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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Shi'ism: From the Advent of Islam up to the End of Minor Occultation Lesson 7: The Silence of the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali (‘a) Now, let us examine why after the event of Saqifah and the commencement of Abubakr’s rule, ‘Ali ( ‘a ) did not insist on claiming his indisputable right, and why after obtaining certainty on the ineffectiveness of some months of arguments and proofs, he did not resort to armed struggle.

In view of the fact that a number of the Prophet’s (S) great were his staunch supporters and that the common Muslims had also no opposition to him, it can be said in general that the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali ( ‘a ) took into account the interest of Islam and the Muslims and preferred to keep silent.

I put a curtain against the caliphate and kept myself detached from it. Then I began to think whether I should assault or endure calmly the blinding darkness of tribulations wherein the grown-up are made feeble and the young grow old and the true believer acts under strain till he meets Allah (on his death). I found that endurance thereon was wiser. So I adopted patience although there was pricking in the eye and suffocation (of mortification) in the throat.

I watched the plundering of my inheritance…[^1] Of course, keeping ‘Ali’s ( ‘a ) speech in view, other secondary factors concerning his silence can be pointed out.

When God took the soul of His Prophet, the Quraysh self-centeredly considered themselves superior to us and deprived us—who were the most deserving for the leadership of the ummah —of our own rights.