Ali and Muawiyah retain their own partisans,…

Ali and Muawiyah retain their own partisans, but the result is an irrevocable split in Islam by the formation of the shi'at Ali (”party of Ali”), political allies of 'Ali (who will eventually translate their political demands into a religious conviction that 'Ali and all his descendants were divinely appointed to succeed Muhammad as caliphs.)

Muawiyah, strengthened by the outcome follows an aggressive policy, seizing Egypt and raiding Ali's stronghold, Iraq.

As Muawiyah's authority begins to expand into Iraq and the Hejaz, …