The prophet (p)...

The prophet (p), on his side, was not unmindful of their doings; he knew perfectly well that they did not relish the idea of Imam Ali succeeding him, and that they had their own designs against the State. After the announcement, these designs became doubly clear. As a feeler, he adopted certain measures to gauge the extent of their feelings. Their result convinced him that they were bent upon capturing power at any cost, and were prepared to go to any extremes in achieving their object.

He knew that they would go to the extent of openly opposing him, if it came to that. For his part he was not prepared to face that eventuality, as it was sure to destroy the labors of more than two decades. Islam could not survive an open struggle between him and his people on this question, and it would defeat the very object for which this selection of his successor had been made.

He therefore resigned himself to the inevitable, and advised Imam Ali to remain calm and quiet, and content himself with the good of the next world when he saw others running after this one. What follows is intended to illustrate the above observations.

It is thus related in AS-SIRA-AL-HALABIYYA: "When the proclamation made by the prophet "Of whomsoever I have been the MAWLA, then Ali is his MAWLA" went round among the people and became known far and wide in the towns and provinces, it also reached AL-HARITH IBN AL-NU'MAN AL-FHRI who, on learning of this, came to Medina, and tethering his camel at the door of the mosque, entered it and came to the prophet where he was sitting among his companions AL-HARITH came right up to the prophet and sat in front of him, and then said, "O Muhammad, you ordered us to say that there is no god but God and that you are His Prophet.

We accepted this from you. You ordered us to say prayers five times a day and keep the fast during the whole of the month of Ramadan, to pay the ZAKAT out of our property, and to perform the Hajj; we accepted all this from you. But not being content with all this, you have now raised the son of your uncle and placed him over our heads, and have declared that "Or whomsoever I have been the MAWLA, then Ali is his MAWLA". Was this also from God, or is it the creation of your own desire"?

The eyes of the prophet became red with rage, and he replied, "By God beside whom there is no god, this was also from God and not from me". The prophet said this thrice.