101. IBNE AAMIR IN BASRA
When Muawiya captured Egypt, he thought of attacking Basra and annexing it. Therefore he called Abd Allah ibne Aamir Hadrami and told him that the people of Basra still have the wish to seek Qasas for the blood of Othman. They want someone to come forward and they would join him to fight with the killers of Othman. He said that he, Abd Allah ibne Aamir, was suitable for the purpose. Therefore he asked him to go to Basra and stay with Bani Tamim. But he asked him to beware of the tribe of Rubaiah because they were Turabiah or Shia of Abu Turab. Ibne Aamir readily agreed to this suggestion. When Muawiya found him willing, he wrote to Umro ibne Aas that he wanted to send Abd Allah ibne Aamir to Basra so that he could revive the movement for the Qasas. He sought Umro’s opinion about the move. Umro agreed with the suggestion and Muawiya sent Ibne Aamir to Basra.
When Ibne Aamir arrived at Basra, as instructed, he stayed with Bani Tamim. One group of people of Basra too assembled who were of the same opinion. He addressed them,“You know that Othman was assassinated in oppression! The responsibility of this killing rests with Ali (a.s). You people had cooperated in the matter of seeking Qasas for the blood of Othman. Allah will reward you for this act! Many important persons from your place were killed claiming for the Qasas. Rise and take revenge on the killers. We shall always be ready to give help to you.” Zuhak ibne Abd Allah told to Aamir,“May Allah put you in trouble! You are again trying to ignite the mischief that had died down! This was the mischief that was raised by Talha and Zubair and instigated us against Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s) although we had already owed our allegiance to him. We were all united people, but the two came here and created rifts in every household.and made us fight with one other. We are paying for that mistake till now! You have come up again with the message of destruction. We are under the Bai-at of the Truthful Imam (a.s)! He has forgiven us our mistakes! He has even forgiven his mortal enemies! You want us to come out with swords and cut each others’ necks so that you get a position from Muawiya! By Allah! One day of Ali (a.s) is more valuable than a hundred years of Muawiya and aal e Muawiya!” At this Abd Allah ibne Khazim Salami said,“Keep quiet! You are not competent to interfere in these matters!” He turned to Ibne Aamir and said,“We are your supporters and friends! We shall be with you in the matter of the Qasas!” Zohak said,“You son of the Abyssinian woman! What are you and what is your status?! By Allah! One whom you support is without any support! And the one whom you oppose, needn’t have any fear!” At this both started using invectives against each other. Abd ar Rehman ibne Umair Tamimi said,“We haven’t assembled here to fight with one other. We must have unity between us. My suggestion is first to listen to the letter sent by the emir of Syria. If it sounds useful, act on it!” Therefore the letter from Muawiya was read to them. He wrote,“O people of Basra! You have seen the style of functioning of Othman. He was a peace loving and gentle mannered person. He was a supporter for the weak and friend of the oppressed. Some cruel persons besieged him and killed him hungry and thirsty. We invite you to claim the Qasas for his blood.and take responsibility that the verdicts will be based on the Book and the Sunnat of the Prophet (s.a). We shall also pay half yearly pensions to the people of Basra!” When this letter was read, most of the gathering supported the suggestion. Ahnaf ibne Qais kept quiet and said that he was not concerned with the matter.However one person from the tribe of Abd al Qais, Umro ibne Marhoom said,“O People! You remain firm on your previous Bai-at! Don’t create rift in the society by breaking the Bai-at! If you break the Bai-at at the call of this person, then you will meet with calamity and destruction! “Abbas ibne Sahar Abdi, who was inimical to the Imam (a.s) against the opinion of his tribe of Abd al Qais, said, “We shall support him in our words and our deeds and will not leave anything aside in helping him!” When Matna ibne Makhraba Abdi heard this, he told to Ibne Aamir,“Don’t be carried away by what Ibne Sahar has said! It is better you go back from where you have come!Otherwise we shall send you back with our swords, spears and arrows! Should we recant from our support to the Prophet (s.a)’s cousin and enter into the Bai-at of a rebel! By Allah ! It shall never happen!” When Ibne Aamir heard the emotional outbursts of the opponents, he told to Sabro ibne Shaiman Azdi,“O Sabro! You too are of the same opinion as us and are a great personality of the Arab World and the chief of your tribe! Help me and promise me amnesty! “Sabro said, “If you get up from Bani Tamim and come over to me and stay at my home, we shall help you and provide you amnesty! “Aamir said, “I am supposed to stay where I have been ordered to stay!” When Sabro heard this he went away angrily!
