Tarikh Islam

This study examines the role of the intellectual and governmental legacy of the first caliphs in the emergence of the three battles of Imam Ali’s era. The main hypothesis of this research is based on the idea that there are many similarities in thought and practice between the opponents in the three battles of Jamal (the Camel), Siffin, and Nahrawan and the first three caliphs, such that each of these three battles can be seen as a manifestation and outcome of the thoughts and conduct of the first three caliphs. The Battle of the Camel, because of the breaking of allegiance, excessive demands, and the harsh and un-Islamic behavior of the people of Jamal toward Muslims, especially in the city of Basra, corresponds closely to the breaking of allegiance to Imam Ali by the first caliph. In the same way, Abu Bakr, out of excessive ambition, ignored the Ghadir pledge and took the seat of the caliphate at Saqifa, and in dealing with his opponents he went beyond the limits of violence and injustice. The behavior and thought of the Khawarij before and during the Battle of Nahrawan correspond closely to the ideas of the second caliph. Excessive violence, misunderstanding, subjective interpretation of religion, and excommunicating others are all seen in the conduct of the Khawarij and Umar. Moreover, the idealization of the second caliph’s rule among the Khawarij indicates their influence from his ideas. The Battle of Siffin was also the result of Mu‘awiya’s and the Umayyad party’s greed, a government founded on forgery and lies, and in rebellion and permissiveness they resembled the third caliph, since Uthman too acted in this manner in attaining and preserving the caliphate.