ بِالنُّعمانِ كَتَبَ إلى أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ يُخبِرُهُ ويَستَمِدُّهُ .
When he heard of al-Nu‘man’s [advancement], he wrote to the Commander of the Faithful informing him and seeking help.
فَخَطَبَ عَلِيٌّ النّاسَ ، وأمَرَهُم بِالخُروجِ إلَيهِ ، فَتَثاقَلوا .
Ali addressed the people and commanded them to go forth to him; however, they were sluggish.
وواقَعَ مالِكٌ النُّعمانَ وجَعَلَ جِدارَ القَريَةِ في ظُهورِ أصحابِهِ ،
Malik confronted al-Nu’man and advanced his troops beyond the walls of the village.
وكَتَبَ مالِكٌ إلى مِخنَفِ بنِ سُلَيمٍ يَستَعينُهُ ،
Malik also wrote to Mikhnaf ibn Sulaym seeking his help,
وهُوَ قَريبٌ مِنهُ ،
as he was close to him.
وَاقتَتَلَ مالِكٌ وَالنُّعمانُ أشَدَّ قِتالٍ ،
Malik and al-Nu’man fought each other fiercely.
فَوَجَّهَ مِخنَفٌ ابنَهُ عَبدَ الرَّحمنِ في خَمسينَ رَجُلاً ،
Mikhnaf sent his son Abd al-Rahman with fifty men.
فَانتَهَوا إلى مالِكٍ وقَد كَسَروا جُفونَ سُيوفِهِم وَاستَقتَلوا ،
They arrived to Malik, when he and his companions had broken the sheaths of their swords and were defying death.
فَلَمّا رَآهُم أهلُ الشّامِ انهَزَموا عِندَ المَساءِ ،
When the Syrians saw them, they were defeated by night,
وظَنّوا أنَّ لَهُم مَدَدا ،
assuming that they would be supported.
وتَبِعَهُم مالِكٌ فَقَتَلَ مِنهُم ثَلاثَةَ نَفَرٍ .
Malik followed them [as they retreated] and killed three of their men.
ولَمّا تَثاقَلَ أهلُ الكوفَةِ عَنِ الخُروجِ إلى مالِكٍ ،
When the people of Kufah were sluggish in marching forth to Malik,
صَعِدَ عَلِيٌّ المِنبَرَ فَخَطَبَهُم ، ثُمَّ قالَ :
Ali ascended the pulpit and addressed them. He said:
يا أهلَ الكوفَةِ !
O People of Kufah!
كُلَّما سَمِعتُم بِجَمعٍ مِن أهلِ الشّامِ أظَلَّكُمُ انجَحَرَ
Whenever you hear a group of the Syrians casting a shadow over,
كُلُّ امرِئٍ مِنكُم في بَيتِهِ ،
each one of you hides in his house
وأغلَقَ عَلَيهِ بابَهُ انجِحارَ الضَّبِّ في جُحرِهِ ،
and closes his door like the hiding of a lizard in its hole
وَالضَّبُعِ في وِجارِها ،
and a hyena in its lair.
المَغرورُ مَن غَرَرتُموهُ ،
A deceived person is one whom you have deceived.
ومَن فازَ بِكُم فازَ بِالسَّهمِ الأَخيَبِ ،
Whoever will be victorious with you will be victorious with broken arrows.
لا أحرارٌ عِندَ النِّداءِ ،
You are not free at the time of the call,
ولا إخوانٌ عند النَّجاءِ !
nor are you brothers at the time of the plea!
إنّا لِلّهِ وإنّا إلَيهِ راجِعونَ !
Indeed, we belong to God, and to Him do we indeed return!
ماذا مُنيتُ بِهِ مِنكُم ؟
With what have I been afflicted because of you?
عُميٌ لا يُبصِرونَ ، وبُكمٌ لا يَنطِقونَ ، وصُمٌّ لا يَسمَعونَ !
[You are] blind who do not see, dumb who do not speak and deaf who do not hear!
إنّا للِّهِ وإنّا إلَيهِ راجِعونَ .
Indeed, we belong to God, and to Him do we indeed return.”
الكامل في التاريخ : ج2 ص425 .
Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 425.
