What Happened in The Batte of Siffin?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I once read a narration in Sahih Al-Bukhari where a person told another not to join an Army (I can’t fully remember if this was referring to Sayyidina Ali’s army) and then a Hadith was mentioned. When I read that, I believed Sayyiduna Ali was on the truth and so I then went and read Ayah nine of Surah Al-Hujurat. I was confident that Sayyiduna Ali was on the right.
Could you explain the Ayah and Sayyidina Ali’s stance in Siffin as there were deaths?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah guide us to that which pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) gestured towards Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him), who was sitting in his lap, and said: “This son of mine is a leader, and perhaps Allah will reconcile two great groups of the Muslims through him.” [Bukhari]
The hadith mentioned above refers to the people of Iraq who were with ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and the people of Syria who were with Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him), during the Battle of Siffin.
They were also included in the general meaning of the verse: “And if two groups of believers fight each other, then make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, then fight against the transgressing group until they are willing to submit to the rule of Allah. If they do so, then make peace between both groups in all fairness and act justly. Surely Allah loves those who uphold justice.” [Quran, 49:9]
The article Battle of Siffin, by Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali Sallabi, examines what truly transpired in this battle — in light of authentic narrations — and refutes the baseless allegations cast against the Companions, whose virtue has been engraved in the Noble Qur’an until eternity.
The article was translated by the Mahajjah Institute, a project founded by the late renowned contemporary Shafi’i Mufti, Muhammad Taha Karaan (may Allah have mercy on him).
For more information, please refer to their website: Mahajjah
I pray this is of benefit.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
