In the following sentences...

In the following sentences, Imam says: “إنّه بايعني القوم الّذين بايعوا أبابكر و عمر و عثمان علی ما بايعوهم عليه فلم يكن للشاهد أن يختار و لا للغائب أن يرد و إنّما الشوری للمهاجرين و الأنصار اجتمعوا علی رجل وسموه إماماً كان ذلك (لله) رضا”. This is a kind of dispute against the contender (the word God does not appear in the original versions of the Nahj-ul-Balaqa, but it appears in parenthesis in the Eyptian editions.

This indicates that the presence of the word “God” in the Imam's letter is doubtful). In fact, the Imam states: If Muslims could unanimously agree on the leadership of an Imam this would be acceptable. The same thing has happened in my case. Then why do you disagree to ally with me? The first person who has used this sermon to prove the view of the Sunnites is Ibn Abi Al-hadid, the describer of Nahj-ul-Balaqa.

Being unaware of the clues in the body of the letter and other sermons, he has used this sermon as a document for the validity of the Sunnites and has taken the Imam's statements as his belief towards this issue [^1]. The Shiite scholars have referred to the same topic mentioned above concerning this sermon. It is surprising that Ahmad Kasravi has stuck to this sermon and has used it to prove that the Shiite view is wrong!

It is more surprising that some others have repeated the same arguments in order to deceive others. They are not aware that Shiahs have been permanent protectors who will unveil such deceptions. Let us be fair We should draw conclusions only when we have read and comprehended all of Imam Ali's views in the Nahj-ul-Balagha.

The same Imam who has written: “those individuals who had entered into allegiance with three caliphs have allied with me and if Muhajirin and Ansar agree on somebody's Imamate, he should be the leader and others should comply”.

In the ‘Shaqshaqiah’ sermon states the following concerning the caliphates: ‘I swear to God, that the son of Abi Qahafah put on the garment of caliphate while he was aware that I deserved such a position and that I was the very pivot of caliphate, that I was the source of knowledge and that I excelled all others in my thoughts but I dispensed with the garment of caliphate and I deliberated whether to fight for my rights with empty hands (i.e. no Army) or to be patient.