ج ـ غارَةُ سُفيانَ بنِ عَوفٍ
The Raid of Sufyan ibn Awf
519. الغارات عن سفيان بن عوف الغامدي :
519. Al-Gharat, reporting from Sufyan ibn Awf al-Ghamidi, who said:
دَعاني مُعاوِيَةُ فَقالَ :
“Muawiyah summoned me and said:
إنّي باعِثُكَ في جَيشٍ كَثيفٍ ذي أداةٍ وجَلادَةٍ
‘I am sending you with an intense army with arms and coarseness.
فَالزَم لي جانِبَ الفُراتِ حَتّى تَمُرَّ بِهيتَ (هِيْت : بلدة في العراق على الفرات من نواحي بغداد ، فوق الأنبار، معجم البلدان : ج5 ص421) .
Hold on to the side of the Euphrates until you pass by Hit1457, [A city in Iraq on the banks of the Euphrates, a district of Baghdad above al-Anbar. Ref. Mu‘jam al-Buldan, vol5, p. 421.]
فَتَقطَعَها ، فَإِن وَجَدتَ بِها جُندا فَأَغِر عَلَيهِم
then cross it. If you find troops there, attack them;
وإلّا فَامضِ حَتّى تُغيرَ عَلَى الأَنبارِ ،
if not march on until you launch raids on al-Anbar.
فَإِن لَم تَجِد بِها جُندا
If you do not find troops there,
فَامضِ حَتّى تُغيرَ عَلَى المَدائِنِ
march on until you launch raids on al-Mada’in;
ثُمَّ أقبِل إلَيَّ ،
therafter return to me.
وَاتَّقِ أن تَقرُبَ الكوفَةَ ،
Take care not to get close to Kufah.
وَاعلَم أنَّكَ إن أغَرتَ عَلى أهلِ الأَنبارِ وأهلِ المَدائِنِ
Know that if you have launched raids on the people of al-Anbar and al-Mada’in,
فَكَأَنَّكَ أغَرتَ عَلَى الكوفَةِ ،
it is as if you had launched raids on Kufah.
إنَّ هذِهِ الغاراتِ يا سُفيانُ عَلى أهلِ العِراقِ تَرهَبُ قُلوبَهُم
O Sufyan, these raids on the people of Iraq instil fear into their hearts
وتُجَرِّئُ كُلَّ مَن كانَ لَهُ فينا هَوىً مِنهُم ويَرى فِراقَهُم ،
and embolden every one who supports us and wants to separate from them.
وتَدعو إلَينا كُلَّ مَن كانَ يَخافُ الدَّوائِرَ ،
You shall invite to us all those who fear a reversal of their fortunes.
وخَرَّبَ كُلَّ ما مَرَرتَ بِهِ مِنَ القُرى ،
Destroy all the villages that you pass by.
وَاقتُل كُلَّ مَن لَقيتَ مِمَّن لَيسَ هُوَ عَلى رَأيِكَ ،
Kill everyone that you meet in case he does not share your opinion.
وَاحرَبِ الأَموالَ ،
Plunder the wealth,
فَإِنَّهُ شَبيهٌ بِالقَتلِ وهُوَ أوجَعُ لِلقُلوبِ .
for indeed it is similar to killing, or rather, it is more painful to the hearts.’ ”
الغارات : ج2 ص464 .
Al-Gharat, vol. 2. p. 464.
د ـ غارَةُ الضَّحّاكِ بنِ قَيسٍ
The Raid of al-Dahhak ibn Qais
520. الغارات عن عبد الرحمن بن مسعدة الفزاري :
520. Al-Gharat, reporting from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Masada al-Fazari, who said:
دَعا مُعاوِيَةُ الضَّحّاكَ بنَ قَيسٍ الفِهرِيَّ ،
“Muawiyah summoned al-Dahhak ibn Qais ‘Abd al- Fihri
وقالَ لَهُ : سِر حَتّى تَمُرَّ بِناحِيَةِ الكوفَةِ ،
and said to him: ‘March until you pass the area of Kufah.
وتَرتَفِعَ عَنها مَا استَطَعتَ ،
Try to avoid Kufah as much as you can.
فَمَن وَجَدتَهُ مِنَ الأَعرابِ في طاعَةِ عَلِيٍّ فَأَغِر عَلَيهِ ،
Whoever you find of the Bedouins that are obedient to Ali, attack them.