The governor of Basra, Abd Allah ibne Abbas was in Koofa at that time to give his condolences on the demise of Mohammed ibne Abu Bakr and the govetnorate was in the hands of Ziyad ibne Obaid. On the arrival of Ibne Aamir, Ziyad was worried because Bani Tamim, and others who wanted the Qasas, were in favor of Ibne Aamir. He called Hazeen ibne Manzar and Malik ibne Tasmah to the governor’s house and told them,“O people of the tribe of Bakr ibne Wael! You are counted amongst the supporters of Hazrat Ameer al Momineen(a.s)! I am concerned about the interference and mischief of the enemy.Till the instructions for action are received from Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s), give me protection.” Hazeen ibne Manzar said,“If you are asking for protection, I am ready to give it!” But Malik said,“I cannot tell anything without asking my men.” When Ziyad felt that Malik was trying to evade the issue of protection he sent word to Sabra ibne Shaiman Azdi to give him protection and also protect the Bayt al Maal. Therefore overnight Ziyad shifted to his place and also the Bayt al Maal and the pulpit too were shifted there.
When the governor’s house was vacant after Ziyad shifted, Bani Tamim and their cohorts wanted to keep Ibne Aamir there. Therefore they proceeded towards the governor’s house with Ibne Aamir. When Bani Azd saw this, they too came with their horses.and said that we shall not allow an undesirable person to stay in the Dar al Amara. When insistence started from the other side, the situation worsened and Ahnaf ibne Qais intervened.and told to the companions of Ibne Aamir that they didn’t have more right than the others on the governor’s house nor it was right to force a person on them whom they consider undesirable. With the persuation of Ahnaf they went back to their homes.
Ziyad wrote to Abd Allah ibne Abbas that Muawiya had sent Ibne Aamir Hadrami who was staying with Bani Tamim. He was instigating people to start claiming Qasas for the blood of Othman once again. Lot of people from Basra have joined him. He wrote that he had taken shelter with Sabro ibne Shaiman Azdi and the Bayt al Maal too was shifted to Bani Azd. He wrote that Shias of Ali (a.s) were visiting him and the Shias of Othman were going to Ibne Aamir. The Dar al Amara was lying vacant.He asked Abd Allah ibne Abbas to inform about the situation to Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s) and communicate his instructions.
