of Allah (g) said: 'A group will secede from my Urnmah at a time of division among the Muslims, and they will be killed by the group that is closer to the truth."' It is also narrated that he said: "There will be among my Ummah two groups, from among whom (a third) group will secede, and they will be killed by those who are closer to the truth." According to another version, he said: "A group will secede at a time of division among'the people, and they will be killed by the group that is closer to the truth."Z6 His words "at a time of division" mean when the people are divided, when there is division among the Muslims. This is the division that occurred between 'Ali and Mu'swiyah (may Allah be pleased with them both).27 What is meant by the group that seceded is the people of Nahrawk, they were in 'Ali's camp at the battle of Siffeen, then when 'Ali and Mu'iiwiyah agreed to arbitration by the two arbitrators, they seceded. They said: " 'Ali and Mu'iiwiyah are racing towards disbelief like two horses on which bets are placed, Mu'swiyah committed an act of disbelief by fighting 'Ali, then 'Ali committed an act of disbelief by accepting the arbitration of the two arbitrators." They also regarded Talhah and az-Zubayr as

'Ali ibn Abi Tiilib disbelievers. They were killed by the group that was with 'Ali (&). The Prophet ( g ) testified that the group who would fight them would be closer to the truth, and this is testimony from the Propbet (g) that 'Ali and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were in the right. This is one of the miracles of the Prophet ( g ) because he foretold what was to happen, and events unfolded as he said. It also offers clear evidence for the validity of 'AIi's caliphate and the error of those who opposed him." 1.3. The oath of allegiance sworn by Tabah and az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them) It was narrated that Abu Basheer al-'Abidi said: "I was in Madinah when 'Uthmk (&) was killed. The Muhijireen and Ansir, including T a a h and'&-~ubayr, gathered together and went to 'Ali (&). They said: '0 Abu al-Hasan, come and let us swear . ., allegiance to you.' He said: 'I have no need of that position. I am with you, and whomever you choose, I will accept him, so choose someone.' They said: 'By Allah, we will not choose anyone but ,329 you ... This shows that there was universal allegiance to 'Ali (&). There are many reports concerning this, some of which were quoted by Ibn Jareer in his ~areekh.~' This clearly indicates that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) swore allegiance to 'Ali (&), and that they, including T a a h and azZubayr, were agreed on doing so. As for what is mentioned in some reports, that Tabah and az-Zubayr swore allegiance reluctantly, this is not proven in any sound transmission, and the sound reports state something different.31 At-Tabari narrated that 'Awf ibn Ahi Jameelah said: "As for me, I bear witness that I heard Muhammad ibn Sireen say: "Ali came and said to Tabah: "Give me your hand, 0 Tabah, so that I might

31 6 The oath of allegiance to 'Ali, his characteristics & his way of life give you my allegiance." Talhah said: "You are more desenring, you are Amir al-Mu'mineen; give me your hand." So 'Ali gave him his hand, and Talhah swore allegiance to him."'32 It was narrated from 'Abd Khayr al-Khaywihi that he went to Ahu Moosa and said: "0 Abu Moosa, were these two men - meaning Tabah and ai-Zubayr - among those who swore allegiance to 'Ali (&)?" He said: " ~ e s . " ~ ~ Imam al-M&aqqiq ihn al-'Arahi also stated that the claim that they swore allegiance reluctantly is false; he said that this was not something befitting them or 'Ali. He said: "If it is said that they @&ah and az-Zuhayr) swore allegiance reluctantly, we say: Allah forbid that they could ever have been reluctant. If they were reluctant, that could not have affected them because a ruler may become fully legitimate with the allegiance of one or two people. But this view is not acceptable, and whoever swore allegiance after that, it was something that he had to do and was compelled to do so by Shacia. But if they m a a h and az-Zuhayr) did not swear allegiance, that would not have affected them, and it would not have affected the validity of the leader to whom allegiance had already been sworn. As for the suggestion that he had a paralysed hand, so his oath of allegiance was not valid,34 the one who said that thought that Ta&ah was the first one to swear allegiance, hut that was not the case. If it was said that Talhah said: 'I swore allegiance with the sword over my head,' we would say that this is a fabricated report, for Linguistic reasons."35 So it is a lie. As for the idea that someone objected on the grounds that his hand was paralysed, even if that were so, it is irrelevant, because a hand that was paralysed as a result of defending the Messenger of Allah (g) is a blessed hand.36 The reports which say that T a a h and az-Zubayr were forced to swear allegiance are false.37 As we have mentioned, there are sound reports indicating that they gave their

M i ibn Abi Tcilib 31 7 allegiance to 'Ali (may Allah he pleased with them all), and there is a sound report narrated by Ibn ~ a j a r , ~ ~ via al-Ahnaf ihn Qays, which says that 'kishah, Talhah and az-Zuhayr (may Allah he pleased with them) all told &naf that he should give his allegiance to 'Ali (&) when he asked them to whom allegiance should be given after 'uth- (&).39 'Ali's seniority in Islam, virtue, strict adherence to the rulings of the Quran and Sunnah, and promise in his speech to implement the commands and prohibitions of Shariah left no room for anyone to object to his right to be the leader of the Muslims. It might be sajd that 'Ali (&) was the strongest candidate to lead the Ummah after the murder of 'Umar (&), and 'Umar did in fact appoint him among the six whom he recommended. However, four members of the consultative committee - namely 'Ahdur-Rbh, Sa'd, Talhah and azZuhayr - withdrew their names, leaving the choice between 'Ali (&) , , and 'Uthrnin; thus there were only two candidates. This amounts to consensus on the part of the members of the consultative committee that if the caliphate had not gone to 'Uthmin, it would have gone to 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with them). After the death of 'Uthmin (&), when the people of Madinah recommended him and gave him precedence as the best candidate, he thus became entitled to the position of caliphate on the basis that none of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (g) who were present at that time was more qualified than him (&). He was one of the earliest Muslims and one of the earliest migrants, the cousin and son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah (g). Jn addition to that, he was undeniably able and qualified. He possessed courage, intelligence and rare wisdom in judging; he knew how to tackle new situations and crises; he was firm in adhering to the huth and farsighted in his handling of affairs. All of these factors made him indisputably the only candidate to lead the Muslims during that crucial period of their history.40

31 8 The oath of allegiance to 'Ali, his characteristics & his way of life Despite all that, his caliphate only became valid after there was consensus among the Muhijireen and Ansir and they swore allegiance to him. 1.4. Consensus on the appointment of 'Ali (&,) as Caliph There is consensus among Ah1 as-Sunnah wal-Jami'ah that 'Ali (&) was entitled to the position of caliphate after 'Uthmin (&), as the Muhijireen and An& swore allegiance to him, because of his superiority over the remaining Companions. He was the first of them to become Muslim, the most knowledgeable, the closest to the Prophet (g) in lineage, the most courageous, the dearest to Allah (B) and His Messenger (g), the best in calibre, the most superior, the highest in status and the one who most resembled the Messenger of Allah (g) in attitude and character. He was better suited for the caliphate than anyone else. The Companions of the Prophet (@J who were left in Madinab swore allegiance to him as caliph unanimously. At that point, he became a legitimate ruler whom all the people were obliged to obey, and it was forbidden to rebel against him or oppose him. Many scholars have narrated that there was consensus on his caliphate, including the following: