a caliph. Rather, (1) a caliph is one around whom the people have united (2). They did not unite (3) around ʿAlī.” Among them were some who would name Muʿāwiya as the fourth caliph in the Friday sermon (4): they would mention the first three and then name Muʿāwiya fourth, without mentioning ʿAlī. They argued that the people had united under Muʿāwiya (5) [in allegiance] (6) when al-Hasan pledged allegiance to him, unlike ʿAlī, under whom the Muslims had not united (7). For this reason, they would say, “We have named Muʿāwiya fourth (8), not because he is superior to ʿAlī. Rather, ʿAlī is superior to him, just as many of the Companions were superior to Muʿāwiya even though they were not caliphs.”
Imam Ahmad and others cited against them the hadith of Safīna, who reported that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“The caliphate after me will last thirty years; then it will become kingship.”
Ahmad said, “Whoever does not count ʿAlī as the fourth caliph (9) is more astray than his own family’s donkey.” Some of these people criticized Ahmad because of these words, saying, “Among the Companions, Talha (10), al-Zubayr, and others denied his caliphate, and this cannot be said (11) of them