Battle of the Camel
The Battle of the Camel (Arabic: مَعْرَكَة اَلْجَمَلِ, romanized: Maʿrakat al-Jamal) took place outside of Basra, Iraq, in 36 AH (656 CE). The battle was fought between the army of the fourth caliph Ali (r. 656–661), on one side, and the rebel army led by Aisha, Talha and Zubayr, on the other side. Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, while Aisha was a widow of Muhammad, of whom Talha and Zubayr were both prominent companions. Ali emerged victorious from the battle, Talha and Zubayr were both killed, and Aisha was sent back to Hejaz afterward. The triumvirate had revolted against Ali ostensibly to avenge the assassination of the third caliph Uthman (r. 644–656), although Aisha and Talha are both known to have actively opposed him. The three also called for the removal of Ali from office and for a Qurayshite council (shura) with Talha and Zubayr to appoint his successor.
Battle of the Camel | |||||||
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Part of the First Fitna | |||||||
Ali and Aisha at the Battle of the Camel | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Forces of Ali
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Forces of Aisha, Talha, and Zubayr
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ali ibn Abi Talib Hasan ibn Ali Husayn ibn Ali Malik al-Ashtar Ammar ibn Yasir Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Abdul-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr Abu Qatadah ibn Rab'i al-Ansari Jabir ibn Abd-Allah Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Qays ibn Sa'd Abd Allah ibn Abbas Khuzaima ibn Thabit Jundab al-Azdi Ali ibn Danūr |
Aisha Talha † Zubayr ibn al-Awwam † Muhammad ibn Talha † Ka'b ibn Sur † Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr Marwan I (POW) Abd Allah ibn Safwan Yahya ibn al-Hakam (WIA) Utba ibn Abi Sufyan Zufar ibn al-Harith al-Kilabi Abdul-Rahman ibn Attab ibn Asid † | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~10,000 | ~10,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
>400 – 500 | >2,500 |