Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 21 9
~u'rnineen."~~~ This text shows that allegiance was not given to
Mu'iwiyah as caliph until after the death of 'Ali. This was also the
view of at-Tabari, who said, concerning the last events of the year 40
AH: ''In this year, allegiance was sworn to MuZ2wiyah in
~ ~ l i ~ a Ibn ' . Katheer " ~ ~ ~ commented on this, saying: "In other
words, when 'Ali died, the people of Syria swore allegiance to
Mu'iwiyah as caliph, because in their view there was no one left to
dispute this position with him."779 The people of Syria hew that
Mu'2wiyah was not equal to 'Ali in terms of being qualified for the
caliphate and that it was not permissible for him to become caliph
when it was possible to appoint 'Ali (&), whose virtne, seniority,
knowledge, religious commitment, courage and all other virtues were
well known to them, just like the virtues of his brethren Ahn Bakr,
'Umar and 'Uthm2n (may Allah he pleased with them).780
In addition to that, the texts forbid swearing allegiance to a
new caliph when the first caliph is already present. Muslim narrated
in his Saheeh that Abn Sa'eed al-Khudri said: "The Messenger of
Allah (g) said: 'If allegiance is sworn to two caliphs, then execute
the second one."'781 There are many similar texts.782 It is impossible
that the Companions would have unanimously agreed to go against
that.783
Bukhari narrated in his Saheeh that Ibn 'Umar said: "I entered
upon Hafsah and said: 'You see the fitnah that is taking place among
the people, and I was not asked to get involved at all.' She said: 'Go
and catch up with them, because they are waiting for you, and I fear
that your staying away from them may lead to division."' She kept
on at him until he went. After the meeting ended, MuC2wiyah said:
"Whoever wants to say anything concerning this issue, let him raise
his head, for we have more right to it than him and his father."