William Muir

“ Verily, but for my promise to Mu'awiya, who bade me stay the sword, I had not left here a single soul alive!" Then he threatened the leading citizens with death if they refused to acknowledge Mu'awiya as their Caliph; and so, fearing for their lives, all took the oath of allegiance to the Umeiyad ruler. Passing on to Mecca, the same scene was enacted by the imperious envoy there, and with the same result.1 Then marching south to the Yemen, he committed great atrocities there upon the adherents of 'Ali. The governor, a son of Al-'Abbas, escaped to his cousin 'Ali at Al-Kufa. ”

“ The 40th year of the Hijra opened with a new grief for 'Ali. When the time of pilgrimage came round, Mu'awiya sent Busr, a brave but cruel captain of his host, with 3000 men into Arabia, to secure for him the allegiance of the Holy Places. As he drew nigh to Medina, the governor fled and Busr entered unopposed. Proceeding to the Mosque, he mounted the sacred steps of the Prophet's pulpit, and recalling 'Othman to mind, addressed the people thus: "O citizens of Medina! The aged man! Where is the grey-haired aged man whom, but as yesterday, and on this very spot, I swore allegiance to? ”

“ Ziyad governor of Fars, 39 A.H. 659 A.D.
The defeat of the Khawarij did not at once restore peace to Persia; for Fars and Kirman threw off their allegiance and expelled their governors. To quell the spreading insurrection, 'Ali employed Ziyad from Al-Basra, a man, as we have seen, of conspicuous administrative ability. He carried with him a great court and retinue; but it was mainly by setting one rebellious prince against another, and by well-appointed promises and favours, that he succeeded in restoring peace; and by his success earned the government of Fars. ”