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Malik al-Ashtar knew that Mu'awiyah's action was only a trick. But he obeyed the Imam's order so as no disaster would happen. He was a brave leader and an obedient soldier.
The fights stopped. And the two parties agreed to the arbitration according to Allah's Book.
Mu'awiyah sent Amru bin al-Aas to represent him in the negotiations. And the Imam wanted to choose an alert, wise man. A man who had a good knowledge of Allah's Book. So, he chose Abdullah bin Abbas, the religious scholar of the nation.
But the rebels refused him and said:
We'll choose Abu Musa al-Ashary.
So, the Imam advised them and said:
I disagree with you on him. And Abdullah bin Abbas is better than he.
Again the rebels refused him. So, the Imam said:
I'll choose al-Ashtar.
They refused him too. They insisted on Abu Musa al-Ashary.
To avoid a disaster, the Imam said:
Do whatever you like!
Thus the two representatives met to talk. Amru bin al-Aas thought about a way to deceive al-Ashary. He said to him:
Abu Musa, Mu'awiyah and Ali have caused all these troubles. So, lets dispose them and elect another man.
Abu Musa al-Ashary did not like Amirul Mu'mineen, Ali bin Abu-Talib. So, he agreed to the plan. He said before the people:
I'm removing Ali from the Caliphate as I'm removing my ring from my finger. Then he removed his ring.
But Amru bin al-Aas said spitefully:
I'm fixing Mu'awwiyah to the Caliphate as I'm fixing my ring to my finger Then he wore his ring.
The rebels repented of their wrongdoing. But they insisted on disobeying the Imam. In the meantime, they asked him to turn to Allah in repentance and to announce war again.
But the Imam respected the promise and the covenant.
He agreed with Mu'awiyah on the truce and stopping the battle for a year.
The Imam asked his fighters to be patient for the year. But they disobeyed him, too. So, they were called the Kharijities