See, The Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin, Ali in the words of the Prophet’s companions: Khuzayma ibn Thābit Ansāri, and Hudhayfa ibn Yamān and Ali in the words of scholars, Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
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Those Who Did not Pledge Allegiance to the Imām
The allegiance to Imām Ali (a.s.) was widespread and inclusive where all the Muhājirin and Ansār1 participated in it along with everyone else that was in Madina. Everyone swore allegiance by complete choice and absolute freedom, and then the people of Mecca, Hijāz and Kufa pledged their allegiance.2 The Imām (a.s.) clearly stated that the allegiance to him was public and inclusive3. Many historical sources have also asserted this gathering of all the Muhājirin and Ansār for pledging allegiance to the Imām.4
However, some sources quote reports which state that some of the companions did not pledge their allegiance to Ali (a.s.), such as: `Abdullah ibn `Umar, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqās, Muhammad ibn Maslima, Usāma ibn Zaid, Hassān ibn Thābit, Ka`b ibn Mālik, `Abdullah ibn Salām, Marwān ibn al-Hakam, Sa`id ibn al-`As and Walid ibn `Uqba.5
There are two views about the refusal of these people to give allegiance to the Imām:
The first: They were against the pledge of allegiance to the Imam and hence did not participate in it.
The second: They did not oppose to the allegiance itself. What has been mentioned in the sources regarding their refusal of allegiance to the Imām is taken to mean that they did not participate with the Imām in his civil wars.
Al-Hākim al-Nayshaburi after stating the traditions concerning the peoples pledging of allegiance to the Imām says:
أمّا قول من زعم أنّ عبد الله بن عمر و أبا مسعود الانصاري و سعد بن أبي وقاص و أبا موسی الأشعري و محمد بن مسلمة الأنصاري و اُسامة بن زيد قعدوا عن بيعته فإنّ هذا قول من يجحد حقيقه تلك الأحوال.As for the view of those who claim that `Abdullah ibn `Umar, Abu Mas`ud al-Ansāri, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqās, Abu Musā al-Ash`ari, Muhammad ibn Maslima al-Ansāri and Usāma ibn Zaid refused to swear allegiance to the Imām, it is in fact a view of those who have no knowledge of the realities of those conditions.
He goes on to explain that they did swear allegiance to the Imām, but for some reasons they refused to keep his company in war. Their refusal to participate in war led some people to presume that they have opposed pledging the allegiance to him (a.s.).6
The Mu`tazilite Ibn Abi al-Hadid adopts this opinion and in his commentary on Nahj al-Balāghah has attributed it to the Mu`tazilites.7If we contemplate on the sources in this chapter, we will find that the majority of those who are known for their refusal to swear allegiance to the Imām did in fact swear allegiance. However, the allegiance of some of them, like `Abdullah ibn`Umar and Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqās did not mean that they were loyal to the Imām’s leadership, as they openly announced that they would not accompany him in his wars. The allegiance of another group, such as Marwān ibn al-Hakam, Sa`id ibn al-`As and al-Walid ibn `Uqbah was for political motives.8 Since the allegiance of this group was not true and complete, therefore, this group in a way can be considered as deviators from the allegiance to the Imām, but they can still be ranked among those who pledged allegiance to the Imām, as they performed the formal rite of pledging allegiance, and hence combining the two views is possible.
A third possibility is that they refused to participate in the public allegiance which took place in the mosque and made excuses for justifying their refusal; however, after the rite of allegiance was over and the caliphate of Ali (a.s.) was firmly established, they became inclined to the allegiance.
This claim is confirmed by the presence of Marwān ibn al-Hakam, al-Walid ibn `Uqbah, and Sa`id ibn al-`As who visited the Imām at the end of the public allegiance and pledge of allegiance to him after some discussions. The confessions made by `Abdullah ibn `Umar, Usāma ibn Zaid and Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqās of their allegiance to Ali (a.s.), as is mentioned in some sources, also confirms this claim.
1.. Tarikh Dimashq, vol. ۴۲, p. ۴۳۷.
2.. al-Futuh, vol. ۲, p. ۴۳۹.
3.. al-Kāmil, vol. ۱, p. ۴۲۸, Waq`at Siffin, p. ۵۸, al-Irshād, vol. ۱, p. ۲۴۳.
4.. al-`Iql al-Farid, vol. ۳, p. ۳۱۱, Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. ۴, p. ۴۲۷, al-Kāmil fi al-Tārikh, vol. ۲, p. ۳۰۲.
5.. al-Irshād, vol. ۱, p. ۲۴۳, Tārikh Dimashq, vol. ۴۲, p. ۴۳۷, Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۴, p. ۹.
6.. al-Mustadrik `alā al-Sahihayn, vol. ۳, p. ۱۲۴, h. ۱۲۷.
7.. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۴, p. ۹-۱۰.
8.. After being defeated in the battle of Jamal, Marwān proposed to swear allegiance to Imām Ali (a.s.). In rejecting his allegiance, the Imām said: “Did he not swear allegiance after the killing of `Uthmān? I have no need for his allegiance, because his is the hand of a Jew.” Nahj al-Balāghah, Sermon ۷۳, al-Kharā'ij wa al-Jarā'ih, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۷, h. ۳۵.
