Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 595
achieve administrative and political harmony between the caliph and
his helpers. 'Umar (&) dismissed some of the governors who had
been appointed by Abu Balcr (&), and 'Uthmin (&) dismissedsome
of the governors who had been appointed by 'Umar (&). Thus
'Ali (&) had the right to dismiss governors if appointing others in
their places would be of benefit.z4'
Some contemporaq writers were mistaken with regard to
'Ali's dismissal of governors appointed by 'Uthmh, and they got
carried away in their attempts to explain this attitude. Some of them
interpreted it as 'Ali's being adamant in adhering to the truth and the
necessity of change. Others interpreted it as being due to 'Ali's lack
of political experience; they said that it may have been more
appropriate politically to leave the governors, especially Mu'iwiyah,
in place until the situation stabilised and allegiance . could be sworn to
'Ali in the regions. These opinions are based on worthless and weak
reports that describe al-Mugheerah ibn Shu'bah as giving
contradictory advice about this
Moreover, as the leader, 'Ali (&,) had the right to dismiss all
the governors of 'Uthmin if he thought that some interest would be
served by that. The Messenger of Allah (g),
. who was infallible,
appointed Khilid ibn Sa'eed ibn al-'A$ as governor of Sari‘? and
'Am ibn al-'As as governor of but they were dismissed by
the caliph Abu Bakr (a) after the Prophet (g) died. He dismissed
Kh%d and replaced him with al-Muhijir ibn ~ bUmayyah, i who was
also a Companion; and he dismissed 'Am and put in his place
Hudhayfah ibn Wsin, who was also a
Abu Bakr
(4) appointed the two great commanders, Khaid ibn al-Waleed
and al-Muthanna ibn H2rithah (may Allah be pleased with them), but
they were dismissed by 'Umar (&) even though they were efficient
in their jobs?45 'Umar (&) chose 'Amr ibn al-'As (&) as govemor
of ~~~~t~~~ and al-Mugheerah ibn Shu'bah (&) & governor of