^170Withtheselimitations，Othman，thesecretaryofMahomet，acceptedthegovernment；norwasittillafterthethirdcaliph，twenty—fouryearsafterthedeathoftheprophet，thatAliwasinvested，bythepopularchoice，withtheregalandsacerdotaloffice。ThemannersoftheArabiansretainedtheirprimitivesimplicity，andthesonofAbuTalebdespisedthepompandvanityofthisworld。Atthehourofprayer，herepairedtothemoschofMedina，clothedinathincottongown，acoarseturbanonhishead，hisslippersinonehand，andhisbowintheother，insteadofawalking—staff。Thecompanionsoftheprophet，andthechiefsofthetribes，salutedtheirnewsovereign，andgavehimtheirrighthandsasasignoffealtyandallegiance。
[Footnote*:Abubeker，thefatherofthevirginAyesha。St。
Martin，vol。XL，p。88—M。]
[Footnote168:Ockley，Hist。oftheSaracens，vol。i。p。5，6，
fromanArabianMs。，representsAyeshaasadversetothesubstitutionofherfatherintheplaceoftheapostle。Thisfact，soimprobableinitself，isunnoticedbyAbulfeda，AlJannabi，andAlBochari，thelastofwhomquotesthetraditionofAyeshaherself，Vit。Mohammed，p。136ViedeMahomet，tom。iii。
p。236。]
[Footnote169:ParticularlybyhisfriendandcousinAbdallah，thesonofAbbas，whodiedA。D。687，withthetitleofgranddoctoroftheMoslems。InAbulfedaherecapitulatestheimportantoccasionsinwhichAlihadneglectedhissalutaryadvice，p。76，vers。Reiske；andconcludes，p。85，Oprincepsfidelium，absquecontroversiatuquidemverefortises，atinopsboniconsilii，etrerumgerendarumparumcallens。]
[Footnote170:IsuspectthatthetwoseniorsAbulpharagius，p。
115。Ockley，tom。i。p。371，maysignifynottwoactualcounsellors，buthistwopredecessors，AbubekerandOmar。]
Themischiefsthatflowfromthecontestsofambitionareusuallyconfinedtothetimesandcountriesinwhichtheyhavebeenagitated。ButthereligiousdiscordofthefriendsandenemiesofAlihasbeenrenewedineveryageoftheHegira，andisstillmaintainedintheimmortalhatredofthePersiansandTurks。^171Theformer，whoarebrandedwiththeappellationofShiitesorsectaries，haveenrichedtheMahometancreedwithanewarticleoffaith；andifMahometbetheapostle，hiscompanionAliisthevicar，ofGod。Intheirprivateconverse，intheirpublicworship，theybitterlyexecratethethreeusurperswhointerceptedhisindefeasiblerighttothedignityofImamandCaliph；andthenameofOmarexpressesintheirtonguetheperfectaccomplishmentofwickednessandimpiety。^172TheSonnites，whoaresupportedbythegeneralconsentandorthodoxtraditionoftheMussulmans，entertainamoreimpartial，oratleastamoredecent，opinion。TheyrespectthememoryofAbubeker，Omar，Othman，andAli，theholyandlegitimatesuccessorsoftheprophet。ButtheyassignthelastandmosthumbleplacetothehusbandofFatima，inthepersuasionthattheorderofsuccessionwasdeterminedbythedecreesofsanctity。
