Why did you not argue against them (ansar) that the Prophet had left his will that whoever is good among Ansar should be treated well and whoever is bad should be forgiven.
People said: "What is the proof against them in it?"
Amir al-mu'minin said:
"If the Government was for them there should have been no will in their favour."
Then he said:
"What did the Quraysh plead?"
People said: "They argued that they belong to the lineal tree of the Prophet.
Then Amir al-mu'minin said:
"They defended themselves with the plea of the tree but neglected the fruit."
(1) Al-Nuwayri, Nihayah, VIII, 168;
(2) al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 326;
(4) al-Jawhari, al-Saqifah, see Ibn Abi al-Hadid, II, at the beginning;
(5) al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, VI, 263;
(8) al-Tawhidi, al-Basa'ir, 59;
(9)al-Murtada, al-'Amali, I, 198.