وإن وَجَدتَ لَهُ مَسلَحَةً أو خَيلاً فَأَغِر عَلَيهِما ،
If you find any of his armed men in a guard house or on horseback, attack them.
وإذا أصبَحتَ في بَلدَةِ فَأَمسِ في اُخرى ،
If you rise at dawn in a city, try to enter evening in another city.
ولا تُقيمَنَّ لِخَيلٍ بَلَغَكَ أنَّها قَد سُرِّحَت إلَيكَ لِتَلقاها فَتُقاتِلَها ،
Beware not to stay and fight the horsem you have been informed of their dispatch toward you.’
فَسَرَّحَهُ فيما بَينَ ثَلاثَةِ آلافٍ إلى أربَعَةِ آلافِ جَريدَةِ خَيلٍ .
Then he dispatched him in three thousand to four thousand troops from among his special forces.
فَأَقبَلَ الضَّحّاكُ يَأخُذُ الأَموالَ ،
Al-Dahhak began to plunder wealth,
ويَقتُلُ مَن لَقِيَ مِنَ الأَعرابِ حَتّى مَرَّ بِالثَّعلَبِيَّةِ
kill whoever he met of the Bedouins until he passed by al-Tha‘labiyya,
فَأَغارَ خَيلُهُ عَلَى الحاجِّ ،
so his horsemen launched raids on the pilgrims
فَأَخَذَ أمتِعَتَهُم ،
and took their belongings.
ثُمَّ أقبَلَ فَلَقِيَ عَمرَو بنَ عُمَيسِ بنِ مَسعودٍ الذُّهلِيَّ ـ
He marched on until he met Amr ibn Umays ibn Masud al-Dhuhli,
وهُوَ ابنُ أخي عَبدِ اللّهِ بنِ مَسعودٍ صاحِبِ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ـ
the nephew of Abdallah ibn Masud, the companion of the Messenger of God (SA),
فَقَتَلَهُ في طَريقِ الحاجِّ عِندَ القُطقُطانَةِ
and killed him on the path of the pilgrims at al-Qutqutana,
وقَتَلَ مَعَهُ ناسا مِن أصحابِهِ .
even as he killed some of his companions.
قالَ أبو رَوقٍ : فَحَدَّثَني أبي أنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيّا عليه السلام
Abu Rawq said: ‘My father said to me that he heard Ali (AS),
وقَد خَرَجَ إلَى النّاسِ وهُوَ يَقولُ عَلَى المِنبَرِ :
when he had gone forth to the people, say from the pulpit:
يا أهلَ الكوفَةِ !
‘O People of Kufah!
اُخرُجوا إلَى العَبدِ الصّالِحِ عَمرِو بنِ عُمَيسٍ ،
March forth to the righteous servant Amr ibn Umays
وإلى جُيوشٍ لَكُم قَد اُصيبَ مِنها طَرَفٌ ؛
and to your battalions, for a part of it has been attacked.
اُخرُجوا فَقاتِلوا عَدُوَّكُم وَامنَعوا حَريمَكُم ،
Go forth and fight your enemy and protect your sanctuaries
إن كُنتُم فاعِلينَ .
if you are to do.’
قالَ : فَرَدّوا عَلَيهِ رَدّا ضَعيفا ،
He said: They responded to him with a weak response,
ورَأى مِنهُم عَجزا وفَشَلاً فَقالَ :
and he noticed their weakness and failure, so he said:
وَاللّهِ ، لَوَدِدتُ أنَّ لي بِكُلِّ مِئَةٍ مِنكُم رَجُلاً مِنهُم ،
‘By God, I wish I had for every hundred of you a man of them.
وَيحَكُم اُخرُجوا مَعي ، ثُمَّ فِرّوا عَنّي إن بدا لَكُم ،
Woe unto you! March forth with me, and then flee if you desire.
