Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Ttlib 53
stop, but Hukaym and his gang continued fighting and did not stop.
Tawah and z-Zubayr refrained from fighting except to defend
themselves, while Hukaym was urging his horse on and charging at
them.148 Despite that, 'kishah (%) was very keen to avoid all-out
7~
fighting, so she ordered her companions to move to the right in order
to avoid the fighters. They remained like that until night fell.14y
The next morning, Hukaym ibn Jablah, making noise and with
his spear in his hand, made his way to where 'pishah(&) and hex
companioi~s were. Whenever he passed a man or woman who
criticised him for slandering 'L'ishah(%J, he killed him or her.'''
At that point, the people of the tribe of 'Ahdul-Qays became angry
and said to Hukaym: "You did what you did yesterday, and you have
repeated it today. By Allah (&), we will not let you off until we bring
you to justice."
Then they went back and left him, and Hukaym ibn Jablah
continued on his way with those who had taken part in the murder of
'Uthmgn (&), accompanied by the thugs of different tribal
backgrounds. They realised that they could no longer stay in Basra,
so they all rallied behind him and engaged the army of 'pishah (%),
and fierce fighting took place.151 The caller of 'A'ishah (&)
continued calling out and urging them to stop fighting, but they
in~isted.''~ 'kishah (I$&) continued to say: "Do not fight anyone but
those who are fighting you." Hukaym did not pay any attention to the
caller; he continued to instigate the fighting. At this point, the nature
of these people who were fighting became clear to az-Zubayr and
Tab&, they realised that they would not refrain from committing
any crime, and that their aim was to provoke the fighting.
They said: "Praise be to Allah, who has brought together for us
the people of Basra who took part in the murder of 'Uthmk (&) so
that we may wreak revenge on them. 0 Allah, do not leave any of
them alive. Help us to bring them to justice today, and cause them all