For this purpose...

For this purpose, the first thing that they did was to divide the Muslim nation into two factions, (i) Compa- nions, and (ii) Ahlu'1-bayt, that is, the descen- dants of the Prophet. The Government party identified itself with the , and tried to win over all the companions by this move.

They won them over to their side by represent- ing to them that if the ruling power was once acquired by `Ali it would remain in the family of the Prophet, and they would never be able to get it, but that if it were confined to them alone, everyone of them might hope to get it in his turn. During the proceedings at Saqifah the question of ability and fitness was not allow- ed to come in.

In short, the children of the Prophet were from the very beginning con- sidered as a rival party and throughout the period of the Caliphate were treated as such. Previous…