The 25 Years of Withdrawal of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
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Why did Imam Ali (peace be upon him) withdraw from public life in the years following the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passing? Did his withdrawal benefit Islam, or would it have been better for him to take up arms?
The reason for Imam Ali's (peace be upon him) 25-year withdrawal following the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passing is often attributed to his concern for preserving Islam and maintaining the unity of the Muslim community. After the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passing, the Islamic community was deeply shaken, and some pre-Islamic (Jâhiliyya) traditions began to resurface. Figures like Abu Sufyan and Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib offered their allegiance to Imam Ali (peace be upon him), attempting to incite him to oppose the caliph. However, lacking trustworthy supporters for such an uprising and seeking to prevent division, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) chose to withdraw.
The Necessity of Muslim Unity
Most historians agree that at the time of the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passing, Islam, being in its early stages and vulnerable, required unity and cohesion.[1] Historical accounts indicate that after the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passing, pre-Islamic (Jâhiliyya) customs began to resurface, and the hypocrites revealed their true nature.[2]
Attempts by Hypocrites to Sow Discord
The most effective way to disrupt Muslim unity was to incite conflict between Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and the governmental leadership. In this context, Abu Sufyan, supported by Abbas and accompanied by a group from the Banu Hashim, approached Imam Ali (peace be upon him) offering their allegiance. Attempting to provoke Imam Ali's (peace be upon him) emotions, Abu Sufyan said, 'O Abu al-Hasan, do not let this opportunity slip away. Since when have we submitted to the lesser family of Taym (the family of Abu Bakr)?.[3]
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) replied: «You know well that I am more deserving than anyone of the caliphate. By God, as long as the affairs of the Muslims remain stable and I alone am wronged, I will maintain my withdrawal».[4] However, had the Imam deemed the conditions suitable for an uprising, he would have acted without waiting for others' invitation.
Another reason for refraining from revolt was the lack of reliable supporters and allies. An uprising requires majority support and must await the appropriate moment. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) stated: «I looked around me and found no supporters except for my own family. I could not bear to sacrifice them».[5]
Imamate During the Period of Withdrawal
During the 25-year rule of the first three caliphs, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) dedicated himself entirely to guiding the Islamic community. As contemporary historian Jafar Shahidi notes, he remained consistently available to provide guidance whenever people sought it. When challenges arose, he resolved them; when incorrect judgments were made, he indicated the proper ruling. He did not withhold counsel even from those who had assumed the caliphate before him.[6]
References
- ↑ Subḥānī, Ja‘far, al-Madhāhib al-Islāmiyya, ṣ 194, Mu’assasa-ye Imām Ṣādiq (‘alayhi al-salām), j 1, 1423 q.
- ↑ Sīrat Ibn Hishām, j 4, ṣ 316, bih naql az Makāram Shīrāzī, Payām-e Imām, j 1, chāp-e awwal, 1375 sh, Nāshir: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya.
- ↑ Iqtidās az: Ray-Shahrī, Muḥammad, Rahbarī dar Islām, ṣ 234, Dār al-Ḥadīth, chāp-e awwal, 1379 sh
- ↑ Nahj al-Balāgha, Khuṭba 74.
- ↑ Nahj al-Balāgha, Khuṭba 26.
- ↑ Shahīdī, Ja‘far, ‘Alī az Zabān-e ‘Alī, ṣ 42, Daftar-e Nashr-e Farhang-e Islāmī, chāp-e shishum, 1376 sh.