They slackened in joining the army and justified their doing...

They slackened in joining the army and justified their doing with different excuses, though the Prophet (a.s.) did not accept their excuses. Rather, he showed them his anger and discontent. [1] Three miles from Medina towards Sham. [2] As-Seera al-Halabiyyah, vol. 3 p. 342.

As for the purpose of the Prophet (a.s.) behind his appointing of Usama as the leader of the army though he was too young was as the following: First, the Prophet (a.s.) wanted to refute all the points of disagreement and criticism against the appointing of Imam Ali (a.s.) as the caliph that he was young, for Usama was younger than him.

Second, to ignore old age and not paying attention to it in entrusting the high positions in the state if an old man had no sufficient abilities and talents, for the managements of the nation’s affairs must be entrusted to well-qualified people.

The Prophet (a.s.) said, “He, who precedes some men of Muslims while seeing that there are ones among them better than him, betrays Allah, His messenger, and the Muslims.” [1] Islam is totally careful in appointing the best of people in the posts of the state to sincerely regard the public interests and be loyal in serving the people, in collecting taxes, and in spending the general wealth, and be just in judging among people. All this has nothing to do with old age.

Third, appointing young Usama as the leader of that army refuted all Imam Ali’s opponents who disliked him to be the caliph justifying their intention that Imam Ali (a.s.) was a young man then. The calamity of Thursday The political tendencies and opportunistic trends which the famous companions adopted to turn the caliphate away from the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) appeared clearly before the Prophet (a.s.). Therefore, he saw, in the last hours of his life, that he should [1] Sunan of al-Bayhaqi, vol.

10 p. 111. save his nation from deviation and assure to it happiness and prosperity. He wanted to confirm the homage of Ghadeer Khum paid to Imam Ali (a.s.) by registering it in a document. He asked his companions, “Bring me a piece of paper and an inkpot to write you a book by which you shall not go astray at all…” It was the greatest blessing that the Prophet (a.s.) wanted to write a book for the nation by which it would not go astray forever.

It was a very precious opportunity, but, unfortunately, those companions lost it easily.