Muawiya’s war and raids — how many Muslims and supporters of Imam Ali a.s were killed?
Before anyone hides Muawiya behind the word “ijtihad,” first answer this:
How much Muslim blood was spilled because of his war against Imam Ali a.s?
How many supporters of Imam Ali a.s were killed because Muawiya refused the authority of Imam Ali a.s?
And why did Muawiya refuse one-on-one combat when Imam Ali a.s challenged him directly so ordinary Muslims would not keep dying?
This is not Shia emotion.
This is in historical sources.
Imam Ali a.s wanted to stop the bloodshed.
Muawiya refused.
Then tens of thousands died at Siffin, and after Siffin his raids continued into the territories of Imam Ali a.s.
Core narration 1: Imam Ali a.s challenged Muawiya directly to spare both armies
Arabic:
وقد دعوت إلى الحرب، فدع الناس جانبا واخرج إلي، وأعف الفريقين من القتال، ليعلم أينا المرين على قلبه، والمغطى على بصره. فأنا أبو حسن، قاتل جدك وخالك وأخيك شدخا يوم بدر، وذلك السيف معي، وبذلك القلب ألقى عدوي، ما استبدلت دينا، ولا استحدثت نبيا، وإني لعلى المنهاج الذي تركتموه طائعين، ودخلتم فيه مكرهين.
English:
“You have called toward war, so leave the people aside and come out to me, and spare both groups from fighting, so it may be known which of us has a heart covered with rust and eyes covered from seeing. I am Abu Hasan, the one who struck down your grandfather, your maternal uncle, and your brother on the day of Badr. That same sword is with me, and with that same heart I meet my enemy. I have not changed my religion, nor invented a new prophet. I am upon the path which you left willingly and entered reluctantly.”
Reference:
Nahj al-Balagha, Letter of Imam Ali a.s to Muawiya, commonly numbered Letter 10.
Status:
Famous Shia source; also quoted in Arabic Nahj commentaries and historical discussions.
Comment:
Read the words carefully:
فدع الناس جانبا واخرج إلي
“Leave the people aside and come out to me.”
وأعف الفريقين من القتال
“Spare both groups from fighting.”
This was Imam Ali a.s’s position.
If Muawiya wanted war, then let him face Ali a.s directly.
Why should thousands of Muslims die between them?
Core narration 2: At Siffin, Imam Ali a.s again called Muawiya to one-on-one combat
Arabic:
ثم تلا علي قوله تعالى: والحرمات قصاص، ثم نادى: ويحك يا معاوية! ابرز إلي ولا تفن العرب بيني وبينك.
فقال له عمرو: يا معاوية، اغتنمه، فإنه قد أثخن بقتل هؤلاء الأربعة.
فقال له معاوية: والله لقد علمت أن عليا لم يقهر قط، وإنما أردت قتلي لتصيب الخلافة من بعدي، اذهب إليك! فليس مثلي يخدع.
English:
“Then Ali recited the verse: ‘And for sacred things there is retaliation.’ Then he called out: Woe to you, O Muawiya! Come out to me, and do not destroy the Arabs between me and you.
Amr said to him: O Muawiya, seize the opportunity, for he has been exhausted after killing these four.
Muawiya replied: By Allah, you know that Ali has never been defeated. You only want me to be killed so that you may get the caliphate after me. Go away! Someone like me is not deceived.”
Reference:
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of Siffin.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
This report exposes everything.
Imam Ali a.s said:
ولا تفن العرب بيني وبينك
“Do not destroy the Arabs between me and you.”
Meaning:
Do not make the Ummah die because of your dispute with me.
Come out yourself.
But Muawiya refused.
Why?
Because he admitted:
عليا لم يقهر قط
“Ali has never been defeated.”
So Imam Ali a.s wanted to stop Muslim bloodshed by direct combat.
Muawiya refused.
Then the killing continued.
