[He also appointed Ibn Umm Maktūm during the campaign of Badr and others; Uthmān during the campaigns of Dhāt al-Riqā and Ghatafān—the latter being known as the campaign of Anmār; Ibn Rawāha during Badr al-Mawid; Zayd ibn Hāritha during al-Muraysī; Abū Lubāba during the campaigns of Banū Qaynuqā and al-Sawīq; Sad ibn Ubāda during al-Abwā; Sad ibn Muādh during Buwāt; and Abū Salama during al-Ushayra] (1).
Ali’s appointment as deputy did not place him over a larger or better body than those over whom the Prophet appointed others. Rather, during every [one of the] campaigns, there [would be] more and better men from among the Emigrants (2) and the Helpers in Medina than those who stayed behind during the campaign of Tabūk. For the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—did not grant anyone leave to stay behind during the campaign of Tabūk. Thus, none stayed behind except a hypocrite, someone with a valid excuse, or the three whose repentance Allah accepted. Most (3) of those who remained behind were women and children. Hence, when he appointed Ali as his deputy during that campaign, Ali went out to him weeping and said, “Are you leaving me with the women and children (4 - 4): (4)?” [It is also related that some of the hypocrites disparaged Ali and said, “He left him in charge only because he hated him.”] (5)
Since he had appointed men other than Ali over more numerous and better people than those over whom he appointed Ali, and since this was (6) a limited appointment over a specified group [during his absence] (7), it was not an appointment as successor