Another prophecy of Imam Ali (a.s.) regarding Marwan

Abu Makhnaf narrates from Adi, who narrates from Abi Hisham, who narrates from Buraid, who narrates from Abdullah bin Makhariq, who narrates from Hisham bin Masahiq e Qarashi, who said: My father was saying: When the soldiers evaded from the Battle of Jamal, a group of men from Quraysh, along with whom was Marwan bin Hakam, came near him and a few men said to a few others:

“By God, we have done injustice with this man, Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.), and broke his allegiance without any reason; and by God, when he overpowered us, I didn’t find anyone more merciful and forgiving than him after the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Let us go towards him and seek forgiveness from him.”

He says: We reached the door of Imam Ali’s house and sought permission from him. He permitted us and when we stood beside him, our speaker wished to speak but he said:

‘Remain calm and silent until I speak. Indeed, I am a man alike you, if I say the truth, approve of me and if I say what is untrue, don’t accept my words. Swear in the name of God, do you know that when the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) died, I was the closest to him of all and deserved to rule more than any other person.

They said: Yes, we agree.

Imam (a.s.) said: You turned your backs on me while you were aware of this, and pledged allegiance with Abu Bakr. I withheld myself and did not want to disintegrate the Muslims and create a dispute between them. And Abu Bakr allotted the rule, after him, for Umar. Again, I showed patience and did not provoke the people while I rightly knew that I was the most appropriate and deserving of all men for the caliphate of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), but I kept on showing endurance and calmness until he was killed and he (Umar) allotted me as the sixth person of the committee (Shura). Even then, I withheld myself from caliphate as I did not want to instigate a division between the Muslims. Then you pledged allegiance with Othman and then revolted against him, and killed him while I was sitting in my house. You came willingly to me and pledged allegiance with me, just like you had pledged allegiance with Abu Bakr and Umar but had fulfilled your pledge, but did not fulfil your pledge with me. What caused you to break the allegiance with me and not with them?

We said: O Amir al-Momineen! Act like the pious slave Yusuf (a.s.), who said: ‘Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.[1]’

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: Have no fear this day! Although, there is a man among you who if pledges allegiance with the palm of his hand today, he will break it tomorrow by turning his back on me’.

And Imam Ali (a.s.) indicated towards Marwan by this remark.[2]