among Uthmān’s killers—that Ali would come to an agreement with Talha and al-Zubayr to apprehend the killers. They therefore attacked the camp of Talha and al-Zubayr. Talha and al-Zubayr thought that Ali had attacked them, so they counterattacked in self-defense. Ali then thought that they had attacked him, so he counterattacked in self-defense. Thus the turmoil erupted against their wishes. Āisha remained mounted; she neither fought nor ordered anyone to fight. This account was also related by more than one scholar knowledgeable about historical reports.” (1)

D. The Battle of Siffīn:

Among the episodes of turmoil that arose between the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), apart from the Battle of the Camel, was the one to which the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) referred when he said:

“The Hour will not come until two great groups fight each other and great slaughter occurs between them, even though their religious profession is one and the same.”

It was narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. (2)

The two groups were the faction of Ali and those with him, and the faction of Muāwiya and those with him, as the hadith master Ibn Hajar states in al-Fath. (3)

Al-Bazzār narrated with a sound chain of transmission from Zayd ibn Wahb, who said: We were with Hudhayfa when he said, “What will become of you when the people of your faith come out and strike one another in the face with swords?” They asked, “What do you command us to do?” He replied, “Identify the group calling people to Ali’s cause and remain with it, for it is upon the truth.” (4)