The Reality of the Situation during Hazrat Ali’s (ra) Khilafat
The Promised Messiah (as) then further states:
“The Khawarij proclaim that Hazrat Ali (ra) was rebellious and accuse him of committing many unrighteous acts. In fact, they consider him to be completely devoid of any faith. Thus, a natural question that arises here is that if righteousness, truthfulness and honesty is an essential requirement for one to become a Siddiq [the truthful one], then why is it that God Almighty made certain matters appear unclear or doubtful for the people relating to these pious men, who were prophets, messengers and saints?” Why were people not able to understand the true reality of the matters in relation to them? Why were their circumstances and their true character hidden from these people “and why did they fail to understand their words and actions to such an extent that they completely expelled them from the fold of righteousness, truthfulness and honesty and considered them to be from among the oppressors, who usurped the wealth of others, unlawfully shed the blood of others, committed deception and treachery and were subservient to their inner desires and committed vice?
“In fact, there are many people in the world who neither claim to be a messenger, nor a prophet, saint, imam or khalifa of the Muslims, and yet no one levels a single allegation against their way of life or their character. The answer to this question is that God Almighty did this so that the true reality of those who are His chosen and beloved servants remains hidden from those evil ones, who are quick to pass judgment and in whose nature it is to think ill of others just as God Almighty has concealed Himself from others.”
(Tiryaq al-Qulub, Ruhani Khaza‘in, Vol. 15, p. 422)
In other words, just as people think ill of Allah the Almighty, Who is hidden, in the same way these evil people think ill of His beloved servants as well and are quick to level allegations against them. These very people are ones who are devoid of righteousness and yet level accusations against those who are righteous.
The Promised Messiah (as) further states:
“There is no doubt that Hazrat Ali (ra) was a hope for the seekers of the truth and an unparalleled model of generosity. He was divine proof for the people and the best example of his time. He was the light of Allah that was to illuminate the world. However, the era of his Khilafat was not a time of peace and safety, but a time of intense conflict and discord. People differed between his Khilafat and the Khilafat of Ibn Abi Sufyan and would look to them in a state of utter perplexity. Some people considered them to be like two bright furqad [two bright stars of Ursa Minor] stars and considered them equal in stature.
“The fact of the matter is that the truth was on the side of [Ali] Al-Murtaza. Those who fought against him were rebellious and transgressors. However, his Khilafat was not the recipient of the glad-tidings given by the Gracious God regarding the establishment of peace and security. In fact, Hazrat Ali al-Murtazara was given a lot of pain from his opponents and his Khilafat was tarnished through various kinds of evils. Allah had greatly blessed him, but he remained full of sorrow and grief his entire life. He was not able to propagate the message of Islam and eradicate the Satanic forces [in the land] like the Khulafa before him; in fact, he was not even spared from being reviled by his own people. His every plan and desire was denied by his people and they failed to unite around him; rather, they were bent on continuously carrying out injustices against him and causing him pain. They hindered him and placed obstacles in every path of his. However, he was extremely patient and amongst the righteous, but still we cannot say that his Khilafat was a fulfilment of the glad-tidings mentioned in Ayat-e-Istikhlaf because his Khilafat was during an era of disorder, rebellion and turmoil.”
(Sirr al-Khilafah, Ruhani Khaza‘in, Vol. 8, pp. 352-353, Urdu Tarjumah of Sirr al-Khilafah, pp. 95-96, Nazarat Ishaat)