Table of Contents
Introduction: Understanding the Period of Civil Strife
This is the first article in the series “The Great Fitnah: The Story of the Conflict Among the Companions“, which delves into the era of civil strife among the Companions, beginning with the rebellion against Uthman (may ALLAH be pleased with him), and ending with the martyrdom of Ali (may ALLAH be pleased with him). This pivotal period, marked by the Battles of Jamal and Siffin, witnessed some of the greatest conflicts in Muslim history.
The article also explores the reasons behind this series, including extreme Shiite beliefs and contemporary Iranian expansion, secular dominance over the Islamic world, and the misunderstanding of history by some Islamic intellectuals during the Arab revolutions. Click here to explore the full series.
Breaking the Silence: Why Address the Companions’ Disputes?
For nearly ten years or even longer, I felt a strong need to document these events about this topic, but I was cautious about proceeding. From a religious perspective, we are taught to refrain from discussing conflicts between the Companions, to think well of them, and to recognize that each one acted according to their best understanding of the situation. Yet throughout these years, I received an increasing number of questions about this period, and uncertainties about these historical events continued to grow.
I once conducted a survey across Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms about which questions in Islamic history most occupied people’s thoughts. Strikingly, three-quarters of the questions – seventy-five percent – focused on the period of civil strife, while only one-quarter – twenty-five percent – addressed all other aspects of Islamic history. Consider this: three out of four questions centered on just these five years, while one thousand four hundred and thirty-five years of history generated only one question out of every four in people’s minds.
This realization deeply impressed upon me the gravity of the matter. Indeed, there is constant concern that discussing this subject might bring attention to it among those who were previously unaware, and being unknowing of such complicated matters can be viewed as a blessing and mercy from ALLAH. Spiritual well-being in faith surpasses all other forms of well-being.
When this topic is approached by those who lack proper qualification, it can leave spiritual wounds and injuries that might affect their faith. However, when one approaches it equipped with faith, knowledge, and sound reasoning, they emerge with strengthened belief; for the Companions (may ALLAH be pleased with them all) even in their disagreements and conflicts, represented the highest and most noble examples of human character.
The source of my concern and reluctance was that I worried if I addressed this subject, I would bring attention to it among those whom ALLAH had blessed with unawareness – meaning they had no knowledge of it. Of course, I was deeply concerned about bearing the responsibility if someone learned about this topic through me, then lost their way because of it, and perhaps even lost their faith, as has happened to many people indeed, and there is no power nor strength except through ALLAH. Nevertheless, the occurrences and inquiries continued to grow each day.
Contemporary Challenges: The Iranian Influence on Historical Perceptions
Let me explain the key developments that made this topic a constant subject of discussion. The first significant development was Shiite extremism and modern-day Iranian expansion. The Shiites have established a state – a powerful one in Iran – that works intensively to spread Shiism, which has triggered numerous doubts throughout the Islamic world. We now face vast collections of books and articles, alongside countless video clips, speeches, and lessons, to the extent that many Sunnis speak of Muawiyah (may ALLAH be pleased with him) with disrespect or even mockery. Sadly, even some who claim knowledge and religious guidance have fallen into this pattern.
These doubts weren’t confined to just the Companions who opposed Ali (may ALLAH be pleased with them all) such as Muawiyah, Amr ibn Al-As, Aisha, Talha, and Al-Zubayr. The Shiite-originated doubts spread further to include those who passed away before the civil strife or weren’t involved in it at all. Even Khalid bin Al-Walid, Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba, Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari, and Usama bin Zaid didn’t escape these doubts. The skepticism continued to grow until it reached Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman (may ALLAH be pleased with them), and now one can hear both direct and indirect criticism of these noble Companions on Arab channels in Sunni countries.
When people doubt their history, they become wounded, hurt, and lose faith in themselves and their predecessors. This impact is even more significant when this history isn’t just historical record but religious foundation. Therefore, doubting this history isn’t merely worldly harm or damage to national identity – it extends to spiritual loss and religious decline. Those who harbor hatred or disrespect for the Companions commit a serious sin and deviate from Sunni Islam, potentially leaving the faith entirely. The crucial point is that Iran’s state, through its extensive efforts to spread Shiism, has led to the widespread circulation of many doubts.
Two Sides of Extremism: From Iranian Expansion to Nasibi Resurgence
On the other hand, this Iranian influence has grown particularly strong in the last twenty years, and especially in the past decade – following the occupation of Iraq and later Syria and Yemen. The Iranian involvement in the Syrian revolution, then in Yemen, led to widespread bloodshed, violence, and brutality. The sectarian violence against Sunnis in Iraq, the events in Syria, the situation in Yemen, and to a lesser extent, what occurred in Lebanon – all this extreme violence has triggered an opposing form of extremism.
