A Brief Journey Through Islamic History
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many administrative practices and institutions that became permanent features of later Islamic society. ‘Umar was succeeded by ‘Uthmān, who was chosen, like all the rāshidūn, by consensus of the elders of the community. His rule, from 23/644 to 35/656, saw the influx of wealth into Medina and the rest of Arabia from conquests in the provinces, although tensions resulted, including tribal uprisings. Many also criticized ‘Uthmān for the practice of nepotism, especially in appointing his relative Mu‘āwiyah to the governorship of Syria. The opposition to ‘Uthmān finally caused an uprising against him led by the son of Abū Bakr, which resulted in ‘Uthmān’s death, an event of grave consequence for later Islamic history, for it was to avenge the death of his uncle ‘Uthmān that Mu‘āwiyah moved against ‘Uthmān’s successor, ‘Alī, and precipitated the division in the body politic that has persisted to this day. ‘Alī, who ruled from 35/656 to 40/661, was faced almost immediately with civil strife and even war on many fronts. His followers (shī‘ah) battled some of the Quraysh, on one hand, and the Prophet’s companions Talhah and Zubayr, . who were joined by the Prophet’s wife ‘Ā’ishah, on the other, and were victorious against both. With the majority of his supporters in Iraq, ‘Alī moved the capital of Islam to Kufa and from there set out to confront the Syrian garrisons of Mu‘āwiyah, who had refused to pay allegiance to ‘Alī. The two sides fought the crucial battle of Siffīn in 36/657, in . which ‘Alī was victorious, but at the moment of victory Mu‘āwiyah had his army come to the battlefield with Qurans on their lances, asking that the Quran