Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

Xli ibn Abi Trilib 325
present at Badr and other Companions swore allegiance to him,
and that consensus was not undermined by the fact that some
were absent or that some did not swear allegiance (may Allah be
pleased with them all). Al-Hasan al-Basri said: "By Allah, the
oath of allegiance to 'Ali was like the oath of allegiance to Abu
Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them)."62
4. The claim that allegiance was only sworn to him on the
condition that he would execute the killers of 'Uthmh (&)
could not be a valid condition. Rather they swore allegiance on
the condition that he rule on the basis of justice and truth, which
is by summoning the one who is asking for retaliation and the
one who is accused, then allowing everyone to present his case
and allowing questioning and examination of evidence; only
after that can the verdict be given.63 As for the reports claiming
that Ta&ah, az-Zubayr and some of the other Companions (may
Allah be pleased with them all) stipulated when swearing
allegiance that 'Ali (&) should cany out the hadd punishments,
these reports are weak in their chains of narration, and the texts
are also subject to further di~cussion.~~ Concerning that, Ibn al-
'Arabi said: "If it is said that they swore allegiance to him on the
basis that he would execute the killers of 'Uthmh (&), we say:
That is not valid as a condition of swearing al~egiance."~~
5. Mu'iwiyah (&) did not fight 'Ali (A) for the position of
caliph, and he never denied the validity of his leadership; rather
he fought him so that the hadd punishments might be camed out
on those who had taken part in the slaying of 'Uthm2n (&),
because in his estimation, that this was the right thing to do. He
was mistaken in that, though, so he would have the reward of
ijtihid only.66 The sound reports prove that his disagreement
with 'Ali (&) had to do with the execution of the killers of
,.
'Uthmin (&), and he did not dispute with him with regard to