^173Anhistorianwhobalancesthefourcaliphswithahandunshakenbysuperstition，willcalmlypronouncethattheirmannerswerealikepureandexemplary；thattheirzealwasfervent，andprobablysincere；andthat，inthemidstofrichesandpower，theirlivesweredevotedtothepracticeofmoralandreligiousduties。ButthepublicvirtuesofAbubekerandOmar，theprudenceofthefirst，theseverityofthesecond，maintainedthepeaceandprosperityoftheirreigns。ThefeebletemperanddecliningageofOthmanwereincapableofsustainingtheweightofconquestandempire。Hechose，andhewasdeceived；hetrusted，andhewasbetrayed:themostdeservingofthefaithfulbecameuselessorhostiletohisgovernment，andhislavishbountywasproductiveonlyofingratitudeanddiscontent。Thespiritofdiscordwentforthintheprovinces:theirdeputiesassembledatMedina；andtheCharegites，thedesperatefanaticswhodisclaimedtheyokeofsubordinationandreason，wereconfoundedamongthefree—bornArabs，whodemandedtheredressoftheirwrongsandthepunishmentoftheiroppressors。FromCufa，fromBassora，fromEgypt，fromthetribesofthedesert，theyroseinarms，encampedaboutaleaguefromMedina，anddespatchedahaughtymandatetotheirsovereign，requiringhimtoexecutejustice，ortodescendfromthethrone。Hisrepentancebegantodisarmanddispersetheinsurgents；buttheirfurywasrekindledbytheartsofhisenemies；andtheforgeryofaperfidioussecretarywascontrivedtoblasthisreputationandprecipitatehisfall。Thecaliphhadlosttheonlyguardofhispredecessors，theesteemandconfidenceoftheMoslems:duringasiegeofsixweekshiswaterandprovisionswereintercepted，andthefeeblegatesofthepalacewereprotectedonlybythescruplesofthemoretimorousrebels。Forsakenbythosewhohadabusedhissimplicity，thehopelessandvenerablecaliphexpectedtheapproachofdeath:thebrotherofAyeshamarchedattheheadoftheassassins；andOthman，withtheKoraninhislap，waspiercedwithamultitudeofwounds。AtumultuousanarchyoffivedayswasappeasedbytheinaugurationofAli:hisrefusalwouldhaveprovokedageneralmassacre。InthispainfulsituationhesupportedthebecomingprideofthechiefoftheHashemites；declaredthathehadratherservethanreign；rebukedthepresumptionofthestrangers；andrequiredtheformal，ifnotthevoluntary，assentofthechiefsofthenation。HehasneverbeenaccusedofpromptingtheassassinofOmar；thoughPersiaindiscreetlycelebratesthefestivalofthatholymartyr。ThequarrelbetweenOthmanandhissubjectswasassuagedbytheearlymediationofAli；andHassan，theeldestofhissons，wasinsultedandwoundedinthedefenceofthecaliph。YetitisdoubtfulwhetherthefatherofHassanwasstrenuousandsincereinhisoppositiontotherebels；anditiscertainthatheenjoyedthebenefitoftheircrime。Thetemptationwasindeedofsuchmagnitudeasmightstaggerandcorruptthemostobduratevirtue。TheambitiouscandidatenolongeraspiredtothebarrensceptreofArabia；theSaracenshadbeenvictoriousintheEastandWest；andthewealthykingdomsofPersia，Syria，andEgyptwerethepatrimonyofthecommanderofthefaithful。
[Footnote171:TheschismofthePersiansisexplainedbyallourtravellersofthelastcentury，especiallyintheiidandivthvolumesoftheirmaster，Chardin。Niebuhr，thoughofinferiormerit，hastheadvantageofwritingsolateastheyear1764，VoyagesenArabie，&c。，tom。ii。p。208—233，sincetheineffectualattemptofNadirShahtochangethereligionofthenation，seehisPersianHistorytranslatedintoFrenchbySirWilliamJones，tom。ii。p。5，6，47，48，144—155。]
[Footnote172:Omaristhenameofthedevil；hismurdererisasaint。WhenthePersiansshootwiththebow，theyfrequentlycry，"MaythisarrowgototheheartofOmar!"VoyagesdeChardin，tom。ii。p239，240，259，&c。]
