Your decision is valid among the community.

Your decision is valid among the community. Therefore, think of a man to appoint him (as an Imam). We will follow you. We have given you a day to decide. By Allah, if you do not do, we will kill Ali, Talha, al-Zubayr, and a group of people.”[^1] After this warning and threatening the people of Medina hurried to Imam Ali. They all said: “Allegiance! Allegiance!

Have you not seen what has befallen Islam and that with which we have been afflicted by the villagers?” The Imam calmly answered them: “Leave me and look for someone else!” Then he told them why he refrained from undertaking the caliphate, saying: “O people, we will face an affair having different faces and colors.

The hearts will not undertake it nor will the minds maintain it!”[^2] The Imam (a.s) knew the evil that crept into the souls of people, and the desires that prevailed their leaders, especially as it concerns Uthman’s governors, his family, and relatives. He came to know that they would oppose him, come between him and achieving his wide objectives, and brought about to his government problems and hardships. For this reason, he insisted on refraining from undertaking the caliphate.

The Imam thought about the affair and said to them: “If I responded to you, then I would lead you according to my knowledge.

If you left me, I would be as one of you and be the best of you in listening and obeying him whom you would appoint as a ruler.” However they all said: “We will not leave you until we pledge allegiance to you!” The Imam (a.s) has described their coming to him and their strong insistence on him, saying: “At that moment, nothing took me by surprise, but the crowd of people rushing to me.

They advanced towards me from every side like the mane of the hyena so much so that al-Hasan and al-Husayn were crushed and both the ends of my shoulder garment were torn. They gathered around me like the herd of sheep.” The Imam postponed them to the following day that he might reflect on the matter. They separated from him according to that. The night spread over Media and its houses. The people of Medina restlessly spent the night.

When the morning came, the people gathered in the Great Mosque. The Imam came and went up the pulpit. He delivered a speech, saying: “O People, none has the right to undertake this affair of yours except one whom you have invested [^1] Ibn al-Atheer, Tarikh, vol. 3, p. 80. [^2] Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, Muhammad ‘Abda, vol. 1, p. 182. with authority.