Core narration 3: Siffin alone — 70,000 killed
Arabic:
وقد صبر كل من الجيشين للآخر صبرا لم ير مثله لما كان فيهم من الشجعان والأبطال ما ليس يوجد مثلهم في الدنيا، ولهذا لم يفر أحد عن أحد، بل صبروا حتى قتل من الفريقين - فيما ذكره غير واحد - سبعون ألفا؛ خمسة وأربعون ألفا من أهل الشام، وخمسة وعشرون ألفا من أهل العراق. قاله غير واحد؛ منهم محمد بن سيرين، وسيف وغيره. وزاد أبو الحسن بن البراء: وكان في أهل العراق خمسة وعشرون بدريا. قال: وكان بينهم في هذه المدة تسعون زحفا.
English:
“Each of the two armies showed patience against the other with a patience unlike anything seen before, because among them were brave men and champions whose like is not found in the world. For this reason, no one fled from anyone. Rather, they remained firm until seventy thousand were killed from both sides, as more than one person mentioned: forty-five thousand from the people of Syria and twenty-five thousand from the people of Iraq. More than one person said this, among them Muhammad bin Sirin, Sayf and others. Abu al-Hasan bin al-Bara added: Among the people of Iraq were twenty-five Badri companions. He said: During this period there were ninety engagements between them.”
Reference:
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of Siffin.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
Read the number:
سبعون ألفا
Seventy thousand.
Siffin alone.
45,000 from the Syrian side.
25,000 from the Iraqi side.
And the Iraqi side was the side of Imam Ali a.s.
So according to this report, 25,000 from Imam Ali a.s’s side were killed at Siffin.
And why did they die?
Because Muawiya refused to obey Imam Ali a.s and refused direct combat.
Core narration 4: Another Siffin estimate — 60,000 killed
Arabic:
وقد روى البيهقي من طريق يعقوب بن سفيان، عن أبي اليمان، عن صفوان بن عمرو قال: كان أهل الشام ستين ألفا فقتل منهم عشرون ألفا، وكان أهل العراق مائة وعشرين ألفا فقتل منهم أربعون ألفا.
English:
“Al-Bayhaqi narrated through Ya‘qub bin Sufyan, from Abu al-Yaman, from Safwan bin Amr, who said: The people of Syria were sixty thousand, and twenty thousand of them were killed. The people of Iraq were one hundred and twenty thousand, and forty thousand of them were killed.”
Reference:
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of Siffin.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
Even the other estimate is massive:
20,000 Syrians killed.
40,000 Iraqis killed.
Total: 60,000.
So the safe Sunni historical range for Siffin is:
60,000 to 70,000 Muslims killed.
And in this second estimate, 40,000 from the Iraqi side, meaning Imam Ali a.s’s side, were killed.
So how can someone say “ijtihad” and close the book?
Core narration 5: Fifty bodies in one grave
Arabic:
وقال الزهري: بلغني أنه كان يدفن في القبر الواحد خمسون نفسا.
English:
“Al-Zuhri said: It reached me that fifty people would be buried in one grave.”
Reference:
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of Siffin.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
Fifty bodies in one grave.
This is not a small dispute.
This is not a normal political argument.
This is mass Muslim bloodshed.
Core narration 6: Hadith of Ammar exposes the rebellious side
Arabic:
ويح عمار، تقتله الفئة الباغية، عمار يدعوهم إلى الله، ويدعونه إلى النار.
English:
“Woe to Ammar! He will be killed by the rebellious group. Ammar will invite them to Allah, while they will invite him to the Fire.”
Reference:
Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim also reports the meaning: “The rebellious group will kill Ammar.”
Status:
Sahih.
Comment:
Ammar bin Yasir was killed at Siffin.
Ammar was with Imam Ali a.s.
Muawiya’s side killed him.
The Prophet ﷺ had already said Ammar would be killed by:
الفئة الباغية
“The rebellious group.”
