Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

330 The oath of allegiance to Xli, his characteristics & his way oflife
1.5.2. The decision-makers and prominent people
at the time of Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&)
When Abu Bah, 'Umar and 'Uth&n (may Allah be pleased
with them) were appointed as caliphs, the decision-makers and
prominent people comprised the remainder of the ten who had been
given the glad tidings of paradise, as well as the clan chiefs of al-Aws
and al-Khazraj. They were all residents of Madinah, among the first
to become Muslim, and well-versed in knowledge and faith."
'Ali (&) thought that the selection of the caliph was a matter
for those who were still in Madinah of the Muhijireen and An&, the
decision-makers among those who had been present at Badr and the
consultative committee, but al-Hasan ibn 'Ali (&) thought that
attention should be paid to the new elements in Muslim society. That
is clarified in the discussion that took place between al-Hasan ibn
'Ali and his father 'Ali ibn Abi T%b (may Allah be pleased with
them both). Al-Hasan said: "I told you, but you did not listen to me,
and next you will he killed when you are alone with no one to suppoa
yon." 'Ali (&,) said: "You are still nagging like a little girl. What is
it that you told me to do and I did not listento you?" He said: "I told
you on the day that 'Uthmh (&) was besieged to leave Madinah, so
that if he was killed you would not be there. Then I told you on the
day that he was killed not to accept the oath of allegiance until the
delegations from different regions and Arab tribes had each sworn
their allegiance."82 'Ali's response was: "As for your telling me not
to accept the oath of allegiance until the allegiance of the regions
came, this matter is something to he decided by the people of
Madinah, and we did not want this decision to be made by others."83
'Ali (&) thought that swearing allegiance to appoint the
caliph could be done by people other than the people of Madinah and
the MuhSjiroon and Ans%, hut he did not want this position to be
moved away from them to others or that others should participate in it