nor is any wounded person to be finished off, nor any property taken as spoils.” (1) This was among the matters for which the Khawārij condemned him, until Ibn ‘Abbās—may Allah be pleased with him—debated them about it, as discussed in its proper place.
Numerous reports (2) relate that he would say of those killed in Mu‘āwiyah’s army that they were all Muslims, neither disbelievers nor hypocrites, as mentioned elsewhere. ‘Ammār and other Companions held the same view.
These three groups were present in Iraq, [and there was also in Iraq] (3) a hostile faction among the supporters of ‘Uthmān that hated ‘Alī and al-Husayn, and a faction (4) among the supporters of ‘Alī that hated ‘Uthmān and his relatives.
It is established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of Asmā’, that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“There will arise among Thaqīf a liar and a ruthless killer.” (5)
The liar among them was al-Mukhtār ibn ‘Ubayd, while al-Hajjāj was the ruthless killer. The latter supported ‘Uthmān and hated ‘Alī’s supporters, whereas the liar supported ‘Alī, going so far as to fight ‘Ubayd Allāh ibn Ziyād and kill him. He then claimed that Gabriel came to him, and his falsehood became apparent.
As a result of this, people divided into two groups regarding the day (6) of ‘Āshūrā’—the day on which al-Husayn was killed. The Shia made it a day of mourning and sorrow, marked by reprehensible acts that