So Siffin was not morally equal.
Core narration 7: Ibn Kathir says Ali was upon truth and Muawiya was rebellious
Arabic:
قتله أهل الشام وبان بذلك وظهر سر ما أخبر به الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم من أنه تقتله الفئة الباغية، وبان بذلك أن عليا محق وأن معاوية باغ وما في ذلك من دلائل النبوة.
English:
“The people of Syria killed him, and by that the secret of what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had informed became clear: that the rebellious group would kill him. By that it became clear that Ali was upon truth and that Muawiya was rebellious, and in this is from the signs of prophethood.”
Reference:
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, discussion of the killing of Ammar at Siffin.
Status:
Sunni historical commentary.
Comment:
This is Ibn Kathir.
Not a Shia scholar.
His wording is clear:
عليا محق
“Ali was upon truth.”
معاوية باغ
“Muawiya was rebellious.”
So the 60,000 to 70,000 dead at Siffin were not caused by a morally equal conflict.
They died in a war where the Prophet ﷺ had already identified the rebellious side through Ammar.
Core narration 8: After Siffin, Muawiya spread armies around Imam Ali’s territories
Arabic:
ثم دخلت سنة تسع وثلاثين.
ذكر سرايا أهل الشام إلى بلاد أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام.
وفي هذه السنة فرق معاوية جيوشه في العراق في أطراف علي، فوجه النعمان بن بشير في ألف رجل إلى عين التمر، وفيها مالك بن كعب مسلحة لعلي في ألف رجل، وكان مالك قد أذن لأصحابه فأتوا الكوفة، ولم يبق معه إلا مائة رجل، فلما سمع بالنعمان كتب إلى أمير المؤمنين يخبره ويستمده، فخطب علي الناس وأمرهم بالخروج إليه، فتثاقلوا، وواقع مالك النعمان، وجعل جدار القرية في ظهور أصحابه، وكتب مالك إلى مخنف بن سليم يستعينه، وهو قريب منه، واقتتل مالك والنعمان أشد قتال، فوجه مخنف ابنه عبد الرحمن في خمسين رجلا، فانتهوا إلى مالك وقد كسروا جفون سيوفهم واستقتلوا، فلما رآهم أهل الشام انهزموا عند المساء، وظنوا أن لهم مددا، وتبعهم مالك فقتل منهم ثلاثة نفر.
English:
“Then the year 39 AH began.
Mention of the expeditions of the people of Syria into the lands of the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him.
In this year, Muawiya dispersed his armies in Iraq around Ali’s territories. He sent al-Nu‘man bin Bashir with one thousand men to Ayn al-Tamr, where Malik bin Ka‘b was stationed as Ali’s guard force with one thousand men. Malik had allowed his companions to go to Kufa, so only one hundred men remained with him. When he heard of al-Nu‘man, he wrote to the Commander of the Believers informing him and seeking reinforcement. Ali addressed the people and ordered them to go out to him, but they became sluggish. Malik fought al-Nu‘man and placed the wall of the village behind his companions. Malik wrote to Mikhnaf bin Sulaym seeking his help, as he was nearby. Malik and al-Nu‘man fought fiercely. Mikhnaf sent his son Abd al-Rahman with fifty men, and they reached Malik after they had broken the sheaths of their swords and prepared themselves for death. When the people of Syria saw them, they fled in the evening, thinking that reinforcements had arrived. Malik followed them and killed three men from them.”
Reference:
Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 39 AH.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
The chapter title itself is important:
سرايا أهل الشام إلى بلاد أمير المؤمنين
“The expeditions of the people of Syria into the lands of the Commander of the Believers.”
And the wording says:
فرق معاوية جيوشه في العراق في أطراف علي
“Muawiya dispersed his armies in Iraq around Ali’s territories.”
This proves the raids were not accidental.
They were a policy.
