45. Tārikh al-Tabari –narrating from Abu Malih reporting some of the events that took place at the time of allegiance to the Imām: “Ali (a.s.) went to the mosque and went up the pulpit, wearing a long robe and garment, a turban made of fur and holding his sandals in his hand. The people swore allegiance to him while he was leaning on a bow.
Sa`d was brought in and Ali (a.s.) said to him: “Swear allegiance.”
He said: “I will not swear allegiance until the people swear their allegiance. By God, I will bring you no harm.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “Let him go.”
Ibn `Umar was brought in and the Imām said: “Swear allegiance!”
Ibn `Umar replied: “I will not swear allegiance until the people swear their allegiance.
He said: “Bring a guarantor.”
He replied: “I do not see a guarantor around here.”
[Mālik] al-Ashtar said: “Let me cut off his head.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “Let him go. I will be his guarantor myself.” And then said to Abdullah: “As much as I know, you have been indeed an ill-mannered person when you were young and now that you are old.”1
46. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah: “Abu Mikhnaf says in his book ‘al-Jamal’ that the Muhājirin and the Ansār gathered in the mosque of the Messenger of God (s.a.w.) to decide whom to choose as a leader and the mosque was full of people.
`Ammār, Abu Haytham, Rafā`a ibn Rāfi`, Mālik ibn `Ajlān, and Abu Ayyub Khālid ibn Zaid agreed to persuade the Commander of the Faithful to accept the caliphate, and `Ammār was more insistent than the others, addressing the people and saying: “O group of Ansār! You saw how `Uthmān treated you yesterday, and now you are about to see it repeated if you do not assist yourselves. In truth, Ali (a.s.) is the most deserving person for leadership on account of his excellence and precedence.”
The people said: “Therefore, we now consent to him.”
All of them then said to the rest of the Muhājirin and
Ansār: “O people! We spare no efforts in doing good to you and ourselves, God Willing. Indeed, Ali is the one whom you know, and we do not know anyone more capable and competent than him to take charge of this affair.”
Then all the people said: “We consent. He is to us as you have described and even better.”
They all stood up, went to Ali (a.s.) and called him out of his house and asked him to hold out his hand for the pledge of allegiance. Ali (a.s.) held his hand back. Then the people crowded around him like thirsty camels flocking around a watering pond, to the extent that some were about to kill others. When he saw this, he asked the allegiance to be pledged in front of the people in the mosque, and said: “Even if a single person does not consent, I will not get involved in this affair.”
People accompanied him into the mosque. The first person who swore allegiance was Talha. Qabisa ibn Dhu'ayb al-Asadi said: “I fear that his affair may not be settled, since the first hand that pledged allegiance to him was limping.”
After Talha, Zubair swore allegiance and so did all the Muslims of Madina except Muhammad ibn Maslima, `Abdullah ibn `Umar, Usāma ibn Zaid, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqās, Ka`b ibn Mālik, Hassān ibn Thābit and `Abdullah ibn Salām.
Ali (a.s.) commanded `Abdullah ibn `Umar to be brought to him. He told him to swear allegiance. He said: “I will not swear allegiance until all the people swear their allegiance.” He (a.s.) then said: “Bring a guarantor [to secure] that you will not disobey. He said: “I will not bring a guarantor.”
[Mālik] Ashtar said: “O Commander of the Faithful! He sees himself secure of your whip and sword. Let me cut off his head.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “I do not want his allegiance by force. Let him go.”
When `Abdullah ibn `Umar went away, the Commander of the Faithful said: “When he was a child he was ill-mannered and now in his old age he is more ill- mannered.”
Then Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqās was brought in and the Imām said: “Swear allegiance.”
He said: “O Abu al-Hasan, Let me be free! When there shall be no one left but me, then I will swear allegiance. By God, I will bring no harm to you.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “He is telling the truth. Let him go.”
Then he sent for Muhammad ibn Maslima. When they brought him in, the Imām said: “Swear allegiance!”
He replied: “Indeed, the Messenger of God (s.a.w.) commanded me that whenever people disagree and become like this –interlocking his fingers- I must go forth with my sword and strike it across mount Uhud, then if it breaks into pieces, I must go back home and not leave until the hand of a wrong-doer comes to me or I will be taken by death.”
Ali (a.s.) said to him: “Then go and do as you have been ordered.”Then he sent for Usāma ibn Zaid. When he arrived, the Imām said: “Swear allegiance.”
He said: “I am your supporter, and there will be no opposition from me to you. Once the people calm down, I will swear allegiance to you.”
He commanded him to go back and sent for no one else.
They asked the Imām: “Will you not send for Hassān ibn Thābit, Ka`b ibn Mālik, and `Abdullah ibn Salām?”
He said: “We are in no need of those who do not need us.”
[Ibn Abi al-Hadid says:] Our followers (the Mu`tazilites) mention in their books that this group gave excuses when they were called to fight in the battle of the Camel (al-Jamal), and refused to participate in the war they did not refuse to swear allegiance.
Our master Abu al-Husain narrates in his book ‘al-Ghurar’ that when this group expressed their excuses, Ali (a.s.) told them: “Not everyone who is deceived will be reproached. Do you have doubt in your allegiance to me?”
They said: “No.”
He said: “If you have sworn allegiance, then [it is as if] you are present in war.” And he exempted them from being present in the war.2
