and appointing someone as deputy is neither a mark of inferiority nor a slight. Moses appointed Aaron as his deputy over his people, so how could it be a mark of inferiority (1), when Moses indeed did this (2) with Aaron?”

This comforted Alī’s heart and made clear that appointment as a deputy, by its very nature, attests to the honor and trustworthiness of the person appointed; it does not imply humiliating him or impugning his trustworthiness. This is because the appointed deputy remains apart from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—while all the Companions had gone out with him.

When kings and others set out on military campaigns, they take with them those from whom they derive great benefit and whose assistance to them is considerable (3), and whom they need to consult and benefit from their judgment, speech, action, and sword.

A person left behind (4), when he has little governing to do in Medina, requires none of this. Thus, some imagined that this was a slight to Alī, a detraction from him, and a lowering of his standing, because the Prophet did not take him along to the important situations requiring exertion and endeavor, but instead left him in places that did not require much (5) exertion and endeavor. The Prophet’s statement—peace and blessings be upon him—therefore made clear that appointment as deputy is, by its very nature, neither a mark of inferiority nor a slight; for had it been so, Moses would not have done it with Aaron.

Yet this appointment was not like Aaron’s appointment, for the army remained with Aaron, while Moses alone went away. By contrast, when the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—appointed a deputy, the entire army accompanied him,