Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/224

644] on the spot. The Electors, when thus again assembled, pressed hotly each the claim of his own party, and two days passed in unprofitable wrangling. ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān spent the night in visiting the leading Citizens, and the chief officers from the Provinces (who, having come for the yearly Pilgrimage, had not yet departed), and in sounding their views. On the third day, Abu Ṭalḥa warned the Electors that he would allow no further delay, and that decision must be come to by the morning. To bring the matter to an issue, ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān offered to forego his own claim, if only the rest would abide by his choice. They all agreed but ʿAlī, who at first was silent, but at last said: "First give me thy word that thou wilt regard neither kith nor kin, but right alone and the people's weal." "And I," rejoined ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān, "ask thee first to give me thy troth that thou wilt abide by my choice, and against all dissentients support it." ʿAlī assented, and thus the matter rested in the hands of ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān.

That night ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān, closeted with each of the Electors in turn, did not close his eyes. The contest was narrowed between the houses of Hāshim and Umeiya, in the persons of ʿAlī and ʿOthmān; and their influence with the electoral body was fairly equal. Az-Zubeir was in favour of ʿAlī; how Saʿd voted is not certain. Ṭalḥa had not yet returned. With ʿAlī and ʿOthmān, separately, ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān was long in secret conference. Each pressed his own claim; but each admitted the claim of the other to be the next in weight. The morning broke upon them thus engaged; and now the nomination must be made.

The courts of the Mosque overflowed with expectant worshippers assembled for the morning service. ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān addressed them thus:—"The people think that the governors, chiefs, and captains from abroad should, without further waiting, return to their respective posts. Wherefore advise me now in this matter." ʿAmmār, late governor of Al-Kūfa, said: "If it be thy desire that there be no division in the land, then salute ʿAlī Caliph!" and Al-Miḳdād affirmed the same. "Nay," cried Ibn abi Sarḥ, "if it be thy desire that there be no division, then salute ʿOthmān!" and Abu Rabīʿa affirmed the same. ʿAmmār turned in contempt on Ibn abi Sarḥ, who, repaying scorn