against one another, they remained believers and brothers, and He commanded that peace be made between them. If either group then transgressed, the transgressing group was to be fought; He did not command fighting at the outset. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated that the renegade faction would be killed by whichever of the two groups was nearer to the truth. It was ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib and those with him who fought them. The Prophet’s words thus indicated that they were nearer to the truth than Muʿāwiyah and those with him, while affirming the faith of both groups.

Then ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Muljam, one of these renegades, killed the Commander of the Faithful, ʿAlī, who passed as a martyr into Allah’s honour and good pleasure. The Companions pledged allegiance to his son al-Hasan, whose virtue then became manifest, just as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had foretold in the authentic hadith:

“This son of mine is a leader, and through him Allah will reconcile two great groups of Muslims.”

He relinquished authority, and through him Allah reconciled the two groups. This was something for which the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commended and praised him. It indicated that reconciliation between them was something Allah and His Messenger loved and praised.

He later died and passed into Allah’s honour and good pleasure. Groups then came forward and wrote to al-Husayn, promising him support and assistance if he assumed leadership, but they were not capable of