evil.

As for the funds regarding which [Uthman] (1) exercised interpretive judgment, Ali likewise exercised interpretive judgment regarding bloodshed—and bloodshed is a graver and weightier matter.

Second, it may be said: You yourselves disagree so greatly about this explicit designation that it necessarily establishes that you possess nothing reliable concerning it. Rather, each group among you fabricates whatever it pleases.

Moreover, the great majority of Muslims say: “We know with certainty (2)—indeed, by necessary knowledge—that this alleged designation is false, through numerous lines of proof set out fully in their appropriate places.”

It may be said (3), third: Since this is so, Uthman’s justification becomes clear. Uthman says: “Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—used to appoint members of Banū Umayya during his lifetime. After him, they were likewise appointed by men who cannot be accused of favoring them because of kinship, including Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him—and Umar—may Allah be pleased with him. We know of no clan of Quraysh from which more officials served Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—than Banū Abd Shams. They were numerous and possessed nobility and leadership. Thus, when Islam was ascendant, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—appointed Attāb ibn Asīd ibn Abī al-Ās ibn Umayya governor of Mecca, the best of lands. He appointed Abū Sufyān ibn Harb ibn Umayya governor of Najran, and he also (4) placed Khālid ibn Saīd ibn al-Ās in charge of the alms collected from Banū Madhhij,