Khilafat Ali ibn Abi Talib — Ali's Caliphate: The First Fitna and the Birth of Islamic Political Theology

The Succession Crisis — ‘Uthman’s Assassination Context

‘Uthman was killed by a group of rebel Muslims after a siege of his house in Medina. The rebels included Egyptians, Kufans, and Basrans dissatisfied with the Umayyad patronage system that had developed under ‘Uthman’s caliphate. When Ali accepted bay’a, he faced immediate demands from:

1. Talha ibn ‘Ubaydullah and Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam (prominent Companions) — who had initially given bay’a but then withdrew, demanding the assassins be punished before any governance could proceed
2. Mu’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (governor of Syria) — refused to give bay’a entirely, demanding justice for ‘Uthman’s blood on the grounds that ‘Uthman was his kinsman

Ali’s position: establish legitimate governance first, then address justice — you cannot try a murder case in the middle of a political crisis without a functioning state.

The Battle of Jamal (36 AH / 656 CE)

Talha, Zubayr, and ‘A’isha (Umm al-Mu’minin) raised an army in Basra. Ali marched from Medina. Before the battle, negotiation failed. The battle took place near Basra — named “al-Jamal” (the Camel) because ‘A’isha was in a howdah on a camel that became the focal point of the fighting.

Ali won. Talha and Zubayr were killed. ‘A’isha was returned to Medina with honor.

For Sunni scholars: a tragedy in which both sides were sincere but mistaken. For Shi’a/Ismaili theology: the Battle of Jamal confirmed that after the Imam’s nass is established, opposition is inexcusable.

The Battle of Siffin and Tahkim (37 AH / 657 CE)

Ali fought Mu’awiya at Siffin (on the Euphrates) for approximately 90 days. When Ali’s army was on the verge of victory, Mu’awiya’s soldiers raised copies of the Quran on their spears, calling for arbitration. Part of Ali’s army forced him to accept — resulting in the Tahkim (arbitration) at Adhruh.

The Khawarij emerged from Ali’s own army: they considered the arbitration a human judgment where only divine judgment (la hukm illa lillah) was valid, declared both Ali and Mu’awiya outside Islam, and eventually assassinated Ali.

Ali’s Assassination — 19 Ramadan 40 AH

Ibn Muljam struck Ali with a poison-coated sword as Ali was rising for Fajr prayer in the mosque of Kufa. Ali died two days later, on 21 Ramadan 40 AH. His last days included forgiving Ibn Muljam.

For Ismaili theology: the Imam’s blood at Fajr prayer — like the blood of the Imam Husayn, shed willingly — is the paradigmatic act of shahada (martyrdom) that establishes the eternal legitimacy of the Imam’s claim against temporal power.

See also: Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Khilafa Rashida, Seerah Al Hasan, Imam Husayn, Karbala, Bohra History, Umayyad Dynasty