Examining the role of differences in belief and their roots in triggering the Battle of Jamal

Jamal was the name of the first civil conflict occuring among the Muslims and one of the most daunting challenges during Imam Ali’s (AS) reign. Researchers have attributed the cause of this conflict to historical, cultural and political backgrounds, however, they have failed to address the cognitive backgrounds emenating from the general ideological atmosphere of the historical epoch. The current study adopt a descriptive-analytical approach utilizing library resources and seeks to shed insight on contentious ideologies between Sunnis and Shias and their role in the start of Jamal conflict. The findings of the current research indicates that the unfavorable circumstances after the demise of the holy prophet was conducive to the formation of distorted beliefs in the society giving way to some divisions among Muslims ultimately resulting in Jamal conflict. Some of these beliefs are as follows: equating the status of Imam with worldly posessions, obviating the necessity of infallability and religious jurisprudence for Imams, disregarding superiority and transendence of Imam, not differentiating between Imam Ali (AS) and other companions, attributing a prominent position for Aisha as the mother of believers, and for companions as a just , unexceptionable figure.