Arbitration (Battle of Siffin): Difference between revisions

{{unreferenced}}

'''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.

When the army of Kufa under the commandership of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and that of al-Sham under the commandership of [[Mu'awiya]] fought for successive days, the army of Kufa was about to defeat that of al-Sham. [['Amr b. al-'As]] resorted to a cunning that led to the idea of arbitration. He told Mu'awiya to give volumes of the [[Quran]] to his soldiers so that they put the Qurans on their spears, asking for a ceasefire and the arbitration of the Quran between the two disputing parties. Despite Imam 'Ali (a)'s resistance, due to the pressure by some of his companions, the army of Kufa accepted arbitration; they agreed that a representative from the army of al-Sham and a representative from the army of [[Iraq]] negotiate and arbitrate on the dispute on the basis of the Quran.

People of Sham elected 'Amr b. al-'As as their representative and arbitrator. [[Ash'ath b. Qays]] and some others, who later came to be called [[Mariqun]], suggested [[Abu Musa al-Ash'ari]] as the arbitrator from Kufa. But Imam 'Ali (a) suggested [['Abd Allah b. 'Abbas]] or [[Malik al-Ashtar]]. Imam 'Ali (a)'s suggestions were opposed by Ash'ath and his friends; they refused Malik al-Ashtar on the grounds that he is pro-war, and they rejected Ibn 'Abbas on the grounds that 'Amr b. al-'As is from the [[Mudari]] tribes so his interlocutor should be Yemeni.

Moreover, the date of the arbitration was postponed to the end of the [[Ramadan]] month (8 months after the battle). The negotiations were planned to be held in [[Dumat al-Jandal]].

* If the Quran cannot be appealed to solve some disputed matters, then [[the Prophet (s)]]'s Tradition and practice should be consulted.

* Each arbitrator has to reside somewhere between Iraq and Sham, and no one should be there except those they want.

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.

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari's negotiations led to the arbitration that both rulers, Mu'awiya and 'Ali (a), should be dismissed from power. 'Amr b. al-'As pretended that he accepted the arbitration. However, in order to execute his trick, he asked Abu Musa to announce the arbitration ahead of him. 'Abd Allah b. 'Abbas made a lot of efforts to make 'Amr b. al-'As announce the arbitration sooner than Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, but Abu Musa did not take Ibn 'Abbas's warnings seriously, telling him that he and 'Amr b al-'As had made an agreement, and there would be no problem.

Abu Musa went on [[Minbar]] and said: "O people! In order for Muslims to live in peace and unity, 'Amr b. al-'As and I have agreed to dismiss Mu'awiya and 'Ali from [[caliphate]] so that Muslims can elect a council for selecting the next [[caliph]]. So as a representative of people in [[Hijaz]] and [[Iraq]], I hereby dismiss 'Ali from caliphate, just as I take out this ring from my finger". Then 'Amr b. al-'As went on minbar and said: "you heard what Abu Musa said. He had the right to dismiss 'Ali and he did it. I agree with him on that. But as I put this ring on my finger, I assign the caliphate to Mu'awiya. For he deserves this position, and he has to avenge [['Uthman]]'s murder.

Thus the arbitration was not based on the Quran and the Prophet (s)'s Tradition. Instead of making peace, it gave rise to more hostility between Iraq and al-Sham. And its most important upshot for people of al-Sham was that they gave Mu'awiya the title of [[Amir al-Mu'minin]] since then.

==External Links==

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/view/%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AA حکمیت] in Farsi Wikishia.