Did not that astonishing loneliness after such an...

Did not that astonishing loneliness after such an unbelievable turnout for confirmation and companionship indicate that ruling on the basis of 'Alawi politics and with Ali (a.s.)'s procedure of hukuma was not practically applicable in the real world society, and that 'Alawi utopia was not but an image in the world of illusion? We will, in this discourse, try as far as possible to respond to the above question on the basis of historical texts and the realities of Islamic community of those days.

But before that, it would be worthwhile to outline several points, however briefly: Role of the Elite in Political and Social Transformations The role of the elite and the elect in social transformations is fundamental and widespread. They have had the most influential impact on political and social developments during the history of this section of the society.[^6] In fact, they mostly make decisions for the masses, and the people often do not hesitate in following them.

Surprisingly enough, in these role-creating and manipulations, they play their roles in such a way that people imagine that they have themselves made the decisions and are acting on their own! In a time like the early period of Islam, chiefs of tribes enjoyed pivotal roles in political and social changes.

In another time, intellectual elite and social leaders played such roles, and today, heads of parties and political establishments, managers of great cultural, educational, and information organizations, and chief executives of the press agencies and other mass media are the main manipulators, role-creators, and decision makers of societies.

Role of the Kufans in Ali's Hukuma In the geography of early Islam, the territory of Iraq used to serve as a bridge connecting east and west of Islam and acted as a center for supplying military power to the central authority. In this territory, Kufa enjoyed a special status and a sensitive role. Kufa was constructed in 17AH/638CE for stationing the troops, and its organizers founded this city with the intention to set up a great camp for the troops.

Thus, it is clear that Kufa was a military center; i.e., a center for those who harbored nothing but battle, hence always thinking of conquering borders and attaining spoils of war. People who had gathered in Kufa were far away from Madina, which hosted most of the (Prophet's) companions.