Furthermore...

Furthermore, he was not prepared to allow the people of Hijaz and Iraq to select the caliph, because, according to him this right had been transferred to the Syrians because they were the rightful rulers. It is evident that if all these conditions were fulfilled none other than Mu`awiya could become the caliph. Ali showed unusual patience. However, this patience was not due to any lack of resolution or laxity on his part.

The position was that at that time the Arabs were divided into two groups and one of them was bound to be…