فَوَاللّهِ ما أكرَهُ لِقاءَ رَبّي عَلى نِيَّتي وبَصيرَتي ،
By God, I do not dislike the meeting of my Lord with my determination and foresight,
وفي ذلِكَ رَوحٌ لي عَظيمٌ ،
for in that there is for me great ease,
وفَرَجٌ مِن مُناجاتِكُم ومُقاساتِكُم ومُداراتِكُم
comfort from pleading to you, engaging with you and treating you with caution
مِثلَ ما تُدارى البِكارُ العَمِدةُ ،
in the same way one treats young injured camels
وَالثِّيابُ المُتَهَتِّرَةُ ،
and worn-out garments with caution;
كُلَّما خِيطَت مِن جانِبٍ تَهَتَّكَت عَلى صاحِبِها مِن جانِبٍ آخَرَ ،
whenever they are sewn from one side they are torn from another side’.
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ .
He then descended.
فَخَرَجَ يَمشي حَتّى بَلَغَ الغَرِيَّينِ (الغَرِيّان : طربالان ، وهما بناءان كالصومعتين بظاهر الكوفة ، قرب قبر عليّ بن أبي طالب، معجم البلدان : ج4 ص196)،
He then left and continued to walk until he reached al- Ghariyyan1459, [Al-Ghariyyan: Two huge buildings like monasteries on the outskirts of Kufa in the vicinity of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib’s grave. Refer: Mu‘jam al-Buldan, vol. 4, p. 196.]
ثُمَّ دَعا حُجرَ بنَ عَدِيٍّ الكِندِيَّ مِن خَيلِهِ
where he summoned Hujr ibn Adi al-Kindi from among his horsemen;
فَعَقَدَ لَهُ ثَمَّ رايَةً عَلى أربَعَةِ آلافٍ ،
he tied a flag for him with four thousand men
ثُمَّ سَرَّحَهُ .
and then dispatched him.
فَخَرَجَ حَتّى مَرَّ بِالسَّماوَةِ ـ (السَّمَاوَة : ماء بالبادية ، وبادية السماوة التي هي بين الكوفة والشام قفرى أظنّها مسمّاة بهذا الماء ، وقال السكري : السماوة ماء لكلب، معجم البلدان : ج3 ص245)
He left and marched until he passed by al-Samawa,
وهِيَ أرضُ كَلبٍ ـ
which is an arid land‚
فَلَقِيَ بِها امرَأَ القَيسِ بنَ عَدِيِّ بنِ أوسِ بنِ جابِرِ بنِ كَعبِ بنِ عُلَيمٍ الكَلبِيَّ
where he met Imra’ al-Qais ibn Adi [Ibn Aws ibn Jabir ibn Ka’b ibn Ulaim al-Kalbi ]
أصهارَ الحُسَينِ بنِ عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ عليهم السلام ،
and his tribe who were the son-in-laws of al-Husain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS).
فَكانوا أدِلّاءَهُ عَلى طَريقِهِ وعَلَى المِياهِ ،
They guided him on his path to the water.
فَلَم يَزَل مُغِذّا في أثَرَ الضَّحّاكِ حَتّى لَقِيَهُ بِناحِيَةِ تَدمُرَ
He was pursuing al-Dahhak until he met him in the region of Tadmur.
فَواقَفَهُ فَاقتَتَلوا ساعَةً ،
He formed a line in front of him and they fought for a while.
فَقُتِلَ مِن أصحابِ الضَّحّاكِ تِسعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلاً ،
Nineteen of al-Dahhak’s companions were killed,
وقُتِلَ مِن أصحابِ حُجرٍ رَجُلانِ : عَبدُ الرَّحمنِ وعَبدُ اللّهِ الغامِديُّ ،
whereas two of Hujr’s companions were killed; they were ‘Abd al-Rahman and Abdullah al-Ghamidi.
وحَجَزَ اللَّيلُ بَينَهُم ، فَمَضَى الضَّحّاكُ ،
When the night separated the parties, al-Dahhak fled.
فَلَمّا أصبَحوا لَم يَجِدوا لَهُ ولِأَصحابِهِ أثَرا .
In the morning there was no trace of him or his companions.”
الغارات : ج2 ص421 .
Al-Gharat, vol.2, p. 421.
ه ـ غارَةُ عَبدِ الرَّحمنِ بنِ قَباثِ
The Raid of Abd al-Rahman ibn Qabath
521. الكامل في التاريخـ في أحداثِ سَنَةِ تِسعٍ وثَلاثينَ هجريّة ـ:
521. Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, relates concerning events of the year 39AH.
