Editing Umayyad Caliphate (section)

====First Fitna====
After Uthman's assassination, Ali was recognized as caliph in Medina, though his support stemmed from the Ansar and the Iraqis, while the bulk of the Quraysh was wary of his rule.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|p=75}}{{sfn|Madelung|1997|p=141}} The first challenge to his authority came from the Qurayshite leaders al-Zubayr and Talha, who had opposed Uthman's empowerment of the Umayyad clan but feared that their own influence and the power of the Quraysh, in general, would dissipate under Ali.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|pp=75–76}}{{sfn|Hawting|2000|p=27}} Backed by one of Muhammad's wives, [[A'isha]], they attempted to rally support against Ali among the troops of Basra, prompting the caliph to leave for Iraq's other garrison town, Kufa, where he could better confront his challengers.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|p=76}} Ali defeated them at the [[Battle of the Camel]], in which al-Zubayr and Talha were slain and A'isha consequently entered self-imposed seclusion.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|p=76}}{{sfn|Wellhausen|1927|p=53}} Ali's sovereignty was thereafter recognized in Basra and Egypt and he established Kufa as the caliphate's new capital.{{sfn|Wellhausen|1927|p=53}}

Although Ali was able to replace Uthman's governors in Egypt and Iraq with relative ease, Mu'awiya had developed a solid power-base and an effective military against the Byzantines from the Arab tribes of Syria.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|p=76}} Mu'awiya did not claim the caliphate but was determined to retain control of Syria and opposed Ali in the name of avenging his kinsman Uthman, accusing the caliph of culpability in his death.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|pp=76, 78}}{{sfn|Wellhausen|1927|pp=55–56}}{{sfn|Madelung|1997|p=190}} Ali and Mu'awiya fought to a stalemate at the [[Battle of Siffin]] in early 657. Ali agreed to settle the matter with Mu'awiya by arbitration, though the talks failed to achieve a resolution.{{sfn|Hinds|1993|p=265}} The decision to arbitrate fundamentally weakened Ali's political position as he was forced to negotiate with Mu'awiya on equal terms, while it drove a significant number of Ali's supporters, who became known as the [[Kharijites]], to revolt.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|p=79}} Ali's coalition steadily disintegrated and many Iraqi tribal nobles secretly defected to Mu'awiya, while the latter's ally [[Amr ibn al-As]] ousted Ali's governor from Egypt in July 658.{{sfn|Hinds|1993|p=265}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|p=80}} In July 660 Mu'awiya was formally recognized as caliph in [[Jerusalem]] by his Syrian tribal allies.{{sfn|Hinds|1993|p=265}} Ali was assassinated by a Kharijite dissident in January 661.{{sfn|Hinds|1993|p=59}} His son [[Hasan ibn Ali|Hasan]] succeeded him but abdicated in return for compensation upon Mu'awiya's arrival to Iraq with his Syrian army in the summer.{{sfn|Hinds|1993|p=265}} At that point, Mu'awiya entered Kufa and received the allegiance of the Iraqis.{{sfn|Wellhausen|1927|p=59}}