The Diagnostic Assessment of Influential Elites in the  Alawi Government

At the time of Amir al-Mu’menin ‘Ali’s rule, the influential elites gradually deviated from the right path and committed some evil deeds which, in turn, paved the ground for them to resist against Imam ‘Ali’s reforms. One of their misconduct was that they developed a sense of envy of and enmity towards Amir al-Mu’menin, which had its root in such worldly affairs as ethnic dogmatism, their serious defeats and failures in battles in which they were put to Imam Ali’s sword, and personal grudges.The second corruption they were involved in, which led them to rise in rebellion against Amir al-Mu’menin, was their material interests. Their aristocratic life prevented them to follow Amir al-Mu’menin’s system of government based on justice. Hence they put up struggle against his policy of fair distribution of the treasury of the Islamic state.Interpretation of the Qur’an by the free play of (arbitrary) personal opinion and developing innovation (bid‘a) in religion was another deviation which occurred among the elites and the heads of the companions of the Prophet who exercised their influence at the time of Imam Ali’s rule. These and some other contributing factors caused theelites to distance themselves from Amir al-Mu’menin by establishing innovation, refraining from taking part in battles, waging wars against Imam Ali and assisting his enemies.