Battle of Siffin: Difference between revisions

The army of Mu’awiya stood between the Euphrates and the army of Imam Ali (a) and did not allow Imam’s (a) soldiers to access the water. Imam (a) sent Musayyib b. Rabi’ Riyahi and Sa’sa’a b. Sawhan to Mu’awiya and said, “go to Mu’awiya and tell him, ‘your soldiers have stood between us and the water and have blocked our access to water. Stop blocking the water so that our army and your use it equally, otherwise we have to fight over water and each of us wins, will be the winner of the war’.”

During the conversation between Mu’awiya and Imam Ali’s (a) messengers, Mu’awiya became angry and said, “Ali (a) will have no share of this water. God shall not give water to Mu’awiya and his father from the Pool of Kawthar, if I let Ali (a) or his companions drink from the water of Euphrates; except, he (a) wins by the force of the sword.”

Finally, the soldiers of Imam Ali (a) attacked the army of Mu’awiya and took over the Euphrates. Then, Imam Ali (a) ordered to let the water free for everyone and no one should prevent the people of Sham; thus, they went and took water from both armies.

Laylat al-Harir was a rough night during the battle of Siffin. The armies of Imam Ali (a) and Mu’waiya fought in that night and many soldiers of both sides were killed. According to Minqari, in that night, there was no sound heard except the sound of hitting the swords which was more terrifying in the hearts of men than the sound of thunder or horrifying fall of mountains. Ibn Miskiwayh described that night, “They fought in that night, so hard that spears broke and no arrow was left in quivers and then they began fighting with swords.”

In Laylat al-Harir, the soldiers of Imam Ali (a) were close to victory, until Ash’ath rose among Kindis, gave a sermon and with a peace-making tone, asked for stopping more bloodshed. According to hadiths, as soon as Mu’awiya was informed about the sermon of Ash’ath, ordered to put the copies of the Qur’an on the spears.