( 188 )
Ali does not lack evidence on his executorship or ministerial posts. The Messenger conferred on him the post of
executorship when he gathered his close relatives ten years
before the Hijrah. At that conference the Prophet said to
the members of his clan while his hand on Ali's neck:
"This is my brother executor and successor in you. Listen
to him and obey him." To his ministerial post the authentically reported statement of the Prophet attests: "Ali
would you not be pleased to be to me like Aaron to Moses
but there shall be no Prophet after me?".
Aaron was the minister of Moses according to the Holy
Qur'an: "And grant me a minister from the members of my house
Aaron my brother. Strengthen me by him and make
him a sharer in my mission." ( 3 )
As to his trustworthiness on the secrets of the Messenger
and his knowledge
it suffices to remember that the Messenger said: "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.
Whoever wishes to enter the city should come through the
gate.".
He Believed That Abu Bakr's Election Was Unbinding .
2. The Imam viewed the election of Abu Bakr to be
unbinding to his electors. Evidently he believed that the
Messenger had chosen him to lead the nation and administer its affairs after him
and that the choice of the Prophet
is binding to the nation. Thus
the nation does not have the
right to choose another leader. Had not the Imam believed
in this
he would not have allowed himself to ask the Medinites to reverse their position after they elected Abu Bakr.
A sound election is a covenant to be fulfilled
and Ali was
too righteous to call upon people to break a legitimate
covenant.
He and his wife Fatimah "Al-Zahra" (the Lady of
Light)
daughter of the Prophet
visited the Medinite companions
seeking their support and asking them to reverse
their position towards Abu Bakr.
Muaweyah in one of his letters to the Imam said:
( 3 ) Holy Qur'an Chapter 20 verses 28-31.
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