Al-Waqidī also transmitted the report through a different chain from ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Ibn ʿAsākir relates—on the authority of ʿĀmir al-Shaʿbī—that when ʿAlī sent Jarīr ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Bajalī to Muʿāwiyah before the battle of Ṣiffīn—at the time ʿAlī had resolved to march against Syria and was mustering the troops—he dispatched with him a letter in which he reminded Muʿāwiyah that the bayʿah (pledge of allegiance) had become binding on him, since the Emigrants and the Helpers had already sworn allegiance. Should he refuse, ʿAlī wrote, he would seek Allah’s help against him and fight him. He added that Muʿāwiyah had spoken at length about the killers of ʿUthmān, and urged him simply to enter into what the people had entered into, then bring the men to trial before ʿAlī, who would oblige everyone to abide by the Book of Allah. … The letter continues at length, most of which has already been cited.

Muʿāwiyah read the letter aloud to the assembly. Jarīr then rose, delivered a sermon, commanded Muʿāwiyah to listen and obey, warned him against defiance and obstinacy, and forbade him to plunge the community into civil strife and cause the Muslims to strike one another with their swords.

Muʿāwiyah said to him, “Wait until I have consulted the people of Syria.”

Some time later Muʿāwiyah ordered a crier, who called out among the people, “The congregational prayer!” When the people had gathered, he mounted the pulpit and proclaimed:

“Praise be to Allah, who has set the supports of Islam as pillars and made its laws the proof of faith, whose lamp is kindled by the Sunnah in this holy land which Allah has made the abode of the prophets and of His righteous servants. He settled the people of Syria therein, was pleased with them for it and with it for them, in accordance with what His hidden knowledge had preordained of their obedience and their sincere counsel to His allies here, their upholding of His command and their defense of His religion and its sanctities. Thereafter He made them the firm bond of this community and, among the banners of goodness, the most prominent—through whom Allah restrains those who break their pledges and by whom He gathers affection among the believers. We seek Allah’s help to mend what has become tattered in the affairs of the Muslims and to restore closeness after estrangement.

O Allah, grant us victory over a people who rouse the sleeper, who seek to shed our blood and to spread fear along our paths. Yet You know, O Allah, that we do not desire to punish them or to violate their sanctity. Rather, the Praiseworthy has clothed us in a robe of honor which we shall not willingly cast off so long as the echo answers, the dew falls, and guidance is recognized. We know that what has driven them to oppose us is aggression and envy toward us, and against them we seek Allah’s aid.

O people, you know that I was the governor appointed by the Commander of the Believers ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, and that I was the governor appointed by the Commander of the Believers ʿUthmān over you; never have I subjected any one of you to disgrace. Moreover, I am the legal guardian of ʿUthmān and his kinsman. Allah the Exalted has said in His Book, ‘Whoever is killed unjustly—We have granted his heir authority’ (Al-Isrāʾ 17:33). You also know that he was killed wrongfully, and I would like each of you to tell me your own mind concerning the murder of ʿUthmān.”

All the people of Syria replied in unison, “Indeed, we shall seek retribution for his blood!” They pledged their allegiance to him and guaranteed that they would expend their lives and wealth toward that end, either attaining vengeance for him or perishing before it.

When Jarīr saw the obedience the Syrians showed Muʿāwiyah, he was both alarmed and astonished.

Muʿāwiyah then said to Jarīr, “If he appoints me over Syria and Egypt, I will pledge allegiance to him on the condition that, after him, no one shall have allegiance over me.” Jarīr replied, “Write to ʿAlī whatever you wish, and I will write with you.”

When the letter reached ʿAlī he said, “This is but a ruse. Al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah once asked me in Madinah to leave Muʿāwiyah in charge of Syria, and I refused, for ‘I was not one to take the misguided as supporters’ (Al-Kahf 18:51).”

He then wrote ordering Jarīr to return to him. Jarīr did not arrive, however, until the armies had already gathered around ʿAlī.