وفيها سَيَّرَ مُعاوِيَةُ عَبدَ الرَّحمنِ بنَ قَباثِ بنِ أشيَمَ إلى بِلادِ الجَزيرَةِ
“In this year Muawiyah sent Abd al-Rahman ibn Qabath ibn Ashyam to the lands of Jazirah,
وفيها شَبيبُ بنُ عامِرٍ
where Shabib ibn A’mir‚
ـ جَدُّ الكِرمانِيِّ الَّذي كانَ بِخُراسانَ ـ
the grandfather of al-Kirmani who was in Khurasan‚ resided.
وكانَ شَبيبٌ بِنَصيبينَ ،
Shabib was at Nasibayn,
فَكَتَبَ إلى كُمَيلِ بنِ زِيادٍ ،
so he wrote to Kumayl ibn Ziyad,
وهُوَ بِهيتَ ، يُعلِمُهُ خَبَرَهُم .
who was at Hit, informing him about them.
فَسارَ كُمَيلٌ إلَيهِ نَجدَةً لَهُ في سِتِّمِئَةِ فارِسٍ ،
Kumayl marched with six hundred horsemen to assist him.
فَأَدرَكوا عَبدَ الرَّحمنِ ومَعَهُ مَعَنُ بنُ يَزيدَ السُّلَمِيُّ ،
He caught up with Abd al-Rahman and his followers, including Maan ibn azid al-Sulami.
فَقاتَلَهُما كُميلٌ وهَزَمَهُما ،
Kumayl fought both of them and defeated them.
فَغَلَبَ عَلى عَسكَرِهِما ،
He then defeated both of their armies
وأكثَرَ القَتلَ في أهلِ الشّامِ ،
and killed many of the Syrians.
وأمَرَ أن لا يُتبَعُ مُدبِرٌ
He commanded that no fleer be followed,
ولا يُجهَزَ عَلى جَريحٍ ،
nor should any wounded be killed.
وقُتِلَ مِن أصحابِ كُمَيلٍ رَجُلانِ .
Two of Kumayl’s companions were killed.
وكَتَبَ إلى عَلِيٍّ بِالفَتحِ فَجَزاهُ خَيرا ،
He wrote to Ali informing him of the victory.
وأجابَهُ جَوابا حَسَنا ورَضِيَ عَنهُ ،
Ali (AS) rewarded him, replied to him, and was well pleased with him
وكانَ ساخِطا عَلَيهِ ... .
after having been angry with him. ...
وأقبَلَ شَبيبُ بنُ عامِرٍ مِن نَصيبينَ
Shabib ibn A’mir arrived from Nasibayn
فَرَأى كُمَيلاً قَد أوقَعَ بِالقَومِ
and noticed that Kumayl had fought them.
فَهَنَّأَهُ بِالظَّفَرِ ،
He congratulated him on the victory.
وأتبَعَ الشّامِيّينَ فَلَم يَلحَقهُم ،
He followed the Syrians, but did not catch up to them.
فَعَبَرَ الفُراتَ ،
He then crossed the Euphrates
وبَثَّ خَيلَهُ ،
and divided his battalion.
فَأَغارَت عَلى أهلِ الشّامِ حَتّى بَلَغَ بَعلَبَكَّ .
They began to attack the Syrians until they reached Baalbak. [An ancient city of Lebanon, which is at a distance of three days travel from Syria. (Refer: Mu‘jam al-Buldan, vol. 1, p. 453).]
فَوَجَّهَ مُعاوِيَةُ إلَيهِ حَبيبَ بنَ مَسلَمَةَ فَلَم يُدرِكهُ ،
Muawiyah directed Habib ibn Maslama towards him, but he did not reach him.
ورَجَعَ شَبيبٌ فَأَغارَ عَلى نَواحِي الرَّقَّةِ ؛
Shabib returned and then attacked the region of al-Riqqah.
فَلَم يَدَع لِلعُثمانِيَّةِ بِها ماشِيةً إلَا استاقَها ،
He took all the supporters of Uthman as prisoners,
ولا خَيلاً ولا سِلاحا إلّا أخَذَهُ ،
and all horses and weapons as booty.
