Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

66 The Battles of the Camel and Siffeen, and the issue of arbitration
on 'Ali's side or against him. Thus Amir al-Mu'mineen continned
that the Muslims who went out for this purpose, after the martyrdom
of 'Uthmh (&), were seeking to set things straight and put an end
to turmoil, and their decision was based on sincerity. Their reward
would be commensurate with the sincerity of their intentions and the
purity of their hearts.202
1.5. Attempts at reconciliation
Before 'Ali (&) moved towards Basra with his army, he
stayed in Dhu Q2r for a few days. He tried, with all the powers and
means at his disposal, to put an end to this division and turmoil by
peaceful means and to spare the Muslims the evils of fighting and
armed confrontation. The same is also tme of Talhah and az-Zuhayr.
A number of the Companions and senior Tgbi'oon who had refrained
from getting involved also took part in the attempts to bring about
reconciliation, including:
1.5.1. 'ImrSn ibn Hu~ayn (&)
He sent word to the people discouraging both parties (from
engaging in fighting). Then he sent word to Banu 'Adiyy, a large
group of whom had joined az-Zubayr. His envoy came and said to
them in their mosque: "I have been sent to you by 'Imrh ibn Husayn,
the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (g) to advise you; he
swears by Allah, besides Whom there is no other god, that he would
rather be an Abyssinian slave with a cut-off nose, tending goats at the
top of a mountain until death comes to him, then to shoot an arrow
against either of these two parties, whether it misses or hits its target.
So refrain from fighting, may my father and mother he sacrificed for
you." The people said: "Leave us alone, for we will never abandon
the wife of the Messenger of Allah (s) for anything."203