Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

268 'Ali ibn Abi T ab at the time ofthe Rightly Guided Caliphs
anything that 'Umar (&) used to do, he will show it today. They
greeted him and stood before him, then one of them put his hand in
his sleeve and brought out a document, which he placed in 'Ali's
hand. They said: '0 Amir al-Mu'mineen, it was written by your hand
and dictated by the Messenger of Allah (g) to you.' I saw 'Ali (&)
with tears flowing down his cheeks. He looked up at them aud said:
'0 people of Najrk, this is the last letter I wrote in the presence of the
Messenger of Allah (g).' ~. They said: 'Give us what is mentioned in
it.' He said: 'Let me explain it to you. What 'Umar (&) took, he did
not take for himself; rather he took it on behalf of the Muslim
community, and what he took is better than what he gave you. By
Allah, I will not alter anything that 'Umar (&) did, for 'Umar (&)
was wise and mature. ,,, 180 Based on this incident, the jurists
established the principle that no judge should overturn the verdict of
the judges who came before him, according to 'Ali (&).la' It was
narrated from him that he said: "Judge as you used to judge so that
you will act as one, for I fear division."182 This is the view of the
majority of j~rists."~ 'Ali said: I would not undo a knot that 'Umar
(&) tied.lX4
2.8.4. "Umar ibn al-Khat&?ib (4) would not
like to stay there, so I dislike it too"
When 'Ali (&) had finished with the Battle of the Camel, he
entered Basra and then travelled for a short distance with Mother of
the Believers 'A'ishab (I&,), because she wanted to go back to
Makkah. Then he marched from Basra to Kufah, which he entered on
Monday, 12 Rajah 36 AH. It was said to him: "Stay in the white
palace." He said: "No, 'Umar ibn al-KbatGb (&) would not like to
stay there, so I dislike it too." Instead, he stayed in ar-Rahbah and
prayed two raka'ahs in the main mosque.185