Core narration 9: Muawiya sent Sufyan bin Awf to raid Anbar
Arabic:
فأتى هيت فلم يجد بها أحدا، ثم أتى الأنبار، وفيها مسلحة لعلي تكون خمسمائة رجل، وقد تفرقوا ولم يبق منهم إلا مائتا رجل، وكان سبب تفرقهم أنه كان عليهم كميل بن زياد، فبلغه أن قوما بقرقيسيا يريدون الغارة على هيت، فسار إليهم بغير أمر علي، فأتى أصحاب سفيان وكميل غائب عنها، فأغضب ذلك عليا على كميل، فأتى إليه ينكر ذلك عليه، وطمع سفيان في أصحاب علي لقلتهم، فقاتلهم، فصبر أصحاب علي، ثم قتل صاحبهم، وهو أشرس بن حسان البكري، وثلاثون رجلا، واحتملوا ما في الأنبار من أموال أهلها، ورجعوا إلى معاوية، وبلغ الخبر عليا فأرسل في طلبهم فلم يدركوا.
English:
“He came to Hit but found no one there. Then he came to Anbar, where there was a guard force of Ali, around five hundred men. They had dispersed, and only two hundred men remained. The reason they dispersed was that Kumayl bin Ziyad was over them, and news reached him that a group at Qarqisiya wanted to raid Hit, so he went to them without Ali’s order. The companions of Sufyan came while Kumayl was absent from Anbar, and that angered Ali against Kumayl, so he came to him and rebuked him. Sufyan became hopeful against the companions of Ali because they were few, so he fought them. The companions of Ali remained patient. Then their commander was killed, namely Ashras bin Hassan al-Bakri, along with thirty men. They carried away the wealth of the people of Anbar and returned to Muawiya. When the news reached Ali, he sent after them, but they were not caught.”
Reference:
Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 39 AH.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
This gives a counted number:
Ashras bin Hassan al-Bakri was killed.
Thirty men with him were killed.
That is around 31 from Imam Ali a.s’s side in this raid.
And the raiders carried away the wealth of the people of Anbar and returned to Muawiya.
Core narration 10: Muawiya ordered Abdullah bin Mas‘adah to kill whoever refused
Arabic:
وفيها أيضا وجه معاوية عبد الله بن مسعدة بن حكمة بن مالك بن بدر الفزاري في ألف وسبعمائة رجل إلى تيماء، وأمره أن يصدق من مر به من أهل البوادي ويقتل من امتنع، ففعل ذلك، وبلغ مكة والمدينة وفعل ذلك، واجتمع إليه بشر كثير من قومه، وبلغ ذلك عليا فأرسل المسيب بن نجبة الفزاري في ألفي رجل، فلحق عبد الله بتيماء، فاقتتلوا حتى زالت الشمس قتالا شديدا، وحمل المسيب على ابن مسعدة، فضربه ثلاث ضربات لا يريد قتله، ويقول له: النجاء النجاء! فدخل ابن مسعدة وجماعة معه الحصن، وهرب الباقون نحو الشام، وانتهب الأعراب إبل الصدقة التي كانت مع ابن مسعدة، وحصره ومن معه ثلاثة أيام، ثم ألقى الحطب في الباب وحرقه، فلما رأوا الهلاك أشرفوا عليه وقالوا: يا مسيب قومك، فرق لهم، وأمر بالنار فأطفئت.
English:
“Also in that year, Muawiya sent Abdullah bin Mas‘adah bin Hakmah bin Malik bin Badr al-Fazari with one thousand seven hundred men to Tayma. He ordered him to collect sadaqah from the Bedouins he passed by and to kill whoever refused. He did that, and he reached Mecca and Medina and did that. Many people from his tribe gathered to him. When that reached Ali, he sent al-Musayyab bin Najabah al-Fazari with two thousand men. He caught up with Abdullah at Tayma, and they fought fiercely until the sun passed midday. Al-Musayyab charged at Ibn Mas‘adah and struck him three blows, not intending to kill him, saying to him: Escape, escape! Ibn Mas‘adah and a group with him entered the fortress, while the rest fled toward Syria. The Bedouins plundered the sadaqah camels that were with Ibn Mas‘adah. Al-Musayyab besieged him and those with him for three days, then placed firewood at the gate and set it on fire. When they saw destruction, they looked out and said: O Musayyab, your people! He felt pity for them and ordered the fire to be extinguished.”
