Author: Shukran Ahmadi
The Biography of Hazrat Ali “A. S”(Part 12)
The 3rd Chapter: Hazrat Ali (MAPH) during the caliphate of Hazrat Osman (MAPH)
Pledge of Allegiance to Hazrat Osman (MAPH)
In the final moments of his life, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) entrusted the selection of his successor to a council of six people. These individuals were Osman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleased with him), Zubair bin Awam (may Allah be pleased with him), Saad bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), and Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him). He stated that he did not want to bear the burden of the caliphate both during his life and after his death. He added that if Allah willed good for them, He would unite them under the best among them, just as they were united under the best after the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
His unquestionable piety and fear made him that did not select Saeed bin Umar bin Nafil (MAPH) even though he was one of the ten people who received the good news of heaven, as a member of the Council; Because he was his cousin and he was afraid that he would be elected due to his relationship with Amir al-Mu’minin, so he did not mention his name. He also ordered the council members that his son Abdullah, who was one of the jurists of the Companions, should attend the council, but he did not have the right to be elected. He bequeathed that Sohaib Rumi will be the imam of the Muslim congregation for three days when the electoral council ends, and a group of Rumi will help the members of the council in investigating this matter and supervise the executive operations of the elections. He also said: I do not think people prefer anyone over Osman and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them).
After the funeral and burial ceremony of Hazrat Umar (MAPH), Hazrat Moqdad bin Aswad (MAPH) called the members of the Counsil in his house. After the exchange of views, they came to the conclusion that three of them left in favor of the other three and gave them their right. Then Abdur Rahman bin Auf (MAPH) said to Ali and Osman (MAPH): Which one of you would also leave his right? Will he give me the right to choose between the remaining two people? And considering Allah and the interests of the religion, Ali and Osman (may Allah be pleased with them) both remained silent, then Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (MAPH) said: I waive my right and I will consider Allah as the watcher of my actions, and I will choose the best for the interests of Islam. I will try, then he talked to each of them separately and enumerated their virtues and took a pledge from them that if they were elected to the caliphate, they would do justice, and if the other one was elected to obey him, they would be satisfied with this, they both agreed.
Then Abdur Rahman got up and consulted and polled the two candidates for three days and nights, and you will get opinions from famous people and elders from different walks of life individually and in groups, secretly and openly, even from some housewives, teenagers, school students and travelers who come to Madinah from all around. They came, he also asked for an opinion, and he spent most of these three days and nights in prayer, supplication, and consultation with experts, and he spent less time resting.
On the fourth day of the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (RA), Abd al-Rahman bin Auf (RA) once again called Hazrat Osman and Ali (RA) in the same house where the members of the Counsil had gathered on the first day and addressed them: I have taken a pledge that each of them will not consider anyone equal to you, then, like the day before, he took an oath from the women that each one of them was proud to do justice, and if they were not chosen, they should be satisfied and obey the chosen person. He was wearing the robe given to him by the Messenger of Allah and he was carrying a sword. Then he invited the leaders of Muhajirin and ansar and all the people to the mosque to announce the result of the referendum. The mosque was full of people, Abd al-Rahman (MAPH) climbed on the pulpit of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and after stopping and reciting a long prayer that the people could not hear, he said: O people! During this time, I have asked all of you for your opinion about these two men, both privately and publicly, I saw that you did not consider anyone equal to Ali and Osman (may Allah be pleased with them), now it is time for one of them to be chosen. Then he called Ali (MAPH) to him, Ali (MAPH) went forward and stood next to the pulpit, Abdur Rahman took his hand and the Khattab said to him: Do you promise to act according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and the way of Abu Bakr and Umar? Ali replied: No. Rather, I act according to my ability and effort. Abd al-Rahman left his hand and called Osman (MAPH), when he came, Abd al-Rahman (MAPH) took his hand, “Do you agree with me if you follow the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the way of Abu Bakr and Umar?” Osman (MAPH) said: Yes, Abdur Rahman (MAPH) while still holding Osman’s (MAPH) hand, raised his head to the sky and said three times: “Allah! Hear and be a witness, O Allah, I have now handed over the responsibility that was my responsibility to Osman.
At this time, the people turned towards the pulpit in order to pledge allegiance to Osman (MAPH) and surrounded him under the pulpit. Then Abd al-Rahman (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) placed the ottoman seat on the second step in place of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the pulpit, and the people were happy. Ali bin Abi Talib (MAPH) first pledged allegiance to him, some say he pledged allegiance at the end of the same meeting.
