They did not move out, and the Prophet died.

They did not move out, and the Prophet died.10 Another instance of this criminal and un- abashed disobedience of the express orders of the Prophet came during the same illness when the Prophet expressed his wish to write a will appointing `Ali as his successor.

The leaders of this opposition party prohibited the people from supplying the writing material to the Prophet, saying that the Prophet was delirious and talking non-sense.11 It is significant that Abu Bakr wrote his last will when he was so ill that he fainted during the dictation, so much so that `Uthman who was scribing the will wrote the name of `Umar ibn Khattab in the will while Abu bakr was unconscious, fearing lest he might not regain conscious and die without completing the will.12 This shows the extent to which the members of this party were prepared to go.

They would not hesitate even to forge a will and foist it upon the nation. On that occasion the charge of ravings of a diseased brain was not levelled. On the other hand, `Umar ibn al-Khat- tab himself took out the document and forced the people to declare allegiance to what was writ- ten in it, with out announcing the contents. 13 iv) At the meeting of the Sagifah where the Caliph was to be "elected,"' Ali and his relatives, in fact Banu Hashim were not invited not even informed of it.

14 v) The possibility of a necessity arising to use force at the meeting at the Saqifah was not lost sight of by the actors of the Coup, and had been amply provided for. They had an armed force in Banu Sulaym ready for the occasion; and when the altercations reached a critical stage, they did intervene. `Umar ibn al-Khattab says that he was not sure of his success until the armed force of Banu Sulaym had arrived on the scene.

15 vi) The ansar (Helpers) were not averse to 'Ali's succeeding the Prophet; but the deeds and intrigues of the Opposition party of the muhaji- run (Immigrants) had convinced them that they would never accept `Ali and would get their own man placed on the throne. The ansar, could not, of course, tolerate this. They were, therefore, forced to set up their own man, Sa'd ibn ` Ubadah as a candidate for the caliphate.

They 23 were not the first to move in the matter; long before they collected at the Saqifah, Abu Bakr had asked the people to come and elect a caliph from among themselves.