Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Trilib 591
and they are less powerfnl than they used to be." ' " Ibn 'Abbss
said: I said to 'Ali: "He gave you sincere advice the first time,
but this time he was insincere." 'Ali (&) said: "Why was he not
sincere?" Ibn 'Abbh said: "Because you know that Mu'iwiyah
and his companions are people of worldly ambitions. If you
confirm them in their positions, they would not care who
becomes caliph, hut if yon dismiss them, be will say that this
matter was decided without proper consultation and he is the one
who killed our caliph, and they will incite the people against
you. Thus the people of Syria and Iraq will all turn against you.
Moreover, I cannot be certain that T aw and az-Zubayr will not
turn against you." 'Ali said: "As for what you mentioned about
confirming them in their positions, by Allah I have no doubt that
that may serve some immediate worldly interest. But on the
basis of what I know about the governors of 'Uthmiin, by Allah I
should never appoint any one of them. If they comply, that is
good for them; if they refuse, then I have to give them the
sword." Ibn 'Abbas said: "Listen to me. Go into your house or
go and live in your land in Yanbu', and close your door. Then if
you see the Arabs going through some confusion and turmoil,
they will realise that they have no one else but you. But by Allah,
if you join this group today, the people will blame you for the
murder of 'Uthmin tomorrow." But 'Ali (&) refused and said
to Ibn 'Ahbis: "Go to Syria, for 1 have appointed you as its
govemor." Ibn 'Abbb said: "That is not a good idea.
Mu'iwiyah is from Banu Umayyah; he is the paternal cousin of
'Uthmh (&), and he is his govemor in Syria. I cannot be
certain that he is not going to strike my neck in retaliation for
'Uthmk; the least he can do is detain me and have control over
me." 'Ali (&) said to him: "Why is that?" He said: "Because of
the blood ties between me and you; whatever he blames you for,
be will blame me for it too. Rather write to Mu'swiyah and make