Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

Xli ibn Abi Tilib 599
Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr. In fact, examining the issue will prove that
both 'Ali and 'Uthrnin appointed those they thought most suitable,
and it cannot be imagined that they would give precedence to their
relatives because of blood ties. The circumstances in the provinces
dictated careful selection of governors with regard to ability and
honesty. The conquests in the eastern lands were not yet stable, let
alone the problems caused by the Khanjites during 'Ali's
caliphate.264 If we stndy the lineages of 'Ali's governors, we will find
that 11 out of 36 governors were Ansir while seven of them were
from Quraysh, among whom were the four sons of al-'Ahbis ibn
'Abdul-MutMb. The following is a list of govemors during 'Ali's
caliphate:265
1- Sahl ibn Haneef al-Anski (Madinah)
2- T& ibn al-'Abbis ibn 'Abdul-MuEalib (Madinah)
3- Abu Ayyoob al-Anski (Madinah)
4- Abu Qatidah al-Anski (Madinah)
5- Qatham ibn al-'Abbis ibn 'Abdul-Mut@lib (Makkab and al-T2'if)
6- 'Umar ibn Abi Salamah (Bahrain)
7- Qudhah ibn al-'Ajlin al-An+% (Bahrain)
8- An-Nu'mh ibn al-'Ajlin al-Anski (Bahrain)
9- 'Ubaydullah ibn 'Abbb (Yemen and Bahrain)
10- Sa'eed ibn Sa'd ibn 'Ubidah al-Anski (Najd)
11- Maik ibn al-Ashtar (Mesopotamia then Egypt)
12- Shubayb ibn 'hir (Mesopotamia)
13- Kameel ibn Ziyid an-Nakha'i (Mesopotamia)
14- M$ammad ibn Abi Hudbayfah ibn 'Utbah (Egypt)
15- Qays ibn Sa'd ibn 'Ubidah al-Anski (Egypt)
16- Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr a$-Siddeeq (Egypt)