Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

582 Governors at the time of 'Ali ibn Abi Trilib
He was one of the most influential people of his age. In brief,
he was one of the best examples of the heirs of the Prophets.
1.9. Kufah
When 'Uthmk (&) was martyred, his governor in Kufah
was Abu Moosa al-Ash'ari (&). After allegiance was swam to 'Ali
(&) as caliph, 'Ali (&) confiied Abu Moosa in that position.
Abu Moosa accepted the people's oath of allegiance to 'Ali (&),
and he wrote to tell him about the attitude of the people of Kufah
concerning swearing allegiance to him; many of them agreed to it and
accepted it.17' When Amir al-Mu'mineen left Madinah to go to Iraq,
he started asking about Abu Moosa in particular. On the way to Iraq,
he was met by a man from Kufah. 'Ali (&) asked him about Abu
Moosa, and he answered: "If you want peace and reconciliation, then
Abn Moosa is the man who can help with that, but if you want to
fight, then Abu Moosa is not the man who can help with that." 'Ali
(&) said: "By Nab, I do not want anything but peace and
reconciliation, unless it is rejected (by the other party)." He said: "I
have told you what I know."179
Later on, it became clear that Abu Moosa was inclined towards
reconciliation and making peace, and he did not want there to be
fighting among the Muslims. 'Ali (&) sent Muhammad ibn Abi
Bakr, 'Ammk ibn Ygsir, al-Hasan ibn 'Ali and others in delegations
to urge the people of Kufah to mobilize before the Battle of the
Camel (which we will discuss in detail below inshallah). The people
of Kufah asked Abu Moosa about the situation and consulted him
about going out to fight. He said: 'What is in your best interests with
regard to the hereafter is to stay; as for what is in your worldly
interests, it is to go out on the campaign. But you know best about
your sit~ation.""~ A number of the people of Kufah were convinced
to go out with al-Hasan (&), after numerous lengthy debates