The Great Fitna
Overview:
In The Great Fitna, Taha Hussein explores the turbulent events that followed the death of the Prophet Muhammad, focusing on the political and social conflicts that led to the first major schism within the early Muslim community.
The book centers on the rule of Caliphs ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān and ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, and the ensuing battles of the Camel and Ṣiffīn—conflicts collectively remembered as the First Fitna, or the “Great Civil Strife.”
Key Themes and Ideas:
Historical Context:
Hussein links the Prophet’s death to the ensuing power vacuum, analyzing the early caliphate as a novel political system grappling with expansion and deep-seated tribal divisions.
He traces the succession from Abū Bakr to ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and then to ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, highlighting how the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the Quraysh elite stirred resentment among other tribes.
The Assassination of ʿUthmān and the Outbreak of Strife:
The book details the grievances that fueled opposition to ʿUthmān, including accusations of nepotism in favor of his Umayyad relatives and the unequal distribution of offices and spoils.
These tensions culminated in rebellion and his assassination.
Hussein also emphasizes the broader social changes brought by rapid conquests, which created a new wealthy class while widening inequalities among tribal groups.
The Caliphate of ʿAlī and Its Challenges:
Hussein explains how ʿAlī faced resistance from leading companions such as Ṭalḥa, al-Zubayr, and ʿĀʾisha, who demanded retribution for ʿUthmān’s killers—clashes that ultimately led to the Battle of the Camel (656 CE).
The conflict with Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān, governor of Syria, forms another crucial episode.
Refusing to recognize ʿAlī’s rule and invoking the demand for justice for ʿUthmān, Muʿāwiya’s challenge escalated into the Battle of Ṣiffīn (657 CE) and the controversial arbitration between Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī and ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ.
Arbitration and Its Aftermath:
Hussein critiques ʿAlī’s decision to accept arbitration as a political miscalculation that fractured his base of support. The Khārijites—radicals who rejected human arbitration over divine judgment—saw this as a betrayal, eventually rebelling against ʿAlī.
For Hussein, this episode marked a decisive turning point, paving the way for the caliphate’s transformation into dynastic monarchy, culminating in the rise of the Umayyad state.
The Khārijites and the Death of ʿAlī:
The emergence of the Khārijites is explored in depth, from their extremist rejection of arbitration to their defeat at the Battle of Nahrawān (658 CE), and ultimately to ʿAlī’s assassination at the hands of the Khārijite ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam.
Critical Method and Historical Approach:
Hussein applies a rigorously critical lens to early Islamic sources, questioning exaggerated accounts or those colored by sectarian agendas.
He interprets the Fitna not primarily as a religious conflict but as the outcome of political, economic, and tribal rivalries, with the struggle for power as its driving force.
Purpose of the Book:
Hussein’s central argument is that the Great Fitna was not simply a battle over religious legitimacy but a product of the complex interplay of social and political realities in a rapidly expanding society.
His work serves as a caution against repeating such conflicts without addressing their underlying roots beyond narrow sectarian interpretations.
Style and Method:
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A blend of narrative storytelling and critical analysis, written in a literary style that balances clarity with depth.
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Notably avoids sectarian bias, focusing on critique of political structures rather than personal attacks on historical figures.
Significance:
The Great Fitna remains a landmark work for understanding Islamic history through a rationalist perspective.
By encouraging readers to reexamine early history without mythologizing it, Hussein helped open the door to more critical, historically grounded scholarship.
For the original summary in Arabic
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