Sermon 74: You have certainly known that...

When the Consultative Committee (or Shura) decided to swear allegiance to Uthman, Amir al-Muminin said:

لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّي أَحَقُّ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِي،

You have certainly known that I am the most rightful of all others for the Caliphate.

وَوَاللهِ لاَسْلِمَنَّ مَاسَلِمَتْ أُمُورُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ،

By Allah, so long as the affairs of Muslims remain intact

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِا جَوْرٌ إِلاَّ عَلَيَّ خَاصَّةً،

and there is no oppression in it save on myself

الْتمَاساً لاِجْرِ ذلِكَ وَفَضْلِهِ،

I shall keep quiet seeking reward for it (from Allah)

وَزُهْداً فِيَما تَنافَسْتُمُوهُ مِنْ زُخْرُفِهِ وَزِبْرِجِهِ

and keeping aloof from its attractions and allurements for which you aspire.

 

Alternative Sources for Sermon 74: Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, chronicles of the year 23; al-'Azhari, Tahdhib, I, 341; al-Harawi, al-Jam’; al-Shaykh Warram, Tanbih; Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, events of the year 23.