A previously extinct sect has resurfaced: the Nawasib sect. This Nasibi group stands in direct opposition to the Shiite sect; while Shiites show extreme devotion to the Prophet’s family (Peace be upon Him) and elevate them greatly, the Nawasib harbor hatred for Ali and the Prophet’s family. A decade ago, discussions about the civil strife mainly focused on addressing Shiite doubts about Muawiyah, Aisha, and other Companions, but now, with the emergence of this Nawasib phenomenon, those who address this topic must work twice as hard to counter both Shiite and Nasibi misconceptions.
The Nawasib hold the belief that Ali was responsible for instigating the uprising against Uthman and his death, that he seized the caliphate through an illegitimate takeover, that he sheltered Uthman’s killers, and that he fought alongside them against other Companions. This Nasibi sect existed in early Islamic centuries and was itself one of the consequences of the civil strife. Just as the Khawarij and Shiites emerged, so did the Nawasib, but it had vanished as Muslims came to respect Ali and acknowledge that he was correct, while those who opposed him were mistaken though acting on their judgment. However, modern-day Shiite extremism has brought this sect back to life.
I have personally encountered some of these individuals, and matters have escalated to the point where I came across a book titled “Virtues/Merits of Caliph Yazid bin Muawiyah”, and I’ve met those who claim that all Islamic books, including Bukhari and Muslim, were influenced by Shiite beliefs – which clearly reflects a Nasibi mindset.
Secularism’s Challenge: Modern Opposition to Islamic Historical Narratives
This represents a dual cause that keeps the topic of civil strife active and frequently discussed. This first reason is Iranian influence and its consequences. The second reason is secularist extremism, as we currently face a situation where not a single state fully embraces and defends Sunni Islamic doctrine. Even present-day Sunni states operate under secular systems, with their media promoting secularism. Looking at television channels, press, ministries of culture, education, and media, one finds predominantly secularists promoting secular ideologies.
While the Shiites attempt to discredit the Companions who opposed Ali (may ALLAH be pleased with him), secularists aim to discredit all Companions collectively, using this as a means to challenge the religion itself. These individuals reject everything connected to religion, Islamic governance, caliphate, or the implementation of Sharia.
Their main approach involves emphasizing and highlighting the civil strife (Fitnah) that occurred among the Companions. They try to present the Companions as people who fought for worldly power and positions, rather than recognizing them as individuals of faith and devotion.
Yet it’s important to understand that conflict exists in all nations, religions, and belief systems. Secular nations have engaged in wars, including catastrophic ones like World War I and World War II. These conflicts occurred between secular systems, but interestingly, such wars never led secularists to question or abandon their secular principles.
Christians fought, and atheists fought as well. The reality is that fighting is a human phenomenon that has occurred across all religions and nations, and doesn’t serve as valid evidence to misrepresent religion. Thus, with this secular extremism, barely a month or two passes without someone appearing in a newspaper, program, or social media account – typically a sponsored one – speaking about this topic or criticizing one of the Companions.
Beyond Logic: The Psychological Impact of Visual Media on Islamic History
The situation has reached an alarming stage last year, with an Egyptian journalist known for hypocrisy creating a television series about Muawiyah (may ALLAH be pleased with him) with massive production costs. Notably, the person funding these huge amounts isn’t known for religious devotion or piety, but rather the opposite – meaning neither the writer nor the financier, and certainly not the actors, are guided by religious principles. The actors are merely vessels delivering what the author wrote, and ALLAH knows best what they will present.
Also occurring last year – just as someone created a series about Muawiyah – a Shiite organization has produced a concerning film about Lady Aisha (may ALLAH be pleased with Her) according to some reports. The troubling aspect, the dangerous element is that these doubts now bypass the mind and directly affect the psyche, feelings, and emotions.
The unsuspecting viewer isn’t presented with logical, well-structured arguments addressing the intellect, but rather these ideas and doubts penetrate through background music, lighting effects, camera movements, and actress’s tears, among other techniques. These approaches are far more dangerous and severe, more dangerous and severe, more dangerous and severe; because removing intellectual doubt is less challenging than eliminating doubt that has become deeply rooted in the soul, stirred emotions, and embedded itself in unconscious thinking.
When Present Meets Past: Revolutionary Aspirations and Historical Misunderstandings
We’ve identified two major reasons: first, the Shiite extremism and Iranian expansion which raised serious doubts and generated counter-extremism that revived the Nasibi ideology; and second, the secular control over our Islamic states which questions the Companions and religion itself, using the Companions as an entry point and the civil strife era as evidence to challenge religion entirely.
Let me explain the third major reason which, although the least powerful in capability, affects our internal front, unfortunately. When the Arab revolutions emerged and initially succeeded before later failing, they were driven by fresh, strong, passionate youth, with devoted Muslim youth at their core.
Regrettably, among Islamic intellectuals and those associated with religious knowledge and da’wah, some emerged who believed and taught these youth that through these revolutions, they were correcting Muawiyah’s mistake from fourteen hundred years ago, claiming they were restoring consultation (shura) after Muawiyah had transformed it into tyranny and despotism. This perspective is severely flawed and entirely incorrect. I haven’t encountered anyone holding this view who demonstrates even average understanding – not even good, but average – about the actual historical events of this period. Most of their ideas are merely assumptions, illusions, fantasies, conclusions, and emotional expressions.
