a brief study on the reasons for the silence of hazrat ali peace be upon him against the usurpation of the caliphate

One of the enduring questions in the minds of readers of the history of Saqifah and the events following the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is why Imam Ali (peace be upon him), despite being the rightful and divinely appointed leader after the Prophet, did not take action against the government formed at Saqifah to reclaim his right to leadership. In simpler terms, why did Imam Ali (peace be upon him) remain silent?

Among Muslim historians and analysts, there are two main theories regarding the reason for Imam Ali’s silence:

Theory 1: Silence as Acceptance of the People’s Right to Choose

Some historians, mainly from the Sunni tradition and a few others, argue that Imam Ali’s 25-year silence indicates that he did not consider the leadership as his divine right but rather believed that the right to govern belonged to the people. For example, Mehdi Bazargan, a prominent figure, suggests that the behavior of the Shiite Imams in relation to leadership shows that they did not see the right to rule as belonging to a tyrant like Yazid, themselves, or even God, but rather to the people.

Ibn Abi al-Hadid, a well-known Sunni scholar, in his famous commentary on Nahj al-Balagha, interprets Imam Ali’s reluctance to accept leadership after the assassination of Uthman as proof that he was not directly appointed by the Prophet to govern, otherwise, he would not have said, “Leave me and seek someone else.”

Theory 2: Silence Due to Divine Guidance and Strategic Considerations

The majority of Shiite historians and some Sunni scholars support the second theory, which asserts that the leadership was indeed Imam Ali’s divine right, explicitly declared by the Prophet Muhammad. They cite various reasons for Imam Ali’s silence based on his own words and the sayings of the Prophet.

Reasons for Imam Ali’s Silence:

1. Obeying the Prophet’s Will:
   The Prophet had foreseen the events following his death and instructed Imam Ali to be patient and endure. This is reflected in a narration where the Prophet tells Ali, “You will face certain challenges after me,” to which Ali responds, “I will be patient, O Messenger of God.”
2. Lack of Sufficient Supporters:
   In Sermon 26 of Nahj al-Balagha, Imam Ali describes how, after the Prophet’s death, he looked around and found no supporters except for his own family. He chose not to risk their lives and thus endured the difficulties in silence.
3. Preservation of the Islamic Community:
   Prominent Shiite scholars believe that Imam Ali chose to remain silent to preserve the unity of the Islamic community and prevent the resurgence of disbelief. Imam Ali himself stated that if he had acted differently, it would have led to the division of Muslims and the shedding of their blood.
4. Following the Example of Previous Prophets:
   Imam Ali mentions that his silence was in line with the actions of previous prophets who also endured hardships for the greater good. For instance, Prophet Ibrahim distanced himself from his people, and Prophet Yusuf preferred imprisonment over sinning against God.
5. Preventing the Collapse of the Newly-Formed Islamic State:
   The Islamic state was newly established and facing threats of apostasy from some tribes, false prophets, and the possibility of Roman invasions. Any action against the government at that time would have been detrimental to the stability of the Islamic community.
6. Strategic Patience:
   Imam Ali’s decision to remain patient was also based on the belief that rushing into action would be like harvesting fruit before it ripened, which would have been counterproductive.

In summary, Imam Ali’s silence for 25 years, despite the injustices he faced, was a calculated decision aimed at preserving the unity and stability of the Islamic community.

He chose to endure the hardships and delay asserting his right to leadership to ensure that the efforts of the Prophet Muhammad in establishing the Islamic community would not go to waste.