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step.
al-Baladhuri the reliable historian of the third
century of Hijrah, believes that Mu'awiyah's action
was not without a plan and motive. He wished that
'Uthman would be killed during the events so that
he could claim the caliphate as 'Uthman's cousin.(132)
But, as we know, events took a different course;
the people gathered round Imam 'Ali and chose
him as caliph. When public allegiance was shown
to lmam 'Ali, Mu'awiyah regretted his own negligence
towards 'Uthman; for, he saw that the caliphate
was now out of his reach. Therefore, he thought
of a new plan and a fresh trick. He secretly wrote
to Talhah and az-Zubayr and tried to rouse their
desire for the position of caliph.
These two were sensual men who loved money, and
had tasted the sweetness of being wealthy in 'Uthman's
time. Therefore they easily accepted Mu'awiyah's
wicked offer.(133) His plan was to persuade those
two, who possessed uch nfluence and credit in
those days, to fight with the Imam, using the
pretext of claiming vengeance for the blood of
'Uthman as an innocent caliph. Talhah and az-Zubayr
were deceived by Mu'awiyah's trick and started
the battle of al-Jamal, and, as we have already
seen (134) Talhah was killed at the beginning
of the battle, and az-Zubayr, who had retired
from fighting, was unchivalrously killed by a
man of the Tamim tribe.(135) Thus two of the greatest
rivals of Mu'awiyah for the caliphate departed
from the scene, since the death of rivals from
each front would bring Mu'awiyah one step nearer
to his assumption of that position.
After Imam 'Ali became caliph, he sent a messenger
by name of Jarir to Mu'awiyah to get allegiance.
Mu'awiyah said to Jarir:
"Tell your friend I am willing to submit
to him and show allegiance on two conditions:
Firstly to make ash-Sham and Egypt my fief and
let tributes of these lands be mine, and secondly
not to impose on me the allegiance to anyone after
his own death!"
These declarations clearly showed Mu'awiyah's
intense desire for the caliphate. He knew well
that he could not compete with Imam 'Ali since
he lacked all the virtues and merits by which
Imam 'Ali was known, and of which he was aware,
and
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