Did the Sabaites Force Ali (as) to Accept the Caliphate?

Did the Sabaites Force Ali (as) to Accept the Caliphate?

Ibn al Hashimi states:

Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 91

When people decided to swear allegiance at Amir al-mu’minin’s hand after the murder of Uthman, Ali said:

“Leave me and seek someone else. We are facing a matter which has (several) faces and colors, which neither hearts can stand nor intelligence can accept. Clouds are hovering over the sky, and faces are not discernible. You should know that if I respond to you, I would lead you as I know and would not care about whatever [anyone else] may say. If you leave me, then I am the same as you are. It is possible I would listen to and obey whosoever you make in charge of your affairs. I am better for you as a counsellor than as chief.”

[source: http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/91.htm]

Reply – The Sahaba forced Imam Ali (as) to become the Khalifa not the Sabaites

Ibn al Hashimi’s ability to infer something from Shi’a texts without a shred of evidence is indeed amazing. He has suggested that Imam Ali (as) refused to become the Khalifa because he wanted nothing to do with the Sabaites that killed Uthman. Where does he state this in this and the preceding sermon? By linking this second sermon with his discussions on the Sabaites it seems that this Nasibi is suggesting that Sabaites forced Imam Ali (as) to become the fourth Khalifa. By alleging this he has blasphemed the Sahaba, since it was the companions of Madina that approached our Imam and asked that he lead them through these tough times. To suggest that these Madinan Sahaba were Sabaites is indeed a blasphemy that Ibn al Hashimi should be ashamed of! Imam Ali (as)’s refusal was because he knew the sorts of challenges and hostility he was due to face, that had been a direct consequence of the policies of his predecessors, particularly Uthman. Undoing such policies would court criticism from various quarters and our Imam (as) was fed up with the people and preferred to live a life of peace. When the pressure of the Sahaba became too much he accepted this leadership role. Such facts don’t brother Ibn al Hashimi who persists on pursuing the same conspiracy theory, clear from his next allegation…