The Battle of the Camel

The painful confrontation took place at Basra between the army of the caliph ʿAli ibn Abi Talib and the camp of ʿAʾisha, Talha and al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them) — the first fighting between Muslims — ending with the deaths of Talha and al-Zubayr and ʿAʾisha's honoured return.

After the martyrdom of ʿUthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and the pledge to ʿAli, the Mother of the Believers ʿAʾisha set out with Talha and al-Zubayr to Basra demanding retribution against the killers of ʿUthman. Reconciliation between the two sides was nearly reached, but for the schemers of the strife who ignited the fighting by night.

The battle revolved around the Mother of the Believers' camel, so it was named after it. In it Talha and al-Zubayr were martyred — al-Zubayr had withdrawn from the fighting, reminded of a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ, and was killed treacherously — along with many Muslims.

ʿAli honoured the Mother of the Believers and sent her to Madinah with respect. All regretted what had happened, and Ahl al-Sunnah withhold their tongues from what passed between the Companions and seek forgiveness for them all: "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith."