the West are the people of Syria. We have discussed this at length elsewhere, and this [text] (1) applies to Muʿāwiyah’s army.

They said:

Muʿāwiyah, too (2), was better than many of those whom ʿAlī appointed as his deputies. He therefore did not deserve to be dismissed and replaced by someone inferior to him in governance. Indeed, ʿAlī appointed Ziyād ibn Abīh, and they advised (3) ʿAlī to appoint Muʿāwiyah. [They said, “Commander of the Faithful, appoint him for a month, then dismiss him forever.”] (4) There is no doubt that this would have been the most beneficial course, whether because he deserved the position or in order to win him over (5) and secure his goodwill. The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—was superior to ʿAlī, yet he appointed Abū Sufyān, while Muʿāwiyah was better than Abū Sufyān. Thus, one who was superior to ʿAlī appointed someone who was inferior to Muʿāwiyah.

If it is said:

“ʿAlī was exercising independent judgment in that matter,”

it may be replied:

“ʿUthmān likewise exercised independent judgment in what he did.” How can exercising independent judgment in singling out certain people for a governorship [or an office of command] (6) or wealth compare with exercising independent judgment in a conflict in which Muslims shed one another’s blood, until the believers were brought low and became incapable of resisting the unbelievers, who then developed designs against them and sought to gain mastery over them? There is no doubt that, had there been no fighting—had Muʿāwiyah instead continued governing his subjects and ʿAlī continued (7) governing his subjects—that would not have entailed