Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

78 'Ali ibn Abi plib in Makkah
sign which indicates that there was something wrong with his
intenti~n.~' Hence Y&ya ibn Mu'idh a-R&i said: He will
never prosper from whom you sense any sign of aspiration to
leadership positions.92
2. 'Ali (&) learned from the Messenger of Allah (s) that the type
of supGort that the he was seeking from the tribal leaders for his
call should not he connected to any international treaties that
conflicted with the call and from which they could not free
themselves. In that situation, their support for the call might
expose it to danger of destruction by the state with which they
had the tseaty, and this would pose a threat to the Islamic call and
its interests.93 Conditional or partial support does not achieve the
desired aim. Banu Shaybiu would never have fought against
Chosroes if he had wanted to capture the Messenger of Allah
(g) and his followers. Thus the negotiations failed.94
3. The religion of Allah (&) will never be supported except by one
who is prepared to support it in all ways. This was the response
of the Prophet (g) to al-Muthanna ibn Hcthah when he
suggested to the prophet (g) that he could offer hi~n protection
at the Arab water but not-at the Persian water. Whoever has
lengthy experience of politics will recognise the unequalled
farsightedness of the Prophet (g).95
4. 'Ali (4) saw the impact of Islam on al-Muthanna and his
people after they became Muslim, and how Banu Shayhsn took
upon themselves the burden of standing up to the Persians. Al-
Muthanna ibn Hcthah - later on - was one of the leaders of
the conquest of Iraq at the time of Ahu Bakr (&). Their faith in
this religion gave them the courage to fight the Persians.
These are some of the concepts and lessons that 'Ali (&)
learned from the Messenger of Allah (g) in his negotiations with the
leaders of Banu Shaybh.