Part 80

Perhaps this point, from the account which follows, will bring us to an understanding of the most famous position of his life, and that is his position in the arbitration between Imam “Aliy and Mu‘aawiyah. This position is often taken as evidence of the immoderation in Abu Muusaa's good nature or his extraordinary naivete, which made tricking him quite easy. However, the situation, as we shall see, in spite of what hastiness or error there might have been, reveals the greatness of his soul, the greatness of his faith in the truth and in people.

Indeed, the view of Abu Muusaa in the case of arbitration can be summarized by the fact that he saw the Muslims killing one another and each party fanatically clinging to its Imam (ruler). As he saw it, the situation between the combatants had reached a critical state that was impossible of resolve and placed the destiny of the Muslim nation on the edge of an abyss. In his opinion, the situation had reached a stage of deterioration. It was exemplified in the change of the whole situation, which thus required starting over again.

The civil war, at that point, revolved around two parties of the Muslims disputing over the person of the ruler. Some desired Imam “Aliy to relinquish the caliphate temporarily and Mu‘aawiyah to renounce it, so that the entire matter could be referred again to the Muslims. Then, they could choose, by way of consultation, the caliph they wanted. This was how Abu Muusaa argued the case and this was the way he saw its resolution.

It is correct that Imam ~Aliy was soundly sworn in as caliph and correct that every illegal rebellion should not be allowed to achieve its aim of overturning the legal right. However, the issues in the dispute between the Imam and Mu‘aawiyah and between the peoples of Iraq and Syria had, in the view of Abu Muusaa, reached a

state which imposed a new kind of thinking and resolution. For the insurgency of Mu’aawiyah was not considered just a revolt alone, and the rebellion of the people of Syria was not considered just an insurrection alone, and the entire difference was not considered just a difference in opinion nor a matter of choice. All these things developed into a harmful civil war in which thousands were killed on both sides and continued to threaten Islam and Muslims with the | worst ramifications and consequences. So removal of the causes of the dispute and war and stepping aside of both parties was in the thinking of Abu Muusaa, the starting point on the road to salvation.

The view of Imam “‘Aliy, when he accepted the principle of arbitration, was that “Abd Allah Ibn Abbaas or someone from among his companions would represent his front in arbitration,but a large party of those with power in his group and army imposed on him Abu Muusaa Al-Ash‘ariy. The reason for their choice of Abu Muusaa was that he had never participated in the dispute between *Aliy and Mu‘aawiyah since the dispute began, but had separated himself from both parties after giving up all hope of encouraging the two of them to a common understanding and peace. So he withdrew from the fight between them. He had, from this respect, the most right of all the people to arbitrate.

There was nothing in the religion of Abu Muusaa nor in his sincerity and truthfulness that made the Imam suspicious. Nevertheless, he did realize the intentions of the other side and the degree of their dependency on maneuvers, deception, and trickery, and that Abu Muusaa, inspite of his understanding and knowledge, hated deception and maneuvers and loved to deal with people on the basis of truth and not his wits. Therefore, Imam *Aliy was afraid Abu Muusaa would be deceived by the others and that the arbitration would be turned into maneuvers by one side, which would make matters worst.

The arbitration between the two parties began, with Abu Muusaa Al-Ash‘ariy representing the party of Imam “Aliy and “Amr

Ibn Al-Aas representing the party of Mu‘aawiyah. It is true that “Amr Ibn Al-Aas depended on his sharp wits and his broad cunning in carrying the banner for Mu‘aawiyah.

The meeting between the two men, Al-Ash‘ariy and ‘Amr, began with a proposal presented by Abu Muusaa. It was for the two arbitrators to agree on the nomination of ‘Abd Allah Ibn ‘Umar, declaring him the Caliph of the Muslims because he enjoyed a broad concensus in respect to his love, admiration, and distinction. ‘Amr Ibn Al--Aas saw in this orientation and direction of Abu Muusaa a great opportunity, so he took advantage of it.

The content of the proposal by Abu Muusaa did not consider a conditional link with the party which he represented, which was the party of Imam “Aliy. That meant, also, that Abu Muusaa was ready to give support and backing for caliph to others from among the Prophet's Companions, the proof for that point being his suggestion . of “Abd Allah Ibn ‘Umar.

Thus, “Amr found, by his shrewdness and wits, a wide entrance for the achievement of his goal. So he therefore suggested Mu‘aawiyah. Then he suggested his own son ‘Abd Allah, who possessed a great position among the Messenger's Companions. The intelligence of Abu Muusaa was not less than the wits of ~Amr. When he saw “Amr adopting the principle of nomination as a rule for the discussion of arbitration, he boldly confronted *Amr, saying that the choice of caliph was the right of all Muslims and that Allah had made their affair one of consultation between themselves, so it was incumbent to leave them alone entirely to the right of choice.

