Analysis of Creation of Crisis by Mu‘āwiyah in the Rituals of the Last Hajj During the Caliphate of Imam ‘Alī (‘a)

In four hajj ceremonies during the caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful ‘Alī (‘a), the important position of guardianship of the pilgrims of hajj [amīr al-ḥāj] was given to the sons of ‘Abbās ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib. The situation of ‘Abbās and his sons was rather excellent in Mecca. In the last hajj ceremony during the caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful (‘a), this responsibility was placed on Qutham ib ‘Abbās. However, Mu‘āwiyah also thought about sending a guardian of pilgrims to Mecca. This decision by Mu‘āwiyah created a crisis with respect to hajj and posed the danger of conflict and bloodshed in the Divine sanctuary. However, what was the goal of Mu‘āwiyah by deepening this crisis and what factors were effective in preventing bloodshed near the Ka‘bah? In this study, by use of the descriptive-analytical method we will analyze the factors leading to this crisis and how it was resolved. In fact, the strengthening of Mu‘āwiyah’s control over the Levant and worse than that the disobedience of the people of Kufa to Imam ‘Alī (‘a) after the battle of Nahrawān made Mu‘āwiyah intent on usurping the region under the control of Imam ‘Alī and one of these usurpations was sending a guardian of pilgrims vis-à-vis the guardian of pilgrims of the caliph who was selected by the Muhājir and Anṣār in 39 AH for the purpose of political exploitation and propagandizing in favor of the Umayyads. It was the prudence of Qutham ibn ‘Abbās, the representative of Imam ‘Alī (‘a) as well as the governor of Mecca and the gentle character of Yazīd ibn Shajarah, the representative of Mu‘āwiyah compared to the other usurping commanders of his and also the mediation of the great figures of Mecca which prevented a great bloodshed in the sanctuary of Allah and put an end to the crisis which the outlaw of the Levant had created against the caliph of the time.