On this day, July 26th, in the year 657, the Battle of Siffin began. It was a battle in the war for control of Islam that pitted the forces of Mohammad's cousin and son-in-law (Ali ibn Abi Talib), against those of one of Mohammad's widows (Aisha bint Abu Bakr, whom he married when she was six years old and he was in his 50's).
After Mohammad died in 632, it took only 24 years for the Religion of Peace™ to plunge itself into full-scale internal warfare. This was 1,120 years before the founding of the United States, 1,292 years before the founding of the modern state of Israel, and 549 years before the uniting of the United Kingdom. No infidels had invaded Islamic lands looking for WMD's, no-one was "oppressing" the "Palestinian people" in "refugee camps", no-one had drawn cartoons of their prophet. There was no-one to blame for the violent acts of Muslims, except themselves. Yet even from these nascent times, the history of Islam was filled with offensive warfare against their neighbors in every direction, and within the boundaries of Dar al-Islam.
Ali had assumed power after the third Caliph of the Religion of Peace™ (Usman) had been assassinated by some of his fellow Muslims. The battle began over the lack of investigation into the murder of Usman, and over which one of the two armies had the right to drink from the river Euphrates (obviously, they both couldn't). 50-70 thousand troops were killed in the three days of fighting that ended without a clear victor.
This was the beginning of the Sunni-Shi'a schism within Islam, with Shi'a favoring the lineage of Ali, and Sunnis favoring Abu Bakr (Aisha's father). Lest anyone think that these battles are long-forgotten stories in musty old history books with no relevance to today, read this modern description of the Battle of Siffin written from the Shi'a point of view:
When the two armies faced each other, Ali promulgated the following ordinance to his troops just as he had done before the battle of Basra (the battle of the Camel):
"O Muslims! wait for your enemy to open hostilities, and defend yourselves only when he attacks you. If anyone of the enemy wishes to escape from the battle and to save his life, let him do so. If God gives you victory, do not plunder the camp of the enemy; do not mutilate the bodies of the dead nor rob them of their armor and weapons, and do not molest their women."
Quite the rousing speech. He obviously knew his troops, and the rules for warfare as laid out in the holy, holy Qur'an, all too well.
Ammar ibn Yasir was past 70 at this time but the flame of faith in God, and the love of His Messenger, Muhammad, burned fiercely inside his breast, and he fought like young men. To add the dramatic touch to the battle, he carried the same weapons with which he had fought, many years earlier, in the company of Muhammad Mustafa, against the polytheists of Makkah in Badr.
The enemy Ammar met in Siffin, was disguised as a Muslim but he could not hoodwink him (Ammar). Ammar's penetrating eyes recognized the face behind the mask. He must have been intensely amused to meet the old enemy, after a lapse of many years, in a new encounter. For him the battle of Siffin was redolent of the battle of Badr. Once again he was fighting, on the side of Muhammad and his vicegerent, Ali, against their enemies. As he struck the Syrians, he kept saying:
"We are fighting against you today over the interpretation of Qur'an just as in the times of our Prophet, we fought against you over its revelation."
Just as the cinematic James Bond makes ironic quips as he sends supervillains to their maker in satisfyingly imaginative manner, these valiant Soldiers of Allah found time to explain the philosophical underpinnings of their disagreement even as they fought in hand-to-hand combat.
Ammar himself led the charge, and soon he was deep inside the ranks of the Syrians. In the midst of action, he felt thirsty, and was oppressed by heat. He returned to his lines to slake his thirst, and asked his aides to bring water for him. It so happened that just at that moment, they were unable to find water anywhere, but one of them found milk, and he presented a cup to him.
When Ammar saw the cup of milk before him, he felt a tremor of excitement run through him. His lips curled up in a broad smile, and he exclaimed: "Allah-o-Akbar (Mighty is the Lord). The Messenger of God could speak only the truth." The bystanders requested him to explain the meaning of his exclamation, and he said:
"The Messenger of God had told me that my last intake in this world would be milk. Now I know that the time for me to meet him has come. I had awaited this moment so long, so eagerly. It's here at last. Glory to Allah."
Ammar ibn Yasir was transfigured by the love of God and the love of His Apostle, Muhammad. He drank the milk, mounted his horse, and then plunged into the ranks of the Syrians.
And on and on it goes. There are doubtless similar versions told with equal aplomb from the point of view of the Sunnis, if I had the stomach to look for them. These are living stories of great import to Muslims. These conflicts are as fresh today in their minds as they were 1,400 years ago. Every soldier's name, every quivering lip, every act of treachery, is clearly recorded for posterity, and for mustering the troops for the next day's battle.
A wise kufir leader would educate him/herself on these schisms and sensitive points within Islam, and would use them whenever possible to the benefit of the kufirs. A wise kufir leader would ask him/herself why the history of the Religion of Peace™ was so violent from its inception right up to the present day.
Incidentally, Ali was soon murdered, in the "sanctity" of a mosque, while praying, by a fellow follower of the Religion of Peace™ using a poisoned dagger. But I'm getting ahead of myself...