Reference:
Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 39 AH.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
This is one of the most serious lines:
ويقتل من امتنع
“and kill whoever refused.”
So here we do not even need to exaggerate.
The source says Muawiya sent him and ordered him to kill whoever refused.
The passage does not give a total number of those killed.
So we should not invent a number.
But the policy is clear:
Obey, pay, or be killed.
Core narration 11: Muawiya sent al-Dahhak to raid everyone obedient to Ali
Arabic:
وفيها أيضا وجه معاوية الضحاك بن قيس، وأمره أن يمر بأسفل واقصة، ويغير على كل من مر به ممن هو في طاعة علي من الأعراب، وأرسل ثلاثة آلاف رجل معه، فسار الناس، وأخذ الأموال ومضى إلى الثعلبية، وقتل وأغار على مسلحة علي، وانتهى إلى القطقطانة. فلما بلغ ذلك عليا أرسل إليه حجر بن عدي في أربعة آلاف، وأعطاهم خمسين درهما خمسين درهما، فلحق الضحاك بتدمر، فقتل منهم تسعة عشر رجلا، وقتل من أصحابه رجلان، وحجز بينهما الليل، فهرب الضحاك وأصحابه، ورجع حجر ومن معه.
English:
“Also in that year, Muawiya sent al-Dahhak bin Qays and ordered him to pass through lower Waqisah and raid everyone he passed who was in obedience to Ali among the Bedouins. He sent three thousand men with him. The people moved, he took wealth, went to al-Tha‘labiyyah, killed and raided Ali’s guard force, and reached al-Qatqatanah. When that reached Ali, he sent Hujr bin Adi against him with four thousand men and gave them fifty dirhams each. Hujr caught up with al-Dahhak at Tadmur, killed nineteen of them, and two of his own companions were killed. Night came between them, so al-Dahhak and his companions fled, and Hujr returned with those who were with him.”
Reference:
Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 39 AH.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
Look at the target:
كل من مر به ممن هو في طاعة علي
“everyone he passed who was in obedience to Ali.”
So what was their crime?
Obedience to Imam Ali a.s.
Muawiya ordered a raid against them.
The report says al-Dahhak took wealth, killed, and raided Ali’s guard force.
Again, the exact number of Ali-side victims in the first raid is not given, but the killing and raid are clearly mentioned.
Core narration 12: Muawiya sent men to remove Ali’s governor from Mecca and take bayah
Arabic:
وفي هذه السنة دعا معاوية يزيد بن شجرة الرهاوي - وهو من أصحابه - فقال له: إني أريد أن أوجهك إلى مكة لتقيم للناس الحج، وتأخذ لي البيعة بمكة، وتنفي عنها عامل علي.
English:
“In this year, Muawiya called Yazid bin Shajarah al-Rahawi, who was from his companions, and said to him: I want to send you to Mecca so that you may establish the Hajj for the people, take bayah for me in Mecca, and expel from it the governor of Ali.”
Reference:
Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 39 AH.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
This shows the purpose of the raids was not only military.
It was political control.
Take bayah for Muawiya.
Remove the governor of Ali.
Pressure the lands of Imam Ali a.s.
Core narration 13: Busr bin Abi Artat’s campaign killed supporters of Ali in Yemen
Arabic:
وقتل بسر في مسيره ذلك جماعة من شيعة علي باليمن.