Ziyad remained hidden with Bani Azd for one day. But they insisted that hiding like that wouldn’t serve any purpose. They forced him to lead the Friday Prayer and also give the Semon. Therefore Ziyad led the Friday Congregation and giving the Sermon said,“If I had taken shelter with Bani Tamim and Ibne Aamir had your support, I wouldn’t have been able to subdue Ibne Aamir! And now that I have your protection, Ibne Aamir cannot subdue me nor the son of the ‘Chewer of Human Liver’, Muawiya, would be able to overwhelm Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s), the Mahajirs and the Ansaar. O people of Bani Azd! I have witnessed your valor at the battle of Jamal. You had demonstrated patience and bravery on that momentous day in support of the forces of evil. I am sure you will show the same fortitude and bravery in support of the Truth now!” At this point Shaiman, the father of Sabro, said,“O people of Bani Azd! As a result of the Battle of Jamal you got only insult and infamy! If I was present at that time, I would never have permitted you to fight. If you were against Ali (a.s) then, wash the black mark on your reputation by siding wholeheartedly with him now!If Bani Tamim bring their chief in the battle field, you too must take your chief there and fight with them. If they seek reinforcements from Muawiya, you too must seek reinforcements from Ali (a.s)! If they seek for peace, you too should agree for peace!” Then his son Sabro stood up and said,“We don’t have any fear from Ali (a.s), but we don’t trust Muawiya! Therefore stand up with your arms and justify the shelter that you have given (to Ziyad” The men of Bani Azd said in one voice,“We are under your command! Whatever orders you give us, we shall follow without asking any questions!” Ziyad asked,“O Sabro! Tell me, if you have any fear that you will not be able to fight with Bani Tamim?” Sabro said,“There is no question of any such fear! If they bring Ahnaf, we shall put forward Abu Sabro. If they bring Habat, I shall fight with him. If they bring their youths, we don’t have shortage of youths with us!” When Bani Tamim saw that Bani Azd were backing Ziyad and were ready to fight, they sent a message to them that they needn’t fight. Instead of that they would send Ibne Aamir and from the other side Ziyad should come and fight to decide who is the winner. Whoever of the two won, everyone should accept to obey him. Abu Sabra replied that this claim could be accepted when we hadn’t given shelter to Ziyad. Now sending him out to fight and killing him are both the same.
When Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s) learned about the worsening situation in Basra, he told to Bani Tamim of Koofa to go to Basra and convince the men of their tribe to abstain from mischief. But none of them agreed to go. The Imam (a.s) asked them what prevented them from going to meet the men of their own tribe? You give your brothers and your sons advice to do good. If they disagree, fight with them. Ain ibne Zabiya Tamimi stood up and said that he was willing to do the task. He said either he will kill Aamir to finish the story or push him out of the environs of Basra. The Imam (a.s) sent him to Basra and wrote to Ziyad that he was sending Ain ibne Zabiya to convince the head-strong people of his tribe to disburse. If the Bani Tamim remained stubborn, do Jehad with them taking along your supporters. He asked Ziyad to keep them engaged till the army of Islam arrived.. When Ibne Zabiya reached Basra he first went to Bani Azd and gave Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s)’s letter to Ziyad and said that he hoped to bring back the conditions to normalcy. Then he assembled the Bani Tamim and told them , “O people of my tribe! Why do you give your lives by joining the mischief mongers? By Allah! To crush you the contingent has already been mobilized! If you come to the straight path, the contingent may not come here. But if you remain adamant to create unrest, then remember, your death and destruction is certain! “Ibne Zabiya tried to convince them the whole day and explained to them the serious consequences of recanting from the Bai-at. In the end they said that they would listen to what he advised. But when he started to go back to his residence in the evening, ten persons followed him and killed him mercilessly.
Ziyad informed the Imam (a.s) of the sincere efforts of Ibne Zabiya and about his killing. The Imam (a.s) sent Jaria Ibne Khadama Saadi along with fifty men of Bani Tamim to Basra with instructions that they should be cautious against the enemies lest they were attacked the way Ibne Zabiya was. On reaching Basra, Jaria first met Ziyad and then went to Bani Azd and read the Imam(a.s)’s letter which was addressed to the people of Basra:“O people of Basra! Because of your rebellious acts you didn’t deserve any concessions. But I have pardoned your criminals and didn’t punish those who laid down the arms. You had owed your allegiance to me willingly. If you remain on my Bai-at and make faithfulness your habit, I shall treat you according to the norms of the Quran and the Sunnat. But if you demonstrated lack of intelligence