jun 18, 656 - Ali (RA) becomes Caliph

Description:

- There was no Caliph of Islam for three days after Hazrat Uthman's murder. Medina was completely in the grip of the rioters.
- Most of the Companions had left Medina during the dark days of the holocaust (a war in which very many ordinary people are killed). The few who remained felt absolutely helpless.
- After three days, when the rebels decided to return to their homes, they felt it was necessary that the new Caliph should be chosen before they left Medina.
- In this connection there were differences among the rebels.
- One group favoured the election of Ali (Egypt); another favoured the election of Talha (Kufa) while the third wanted Zubair (Basra).
- The Egyptians and some prominent companions requested Hazrat Ali to accept the office of the Caliph but he refused.
- The rebels then offered the Khilafat to Talha and Zubair but they too refused.
- They next requested the Ansar to choose a Caliph from amongst themselves, but they declined and said in that in the presence of Ali, no one else deserved to be the Caliph.
- There was a complete deadlock in the matter of election.
- They then gave the ultimatum that unless the Caliph was chosen within the next 24 hours, they would be forced to take some drastic action (mass murder).
- Hazrat Ali had talks with those of the Companions who were still in Medina. They favoured him to forward and serve the people.
- So Hazrat Ali agreed to take responsibility of guiding the affairs of the Muslims. He consented to become the fourth Caliph of Islam.
- All came to the Prophet's Mosque to receive the pledge of loyalty. Malik Ushtar was the first to take the pledge. He was followed by other people.
- Talha and Zubair, the two noted Companions, were in Medina at the time.
- They were among the six electors nominated by Umar.
- Hazrat Ali wanted to have their confidence. Both of them took the pledge, but only if Ali find Uthman's killers.
- Members of the Umayyad family all fled to Syria. They took away with them the blood-stained shirt of the late Caliph and the chopped fingers of his wife, Naila.
- Hazrat Ali knew well that difficult times lay ahead.
- The forces of lawlessness had been unleashed.
- It would require tireless work, great patience and much tact to restore law and order.
- Ali hoped to accomplish the task with the co-operation of his people.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: