‘Umar, and Sa‘d’s withholding allegiance did not undermine its validity, because Sa‘d neither disparaged al-Siddīq nor disputed that he was the best of the Emigrants. Rather, this was well known among them, but he sought to have a leader from among the Helpers.

It is established through numerous independently transmitted reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“The rulers are from Quraysh.” (1)

Thus, Sa‘d’s view was mistaken and contrary to the known explicit text. His withholding allegiance was therefore known to be an error on the basis of that text, (2 and when an error is established by an explicit text 2) (2), there is no need to appeal to consensus.

As for the pledge of allegiance to ‘Uthmān, no one withheld it, despite the Muslims’ great numbers and their spread from Ifrīqiyah to Khurāsān, and from the coasts of Syria to the farthest reaches of Yemen. They were prevailing over their enemies among the polytheists and the People of the Book, fighting them as conquests and victories continued to increase and their rule endured. For six years—half his caliphate—the Muslims maintained their allegiance to him and their approval of him, honouring and praising him, with none of them openly speaking ill of him.

After that, some began to criticize him, while the majority continued to speak only well of him. His rule over them had lasted a long time: he remained in office for twelve years. None of the four caliphs’ reigns lasted as long as his. Al-Siddīq’s caliphate lasted two years and part of a third; ‘Umar’s, ten years and part of the next; and ‘Alī’s, four years and part of a fifth. During his caliphate, there arose people who had entered Islam