Please tell me the authentic evidence for what really happened in the battle of the camel and 'Aa'ishah's (Radiya Allaahu Anha) role in it, as I cannot help but notice that quite a few sites put most of the blame on 'Aa'ishah (Radiya Allaahu Anha) and put her in a bad light?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah (People of the Prophetic tradition and Community) prefer not to talk about the events that transpired between the Companions of the Prophet . They do not criticize any of them because they believe that all of them were seeking the truth. Thus, those who were right got two rewards while those who were wrong got only one reward.

However, since history books are full of incorrect and false information that degrade these honored Companions and describe what happened between them as a personal and worldly conflict, we find it necessary to give an accurate account with sound information about the Battle of the Camel and what pushed the noble Companions to fight internally.

First, allegiance was pledged to 'Ali just after the murder of 'Uthmaan . 'Ali did not like to be the successor of 'Uthmaan . Thus, he refused this responsibility, but he was pressured and urged by the Companions to accept it. He said,

I nearly lost my senses when I heard of the murder of 'Uthmaan and I denied myself. When they came to me to pledge allegiance, I said, 'By Allaah! I feel ashamed in front of Allaah to accept the allegiance of people who killed a man of whom the Prophet said: "Shouldn't I be shy of a man before whom even the angels are ashamed?" and while 'Uthmaan is murdered and is still lying on the ground and has not yet been buried.' At this, they left until after the burial.

They came to me again and asked me to accept their allegiance. I said, 'O Allaah! Indeed I am anxious and afraid of what I am about to undertake. Then a group came and pledged allegiance. When they said, 'O Leader of the Believers!' it was as if my heart was stricken. Then I said, 'O Allaah! Take from me and give to 'Uthmaan until you are pleased". [Narrated by Al-Haakim, who said it was sound and that it fits the conditions of soundness set by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, seconded by ath-Thahabi]

'Ali was not able to carry out retributive punishment against those who killed 'Uthmaan because he did not know exactly who they were. Another reason is that the Khawaarij (Dissenters) were intermixed in his army. They were numerous, fierce, and ready to fight. Some narrations say that their number reached 2000 men and some of them left Madeenah for other places just after 'Ali was appointed Caliph.

Many Companions were outside Madeenah at that time, among them the wives (Mothers of the Believers) of the Prophet as everybody was busy during the Hajj season. 'Uthmaan was killed on 18th Thul Hijjah, (the month of Hajj) in the year 35 A.H.

Third, when 'Ali spent four months as Caliph without inflicting retribution on the killers of 'Uthmaan, Talhah and az-Zubayr went to Makkah and met with 'Aa'ishah there all. They decided to go to Basrah to meet with the soldiers there. Their ultimate goal was to pave the way for arresting those who had killed 'Uthmaan and punish them according to the Sharee'ah (Islamic law).

The evidence for this is the sound Hadeeth reported by Ahmad and al-Haakim which says, "When 'Aa'ishah reached the waters of Bani Amr at night, she heard some dogs barking. She asked, 'Which water is this?' They replied, 'The water of Hawab'. She said, 'I think I had better return, the Prophet said to us once: "How will one of you be when the dogs of Hawab will be barking at her?" Az-Zubayr thereupon said to her, 'How can you return! Perhaps Allaah might make people reach an agreement through you'". Al-Albaani said the chain of this Hadeeth is authentic and five other scholars of Hadeeth grade it as sound.

Fourth, 'Ali considered their going to Basrah and their occupation of it as a form of disloyalty. He feared for the unity of the Muslim nation and decided to go to them {… And the Command of Allaah is a decree determined.} [Quran 33: 78].

