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`Amr: O Abu Muusaa, no man is suitable for this affair unless he has two molars. He eats with one
and he feeds (others) with the other.
Abu Muusaa: Woe to you, O `Amr! Indeed, the Muslims have entrusted the matter to us, after they
have fought with one another by force of arms and swords. Do not hurt them with spears! Do not turn
them back to civil war and discord.
`Amr: So what do you see?
Abu Muusaa: I see that we should depose the two men, `Aliy and Mu'aawiyah. Then make
consultation between the Muslims. They will choose for themselves who they want.
`Amr: I am pleased with this view. So indeed the goodness of the heart is in it. This argument
completely changes the form which we are accustomed to see.
This argument completely changes the form which we are accustomed to see every time we mention
the incident of arbitration. Indeed, in these arguments Abu Muusaa was not of a neglectful mind, but
very active. On the contrary, in this dialogue, his intelligence was more active than the intellect of `Amr
Ibn Al-'Aas who was famous for his wit and shrewdness. So when `Amr wanted to propose the caliphate
of Mu'aawiyah based on genealogy in the Quraish and guardianship of the blood of `Uthmaan, the
refutation of Abu Muusaa came sharply and brilliantly as the edge of a sword.
"If the caliphate were based on nobility, then Abrahah Ibn As Sabbaah, who is from a line of kings, is
more worthy of guardianship than Mu'aawiyah. And if the caliphate were based on guardianship of the
blood of `Uthmaan and defense of his right, then Ibn `Uthmaan is more worthy of this guardianship than
Mu' aawiyah."
After this dialogue, the responsibility for what followed was assumed by' Amr Ibn Al-'Aas alone.
So, Abu Muusaa was exonerated from guilt by referring the matter back to the nation to give their
word and choose their caliph. `Amr agreed and adhered to this view. It did not come to his mind that
`Amr was going to threaten Islam and the Muslims with an evil disaster, and that he would resort to
maneuvers whatever may be his conviction about Mu'aawiyah. Ibn `Abbaas warned him when he
returned to them and informed them about the maneuvers of `Amr and said to him, "By Allah I fear that
`Amr will trick you, so if the two of you agree on something, let him come forward before you to speak.
Then you speak after him.!'
However, Abu Muusaa saw the situation on a more lofty and sublime level than the maneuvers of
`Amr. From then on, he had no doubt or suspicion of the commitment of `Amr with regards to what they
had agreed on. They gathered the following day, Abu Muusaa representing the side of Imam `Aliy and
`Amr Ibn Al-'Aas representing the side of Mu'aawiyah. Abu Muusaa invited `Amr to speak first, but
`Amr refused and said to him, "I am not going to precede you when you are more virtuous thin I, and
emigrated before me, and are older than me".
Abu Muusaa advanced first and greeted the waiting crowd from both parties and said, "O people,
indeed, in this matter concerning which Allah has gathered together this nation and to put its affair in
proper order, we do not see anything better than the deposition of the two men, `Aliy and Mu'aawiyah
and to call for consultation among the people to choose for themselves whom they like. Therefore, I
depose `Aliy and Mu'aawiyah. So take upon yourselves as guardians whom you love.
Now, the turn of `Amr Ibn Al-`Aas came to announce the deposition of Mu'aawiyah, just as Abu
Muusaa had deposed `Aliy, in fulfillment of the confirmed, established agreement of the previous day.
`Amr ascended the pulpit and said, "O people, indeed, Abu Muusaa has said what you heard and deposed
his companion. indeed, I depose his companion just as he deposed him and confirm my companion