We shall now see how “Amr exploited this lofty principle for the interest of Mu’aawiyah. However, before that, let us listen to the historical dialogue which took place between Abu Muusaa and ‘Amr Ibn Al--Aas at the beginning of their meeting. We transmit it on the authority of the book Al-Akhbaar At-Iawaal by Abu Hunaifah AdDaiyanuuriy;

Abu Muusaa: O “Amr, do you desire in this matter the good of the nation and the pleasure of Allah?

‘Amr: And what is it? Abu Muusaa: That we appoint “Abd Allah Ibn “Umar, for indeed he never involved himself in the war.

‘Amr: And where are you with respect to Mu-aawiyah?

Abu Muusaa: Mu‘aawiyah does not deserve it nor is he worthy of it.

Amr: Do you not know that ‘Uthmaan was unjustly killed?

Amr: So indeed Mu’aawiyah is guardian (walii) of the blood of ‘Uthmaan and his house is in the Quraish, as you know. So the people said, Why not assume responsibility for the matter since it has no precedents. In that you have no excuse. You say, I indeed found him the guardian of ‘Uthmaan's blood and Allah Most High says, <And whoever is killed (intentionally with hostility and oppression and not by mistake), We have given his heir [walii] the authority > (17: 33).

The brother of Umm Habiibah, the wife of the Prophet (PBUH) has this and he is one of his Companions.

Abu Muusaa: Fear Allah, O~Amr! As for what you mentioned concerning the nobility of Mu*aawiyah, if worthiness for the caliphite were based on nobility, the one with the most right to it among the people would be Abrahah Ibn As-Sabbaah, for indeed he is one of the sons in the line of the kings of Yemen, who ruled the east of the earth and its west. Furthermore, how does the nobility of Mu*aawiyah compare withthat of *Aliy Ibn Abi Taalib? As for your talk that Mu‘aawiyah was the guardian of *Uthmaan's blood, his son ~Amr Ibn “Uthmaan is more ‘Uthmaan's guardian than he. But if you acceded to me,

we would revive the practice of ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab and his son ‘Abd Allah.

‘Amr: What prevents you from my son ‘Abd Allah, with his merit and goodness and his previous Hijrah and his companionship?

Abu Muusaa: Indeed your son is a truthful man, but you have completely immersed him into these wars. We have made it (i.e. the caliphate) for a good man and the son of a good man. “Abd Allah Ibn “Umar.

“Amr: O Abu Muusaa, no man is suitable for this affair unless he has two molars. He eats with one and he feeds (others) with the other.

Abu Muusaa: Woe to you, O “Amr! Indeed, the Muslims have entrusted the matter to us, after they have fought with one another by force of arms and swords. Do not hurt them with spears! Do not turn them back to civil war and discord.

“Amr: So what do you see?

Abu Muusaa: I see that we should depose the two men, “Aliy and Mu’aawiyah. Then make consultation between the Muslims. They will choose for themselves who they want.

‘Amr: I am pleased with this view. So indeed the goodness of the heart is in it. This argument completely changes the form which we are accustomed to see.

This argument completely changes the form which we are accustomed to see every time we mention the incident of arbitration. Indeed, in these arguments Abu Muusaa was not of a neglectful mind, but very active. On the contrary, in this dialogue, his intelligence was more active than the intellect of ~Amr Ibn Al-Aas, who was famous for his wit and shrewdness. So when ‘Amr wanted

to propose the caliphate of Mu’aawiyah based on genealogy in the Quraish and guardianship of the blood of “Uthmaan, the refutation of Abu Muusaa came sharply and brilliantly as the edge of a sword.

"If the caliphate were based on nobility, then Abrahah Ibn AsSabbaah, who is from a line of kings, is more worthy of guardianship than Mu‘aawiyah. And if the caliphate were based on guardianship of the blood of *Uthmaan and defense of his right, then Ibn “Uthmaan is more worthy of this guardianship than Mu‘aawiyah."

After this dialogue, the responsibility for what followed was assumed by~ Amr Ibn Al--Aas alone.

So, Abu Muusaa was exonerated from guilt by referring the matter back to the nation to give their word and choose their caliph. “Amr agreed and adhered to this view. It did not come to his mind that ~Amr was going to threaten Islam and the Muslims with an evil disaster, and that he would resort to maneuvers whatever may be his conviction about Mu*aawiyah. Ibn ‘Abbaas warned him when he returned to them and informed them about the maneuvers of ~Amr and said to him, "By Allah I fear that “Amr will trick you, so if the two of you agree on something, let him come forward before you to speak. Then you speak after him."

However, Abu Muusaa saw the situation on a more lofty and sublime level than the maneuvers of “Amr. From then on, he had no doubt or suspicion of the commitment of “Amr with regards to what they had agreed on. They gathered the following day, Abu Muusaa representing the side of Imam “Aliy and “Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas representing the side of Mu’aawiyah. Abu Muusaa invited “Amr to speak first, but “Amr refused and said to him, "I am not going to precede you when you are more virtuous than I, and emigrated before me, and are older than me."