[Footnote173:ThisgradationofmeritisdistinctlymarkedinacreedillustratedbyReland，deRelig。Mohamm。l。i。p。37；andaSonniteargumentinsertedbyOckley，Hist。oftheSaracens，tom。ii。p。230。ThepracticeofcursingthememoryofAliwasabolished，afterfortyyears，bytheOmmiadesthemselves，D'Herbelot，p。690；andtherearefewamongtheTurkswhopresumetorevilehimasaninfidel，VoyagesdeChardin，tom。
iv。p。46。]
[Footnote*:ComparePrice，p。180。—M。]
ChapterL:DescriptionOfArabiaAndItsInhabitants。
PartVIII。
AlifeofprayerandcontemplationhadnotchilledthemartialactivityofAli；butinamatureage，afteralongexperienceofmankind，hestillbetrayedinhisconducttherashnessandindiscretionofyouth。Inthefirstdaysofhisreign，heneglectedtosecure，eitherbygiftsorfetters，thedoubtfulallegianceofTelhaandZobeir，twoofthemostpowerfuloftheArabianchiefs。TheyescapedfromMedinatoMecca，andfromthencetoBassora；erectedthestandardofrevolt；andusurpedthegovernmentofIrak，orAssyria，whichtheyhadvainlysolicitedastherewardoftheirservices。Themaskofpatriotismisallowedtocoverthemostglaringinconsistencies；andtheenemies，perhapstheassassins，ofOthmannowdemandedvengeanceforhisblood。TheywereaccompaniedintheirflightbyAyesha，thewidowoftheprophet，whocherished，tothelasthourofherlife，animplacablehatredagainstthehusbandandtheposterityofFatima。ThemostreasonableMoslemswerescandalized，thatthemotherofthefaithfulshouldexposeinacampherpersonandcharacter；^!butthesuperstitiouscrowdwasconfidentthatherpresencewouldsanctifythejustice，andassurethesuccess，oftheircause。AttheheadoftwentythousandofhisloyalArabs，andninethousandvaliantauxiliariesofCufa，thecaliphencounteredanddefeatedthesuperiornumbersoftherebelsunderthewallsofBassora。^!!Theirleaders，TelhaandZobeir，^@
wereslaininthefirstbattlethatstainedwithcivilbloodthearmsoftheMoslems。^@@Afterpassingthroughtherankstoanimatethetroops，Ayeshahadchosenherpostamidstthedangersofthefield。Intheheatoftheaction，seventymen，whoheldthebridleofhercamel，weresuccessivelykilledorwounded；andthecageorlitter，inwhichshesat，wasstuckwithjavelinsanddartslikethequillsofaporcupine。Thevenerablecaptivesustainedwithfirmnessthereproachesoftheconqueror，andwasspeedilydismissedtoherproperstationatthetombofMahomet，withtherespectandtendernessthatwasstillduetothewidowoftheapostle。Afterthisvictory，whichwasstyledtheDayoftheCamel，Alimarchedagainstamoreformidableadversary；
againstMoawiyah，thesonofAbuSophian，whohadassumedthetitleofcaliph，andwhoseclaimwassupportedbytheforcesofSyriaandtheinterestofthehouseofOmmiyah。FromthepassageofThapsacus，theplainofSiffin^174extendsalongthewesternbankoftheEuphrates。Onthisspaciousandleveltheatre，thetwocompetitorswagedadesultorywarofonehundredandtendays。Inthecourseofninetyactionsorskirmishes，thelossofAliwasestimatedattwenty—five，thatofMoawiyahatforty—five，thousandsoldiers；andthelistoftheslainwasdignifiedwiththenamesoffive—and—twentyveteranswhohadfoughtatBederunderthestandardofMahomet。Inthissanguinarycontestthelawfulcaliphdisplayedasuperiorcharacterofvalorandhumanity。