and adopt rebellious attitude, I will be forced to act severely. Then you will be faced with such a battle that you will forget the hardships of the Battle of Jamal. I am sure you will not pave the way for your destruction with your own hands” When this letter was read, Sabro ibne Shaiban stood up and said,“We shall listen to every word of Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s) and act on it! We shall battle with those people, with whom he fights! The people with whom he makes peace, we too shall make peace with them! O Jaria! If you can deal with the enemy using your men, it is well and good! Otherwise, we are ready to assist you in all ways.” After him the others too assured Jaria of their cooperation. Now Jaria went along with his men to Bani Tamim and explained to them the pros and cons and tried to bring them to the right path. But none gave ear to him and started misbehaving. When Jaria saw the situation, he sought help from Ziyad and Bani Azd. Ziyad addressed Bani Azd, “O Bani Azd! Those who were friends yesterday, are enemies today! And those who were enemies yesterday are friends now! Jaria needs our help. Therefore rise and help him against the enemy! “Therefore Bani Azd armed themselves and Sharik ibne Aiwar, who was a Shia of Ali (a.s), and a friend of Jaria, too joined the men. On the other side Ibne Aamir appointed Abd Allah ibne Khazim Salami as the chief of the horsemen. Both the parties brought their men to the battle field. For some time there was fierce battle. In the end Ibne Aamir and his men fled and took shelter in the Palace of Sanbeel around which there was a protective moat. Among these fugitives was Abd Allah bin Khazim. When his mother, Ajli, learned that her son has been besieged, she went running and shouted for her son. He looked at his mother from the top of the palace and asked her why she had come. She asked him to come down and go home with her. He refused to go with her. Ajli, who was a black Abyssinian woman, removed the scarf from her head and said that if he didn’t come down she would become totally naked. Ibne Khazim was thus forced to come down. And went away with his mother. After Ibne Khazim went, Jaria and Ziyad laid siege of the palace. When no efforts to vacate it of the enemies succeeded, Jaria set fire to the building and Ibne Aamir, along with his companions, was killed in that conflagration. Some were crushed under the crumbling walls and the oters were killed trying to escape. Among those who were killed were Abd ar Rehman ibne Omair Tamimi and
Darah ibne Badr.
Ziyad sent a letter with Zabian ibne Omair to Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s). He wrote that they had achieved victory and the enemy was finished at the hands of Jaria. The Imam (a.s) expressed satisfaction at the crushing of that rebellion and asked Zabian where his house was located in Basra? He told about the location of his house. The Imam (a.s) asked him to build a house on the out-skirts of Basra and shift there. He added that Basra will always be under fire and water and will submerge in a manner that except the minarets of the Mosque, nothing else will be visible! Therefore, Basra was submerged twice. Once during the period of Qadir Billah and the next time again when Qaim be Amr Allah was ruling and the flood level was so high that only the minarets of the Mosque were above the water level!
This act of Muawiya was the result of his greed for power, arrogance and enmity for peace. In the end his designs were abjectly defeated. The same tribe of Bani Azd on whom he was banking, supported Ziyad and proved an important weapon in the hands of Jaria. They crushed the enemy in such a manner that they left no trace of them in Basra. Muawiya’s step wasn’t without any purpose and planning. The reasons behind the move were:
1. Muawiya, after capturing Egypt, thought that the military strength of the Imam (a.s) had gone down in Iraq, otherwise he would have sent reinforcements from Koofa to help Mohammed ibne Abu Bakr. He thought that when there was no force available at the center, how could there be sufficient numbers in Basra to resist attack.
2. Abd Allah ibne Abbas, who was the relative of the Imam (a.s) and his staunch supporter, was then away in Koofa. His deputy, Ziyad, was holding temporary charge and wouldn’t have jeopardized his life to fight back the attack. There was a strong likelihood that he would put down arms and surrender.
3. Basra was already the theater of the Battle of Jamal recently and the people of that place had supported Talha and Zubair claiming Qasas for the blood of Othman. There was no scarcity of people in that city who still felt the need for the Qasas. Even if they didn’t side with the attackers, they wouldn’t also help the defenders!
4. Innumerable persons from Basra were killed by Ali (a.s) and his men. The survivors of those who were killed had the fire of revenge burning in their hearts. They would certainly support Muawiya’s troops to fight the Imam (a.s)’s troops.
5. Basra was located in the neighborhood of Faras. If this place was conquered, it would serve as a launching pad for other conquests to follow!