وعادَ إلى نَصيبينَ وكَتَبَ إلى عَلِيٍّ .
He then returned to Nasibayn and wrote to Ali.
فَكَتَبَ إلَيهِ عَلِيٌّ يَنهاهُ عَن أخذِ أموالِ النّاسِ
Ali wrote to him prohibiting him from confiscating the people’s wealth
إلَا الخَيلَ وَالسِّلاحَ الَّذي يُقاتِلونَ بِهِ ، وقالَ :
to the exclusion of horses and weapons with which they were fighting and said:
رَحِمَ اللّهُ شَبيبا ،
‘May God have mercy on Shabib.
لَقَد أبعَدَ الغارَةَ وعَجَّلَ الِانتِصارَ .
Indeed, he has distanced the invaders and accelerated the victory.’ ”
الكامل في التاريخ : ج 2 ص 428 .
Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 428.
و ـ غارَةُ بُسرِ بنِ أبي أرطاةَ
The Raid of Busr ibn Abi Artah
522. تاريخ الطبري عن عوانة :
522. Tarikh al-Tabari, reporting from Awana, who said:
أرسَلَ مُعاوِيَةُ بنُ أبي سُفيانَ بَعدَ تَحكيمِ الحَكَمَينِ بُسرَ بنَ أبي أرطاةَ
“Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan sent Busr ibn Abu Artah, who was a man from Banu ‘Amir ibn Lu’ayy,
ـ وهُوَ رَجُلٌ مِن بَني عامِرِ بنِ لُؤَيٍّ ـ في جَيشٍ ،
following the issue of arbitration, with an army.
فَساروا مِنَ الشّامِ حَتّى قَدِمُوا المَدينَةَ ،
They marched from Syria until they arrived at Medina.
وعامِلُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَى المَدينَةِ يَومَئِذٍ أبو أيّوبٍ الأَنصارِيُّ ،
At that time Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was ‘Ali’s governor over Medina.
فَفَرَّ مِنهُم أبو أيّوبٍ ، فَأَتى عَلِيّا بِالكوفَةِ .
He fled the city until he arrived by Ali at Kufah.
ودَخَلَ بُسرٌ المَدينَةَ ، قالَ : فَصَعِدَ مِنبَرَها ولَم يُقاتِلهُ بِها أحَدٌ ،
Busr entered Medina and ascended the pulpit, but nobody fought him.
فَنادى عَلَى المِنبَرِ :
He called from the pulpit:
يا دينارُ ، ويا نَجّارُ ، ويا زُرَيقُ ، شَيخي شَيخي !
‘O Dinar, O Najjar, O Zurayq, O my elder one, O my elder one!
عَهدي بِهِ بِالأَمسِ ،
I met with him a short time ago.
فَأَينَ هُوَ ! يَعني عُثمانَ .
Where is he’ (that is ‘Uthman)?
ثُمَّ قالَ : يا أهلَ المَدينَةِ !
He then said: ‘O people of Medina!
وَاللّهِ ، لَولا ما عَهِدَ إلَيَّ مُعاوِيَةُ
By God, if it were not for the command of Muawiyah,
ما تَرَكتُ بِها مُحتَلِما إلّا قَتَلتُهُ ،
I would not have left a man in this city alive.’
ثُمَّ بايَعَ أهلُ المَدينَةِ .
The people of Medina then paid allegiance to him.
وأرسَلَ إلى بَني سَلَمَةَ ، فَقالَ :
He then sent someone to Banu Salama and said:
وَاللّهِ ، ما لَكُم عِندي مِن أمانٍ ،
‘By God, there is neither protection to you from me,
ولا مُبايَعَةٍ حَتّى تَأتوني بِجابِرِ بنِ عَبدِ اللّهِ .
nor any allegiance, until you bring me Jabir ibn Abdullah.
فَانطَلَقَ جابِرٌ إلى اُمِّ سَلَمَةَ زَوجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله فَقالَ لَها :
Jabir went to Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet (SA) and said to her:
ماذا تَرَينَ ؟
‘What do you see?
إنّي قَد خَشيتُ أن اُقتَلَ ،
I fear that I will be killed.
وهذِهِ بَيعَةُ ضَلالَةٍ .
This is an allegiance of error.’