English:
“Busr killed, during that expedition, a group of the Shia/supporters of Ali in Yemen.”
Reference:
Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 40 AH, report of Busr bin Abi Artat’s expedition to Hijaz and Yemen.
Status:
Sunni historical report.
Comment:
This is the safest Sunni wording.
It does not give an exact number.
But it clearly says:
جماعة من شيعة علي
“A group from the Shia/supporters of Ali.”
So even if someone rejects the higher numbers, he cannot erase that Busr killed supporters of Imam Ali a.s in Yemen.
Core narration 14: Busr killed the two children of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas
Arabic:
وكان اسم أحد الطفلين اللذين قتلهما بسر: عبد الرحمن، والآخر قثم.
English:
“The name of one of the two children whom Busr killed was Abd al-Rahman, and the other was Qutham.”
Reference:
Reported in historical narratives of Busr’s campaign, quoted in Sunni/Shia historical discussions.
Status:
Historical report; use with source caution.
Comment:
These were children.
The sons of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas.
Their names were Abd al-Rahman and Qutham.
This is why Busr’s campaign is remembered as one of the darkest raids of Muawiya’s side.
Core narration 15: Some sources give Busr’s campaign as 30,000 killed
Arabic:
قتل بسر في وجهه ذاهبا وراجعا ثلاثين ألفا، وحرق قوما بالنار.
English:
“Busr killed thirty thousand during that expedition, going and returning, and burned some people with fire.”
Reference:
Ibrahim al-Thaqafi, al-Gharat; quoted in later historical and polemical works.
Status:
Contested historical estimate; not Sahih Bukhari/Muslim-level proof.
Comment:
Use this honestly.
Do not say:
“Bukhari proves Busr killed 30,000.”
That would be false.
The safe claim is:
Sunni histories prove Busr killed a group/many from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s in Yemen.
Some historical reports give the number as 30,000 and add that people were burned with fire.
Even if someone rejects the exact number, he cannot erase the campaign itself.
Core narration 16: Samurah bin Jundab under Ziyad/Muawiya-era administration — huge bloodshed
Arabic:
وقتل سمرة بشرا كثيرا.
سليمان بن حرب: حدثنا عامر بن أبي عامر، قال: كنا في مجلس يونس بن عبيد، فقالوا: ما في الأرض بقعة نشفت من الدم ما نشفت هذه، يعنون دار الإمارة، قتل بها سبعون ألفا، فسألت يونس، فقال: نعم من بين قتيل وقطيع، قيل: من فعل ذلك؟ قال: زياد، وابنه، وسمرة.
وكان زياد بن أبيه يستخلفه على البصرة إذا سار إلى الكوفة، ويستخلفه على الكوفة إذا سار إلى البصرة.
English:
“Samurah killed many people.
Sulayman bin Harb narrated: Amir bin Abi Amir narrated to us: We were in the gathering of Yunus bin Ubayd, and they said: There is no place on earth that has absorbed as much blood as this — meaning the governor’s palace. Seventy thousand were killed there. I asked Yunus, and he said: Yes, between killed and cut/maimed. It was asked: Who did that? He said: Ziyad, his son, and Samurah.
Ziyad bin Abih used to appoint Samurah over Basra when he went to Kufa, and appoint him over Kufa when he went to Basra.”
Reference:
Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, biography of Samurah bin Jundab.
Status:
Sunni biographical / historical report.
Comment:
Use this accurately.
Do not say:
“Muawiya personally killed 70,000 here.”
The report says Ziyad, his son, and Samurah.
But Ziyad and Samurah were part of the ruling administration of Muawiya’s era.
So this belongs to the wider bloodshed of the Umayyad administration under Muawiya’s rule.
And the wording is terrifying:
قتل بها سبعون ألفا
“Seventy thousand were killed there.”
Now calculate carefully:
Strongest Sunni historical estimate for Siffin:
60,000 to 70,000 Muslims killed.