^!!!Histroopswerestrictlyenjoinedtoawaitthefirstonsetoftheenemy，tosparetheirflyingbrethren，andtorespectthebodiesofthedead，andthechastityofthefemalecaptives。HegenerouslyproposedtosavethebloodoftheMoslemsbyasinglecombat；buthistremblingrivaldeclinedthechallengeasasentenceofinevitabledeath。TheranksoftheSyrianswerebrokenbythechargeofaherowhowasmountedonapiebaldhorse，andwieldedwithirresistibleforcehisponderousandtwo—edgedsword。Asoftenashesmotearebel，heshoutedtheAllahAcbar，"Godisvictorious!"andinthetumultofanocturnalbattle，hewasheardtorepeatfourhundredtimesthattremendousexclamation。TheprinceofDamascusalreadymeditatedhisflight；butthecertainvictorywassnatchedfromthegraspofAlibythedisobedienceandenthusiasmofhistroops。TheirconsciencewasawedbythesolemnappealtothebooksoftheKoranwhichMoawiyahexposedontheforemostlances；andAliwascompelledtoyieldtoadisgracefultruceandaninsidiouscompromise。HeretreatedwithsorrowandindignationtoCufa；
hispartywasdiscouraged；thedistantprovincesofPersia，ofYemen，andofEgypt，weresubduedorseducedbyhiscraftyrival；
andthestrokeoffanaticism，whichwasaimedagainstthethreechiefsofthenation，wasfatalonlytothecousinofMahomet。
InthetempleofMecca，threeCharegitesorenthusiastsdiscoursedofthedisordersofthechurchandstate:theysoonagreed，thatthedeathsofAli，ofMoawiyah，andofhisfriendAmrou，theviceroyofEgypt，wouldrestorethepeaceandunityofreligion。Eachoftheassassinschosehisvictim，poisonedhisdagger，devotedhislife，andsecretlyrepairedtothesceneofaction。Theirresolutionwasequallydesperate:butthefirstmistookthepersonofAmrou，andstabbedthedeputywhooccupiedhisseat；theprinceofDamascuswasdangerouslyhurtbythesecond；thelawfulcaliph，inthemoschofCufa，receivedamortalwoundfromthehandofthethird。Heexpiredinthesixty—thirdyearofhisage，andmercifullyrecommendedtohischildren，thattheywoulddespatchthemurdererbyasinglestroke。ThesepulchreofAli^175wasconcealedfromthetyrantsofthehouseofOmmiyah；^176butinthefourthageoftheHegira，atomb，atemple，acity，aroseneartheruinsofCufa。^177ManythousandsoftheShiitesreposeinholygroundatthefeetofthevicarofGod；andthedesertisvivifiedbythenumerousandannualvisitsofthePersians，whoesteemtheirdevotionnotlessmeritoriousthanthepilgrimageofMecca。
[Footnote*:Alihaddeterminedtosupersedeallthelieutenantsinthedifferentprovinces。Price，p。191。Compare，ontheconductofTelhaandZobeir，p。193—M。]
[Footnote!:Seetheverycuriouscircumstanceswhichtookplacebeforeandduringherflight。Price，p。196。—M。]
[Footnote!!:ThereluctanceofAlitoshedthebloodoftruebelieversisstrikinglydescribedbyMajorPrice'sPersianhistorians。Price，p。222。—M。]
[Footnote@:SeeinPricethesingularadventuresofZobeir。
Hewasmurderedafterhavingabandonedthearmyoftheinsurgents。Telhawasabouttodothesame，whenhislegwaspiercedwithanarrowbyoneofhisownpartyThewoundwasmortal。Price，p。222。—M。]
[Footnote@@:AccordingtoPrice，twohundredandeightyoftheBenniBeianzielalonelostarighthandinthisservice，p。
225。—M]
