Yesterday, we separated (from each other).

Yesterday, we separated (from each other). I hated your request, but you refused except that I would be an Imam over you. Therefore, I have no right to take a dirham without you. If you wished, I would undertake you; otherwise, I would be blamed for none.” The masses said: “We are insisting on what we had agreed on with you yesterday!” “O Allah, bear witness,” retorted the Imam. The people pushed each other like choppy waves.

Talha walked towards the Imam and pledged allegiance to him with that hand through which he quickly broke the covenant with Allah.[^1] After him al-Zubayr came and pledged allegiance as his friend had done. The Egyptian and the Iraqi delegations paid homage to him. The common people pledged allegiance to him. None of the previous caliphs had won such a general pledge of allegiance. All the Muslims were happy.

Imam Ali has described the people’s delight, saying: “The people were so pleased with their allegiance to me that the young were glad with it, the old shambled to it, the sick forced themselves (to come) to it, and the heels were bared for it.” The Muslims rejoiced at their pledge of allegiance to the guardian of Allah’s Apostle. Joys spread all over the country, for the government of justice and equality towered over the world of existence.

The caliphate was undertaken by the true Imam, who was the supporter of the oppressed and father of the orphans. He took part in the hunger and ordeals of the poor and the deprived.

He said during the period of his government: “Shall I be satisfied with my own soul that it is said (to me) the commander of the faithful and I do not associate with them in the misfortunes of the time or be an example to them in the coarse life?” On that immortal day, the great flags of justice were spread, and the genuine objectives that Islam wanted were achieved. There were no selfishness, no deception, no dictatorship, and no yielding to inclinations and sentiments.

All these things were achieved by Ali bin Abi Talib during the period of his caliphate. [^1] Talha’s hand was paralyzed, so the Imam saw an evil omen in it and said: “He is worthy of breaking (his pledge of allegiance).” That happened as he had predicted. This has been mentioned in the book Al-Iqd al-Fareed, vol. 3, p. 93.