In one report:
45,000 from the Syrian side.
25,000 from the Iraqi side.
In another report:
20,000 from Syria.
40,000 from Iraq.
So Imam Ali a.s’s supporters killed at Siffin are reported as:
25,000 to 40,000.
That is Siffin alone.
Then after Siffin:
Anbar raid:
Around 31 from Imam Ali a.s’s side killed.
Busr campaign:
A group/many of Ali’s supporters killed in Yemen.
Some reports give the number as 30,000, but this exact number is disputed.
Ibn Mas‘adah raid:
Muawiya ordered killing whoever refused.
Al-Dahhak raid:
Muawiya ordered raids on those obedient to Ali, and the report says he killed, raided, and took wealth.
Ayn al-Tamr raid:
Muawiya dispersed armies around Ali’s territories.
Ziyad/Samurah administration:
Reports mention massive bloodshed, including 70,000 at Dar al-Imarah, but this should be described as Muawiya-era administrative bloodshed, not a direct personal order for every killing.
So the honest conclusion is:
If we use only the safest Sunni historical numbers, Siffin alone caused around 60,000 to 70,000 Muslim deaths.
If we focus on Imam Ali a.s’s side at Siffin, the sources mention around 25,000 to 40,000 killed.
If we add Muawiya’s raids after Siffin, the number rises further, but many raids do not give exact totals.
If we include the contested reports about Busr, Ziyad, and Samurah, the bloodshed attached to Muawiya’s war and rule becomes far larger.
So do not hide this behind one word:
“Ijtihad.”
Where was ijtihad when Imam Ali a.s said:
فدع الناس جانبا واخرج إلي، وأعف الفريقين من القتال
“Leave the people aside and come out to me, and spare both groups from fighting”?
Where was ijtihad when Imam Ali a.s said at Siffin:
ويحك يا معاوية! ابرز إلي ولا تفن العرب بيني وبينك
“Woe to you, O Muawiya! Come out to me, and do not destroy the Arabs between me and you”?
Where was ijtihad when Muawiya refused because he knew:
عليا لم يقهر قط
“Ali has never been defeated”?
Where was ijtihad when 60,000 to 70,000 Muslims died at Siffin?
Where was ijtihad when supporters of Imam Ali a.s were raided in Iraq, Hijaz, Yemen, and the surrounding lands?
Where was ijtihad when Busr killed supporters of Ali in Yemen?
Where was ijtihad when children were slaughtered?
Where was ijtihad when Muawiya’s men were ordered to raid those obedient to Ali?
Where was ijtihad when the Prophet ﷺ had already said about Ammar:
تقتله الفئة الباغية
“The rebellious group will kill him”?
Qur’an says:
Arabic:
وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا، فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ.
English:
“And if two groups of believers fight, then make peace between them. But if one of them rebels against the other, then fight the one that rebels until it returns to the command of Allah.”
Reference:
Qur’an 49:9
And Qur’an says:
Arabic:
وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا.
English:
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, abiding therein; Allah is angry with him, curses him, and has prepared for him a great punishment.”
Reference:
Qur’an 4:93
So before defending Muawiya, answer the blood.
Answer Siffin.
Answer Ammar.
Answer the 60,000 to 70,000 dead.
Answer the 25,000 to 40,000 killed from Imam Ali a.s’s side.
Answer the raids.
Answer Busr.
Answer the children.
Answer the supporters of Ali killed in Yemen.
Answer the order to kill whoever refused.
Answer the raids against those obedient to Ali.
Do not erase Muslim blood with the word “ijtihad.”
Imam Hasan a.s’s treaty stopped future bloodshed.
It did not make Muawiya right.
It did not cancel the hadith of Ammar.
It did not erase Imam Ali a.s’s challenge.
It did not erase Siffin.
It did not erase the raids.
And it did not wash away the blood spilled by Muawiya’s war and rule.
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