Had the document of arbitration imposed on the Muslims to...

Had the document of arbitration imposed on the Muslims to obey the two arbiters even if they were devious judging in contradiction with the Holy Qur'an and the instructions of the Holy Prophet the attitude of the Seceders would have some justification. But the document declared that the arbiters have to validate what the Holy Qur'an validates and invalidate what the Holy Qur'an invalidates.

If they do not find in the area of their disagreement an instruction from the Holy Qur'an they should resort to the authentically reported teaching of the Holy Prophet which unites and does not divide. If the two arbiters abide by the stipulation of the document they would be ruling according to what God has revealed. Had the rebellious extremists said that the two chosen arbiters were not qualified to issue a judgment they would have been right and this was the Imam's opinion.

But the extremists were the ones who forced him to accept the two arbiters while he knew they were the worst choice. Ibn Al-Aws was an arch enemy of the Imam. Abu Musa was extremely limited in knowledge and understanding. His past during the days of ‘Umar and Uthman indicates his unscrupulousness in religion. His recent past at the beginning of the reign of the Imam indicates that he was following selfish interests.

He hated the Imam and did everything in his power to discourage people of Kufa from supporting the Imam to regain his authority in Basra. The two arbiters undoubtedly were not qualified to decide in a matter about which the nation was divided.Yet the Imam was not responsible for choosing them. He accepted the invitation for the arbitration and accepted the two arbiters under pressure and unwillingly.

These extremists themselves were a very important part of the power which forced the Imam to do that. However the lack of qualification of the two arbiters for making a decision does not prevent their commission as arbitrators because the acceptance of their decision was conditioned by their adherence to the teaching of the Holy Book and the instructions of the Holy Prophet. Violent Extremism The truth is that the Seceders never were moderate in any of their stands.

At the beginning they were the most zealous for arbitration and they threatened the Imam with war if he insisted upon the continuation of the war.