Arbitration (Battle of Siffin): Difference between revisions

'''Al-Tahkim''' (Arabic: التَحکیم) or The '''Arbitration''' points out to a historical event concerning the [[Battle of Siffin]]. In this event, a person was elected as the representative of the army of [[Kufa]] and another as that of the army of [[al-Sham]], and everyone agreed to comply with what they agree on in accordance with the [[Qur'an]]. The arbitration, was proposed as a solution for disputes between the two parties after a cunning by [['Amr b. al-'As]] and [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan]] following an imminent defeat of the army of al-Sham. [[Imam Ali (a)]] resisted the suggestion of arbitration from the beginning. Since 'Amr b. al-'As—the "Hakam" or arbitrator of al-Sham—managed to deceive [[Abu Musa al-Ash'ari]]—the arbitrator of [[Kufa]]—by announcing Mu'awiyya as the [[caliph]] although they had agreed on a different verdict, the arbitration failed to solve the dispute, and it only managed to save the army of al-Sham from its imminent defeat.

* If both arbitrators fail to give verdicts on the basis of the [[Quran]] and the Tradition, then Muslims will have the right to continue to fight, and all their mutual commitments will be abolished.

Imam 'Ali (a) sent 400 people with [[Abu Musa al-Ash'ari]] under the commandership of [[Shurayh b. Hani]]; he also sent [['Abd Allah b. 'Abbas]] as the leader of their congregational prayers. Moreover, he gave a great deal of advice to Abu Musa, informing him of Mu'awiya's evil character.