And none of the members of the consultative council remained except him and Sa‘d. Sa‘d had withdrawn from the matter, and the choice had been narrowed down to Uthmān and Alī. When Uthmān died, no candidate for the caliphate remained except Alī, may Allah be pleased with him. The evil arose only because of Uthmān’s killing, which strengthened the people of injustice and aggression and weakened the people of knowledge and faith. This brought about such division and discord that people were obeyed when others were more entitled to obedience. This is why Allah commanded unity and concord and prohibited division and discord.

Hence the saying:
“What they dislike in unity is better than what they gain through division.”

As for the hadith which states:
“Ammār will be killed by the transgressing group,”

some scholars have challenged this hadith. Nevertheless, Muslim narrated it in his Sahīh, and it appears in some copies of al-Bukhārī’s collection. Some have interpreted “the transgressing group” as meaning the group seeking vengeance for Uthmān’s blood, citing the words:
“We seek vengeance for Ibn Affān with the points of our spears.”

This interpretation has no merit. Rather, we affirm that whatever the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said is true, just as he said it. The fact that Ammār would be killed by the transgressing group does not contradict what we have stated, for Allah Most High said:

“If two groups of believers fight, make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, fight the one that transgresses until it returns to Allah’s command. If it returns, make peace between them with justice and be fair. Indeed, Allah loves those who are fair.”

“The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your two brothers.”

Thus, despite their fighting and transgression, He described them as believers and brothers. Indeed, even while commanding that the transgressing group be fought, He described them as believers. Nor does everything that amounts to