in Syria and the East. After Alī, however, no people of knowledge and religion (*, nor people of power and the sword through whom Allah granted Islam victory, have been known other than Ahl al-Sunnah. As for the Rāfidah, they either assist (1) the enemies of Islam or else *) (2) refrain from supporting both groups. There is no doubt that, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Most High will judge between the foremost early believers among the Emigrants and Helpers and those of earlier and later generations who opposed them, just as He will judge between the Muslims and the disbelievers (3).

The Twelfth Point (4): It may be said: Against whom is this grievance?

If you say, “It is against those who wronged Alī—such as Abū Bakr and Umar, as you allege,” you will be told: “The actual party to this dispute (5) is Alī, and he has died just as Abū Bakr and Umar have died. This matter concerns neither us nor you except insofar as it entails clarifying the truth and showing loyalty to its adherents. With compelling proofs, we demonstrate that Abū Bakr and Umar are more deserving than anyone else in this ummah of being regarded as just, and are further removed from wrongdoing than anyone else. We also demonstrate that Alī did not believe himself to be the imam of the ummah to their exclusion, as will be explained in its proper place [Allah Most High willing] (6).”

If you say, “Our grievance is against the rulers who denied these men their rights to the imamate,” this presupposes that these [Twelve] (7) were seeking