Consequently, many young people believed they were achieving a great historical accomplishment that the Companions had failed to achieve – which itself reveals sufficient ignorance. When they failed and the Arab revolutions collapsed, these individuals and many intellectuals concluded they failed because of the legacy of tyranny and injustice that Muawiyah had established, the Companions had accepted, and scholars had legitimized throughout Islamic history.
Under the burden of psychological defeat combined with this academic and intellectual weakness, many doubted their faith and some abandoned religion entirely. Many others, while writing their visions for the future state during this period, fixated on the civil strife, believing themselves more intelligent and religiously superior to the Companions, expressing thoughts and words – we ask ALLAH the Almighty to forgive them for and to guide them to repent from.
However, all of them – not most, but all – appear revolutionary on paper and towards the past, while in reality – specifically referring to Islamic intellectuals – though revolutionary in writing and towards history, in their practical lives they compromise with circumstances, appease rulers, and respect constitutions and laws even when these laws are unjust and man-made, and there is no power nor strength except through ALLAH.
Complexity and Confusion: Why the Truth Wasn’t Clear Even to the Companions
These three factors have converged strongly in recent years, making the topic of civil strife constantly discussed. This series – our collection of articles – emerges in response to these current circumstances, aiming to explain the civil strife calmly and objectively while examining the subject from various perspectives.
We aim to present a portrayal of the civil strife that demonstrates how deeply complex, unclear, and thorny the issue was, and how the truth in it was confusing rather than obvious or evident. Many will be surprised to learn that if it weren’t for the prophetic texts stating that the truth was with Ali (may ALLAH be pleased with him), historical analysis would have favored Muawiyah’s position over Ali’s (may ALLAH be pleased with them all).
Many will be surprised by the peculiarity of our master Ali’s approach during the civil strife, which seems difficult to comprehend and raises questions. Many will observe how the matter divided the Companions into three groups: those supporting Ali, those opposing Ali, and those who withdrew from the civil strife, unable to determine the right course of action.
Consider now: when experts in any field disagree on an issue and split into three positions – supporting, opposing, and uncertain – it would be both ignorant and arrogant to suggest or claim that the truth is clear. How can any of us today, after one thousand four hundred years, believe we can discern the truth in a matter where the nation’s finest minds differed in both religious understanding and reasoning? How can anyone imagine such a thing? This stems from ignorance and arrogance.
The Sacred Trust: Evaluating the Unique Status of the Four Caliphs
My goal through these episodes isn’t to establish that Ali was right or that Muawiyah was wrong—this is already confirmed by authentic prophetic texts; this matter is settled. My purpose is to explain: How did Ali perceive the civil strife? How did Muawiyah view it? How did other Companions understand it? And why did conflict arise between them when they all sought truth?
There’s another crucial point we must understand: the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphate represents the model for managing governance and state affairs after the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and the end of divine revelation. The period of the Rightly Guided Caliphate complements the prophetic era; it represents caliphate following the prophetic methodology, and it was certainly an essential phase that needed to exist for Muslims to learn how to conduct their affairs through human effort alone.
Therefore, the Rightly Guided Caliphate period encompassed all stages of statehood so Muslims could follow its example in all phases, meaning it witnessed the stages of birth, rise, and establishment – during the eras of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, and it also experienced the phase of civil strife and decline – during the final years of Uthman and throughout Ali’s era, may ALLAH be pleased with all the Prophet’s companions.
These four caliphs serve as exemplars for Muslims throughout time, and they are promised Paradise, and all were among the earliest to embrace Islam. The judgment of their righteousness was predetermined – ALLAH’s judgment. Therefore, evaluating them differs from assessing other historical figures because we know the true nature of these Companions’ conditions unlike others. For other historical figures, we only know their outward state, but for these Companions, we know their inner state was righteous through what ALLAH and HIS Messenger (Peace be upon Him) declared.
Conclusion and Future Articles
The essential point here is that we needed to have a period serving as a model, where we can observe how Muslims handle their disagreements, and even how they manage their wars and conflicts. This, if ALLAH wills, is what we will examine in the upcoming articles.
What I want to emphasize now is that this series aims to clearly demonstrate the complexity of the subject, and that the situation wasn’t as simple or clear as many people today assume. When the Companions engaged in conflict, they did so in pursuit of truth. Each one strived to uphold what they believed was right according to their understanding and their Ijtihad (scholarly effort).
To summarize, when one of the brothers asked me: “Why are you creating episodes about the civil strife? Why don’t you avoid discussing what happened between the Companions?” I responded that in the face of these current doubts and pressures, I will attempt to explain the civil strife so that people can understand why refraining from judgment about what occurred between the Companions is truly the safest approach.
Join us, ALLAH willing, in the upcoming articles. We ask ALLAH the Almighty to teach us what benefits us, to benefit us with what HE has taught us, and to increase us in knowledge.
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