Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/82

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which amounted to a considerable sum. After the assassination of ʾOthmân, 35, Muʾâwiyah disputed the succession with ʾAly son of Abu-Tâlib; and so powerful was the faction in his favour, that, during the reign of ʾAly, the Khalîfate was in fact divided, ʾAly reigning over Arabia and the Persian provinces, and Muʾâwiyah reigning over Syria and Egypt. ʾAly was murdered 40, and his son Hásan, a pious but weak man, was nominated his successor, and was urged to prosecute the war against Muʾâwiyah. He therefore led his army towards Syria, but after the first engagement some of his troops mutinied, and he himself nearly lost his life; which so dispirited him, that in spite of his brother Husein's remonstrances, he wrote a letter to Muʾâwiyah, offering upon certain terms to resign the Khalîfate. Thus did Muʾâwiyah become sole Khalîfah six months after the death of ʾAly, and according to Abu-Jaʾafar, et-Tábary, he reigned from the time of Hásan's resignation, 19 years, 3 months, and 5 days. Historians do not agree with regard to his age, which is variously given as from seventy to eighty-five years at the time of his decease. He held rule in Syria, first as Prefect, then as Khalîfah, for about forty years. He was buried at Damascus, which he made the residence of the Khalîfahs; and so long as his descendants, or the Khalîfahs of the house of ʾOmeyyah held the Muslim throne, that city enjoyed this prerogative.

HE first from among the Benu-ʾOmeyyah who reigned over the Khalîfate, was Muʾâwiyah, son of Abu-Sufyân.

One day Muʾâwiyah was sitting in council at Damascus, and the chamber was open on the four sides; the breeze could enter it from all quarters. But the