Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi TZlib 327
Hajar al-Haythami said: "Among the beliefs of Ah1 as-Suunah wal-
Jami'ah is that what happened between 'Ali and Mu'2wiyah (may
Allah be pleased with them both) of fighting was not because
Mu'iwiyah was competing with 'Ali (&) for the caliphate, because
there was consensus that 'Ali (&) was more qualified for it, as we
have seen. So the turmoil was not because of that; rather it is because
Mu'iwiyah (&), and those who were with him, asked 'Ali(4)
to
hand over the killers of 'Uthmik (&) to them because Mu'iwiyah
was 'Uthmin's cousin, but 'Ali (&) refn~ed."'~ We will explain
'Ali's stance and why he did not hand over the killers of 'Uthm2n
(&,) later on, but the point here is to prove that Mu'iwiyah's not
swearing allegiance did not mean that he objected to 'Ali becoming
the caliph.
Ibn Taymiyah said: "Mu'iwiyah did not seek the caliphate,
and no one swore allegiance to him as caliph when he fought 'Ali
(&). He was not fighting on the basis that he should be caliph or that
he was entitled to the caliphate. All the scholars affirm that, and
Mu'iwiyah confirmed that to those who asked him about it. In
addition to that, the supporters of both groups73 affirmed that
Mu'iwiyah was not equal to 'Ali (&)with regard to the position of
caliph, and he could not be caliph while it was possible to appoint
'Ali (&) to that position. 'Ali's superiority, seniority, knowledge,
religious commitment, courage and all of his virmes were obvious
and well known to them."74 Thus it is proven that no one was
competing with 'Ali (&) for the caliphate, either among those who
differed with him or any others.75 These scholarly opinions all have
to do with the belief of Ah1 as-Sunuah wal-Jami'ah with regard to the
order of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, so it is essential to defend this
belief, tell people about it, raise the new generation with it and be
proud of it.