William Muir

“ With Mohammad ceased the theocratic power; but his kingly functions, as ruler over all Islam descended. According to Arabian notions, the leader of a nation, like the Chieftain of a tribe, is the head and representative of his people, and the nomination remains invalid till confirmed by their homage. 'Omar, in after days, held that the irregular election of Abu Bekr (referring apparently to the scene enacted in the Hall) should not be a precedent. It was, he said, an event the happiest in its consequences for Islam, but justified only by the urgency of the moment. ”

“ It may be necessary here to recall to the reader not fresh from the study of the Prophet's life, the state of parties at the present juncture. The Men of Medina were the old inhabitants of the City who had received Mohammad on his escape from Mecca, and supported his cause2; they now embraced practically the whole native population of Medina, since the party that opposed him on his first arrival had gradually succumbed before his growing power. ”

“ A third, the only other son the Prophet ever had, was born at Medina by the slave girl Mary, and died sixteen months old. No
1 Presidency at public prayer was ever in Islam the sign of chief command, whether in civil or in military life.
2 Tradition regarding 'Ali is coloured and distorted by the canvass of a political faction which in the end assumed the divine right of succession as vested in 'Ali and his descendants. There is not a shadow of proof that 'Ali himself ever made any claim of the kind, or that any such claim was made by others for him during the Caliphates of Abu Bekr and 'Omar. ”

“ The weaker amongst you shall be as the stronger with me, until that I shall have redressed his wrong; and the stronger shall be as the weaker until if the Lord will, I shall have taken from him that which he
1 In Arabic, Khalifah. ”