[Footnote*:Shewasescortedbyaguardoffemalesdisguisedassoldiers。Whenshediscoveredthis，Ayeshawasasmuchgratifiedbythedelicacyofthearrangement，asshehadbeenoffendedbythefamiliarapproachofsomanymen。Price，p。229。—M。]
[Footnote174:TheplainofSiffinisdeterminedbyD'Anvillel'EuphrateetleTigre，p。29tobetheCampusBarbaricusofProcopius。]
[Footnote!!!:TheShiiteauthorshavepreservedanobleinstanceofAli'smagnanimity。ThesuperiorgeneralshipofMoawiyahhadcutoffthearmyofAlifromtheEuphrates；hissoldierswereperishingfromwantofwater。Alisentamessagetohisrivaltorequestfreeaccesstotheriver，declaringthatunderthesamecircumstanceshewouldnotallowanyofthefaithful，thoughhisadversaries，toperishfromthirst。Aftersomedebate，Moawiyahdeterminedtoavailhimselfoftheadvantageofhissituation，andtorejectthedemandofAli。ThesoldiersofAlibecamedesperate；forcedtheirwaythroughthatpartofthehostilearmywhichcommandedtheriver，andintheirturnentirelycutoffthetroopsofMoawiyahfromthewater。MoawiyahwasreducedtomakethesamesupplicationtoAli。Thegenerouscaliphinstantlycomplied；andbotharmies，withtheircattleenjoyedfreeandunmolestedaccesstotheriver。Price，vol。i。p。268，272—M。]
[Footnote*:HissonHassanwasrecognizedascaliphinArabiaandIrak；butvoluntarilyabdicatedthethrone，aftersixorsevenmonths，infavorofMoawiyahSt。Martin，vol。xi。p375。—
M。]
[Footnote175:Abulfeda，amoderateSonnite，relatesthedifferentopinionsconcerningtheburialofAli，butadoptsthesepulchreofCufa，hodiefamanumeroquereligiosefrequentantiumcelebratum。ThisnumberisreckonedbyNiebuhrtoamountannuallyto2000ofthedead，and5000oftheliving，tom。ii。
p。208，209。]
[Footnote176:AllthetyrantsofPersia，fromAdhadelDowlatA。D。977，D'Herbelot，p。58，59，95toNadirShah，A。D。1743，Hist。deNadirShah，tom。ii。p。155，haveenrichedthetombofAliwiththespoilsofthepeople。Thedomeiscopper，withabrightandmassygilding，whichglitterstothesunatthedistanceofmanyamile。]
[Footnote177:ThecityofMeshedAli，fiveorsixmilesfromtheruinsofCufa，andonehundredandtwentytothesouthofBagdad，isofthesizeandformofthemodernJerusalem。MeshedHosein，largerandmorepopulous，isatthedistanceofthirtymiles。]
ThepersecutorsofMahometusurpedtheinheritanceofhischildren；andthechampionsofidolatrybecamethesupremeheadsofhisreligionandempire。TheoppositionofAbuSophianhadbeenfierceandobstinate；hisconversionwastardyandreluctant；hisnewfaithwasfortifiedbynecessityandinterest；
heserved，hefought，perhapshebelieved；andthesinsofthetimeofignorancewereexpiatedbytherecentmeritsofthefamilyofOmmiyah。Moawiyah，thesonofAbuSophian，andofthecruelHenda，wasdignified，inhisearlyyouth，withtheofficeortitleofsecretaryoftheprophet:thejudgmentofOmarintrustedhimwiththegovernmentofSyria；andheadministeredthatimportantprovinceabovefortyyears，eitherinasubordinateorsupremerank。Withoutrenouncingthefameofvalorandliberality，heaffectedthereputationofhumanityandmoderation:agratefulpeoplewasattachedtotheirbenefactor；
