In response to Muawiya

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 28
Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 2, Chapter 28

In response to Muawiya

فَنَحْنُ مَرَّةً أوْلَى بِالْقَرَابَةِ، وَتَارَةً أَوْلَى بِالطَّاعَةِ. وَلَمَّا احْتَجَّ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ عَلَى الْأَنْصَارِ يَوْمَ السَّقِيفَةِ بِرَسُولِ الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) فَلَجُوا عَلَيْهِمْ، فَإِنْ يَكُنِ الْفَلَجُ بِهِ فَالْحَقُّ لَنَا دُونَكُمْ، وَإِنْ يَكُنْ بِغَيْرِهِ فَالْأَنْصَارُ عَلَى دَعْوَاهُمْ.
Thus, we are superior firstly because of kinship and secondly because of obedience. When at Saqīfah (of Banū Sā‘idah) the muhājirūn contended kinship with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم against the anṣār, they scored over them. If that success was based on kinship then the right would be ours better than yours. Otherwise, the anṣar’s contention stands.