Likewise, the claim that he knew(1) that Alī and Uthmān would never agree on any matter is a lie [against Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—](2). There was never any dispute whatsoever between Uthmān and Alī during Umar’s lifetime. Rather, each of them was closer to the other than any of the remaining four were to either of them(3). [Both of them](4) belonged to the Banū Abd Manāf.
The Banū Abd Manāf continued to stand united. Indeed, shortly after the death of the Prophet—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—Abū Sufyān ibn Harb went to Alī and urged him to assume authority, since Alī was Abū Sufyān’s cousin. Abū Sufyān still had(5) vestiges of the Arabs’ pre-Islamic tribalism: he disliked the idea of a man from outside his tribe ruling the people and wanted authority to remain among the Banū Abd Manāf.
Khālid ibn Saīd had likewise been absent. When he returned, he spoke to Uthmān and Alī and said:
“Are you content to let authority pass out of the hands of the Banū Abd Manāf?”
Anyone familiar with the usual course of events and the previous conduct of these people knows that the Banū Hāshim and the Banū Umayya were in complete accord during the time of the Prophet—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—and of Abū Bakr and Umar. Thus, when Abū Sufyān left Mecca in the year of the Conquest to gather intelligence, al-Abbās saw him, took him up behind him on his mount, and brought him to the Prophet—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He then asked the Prophet to confer some distinction upon him, saying to him, “Indeed,