andthevictoriousMoslemswereenrichedwiththespoilsofCyprusandRhodes。ThesacreddutyofpursuingtheassassinsofOthmanwastheengineandpretenceofhisambition。ThebloodyshirtofthemartyrwasexposedinthemoschofDamascus:theemirdeploredthefateofhisinjuredkinsman；andsixtythousandSyrianswereengagedinhisservicebyanoathoffidelityandrevenge。Amrou，theconquerorofEgypt，himselfanarmy，wasthefirstwhosalutedthenewmonarch，anddivulgedthedangeroussecret，thattheArabiancaliphsmightbecreatedelsewherethaninthecityoftheprophet。^178ThepolicyofMoawiyaheludedthevalorofhisrival；and，afterthedeathofAli，henegotiatedtheabdicationofhissonHassan，whosemindwaseitheraboveorbelowthegovernmentoftheworld，andwhoretiredwithoutasighfromthepalaceofCufatoanhumblecellnearthetombofhisgrandfather。Theaspiringwishesofthecaliphwerefinallycrownedbytheimportantchangeofanelectivetoanhereditarykingdom。SomemurmursoffreedomorfanaticismattestedthereluctanceoftheArabs，andfourcitizensofMedinarefusedtheoathoffidelity；butthedesignsofMoawiyahwereconductedwithvigorandaddress；andhissonYezid，afeebleanddissoluteyouth，wasproclaimedasthecommanderofthefaithfulandthesuccessorontheapostleofGod。
[Footnote178:Iborrow，onthisoccasion，thestrongsenseandexpressionofTacitus，Hist。i。4:EvulgatoimperiiarcanoposseimperatoremalniquamRomaefieri。]
AfamiliarstoryisrelatedofthebenevolenceofoneofthesonsofAli。Inservingattable，aslavehadinadvertentlydroppedadishofscaldingbrothonhismaster:theheedlesswretchfellprostrate，todeprecatehispunishment，andrepeatedaverseoftheKoran:"Paradiseisforthosewhocommandtheiranger:"—"Iamnotangry:"—"andforthosewhopardonoffences:"—"Ipardonyouroffence:"—"andforthosewhoreturngoodforevil:"—"Igiveyouyourlibertyandfourhundredpiecesofsilver。"Withanequalmeasureofpiety，Hosein，theyoungerbrotherofHassan，inheritedaremnantofhisfather'sspirit，andservedwithhonoragainsttheChristiansinthesiegeofConstantinople。TheprimogenitureofthelineofHashem，andtheholycharacterofgrandsonoftheapostle，hadcentredinhisperson，andhewasatlibertytoprosecutehisclaimagainstYezid，thetyrantofDamascus，whoseviceshedespised，andwhosetitlehehadneverdeignedtoacknowledge。A
listwassecretlytransmittedfromCufatoMedina，ofonehundredandfortythousandMoslems，whoprofessedtheirattachmenttohiscause，andwhowereeagertodrawtheirswordssosoonasheshouldappearonthebanksoftheEuphrates。Againsttheadviceofhiswisestfriends，heresolvedtotrusthispersonandfamilyinthehandsofaperfidiouspeople。HetraversedthedesertofArabiawithatimorousretinueofwomenandchildren；butasheapproachedtheconfinesofIrakhewasalarmedbythesolitaryorhostilefaceofthecountry，andsuspectedeitherthedefectionorruinofhisparty。Hisfearswerejust:Obeidollah，thegovernorofCufa，hadextinguishedthefirstsparksofaninsurrection；andHosein，intheplainofKerbela，wasencompassedbyabodyoffivethousandhorse，whointerceptedhiscommunicationwiththecityandtheriver。Hemightstillhaveescapedtoafortressinthedesert，thathaddefiedthepowerofCaesarandChosroes，andconfidedinthefidelityofthetribeofTai，whichwouldhavearmedtenthousandwarriorsinhisdefence。
Inaconferencewiththechiefoftheenemy，heproposedtheoptionofthreehonorableconditions:thatheshouldbeallowedtoreturntoMedina，orbestationedinafrontiergarrisonagainsttheTurks，orsafelyconductedtothepresenceofYezid。