Participation of Badrī Companions in the Battle of Ṣiffīn – Scholarly Analysis
Author: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid (ḥafiẓahullāh)
It is reported from Ibn Abī Laylā that seventy participants of the Battle of Badr were present at Ṣiffīn.
[Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl 1/170]
The narrator is Ibrāhīm bin ʿUthmān Abū Shaybah al-ʿAsbī al-Kūfī, who was the judge of Wāsiṭ and the grandfather of Abū Bakr bin Abī Shaybah. He transmitted this report from al-Ḥakam, who narrated from Ibn Abī Laylā.
[al-Mughnī 1/20; al-Ḍuʿafāʾ wa al-Matrūkīn 1/19; al-Ḍuʿafāʾ al-Kabīr 1/59; Taqrīb 1/39; al-Jarḥ wa al-Taʿdīl 2/115]
Shaybah said:
"By Allah, this Ibrāhīm bin ʿUthmān is a liar. I personally discussed this matter with al-Ḥakam, and we found no participant of Badr at Ṣiffīn except Khuzaimah. Apart from him, there was no one."
Imām al-Dhahabī (رحمه الله) notes that at Ṣiffīn, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) and ʿAmmār (رضي الله عنه) were present. However, even if we count them, two or three individuals cannot establish the claim of seventy.
Thus, the historical reality is that seventy Badrīs were never present. At most, one could identify three names if one stretches the count.
Muḥammad bin Sīrīn (born 21H in the era of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, died 110H), who witnessed these events closely, said:
«هاجت الفتنة وأصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عشرات الألوف فلم يحضرها منهم مائة بل لم يبلغوا ثلاثين»
"The tribulation flared up while the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were in the tens of thousands, yet not even a hundred attended it—in fact, they did not even reach thirty."
Imām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) quoted this with the comment:
«هذا الإسناد أصح إسناد على وجه الأرض»
"This chain is the most authentic chain on the face of the earth."
[Minhāj al-Sunnah 3/86]
When considering that the total number of Companions at that time was no less than thirty thousand, possibly nearing ninety thousand, the conclusion is clear:
Author: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Claim: Seventy Badrīs Present at Ṣiffīn
It is reported from Ibn Abī Laylā that seventy participants of the Battle of Badr were present at Ṣiffīn.
[Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl 1/170]
Chain Analysis
The narrator is Ibrāhīm bin ʿUthmān Abū Shaybah al-ʿAsbī al-Kūfī, who was the judge of Wāsiṭ and the grandfather of Abū Bakr bin Abī Shaybah. He transmitted this report from al-Ḥakam, who narrated from Ibn Abī Laylā.
[al-Mughnī 1/20; al-Ḍuʿafāʾ wa al-Matrūkīn 1/19; al-Ḍuʿafāʾ al-Kabīr 1/59; Taqrīb 1/39; al-Jarḥ wa al-Taʿdīl 2/115]
Shaybah said:
"By Allah, this Ibrāhīm bin ʿUthmān is a liar. I personally discussed this matter with al-Ḥakam, and we found no participant of Badr at Ṣiffīn except Khuzaimah. Apart from him, there was no one."
Evaluation of the Claim
Imām al-Dhahabī (رحمه الله) notes that at Ṣiffīn, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) and ʿAmmār (رضي الله عنه) were present. However, even if we count them, two or three individuals cannot establish the claim of seventy.
- The battle of Ṣiffīn was between ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) and Muʿāwiyah (رضي الله عنه).
- ʿAlī’s participation was essential—it was his army.
- The participation of ʿAmmār is disputed.
- According to al-Ḥakam and Shuʿbah, the only Badrī present apart from ʿAlī was Khuzaimah (رضي الله عنه)—and even about him there is debate: was he truly a Badr participant, or was he called Badrī simply because he later resided in Badr?
Thus, the historical reality is that seventy Badrīs were never present. At most, one could identify three names if one stretches the count.
Testimony of Early Scholars
Muḥammad bin Sīrīn (born 21H in the era of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, died 110H), who witnessed these events closely, said:
«هاجت الفتنة وأصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عشرات الألوف فلم يحضرها منهم مائة بل لم يبلغوا ثلاثين»
"The tribulation flared up while the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were in the tens of thousands, yet not even a hundred attended it—in fact, they did not even reach thirty."
Imām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) quoted this with the comment:
«هذا الإسناد أصح إسناد على وجه الأرض»
"This chain is the most authentic chain on the face of the earth."
[Minhāj al-Sunnah 3/86]
Historical Context
When considering that the total number of Companions at that time was no less than thirty thousand, possibly nearing ninety thousand, the conclusion is clear:
- The actual fighting at Ṣiffīn was primarily between those who were not Companions.
- Only a small handful of Companions took part, yet their names have been magnified in historical narratives.
- Many senior Companions chose to remain apart, hoping the fitnah would subside and unity would return.
- When the Muslim community united under one leader and Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه) made peace by giving allegiance to Muʿāwiyah (رضي الله عنه), all Companions pledged allegiance, and that year was named ʿĀm al-Jamāʿah (The Year of Unity).
