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Ayesha's Occupation of Basra
In pursuance of the truce agreement between Othman b Hanif and the confederates, Kaab b Sur the
Qazi of Basra was commissioned to go to Madina to ascertain whether Talha and Zubair had taken the
oath of allegiance to Ali voluntarily, or under some compulsion. Kaab b Sur was originally a Christian. He
was attracted by Islam, and became a Muslim. He was a man of great learning and piety and was very
popular among the people of Basra. On arrival at the mosque, Madina he proceeded to the Prophet's
mosque and addressing the congregation said that he had come from Basra to ascertain whether Talha
and Zubair had taken the oath of allegiance to Ali voluntarily or under compulsion. The men in the
mosque maintained silence, but Usama b Zaid stood up to say that Talha and Zubair had taken the oath
of allegiance under compulsion. At this Sahl b Hanif, the brother of Othman b Hanif the Governor of
Basra rushed with his men to beat Usama. Usama's father Zaid was an adopted son of the Holy Prophet
and the Holy Prophet loved Usama as a grandson. During the time of Abu Bakr, Usama had led a
campaign to Syria. Some Companions came to the rescue of Usama. And they too declared that Talha
and Zubair had taken the oath of allegiance under compulsion. Kaab b Sur came to the conclusion that
Talha and Zubair had in fact taken the oath of allegiance under compulsion.
On return to Basra, Kaab submitted his report that Talha and Zubair had taken the oath of allegiance to
Ali under compulsion. According to the truce agreement, Othman b Hanif had to surrender the complete
control of the city of Basra to the confederates. By this time Othman b Hanif had received instructions
from Ali that he was coming to Basra with a large force and that he should hold the city till his arrival.
Othman b Hanif accordingly refused to vacate the city on the ground that the report of Kaab was not
correct. On the following Friday when the people of Basra had assembled in the main mosque, Talha
and Zubair addressed them apprising them of the terms of the truce, the report of Kaab b Sur, and the
breach of faith on the part of Othman b Hanif. The people assembled in the mosque came to be divided
into two groups. One group supported Othman b Hanif while the other group supported Talha and
Zubair. Hot words were exchanged between the two groups, and that led to an armed conflict. Swords
were freely used by both sides. The conflict lasted for several hours as a result of which many persons
were killed and the mosque was dyed with the blood of the Muslims. To the conflict, the party of Othman
b Hanif suffered heavy loss of life.
At night fall, the pro-Ayesha group attacked the house of Othman b Hanif. It was a dark and stormy
night. The guards on duty were overpowered. The mob then broke into the house and Othman b Hanif
was taken captive. The mob wanted to frill him, but under the orders of Ayesha he was imprisoned and
lodged in jail. His beard was plucked and he was tortured by the mob.
The following day, the pro-Ali group took the field under the command of Hakim b Jabala. Ayesha made a
proclamation to the effect that her quarrel was with the murderers of Othman only, and as such those
who were not involved in the murder of Othman should withdraw from fighting. It was also declared
that those who fought would be deemed to be involved in the murder of Othman. Kaab b Sur tried to
bring about peace between the two sides, but all efforts to bring about reconciliation between the
contending parties failed. The battle that followed proved to be a bloody one. The pro-Ali group was
outnumbered, but the men of the group fought desperately. Hakim b Jabala fought like a hero. He
raised slogans in favor of Ali, and heaped abuses on Ayesha, Talha, and Zubair. A warrior of the army of
the confederates struck Hakim b Jabala and severed one of his legs. In spite of this disability he
continued fighting and sang: "I do not mind if my leg has been severed. My hands are still there. It's no
matter of shame for me to die. Shame lies in flying from the battle-field. Life lies in keeping honor alive. I
have lived with honor and I will die with honor."
Hakim b Jabala died on the battle-field. With his death, his men lost heart and laid down arms. Many of
them involved in the murder of Othman had fallen in the battle. Those who survived were executed.
There were still some murderers of Othman who had not taken part in the battle. The tribes were asked
to hand over such men. They were brought to Basra and executed. In this way all the people from Basra
who were involved in the assassination of Othman were killed. Only one man escaped from such
massacre. He was Harqus b Zubair. He belonged to the Banu Saad tribe. The tribe refused to hand over
Harqus. The tribe which was heretofore pro-confederates changed their loyalties and offered allegiance
to Ali. The tribe of Abul Qais whose many persons had been executed alienated from the confederates
and transferred its loyalty to Ali. Over six hundred persons belonging to Basra or the neighboring tribes
wore executed or killed as the Qasas" for the blood of Othman.
The confederates now became the master of the entire city of Basra. The pro-Ali group evacuated the
city, and those who remained in the city recognized the authority of the confederates. Supreme
authority vested in Ayesha and Talha and Zubair acted as her Ministers. The Baitul-Mal was seized, and
the men of the pro-confederate group who had suffered loss of life or property were duly compensated.
Ayesha wrote a letter to Muawiyah in Syria informing him how the confederates had taken vengeance
for the blood of Othman. He was advised to undertake campaigns on similar lines to take vengeance for
the blood of Othman.
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