with many people being killed to her right and left, while she survives after nearly perishing.” (1)
Ibn Taymiyya said: “Āisha did not set out to fight; she set out only to reconcile the Muslims. She believed that her departure would serve their interests, but later realized that it would have been better not to have gone. Whenever she remembered her departure, she would weep until her head covering was soaked. Likewise, most of the foremost Companions regretted becoming involved in the fighting. Talha, al-Zubayr, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all) each regretted it.
“None of them intended to fight on the Day of the Camel; rather, the fighting broke out against their will. Ali, Talha, and al-Zubayr had exchanged messages and sought to agree upon what would serve the common good: once they were able, they would pursue Uthmān’s killers, who had fomented the turmoil. Ali neither approved of Uthmān’s killing nor assisted in it, as he would declare under oath: ‘By Allah, I did not kill Uthmān, nor did I aid in his killing.’ He was truthful and righteous in his oath. Consequently, there was fear—