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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-Muraja'at Letter 106 Rabi’ al-Thani 18, 1330 I Ibn ‘Abbas's Argument, May I invite your attention to the dialogue between Ibn ‘Abbas and ‘Umar in which the latter, in a lengthy conversation between both men, asked: "O Ibn ‘Abbas!

Do you know what stopped your folks [from demanding the caliphate] after Muhammad (pbuh)?" Ibn ‘Abbas narrates saying: "I hated to answer ‘Umar's question, so I said to him: ‘If I do not know, the commander of the faithful [i.e. ‘Umar] knows.'" ‘Umar said: "[Some people simply] hated that both prophethood and caliphate be confined to your House; so, they were happy about their scheme. Quraysh sought it for thmselves, and were able to obtain it." I said: "O commander of the faithful!

Do you permit me to say something and promise to control your anger?" He answered in the affirmative; therefore, Ibn ‘Abbas said: "As regarding your statement, O commander of the faithful, that Quraysh sought it for themselves and were successful in obtaining it, I say that had Quraysh sought what Allah had chosen for them, their choice would have been unobjectionable and unblamed.

As regarding your statement that they hated to see both prophethood and caliphate in our House, I say that Allah, the Exalted and the Sublime, has described some people to be malicious, saying, ‘... that is so because they hated what Allah has revealed, so He rendered their deeds vain.'" ‘Umar then said: "Impossible, O Ibn ‘Abbas, for I heard things about you which I hate to believe else your status in my eyes should be reduced." I asked: ‘What are they, O commander of the faithful?

If they are true, they should not lower my status in your esteem, and if they are not, I am capable of defending myself against false charges.' ‘Umar then said: ‘It has come to my knowledge that you say that they have deprived you of it [caliphate] out of envy, oppression and injustice.' I said: ‘As regarding your statement, O commander of the faithful, that it was oppression, then that has become quite obvious to those who are ignorant as well as to those who are clement.