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His refusal may be seen as a reprehensible act. However, he had his logic and argument. After the
murder of `Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) the situation got worse and aggravated in a
dangerous and alarming way.
Although he was very humble towards the position of the caliph, he was ready to accept its
responsibilities and face its dangers, but only on the condition that he be voluntarily and willingly chosen
by all Muslims. However, to force one single Muslim to swear the oath of allegiance by sword was what
he opposed, and so he refused the post of caliph.
At that time, however, this was impossible. Despite his merits and the public consensus of love and
respect for him, the expansion into the different regions, the long distances between them, and the
disputes which furiously set fire between the Muslims and divided them into sects fighting each other
made it impossible to reach such a consensus set by Ibn `Umar as a condition for his acceptance of the
caliphate.
A man once met him and said, "No one is more evil in the whole Muslim community than you!" lbn
`Umar said, `Why? By Allah, I've never shed their blood, or divided their community, or sowed
dissension." The man replied, "If you had wished it, every single one would have agreed upon you." Ibn
`Umar said, "I don't like to see it (the caliphate) being offered to me while one man says no and another
one says yes.
The people still loved him even after events changed and the caliphate went to Mu'aawiyah, then to
his son Yaziid, then to Mu'aawiyah II, son of Yaziid, who stepped down renouncing its pleasure after a
couple of days in office.
Even on that day, when lbn `Umar was an old man, he was still the people's hope and the hope of
the caliphate. Thus Marwaan went to him saying, "Give me your hand to swear to you the oath of
allegiance. You're the master of the Arabs, and the son of their master. " Ibn `Umar asked, `What are we
going to do with the people of the east?" Marwaan said, "Beat them until they swear the oath." lbn `Umar
replied, "I don't like to be 70 years old and a man gets killed because of me."
Marwaan went away singing: I can see civil strife boiling in its pots and the kingdom after Abi Laila
Mu'aawiyah Ibn Yaziid) will end in the hands of the victorious.
This refusal to use force and the sword is what made lbn `Umar hold a position of neutrality and
isolation during the armed civil strife between the parties of `Ally and Mu'aawiyah, reciting these solemn
words:
To the one who says, !Come to prayer," I will respond.
And to the one who says, "Come to success," I will respond.
But to the one who says, "Come to kill your Muslim brother"
to take his money," I will say, "No."
But while remaining neutral and isolated he never turned to hypocrisy. How often did he confront
Mu'aawiyah - while the latter was at the summit of his authority - with challenges which confused and
hurt him till he threatened to kill him! and he was the one who said, "if there is only a tiny hair between
me and the people it won't be torn."
One day Al-Hajaaj stood preaching and said, "lbn Az-Zubair has distorted the Book of Allah!"
Hereupon Ibn Umar shouted in his face, "You are lying! You are lying! You are lying!" Al-Hajaaj was at
a loss, struck by surprise.
Everything and everyone was terrified even by the mention of his name. He promised lbn `Umar the
worst punishment, but Ibn `Umar waved his hand in A'-Hajaaj's face and replied, while people were