al-Mirqāl (1), Abd al-Rahmān ibn Khālid ibn al-Walīd (2), Abū al-Awar al-Sulamī (3), and others like them who incited the fighting. Some championed Uthmān to the utmost, while others were averse to him; some championed Alī, while others were averse to him. Moreover, Muāwiya’s followers did not fight specifically for Muāwiya’s sake, but for other reasons as well.
Fighting amid civil strife resembles the fighting of the Age of Ignorance: the aims and beliefs of those involved cannot be reduced to any consistent pattern. Al-Zuhrī said: “The civil strife erupted while the Companions of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ were still numerous. They unanimously agreed that any blood shed, property taken, or sexual inviolability violated on the basis of an interpretation of the Quran would entail no liability. They treated them
= See his biography in *Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb*, vol. 10, pp. 11–12, and *al-Alām*, vol. 5, p. 259.
(1) Hāshim ibn Utba ibn Abī Waqqās al-Zuhrī, known as al-Mirqāl, was one of Ali’s commanders at Siffīn. He was born during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is said that he was a Companion. He was killed at Siffīn and was renowned for his courage. See *Siyar Alām al-Nubalā*, vol. 3, p. 486; *Shadharāt al-Dhahab*, vol. 1, p. 46; and *al-Alām*, vol. 8, p. 66.
(2) Abd al-Rahmān ibn Khālid ibn al-Walīd was noted for his generosity and carried Muāwiya’s banner at Siffīn. He died in 46 AH—may Allah have mercy on him. See *Shadharāt al-Dhahab*, vol. 1, p. 55.
(3) He was Amr ibn Sufyān ibn Abd Shams ibn Sad al-Dhakwānī al-Sulamī, widely known by his kunya. Ibn Hajar cited Abbās al-Dūrī as reporting that Yahyā ibn Maīn said: “Abū al-Awar al-Sulamī was one of the Prophet’s Companions and was with Muāwiya.”
Ibn Abī Hātim reported from his father: “Abū al-Awar lived during the pre-Islamic era but was not a Companion. He took part in the Cyprus campaign in 26 AH and played a notable role at Siffīn alongside Muāwiya.”
See *al-Isāba*, vol. 2, pp. 540–541, and the notes to Imam al-Dhahabī’s *al-Muntaqā min Minhāj al-Itidāl*, p. 264, edited and annotated by Shaykh Muhibb al-Dīn al-Khatīb.