Battle·Rashidun
Battle of Siffin
- Date
- 26 July 657 CE8 Safar 37 AH1,369 years ago
- Place
- Siffin, on the Euphrates (Syria)
- People
- Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, Amr ibn al-As
The army of Ali and the Syrian army of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan met at Siffin on the Euphrates in late July 657 CE. Muawiya demanded justice for Uthman's killers. The fighting lasted about three days, from 26 to 28 July. When Syrian soldiers raised copies of the Quran on their spears, Ali agreed to arbitration. The arbitration did not settle the dispute, and a group left Ali's army.
Why it matters
The arbitration that followed split Ali's supporters and gave rise to the Kharijites. Muawiya gained recognition in Syria.