REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By Ahmad Syafii Maarif

In the Camels War, which lasted just over four hours, about 6,000 Muslims were killed, including Talha bin 'Abdullah al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwâm (both supporters of Aisha), two potential candidates to replace Utsman, besides Ali.

Ladies and gentlemen, you could imagine how intense and brutal the short war and what a mess Mecca and Medina when he heard of the tragedy. The war completely won by Ali. Aisha survived, and then delivered back to Medina. If she was killed in this civil war, the escalating result certainly became worse and messy. Indeed, from Arab historical sources, the relationship between Aisha and Ali was never smooth, even when Prophet Muhammad was alive. Although both loved and cherished by Prophet, they were human beings whom their conduct did not guided by revelation.

Professor Mahmoud M Ayoub gave important comment about Camels War: "The battle was parade sharp decline in moral conception and the caliphate religion, and it marked the beginning of real political victory for the values on which the Prophet Muḥammad had built the Commonwealth of Islam in Medina." (Mahmoud M. Ayoub, The Crisis of Muslim History (Religion and Politics in Early Islam. Oxford, England: Oneword Publications, 2009, page 48). It means, with the explosion of this battle, the values of the religion sanctity was hit and set aside to the extent that far, for the sake of political real. If everything must be surrendered to the political real, and then, where the revelation will be dispose?

I become more do not understand why the Muslim community from the beginning until today would not make the Qur'an as the ultimate judge when conflicts occur between them. Why was selfishness and interest of the group defeated the scripture? Seven months after the Camels war, broke a war that was worse, Siffin War: Caliph Ali from the Bani Hashim faced with the governor of Syria, Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan of the Umayyad, two ethnics children were fighting over power.

Ironically, the disputes among the Arab elite on the past were felt to this day throughout the Muslim world. As if the Arabs more understand the Noble Quran rather than non-Arab Muslims. Hegemonic struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran today, its roots could be found as a result of the war that led to the emergence of Siffin: Sunni, Shia, and Khawarij. Similarly with bloody war in Yemen now, the root cause was different. Already there were hundreds who were killed, for the sake of political real. The armies of Saudi Arabia with some forces of other Arab countries have the heart to kill his brothers in Yemen, a poor country.

Why for centuries the Muslims still proud of inserting itself into sects that emerged after the prophecy? Is not the time for us to be ready out of the history boxes which betrayed the teachings of the Qur'an about the brotherhood of people that must be strengthened and severe restrictions to split? Modern Arab world became more could not be modeled. If Iran still persist with its Shia, it is impossible to believe it to lead the world. Iranian nationalism is more prominent than its Islam, as well as Saudi Arabia.

Siffin war was a second civil war which occurred during the leadership of Ali. The opponent was Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, as already mentioned earlier, one family name with Utsman. Mu'awiya accused 'Ali as the architect of the murder of Utsman, a trick that was sought. In worldly perspective, Mu'awiya was a leading politician, tough, swift, and said a lot of resources he was also cunning. His experienced as governor had strengthened his position among the people of Syria, though he was not popular in Mecca and Medina.

The battle lasted about three months, Ali’s side almost snatched victory, but thanks to political intrigue of Amr ibn al-As, followers of Ali successfully fractured, which very profitable for Mu'awiya’s side which then asked to consultation by lifting the Qur'an in order to stop fight. Ali himself properly understood this cunning, but he failed to unite his supporters were mostly pro peace, others wanted to continue the war. Of course Ali as a human being became very frustrated by those tense atmospheres. Morally, Mu'awiya could not be juxtaposed with Ali.

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