Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

218 'Ali ibn Ahi Ttlib at the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
Madinah, for by Allah, if we were to lose you, Islam would never
prosper after that." Abn Bakr (&) went back.16
If 'Ali (&) had been discontented with Abu Balcr's caliphate
,.
and had given his oath of allegiance reluctantly - though he is far
above any such suggestion - this would have been a golden
opportunity for him to take advantage of. He could have let Abu Bakr
(&) do what he wanted, in the hope that he would be harmed, and
then he would have been rid of him and would have had no obstacles
in his way. If his hatred had been even worse than that - Allah (&)
forbid - and he was very keen to get rid of him, he could have
enticed someone to assassinate him, as politicians do to their
competitors and enemies." 'Ali's opinion was that the apostates
should be fought, and when Abu Bakr (&) asked him what he
thought, he said: "I think that if you leave anything that the
Messenger of Allah (@J used to take from them, then you will not be
following the Sunnah of the Messenger." Abu Bakr (&) said: "If
you think that, then I shall certainly fight them, even if they withhold
from me a rope (that was used for hobbling camels)."
1.3. 'Ali regarded Abu Bakr (&) as being
of a higher position than anyone else
There are many reports from 'Ali (&) indicating that he
preferred and gave precedence to Abu B&-(4). For example:
1. It was narrated that M&ammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah said: "I said
to my father: 'Which of the people is best after the Messenger
of Allah (g)? He said: 'Abu B&.' I said: 'Then who?' He
said: "Umar.' I was afraid that he would say 'Uthmgn next, so
I said: 'Then you?' He said: 'I am just one of the M~slims.'"'~
2. It was narrated that 'Ali (&) said: "Shall I not tell you of the
best of this Ummah after its Prophet (g)? Abu Bakr (&)."
, .