Az-Zarqaa bint Edi was a strong lady from Kufa who stopped, during the battle of Siffeen, among the rows of Imam Ali’s army calling loudly at them with statements of the highest degree of encouragement on fighting. Her words were so affective that they u rged even the coward to fight, the absconder to attack, the peaceable to go into battle, the fugitive to assail, and the unstable to resist.
A long time after the battle, Muawiya summoned her. When she attended, he asked her: “Do you know why I summoned you?”
She answered: “Except God, nobody knows the unseen.”
He asked: “It was you who rode the red camel during the battle of Siffeen and stopped between the rows of the soldiers kindling the fire of war and urging on fighting, were you not?”
She answered: “Yes, it was I.”
He asked: “What for did you do so?”
She answered: “Chief of the believers, the head died, the tail was amputated, that which departed will never come back, time is changeable, he who thinks will realize the truth, and matters will surely be followed by others.”
He said: “You have said the truth. Now, do you still remember your words in that situation?”
She answered: “No, by God, I do not. I have forgotten.”
He said: “How excellent you are! I do remember
you when you said: ‘O people! Pay attention
and think well. You have been engaged in a
seditious affair. You have been covered by the
gowns of gloom that took you away from the very course. It is surely a blind, deaf, and mute ordeal that does not respond to the whooping and does not become mild to its leader. A lantern cannot shine in sunlight, stars cannot shine in moonlight, and mules cannot win over mares. Likewise, nothing can cut the iron except the i ron. We will surely lead him who seeks guidance and we will surely answer him who has questions. O people! The right has certainly gained its long-sought goal. O Muhajirs and Ansar! Be steadfast against difficulties, for the reunification shall very soon be achieved, the word of justice shall very soon prevail, and the right shall very soon overcome the wrong. For sure, the right and the wrong are not the same. (Is he then who is a believer like him who is a transgressor? They are not equal.) Go on figh ting and be steadfast. It is certainly that women’s dye is henna, while men’s is blood. Patience surely achieves the best result. Wage war without regression, for this day will be followed by other alike days.’
These were your words of urging on fighting, were they not?”
She answered: “Yes, they were.”
Muawiya said: “You are the partner of Ali in every single drop of blood that he shed during that war.”
She answered: “Chief of the believers, God may reward you excellently and keep you in safety for such great tidings that you have born to me. You are, now, surely worthy of telling good news and pleasing the sitters.”
He wondered in astonishment: “Has my accusation been great tidings in your sight?”
She answered: “Yes, by God, it has. Had I been actually participating him!”
Muawiya laughed and said: “Verily, your loyalty to Ali after his death is more astonishing than your love for him during his lifetime.” ( Qissas ul-Arab; part 2 )