Question: 'Ali's extraordinary courage and profound knowledge, in addition to his kinship with the Messenger, qualified him to be caliph. So why did Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman reign before him? And why did the Muslim community experience so much disorder during his caliphate?

Answer: A great saint descended from the Prophet's Family is reported to have said: "God's Messenger desired 'Ali's caliphate, but was informed through inspiration that God willed otherwise. Upon this, he abandoned his desire and submitted to God's Will."

One reason why God's Will differed must have been this: If 'Ali had become caliph right after the Prophet's death, a time when the Compan-ions were more in need of agreement and unity than ever, there probably would have arisen, as happened during his caliphate, a tendency in many persons and tribes to compete because of his pure, uncompromisingly fearless, heroic, and independent behavior and attitude, as well as his widely known courage. Such competition might have divided the believers.

Another reason is that the young Muslim community, which spread rapidly through tribal and ethnic intermingling, gradually caused sects to emerge, just as the Prophet predicted. Thus, in circumstances that foster internal conflict and turbulence, a person of 'Ali's courage and sagacity was needed, someone who enjoyed the force and esteem of the Hashimites and the Prophet's Family. 'Ali, by fighting every hardship, fulfilled the Prophet's prediction: "I fought for the Qur'an's revelation. You will fight for its correct explanation against its forced, false interpretation."[10]

In 'Ali's absence, the pomp of worldly kingdom probably would have led the Umayyads completely astray. But his presence and that of the Prophet's Family made the Umayyad leaders restrict themselves, preserve their standing before the Muslim community, and do their best (if not willingly) or at least encourage their subjects and followers to protect and propagate Islam's truths and principles and the Qur'an's commandments. As a result, countless meticulous Muslim jurists, distinguished Traditionists, saints and pure people of piety emerged during their reign. If they had not faced the perfect piety, sainthood, and virtue of the Prophet's Family, they probably would have gone completely astray from the very beginning, as happened toward the end of both their and the 'Abbasids' rule.

[10] Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 3:83; Haythami, Majma', 9:133; Tirmidhi, 5:635.