for Quraysh, while Quraysh have denied (to acknowledge for) us what the Arabs have acknowledged for them. How far! Quraysh have not treated us with justice while they have excellence in the religion and precedence in Islam. No wonder except your disputing with us about the authority without any known right in the world and a laudable deed in Islam! The promise belongs to Allah. We ask Allah for His favor not to give us in this world anything that may be a cause for decrease in the hereafter!
“Most surely when Allah took Ali to Him, the Muslims entrusted me with the authority after him. Therefore, fear Allah, O Mu’awiya, and reflect on that through which you spare the blood of the community of Muhammad and set right their affair! With Greetings.”[1]
This letter has been narrated in a simpler and fuller manner. We will mention it because it contains more advantages. “From al-Hasan bin Ali, the Commander of the faithful, to Mu’awiya bin Abi Sufyan. Peace be on you. I thank Allah Whom there is no god but Him. Allah the Almighty has sent Muhammad as mercy to the worlds, kindness to believers, and to all the people, that he may warn him who would have life, and (that) the word may prove true against the unbelievers[2] So he delivered the messages of Allah and carried out Allah’s command until Allah caused him to die neither neglectful nor feeble. After Allah had showed through him the truth, removed polytheism and singled Quraysh in particular with him, He said to him: ‘And most surely it (the Qur’an) is a reminder for you and your people.’ When he passed away, the Arabs disputed with each other about his supreme authority. Quraysh said: ‘We are his tribe, family, and friends. Therefore, it is not lawful for you to dispute with us about Muhammad’s supreme authority and right.’ The Arabs thought that it was as Quraysh said, and that they had a proof of that against whoever disputed with them about Muhammad’s affair. So they said yes to them and submitted to them. Then we argued with Quraysh in the same manner the Arabs argued with them in, but Quraysh did not treat us with justice as the Arabs treated them with justice. They took this affair with the exception of the Arabs through (demanding) justice and argument. When we, Muhammad’s Household and his friends, wanted to argue with and asked them for justice, they sent us far, unanimously wronged and tired us. The promise is Allah’s; and He is the Guardian, the Helper!
“We wondered at those who disputed with us about our right and the supreme authority of our House. We refrained from disputing with them out of fear for
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[1] Ibn Abi al-Hadeed, Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 4, p. 9.
[2] Qur’an, 36, 70.