The Battle of Jamal
After the people pledged allegiance to Imam Ali (peace be upon him), Talha and al-Zubayr, under the pretext of performing Umrah, departed Madinah and joined Aisha in Makkah. Along with Abdullah ibn Amir, the former governor of Basra dismissed by the Imam, they advanced toward Basra. Upon arrival, they attacked Uthman ibn Hunayf, the Imam’s appointed governor, cruelly beating him and plucking the hair of his beard and eyebrows.
In response, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) marched toward Basra with a host of his loyal companions, including Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon them), Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, Abdullah ibn Jafar, and the youths of Banu Hashim. Veterans of Badr—250 in number—as well as many of those who had pledged allegiance under the tree (Bayat al-Ridwan), joined his ranks.
Before the fighting began, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) sent Muslim al-Mujashi, holding a copy of the Holy Quran, to invite the opposing side to divine judgment. The Basran forces, however, shot him with arrows and martyred him instantly. The Imam (peace be upon him) then commanded his army not to initiate combat, but when the enemy attacked, battle ensued until divine victory descended upon the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him).
By the fifteenth of Jumada al-Awwal, Basra was liberated, and order was restored under the banner of justice and divine truth.
The Fate of the Opposing Leader
When the camel carrying Aisha was finally brought down, the opposing ranks scattered in defeat. Approaching her tent, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) addressed her with dignity and reproach:
“O Humayra, did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) command you to fight against me? Did he not instruct you to remain within your home? By Allah, those who hid their own women behind veils yet brought you into the battlefield have wronged you.”
The Imam (peace be upon him) ordered that she be taken to a secure home and later sent her safely to Makkah and then to Madinah, restoring peace with wisdom and restraint.