قالَت : أرى أن تُبايَعَ ؛
She said: ‘I see that you should pay allegiance.
فَإِنّي قَد أمَرتُ ابني عُمَرَ بنَ أبي سَلَمَة أن يُبايِعَ ،
For I commanded my son Ibn Umar ibn Abu Salama
وأمَرتُ خَتَني عَبدَ اللّهِ بنَ زَمعَةَ ـ
and my son-in-law Abdullah ibn Zama –
وكانَتِ ابنَتُها زَينَبُ ابنَةُ أبي سَلَمَةَ عِندَ عَبدِ اللّهِ بنِ زَمعَةَ
Zaynab‚ her daughter from her former late husband‚ Abu Salama was ‘Abdullah’s wife - to pay allegiance’.
فَأتاهُ جابِرٌ فَبايَعَهُ .
So Jabir went and paid allegiance to him.
وهَدَمَ بُسرٌ دورا بِالمَدينَةِ ،
Busr destroyed houses in Medina;
ثُمَّ مَضى حَتّى أتى مَكَّةَ ،
he then marched on until he arrived at Mecca.
فَخافَهُ أبو موسى أن يَقتُلَهُ ،
Abu Musa feared that he would kill him.
فَقالَ لَهُ بُسرٌ : ما كُنتُ لِأَفعَلَ بِصاحِبِ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ذلِكَ ، فَخَلّى عَنهُ .
Busr said to him: ‘I would not do that to a companion of the Messenger of God’, so he left him alone.
وكَتَبَ أبو موسى قَبلَ ذلِكَ إلَى اليَمَنِ :
Abu Musa had already written to Yemen:
إنَّ خَيلاً مَبعوثَةً مِن عِندِ مُعاوِيَةَ تَقتُلُ النّاسَ ،
‘ Indeed, a battalion sent by Muawiyah is killing people.
تَقتُلُ مَن أبى أن يُقِرَّ بِالحُكومَةِ .
They are killing whoever refuses to recognize their government.’
ثُمَّ مَضى بُسرٌ إلَى اليَمَنِ ،
Busr then marched on to Yemen,
وكانَ عَلَيها عُبَيدُ اللّهِ بنُ عَبّاسٍ عامِلاً لِعَلِيٍّ ،
where Ubaidullah ibn Abbas was the governor of Ali.
فَلَمّا بَلَغَهُ مَسيرُهُ فَرَّ إلَى الكوفَةِ حَتّى أتى عَلِيّا ،
When he learnt of his arrival, he fled to Kufah and went to Ali
وَاستَخلَفَ عَبدَ اللّهِ بنَ عَبدِ المَدانِ الحارِثِيَّ عَلَى اليَمَنِ ،
and appointed Abdullah ibn Abd al-Madan al-Harithi as his vicegerent in Yemen.
فَأَتاهُ بُسرٌ فَقَتَلَهُ وقَتَلَ ابنَهُ ،
Busr came to him and killed him and his son.
ولَقِيَ بُسرٌ ثَقَلَ عُبَيدِ اللّهِ بنِ عَبّاسٍ ،
He also found the belongings of Ubaidullah ibn Abbas
وفيهِ ابنانِ لَهُ صَغيرانِ فَذَبَحَهُما .
and his two small sons, so he beheaded them both.
وقَد قالَ بَعضُ النّاسِ :
It is also said
إنَّهُ وَجَدَ ابنَي عُبَيدِ اللّهِ بنِ عَبّاسٍ
that he found the two sons of Ubaidullah ibn Abbas
عِندَ رَجُلٍ مِن بَني كِنانَةَ مِن أهلِ البادِيَةِ ،
with a man from the Banu Kinana of the Bedouins.
فَلَمّا أرادَ قَتلَهُما ، قالَ الكِنانِيُّ :
When he wanted to kill them, the man said:
عَلامَ تَقتُلُ هذَينِ ولا ذَنبَ لَهُما !
‘Why do you want to kill them? They are sinless!
فَإِن كُنتَ قاتِلَهُما فَاقتُلني .
If you are going to kill them, then kill me first.’
قالَ : أفعَلُ ،
He said: ‘I will.’
فَبَدَأَ بِالكِنانِيِّ فَقَتَلَهُ ،
He thus killed the man
ثُمَّ قَتَلَهُما ،
and then killed them.
ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بُسرٌ إلَى الشّامِ .
Thereafter he returned to Syria.
وقَد قيلَ : إنَّ الكِنانِيَّ قاتَلَ عَنِ الطِّفلَينِ حَتّى قُتِلَ ،
It is also said that the Kinana man fought in defence of the two children until he was killed.
وكانَ اسمُ أحَدِ الطِّفلَينِ اللَّذَينِ قَتَلَهُما بُسرٌ : عَبدَ الرَّحمنِ ، وَالآخَرِ قُثَمَ ،
One of the children was Abd al- Rahman and the other was Qutham.
وقَتَلَ بُسرٌ في مَسيرِهِ ذلِكَ جَماعَةً كَثيرَةً مِن شيعَةِ عَلِيٍّ بِاليَمَنِ .
Busr in the meanwhile killed a great number of the partisans of Ali in Yemen.
وبَلَغَ عَلِيّا خَبَرُ بُسرٍ ،
When the news of Busr reached Ali,
فَوَجَّهَ جارِيَةَ بنَ قُدامَةَ في ألفَينِ ،
he dispatched Jariya ibn Qudama with two thousand men.
ووَهَبَ بنَ مَسعودٍ في ألفَينِ ،
He also sent Ibn Masud with two thousand.
فَسارَ جارِيَةُ حَتّى أتى نَجرانَ فَحَرَّقَ بِها ،
Jariya matched on until he reached Najran and set it alight.
وأخَذَ ناسا مِن شيعَةِ عُثمانَ فَقَتَلَهُم ،
He took people from the supporters of ‘Uthman and killed them,
وهَرَبَ بُسرٌ وأصحابُهُ مِنهُ ،
so Busr and his companions fled.
وأتبَعَهُم حَتّى بَلَغَ مَكَّةَ .
He followed them until he reached Mecca.
فَقالَ لَهُم جارِيَةُ : بايِعونا .
Jariya said to them: ‘Pay allegiance to us!’
فَقالوا :
They said:
قَد هَلَكَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ ،
‘The Commander of the Faithful died.
فَلِمَن نُبايِعُ ؟
To whom should we pay allegiance?’
قالَ : لِمَن بايَعَ لَهُ أصحابُ عَلِيٍّ ،
He said: ‘To him whom the companions of Ali has paid allegiance.’
فَتَثاقَلوا ،
They procrastinated
ثُمَّ بايَعوا .
and then paid allegiance.
ثُمَّ سارَ حَتّى أتَى المَدينَةَ وأبو هُرَيرَةَ يُصَلّي بِهِم ،
He then marched on until he reached Medina where Abu Hurayra was the prayer leader.
فَهَرَبَ مِنهُ ، فَقالَ جارِيَةُ :
He fled from there. Jariyah said:
وَاللّهِ ، لَو أخَذتُ أبا سِنَّورٍ
‘By God, if I get Abu Sinnawr1464,
لَضَرَبتُ عُنُقَهُ ،
I would strike his neck.’
ثُمَّ قالَ لِأَهلِ المَدينَةِ :
He then said to the people of Medina:
بايِعُوا الحَسَنَ بنَ عَلِيٍّ ،
‘Pay allegiance to al-Hasan ibn Ali.’
فَبايَعوهُ .
So they paid their allegiance.
وأقامَ يَومَهُ ،
He resided there for a day,
ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مُنصَرِفا إلَى الكوفَةِ ،
and then he left and marched on to Kufah.
وعادَ أبو هُرَيرَةَ فَصَلّى بِهِم .
Abu Hurayra returned and continued to lead the prayer.”
تاريخ الطبري : ج5 ص139 .
Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5, p. 139.
523. الاستيعاب :أرسَلَ مُعاوِيَةُ بُسرَ بنَ أرطاةَ إلَى اليَمَنِ ،
523. Al-Istiab relates: “Muawiyah sent Busr ibn Artah to Yemen.
فَسَبى نِساءً مُسلِماتٍ ،
He captured Muslim women
فَاُقِمنَ فِي السّوقِ .
and put them up for sale in the market.”
الاستيعاب : ج1 ص243 الرقم175 .
Al-Istiab, vol. 1, p. 243, h 175.
