Kufan political Alignments and Their Background in the midseventh century A.D.

Abstract

Understanding how Kufah was established, and how its population make–up developed, since its founding in 17 A. H. until the beginning of Imam Ali’s rule in 35 A. H. have a fundamental role in describing and explaining the Kufi political factions in early lst century A. H. (the middle of 7th century A. D.). These factions had a major role in the trend of events which led to the Killing of Uthman, the third Khalifah, and Which also gave rise to the various political positions during Ali’sfive–year Khilafah. The author believes: by studying the social fabric of Kufah at the time, the socio–ideologicalbackground of the central core of the forceswho led the 35A. H. uprising against Uthman and who took confused positions over the issue ofArbitration (in the siffin Battle) and the Nahrawan Rebellion during the government ofAli ibn– e Abitalib will better come to light. Redefinition of the conditions which caused the rise and formation of such groups, and the explanation oftheir political positions are the objective of this article.