Imam Ali b. Abi Talib and Negotiations

160 Pages·2010·1.457 MB·English

by  Saeb Erekat

Imam Ali Bin Abi Taleb and Negotiations

Dr. Saeb Erekat

Issues in Peace Research 2015

Cover Photo: Left to right, Israeli negotiators Yitzhak Molcho and Tzipi Livni, US Vice
President Joe Biden, US President Obama, and Palestinian negotiators Saeb Erekat and
Mohammed Shtayyeh at an Oval Office meeting to discuss the formal resumption of direct
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, July 30, 2013. (photo credit: U.S. State Department)

© 2015 Peace Studies at Bradford

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Imam Ali Bin Abi Taleb and Negotiations

Dr. Saeb Erekat

Issues in Peace Research 2015

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ............................................................................................. vii
Glossary of terms .............................................................................................. ix
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................ xiii
Preface ............................................................................................................ xiv
Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1
Chapter One ...................................................................................................... 8
Roger Fisher’s seven elements of negotiation and the elements of negotiations
according to the quotations and sayings of Prophet Muhammad ...................... 8
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 8
The elements of negotiation in “Western” schools of thought ............................ 9
The seven elements of Roger Fisher ...................................................................... 9
Rules for training on negotiations ........................................................................ 10
Fisher’s seven elements of negotiation as outlined by Murray and Barnett ..... 10
Fisher’s seven Pillars in Murray and Barnett’s thinking ....................................... 13
The elements of negotiations in the “Islamic” tradition ..................................... 26
Chapter Two .................................................................................................... 49
The Elements of Negotiations According to Imam ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ................. 49
Identification of the elements of negotiation according to Imam ‘Alī ................ 49
Interests ................................................................................................................. 49
Relationships ......................................................................................................... 51
Alternatives ........................................................................................................... 55
Communication ..................................................................................................... 56
Alternatives ........................................................................................................... 59
Legitimacy .............................................................................................................. 63
Commitment ......................................................................................................... 65
The five additional elements according to Imam ‘Alī .......................................... 67
Knowledge ............................................................................................................. 67
Leadership and responsibility ............................................................................... 71
Variables ................................................................................................................ 73
vii
Patience and consistency ...................................................................................... 76
Justice .................................................................................................................... 78
Characteristics of the negotiator according to Imam ‘Alī .................................... 80
A summary of the elements of negotiation according to Imam ‘Alī ................... 84
Chapter Three .................................................................................................. 85
Negotiations undertaken by Ali: Examples and case studies ............................ 85
Main events in the life of Imam ‘Alī and the twelve elements of negotiation ... 85
Punishing the killers of ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān ......................................................... 85
Deposition of the governors ................................................................................. 95
Epistolary negotiations/arbitration ...................................................................... 97
The elements of Imam ‘Alī in the deposition of Mu‘āwiyyah ibn Abu Ṣufyān ... 99
Imam ‘Alī’s management of sedition and negotiations with Mu‘āwiyyah ....... 101
Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 138
Bibliography ................................................................................................... 143

viii
Glossary of terms

Ā’ishah The third and most favored wife of Muhammad and
the daughter of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph. Aisha
played a major role in the political environment at
the dawn of Islam.
Abd Allah ibn Abbas One of the major supporters of Ali and an interpreter
of the Quran.
Abu Bakr The first Caliph that succeeded Prophet Muhammad
as the leader of the Muslims
Abu Bakr The first Caliph and successor of Prophet Muhammad
and his father-in-law (573 CE –634 CE). His reign was
short lived (632-634 CE).
Abu Mūsā Al-’Ash‘arī One of the Prophet’s companions who was known for
his beautiful recitation of the Quran, Chosen by
Imama Ali to represent him in the negotiations with
Mu’āwiyyah.
Al Anṣār They are the people who supported Prophet
Muhammad in Yathreb (Medina) during the dawn of
Islam. Those people were from the tribes of al-Aous
and al-Khazraj.
Al-Hassan Bin Ali Grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali
and Fatema. Regarded by the Shiites as the second
Shiite Caliph. Ruled for six months then abdicated to
Mu‘āwiyyah. Died of poisoning.
Al-Hussein Bin Ali Grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali
and Fatema. Was beheaded by the Umayayd Caliph
Yezid.

ix
Al-Khawārij Is a group of people that was established in the
aftermath of the murder of ‘Uthman, which Imam Ali
opposed. This sect were against the arbitration
between Ali and Mu’āwiyyah, The name which
means those who went outside the rule of God was
given to them by their opponents.
Amir al-Mu’minin A title for the Caliph. Literally means the prince or
commander of the faithful
amir al-mu’minīn The commander of the faithful. A title bestowed on
the some caliphs.
Amr ibn Al-‘Ās Born in 585. The military commander who occupied
Egypt and brought it to the Islamic nation in 640.
Noted for his support of Mu’āwiyyah Bin Abu Ṣufyān
against Imama Ali.
BATNA Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. An
acronym coined by Roger Fisher and his colleagues
Caliph Is the supreme leader of the Caliphate. In the early
years of Islam, the Caliph was selected by a group of
people. Later, however, it became hereditary in most
cases.
Caliphate Is a religious-political regime that brings all Muslims
under its rule. It goes beyond the boundaries of a
national state and theoretically represents Muslims
irrespective of their nationality.
Hadith Is the collection of saying and teachings of prophet
Muhammad. This body was compiled from oral
reports many years after the death of Muhammad.
Sahih al- Bukhari's is considered the most
authoritative to the Sunnis.
Ḥamzah ibn ‘Abdul The cousin of the prophet and one of the first to fight
Muṭṭallib for the cause of Islam
x