Page:The Musnud of Murshidabad (1704 - 1904).djvu/224

[ 126 ] heridity and the other maintaining the superiority of election.

On Omar's death, Osman became the third Caliph. The Arabs determined to get rid of him, and he was slain. Their representationsrepresentatives [sic] now asked Ali to assume the reins of Government. On his accession, Ali dis- missed Moaviah, a near relative of Osman. Ayesha placed herself at the head of a faction but her generals were slain and she herself fell into the hands of the conquering Ali, who now directed his attention to- wards Moaviah, who rebelled in Syria. The dispute was referred to arbitration. The award was to depose Ali. He and his followers retired to Cufa and succeed in regaining" Arabia, while Moaviah established his authority in Syria and Persia.

It was the 17th day of Ramzan (27th January, 661) when Ali was offering prayers at the mosque of Cufa that the poisoned dagger of an assassin struck him. On his death, his eldest son, Hussan, was proclaimed Caliph and Imam. But he was forced to resign in favor of Moaviah, who granted him permission to retire on pension. Nine years after, Hussan was poisoned by his wife at the instigation of Moaviah.

Moaviah died shortly after and was succeeded by his son, Yezid. His cruelty compelled the people to send a requisition to Hossein, who was living at Medina, asking him to stand on his heriditary rights. When Hossein appeared on the scene, the insurrection had been put down. He found himself in the midst