Chapter 15: Reaction to the Peace Deal
The Reaction of the People of Iraq to the Peace Deal:
Abul-Ghareef, a narrator of Hadith, said: We were in the vanguard of the army of Al-Hasan ibn Al, where twelve thousand men keen to fight the Syrians. When the news reached us that Al-Hasan ibn Ali had made peace with Mu’awiyah, it felt as if our backs were broken with grief and anger.
When Al-Hasan later entered Kufa, a man named Abu Amir Sufyan ibn al-Layl stood and said: Peace be upon you, you have humiliated the believers!
Al-Hasan replied: Don’t say that, Abu Amir, for I did not humiliate the believers, I just did not want to expose them to danger in pursuit of power.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani narrated from Habib ibn Abi Thabit that Al-Hasan sent news of his pledge to Mu’awiyah, and wrote to Qays ibn Sa’d to inform him of the agreement.
Qays ibn Sa’d then addressed his followers, saying: O people, there are two choices and you must choose one of them. Either you become involved in turmoil or you fight without a leader.
The people asked: What is this? Qays ibn Sa’d replied: Al-Hasan ibn Ali has given allegiance to Mu’awiyah.
The people changed their stance and pledged allegiance to Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan.
This shows that many of the people of Kufa eventually accepted the peace deal as soon as they heard that both Al-Hasan and Mu’awiyah had agreed upon it.
Ibn Kathir said that Al-Hasan ibn Ali informed his commander Qays ibn Sa’d about this, instructing him to listen and obey, but Qays refused at first and did not want to follow either of them.
Qays ibn Sa’d withdrew with those who supported him, but later changed his mind and pledged allegiance to Mu’awiyah.
In a report from Ibn Abi Shaybah, it is narrated from Hisham ibn Urwah that his father said: Qays ibn Sa’d ibn Ubadah was with Al-Hasan ibn Ali leading his army, accompanied by five thousand men who shaved their heads after the death of Ali ibn Abi Talib.
When Al-Hasan gave allegiance to Mu’awiyah, Qays ibn Sa’d ibn Ubadah rejected this and said to his followers: It is up to you. If you want, I will lead you in fighting Mu’awiyah until one of us is killed, or if you want me to seek safety for you, I will do that.They replied: Seek safety for us.
Because of this, Qays negotiated terms ensuring they would be safe, would not be punished for anything, and that he would be treated as one of them, without any special privileges for himself.
On his way back to Madinah with his followers, Qays ibn S’ad slaughtered a camel for them each day until they reached Madinah. (Ibn Kathir)