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5. Battle Between the truth and falsehood

15. Battle of the Ditch

18. Operations Against Banu Sa'ad

24. Campaign Against Banu Tai

36. Ali's Oration on the Death of Abu Bakr

43. Defiance of Muawiyah

48. Ayesha's Occupation of Basra

53. The Battle of the Camel

59. In Quest of Peace with Muawiyah

63. Months of Suspense

72. Revolt of Khurrit Bin Rashid

92. Sayings of Ali

Muawiyah was shrewd enough to see that for any confrontation with Ali, it was necessary that Egypt should be wrested from the control of Ali. It was plain enough that if Egypt was to be with Ali, Egypt could very well thrust a dagger in the back of Syria. It was in this context that Muawiyah tried to get Qais removed from the governorship. He succeeded in this effort when Ali deposed Qais b Sa'ad and appointed Muhammad b Abu Bakr in his place as the Governor of Egypt. Muhammad b Abu Bakr was a rash impetuous young man, and Muawyiah felt sure that he would not be able to effectively control the affairs of Egypt. Muawiyah's plan was to create disturbances in Egypt, and take advantage of such disturbances to capture Egypt. For this purpose he needed a man who commanded influence in Egypt. When he looked around he realized that the most suitable person in this behalf was 'Amr b Al-Aas. He accordingly invited 'Amr b Al-Aas to Damascus. When 'Amr came to Damascus he was given an almost royal reception. The two men agreed to make common cause against Ali. Muawiyah decided to make 'Amr the Commander-in-Chief of his forces. He was also promised the governorship of Egypt on the conquest of that province. Such alliance between Muawiyah and 'Amr b Al-Aas was to prove a great setback for Ali. It is strange that Muawiyah fought against Ali to claim vengeance for the blood of Othman, and yet entrusted the command of his forces to a man who had actually incited the Egyptians to revolt, and had openly defied and thrown a challenge to Othman.