Note 514 — Chapter XXXVII · BATTLE OF THE CAMEL. Jumad II., A.H. XXXVI. December, A.D. 656.

Among other things, Aly said to Zobeir: ‘Dost thou remember the day when we both were with the Prophet among the Beni Ghanam; and he looked on me and smiled, and I smiled in return; and thou saidst to him, “Do not allow the son of Abu Tâlib to vapour thus;” and he answered, “It is no vapouring to quarrel about; thou doest him an injustice”?’ And Zobeir was touched.

The attitude of Talha and Zobeir is variously represented. They both appear to have assented to Aly’s proposals; and (notwithstanding Talha’s speech about compulsory swearing of allegiance) to have continued peaceful negotiations.

On the other hand, Abdallah son of Zobeir manifests the same ambitious spirit which led him many years afterwards into rebellion, and at one time nearly gained for him the Caliphate. He is represented as now taunting his father with faint-heartedness in swearing to Aly that he would not fight; and even persuading him to release himself from the oath by the legal substitution of freeing a slave.

Again, it is said that Zobeir was staggered when he heard that Ammâr was in the field against him, in consequence of Mahomet’s having once said that Ammâr would be slain by an ungodly host (a matter of which we shall hear more below). The general tenor of tradition is, that, from whatever cause, he retired, without fighting, into the neighbouring valley, and there met his death.

It is very difficult to weave a narrative at once faithful and consistent out of all this. The conversations of the rebel leaders with Aly must have been to a great extent conjectural; and the surprise of both armies no doubt adds to the confusion of the narrative as given by our authorities. The general outline, however, is established.