Fifth, 'Ali then sent Al-Qa'qaa' ibn 'Amr to Az-Zubayr and Talhah all, to call them to the unity of Muslims and the integrity of their nation. He started with 'Aa'ishah and said, "O Mother, why did you come to this country?" She said, "O son, it is only for the purpose of reconciling people." Ibn Katheer says in his book Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah: 'Then he (Qa'qaa') returned to ''Ali and informed him. 'Ali became convinced by this and so, the people moved very close to reconciliation regardless of their personal opinions about it.'

Thereafter, 'Aa'ishah sent a messenger to 'Ali to inform him that she had come only for reconciliation. 'Ali then stood up and spoke about the pre-Islamic era and the hardship and persecution the early Muslims had faced. Then he mentioned Islam and the comfort and happiness in which Muslims were living, thanks to their unity and integrity.

Then he reminded them that Allaah The Almighty had united them under the leadership of the Prophet then that of Abu Bakr, then that of Umar, then that of 'Uthmaan all. Thereafter, he said, something strange had happened to the Ummah because some people developed a desire for worldly matters and became vexed by the favors Allaah The Almighty bestowed on some other people. He pointed out that in doing so, they were working towards the detriment of Islam. However, Allaah The Almighty does what He wishes.

Then he ('Ali ) added, "I am leaving tomorrow. So you should leave with me except those of you who had anything to do with the murder of 'Uthmaan". When 'Ali said this, a group of the Khawaarij leaders met together. Al-Ashtar An-Nak'hai, Shurayh ibn 'Awfah and Abdullaah ibn Saba' (also known as Ibn as-Sawda) – all leaders of the Khawaarij – met together and gathered 2,500 men, none of whom was a Companion of the Prophet . Then they said, 'What an opinion! (referring to those who wanted to punish the murderers of 'Uthmaan ). We know, by Allaah, that 'Ali knows the Quran better than those who want to punish the murderers of 'Uthmaan and he is more entitled to do so. And he had said what you heard. He will surely gather people against you tomorrow and all the people would seek you out only. So you would not be able to do anything when they outnumber you'.

Al-Ashtar said, 'We have come to know the opinion of Az-Zubayr and Talhah about us and today 'Ali has expressed his. So if he has reconciled and reached a consensus with them, it is only upon shedding our blood.' Then Ibn as-Sawda said, 'O people, when the two groups meet, start the battle to get them to fight each other and do not let them get together'.

Ibn Katheer also mentioned that 'Ali spent three days after reaching Basrah, sending and receiving messages from Talhah and Az-Zubayr both. Some people suggested to Talhah to take the opportunity and kill the killers of 'Uthmaan . However, he said, ' 'Ali suggested that we temporize this matter and we sent him our agreement'.

Ibn Katheer added,

 'People spent a good night while the killers of 'Uthmaan spent a bad night. They spent the night consulting each other. Then, they agreed to start the war at dawn and woke up before dawn. They were about 2000 in number. Each group of them attacked the people closest to them. Then the two parties started to fight in order to protect their own soldiers. Thus, the people woke up and took up their weapons. They said, 'The people of Koofah invaded us at night. They attacked us at night, deceiving us.' They thought that this was from a group of 'Ali's army. Then 'Ali was told about what happened he said, 'What happened to the people?' They said, 'The people of Basrah have attacked us at night'. Then each party got prepared for the battle. So, the fighting started and no party was aware of the plan of the Khawaarij. There were 20,000 men with 'Ali and 30,000 with 'Aa'ishah both. The companions of Ibn Sawda did not stop killing, although the caller of 'Ali kept repeating: 'O people, stop this! Stop this!' But nobody listened'.

Six, one should know that the Companions of the Prophet were known for their honesty, devotion and their great love of Allaah The Almighty despite the fighting that took place between them.

Here are some examples:

As for references on this subject, please read the following books: Al-'Awaasim Min al-Qawaasim by Ibn al-Arabi, Minhaj al-Sunnah by Ibn Taymiyyah,  Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah by Ibn Katheer and Asr al-Khilaafah ar-Raashidah by Akram Dhia al-Omari.

Allaah Knows best.