Give an account of why the Battle of Nahrawan was fought, its main events and the fall of Egypt.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge, given on page 4.
2. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.
3. In response to this question, candidates need to write about why the Battle of Nahrawan, which followed the Battle of Siffin and the subsequent arbitration, was fought and write about the main events of the battle and also give an account of the fall of Egypt.
4. The Battle of Nahrawan was fought in the year 658. 'Ali was determined to lead the armies of Kufa and Basra to settle the dispute with Mu'awiya. He persuaded the Kharijites to join him but only half of the 4000 Kharijites joined forces with him. The remaining, more militant half refused and became even more militant with the exit of the moderates from their group.
5. These militant Kharijites sent raiding parties into the surrounding countryside to fight anyone who opposed their views. 'Ali decided to deal with them before confronting Mu'awiya.
6. In mid-May (some say July), the two armies clashed at Nahrawan. 'Ali's army was ten times the size of the Kharijites, who fought and fell with the cry 'Paradise, Paradise' on their lips.
7. With their deaths, the spirit of 'Ali's army died, as the heroes of the Battles of the Camel and Siffin also now lay amongst the dead and 'Ali's army now insisted on going back to the garrison cities before they invaded Syria to fight Mu'awiya.
8. 'Ali had no choice but to accept their decision and later when he summoned the army to war the response was so muted that he had to abandon the idea of war for that year.
9. Egypt was conquered from the Byzantines in 640 during the caliphate of 'Umar by Amr ibn al-'Aas. In the caliphate of 'Ali Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr was made the governor of Egypt. Taking advantage of 'Ali's army's reluctance to fight him after the Battle of Nahrawan, Mu'awiya ordered 'Amr to attack Egypt. 'Amr had been given a command of 6000 men with whom he now advanced into Egypt.
10. Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr who was appointed as the governor of Egypt by 'Ali opted for an early battle in which he was badly beaten and killed. 'Amr now entered Fustat and once again became its governor.
11. Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding, given on page 5.
12. There are many different reasons that could be given. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited and choices made should be supported with a reason.
13. It could be said that the disunity amongst the Muslims weakened 'Ali's position as caliph and led to civil wars and finally his assassination, or that the arbitration after the Battle of Siffin weakened him greatly as it led to the disenchanted elements of the army from Kufa joining like-minded men from Basra. Together they bitterly opposed the arbitration, and later a group of them fought with 'Ali in the Battle of Nahrawan, which further weakened him and eventually led to his martyrdom.
14. The event of the two oaths taken in 660 could be given as the most compelling cause that led to intense anger amongst some Muslims who decided to take matters into their own hands and planned and carried out the attack on 'Ali which led to his martyrdom.