Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Allah, Possessor of Majesty and Honor, created creation and chose the best of them; He selected a chosen one from among His servants and sent a messenger from among those chosen and righteous ones, revealed His heavenly Book to him, established His religion through him, and made His obligations binding and necessary upon him [and upon his nation]. All of this is contained in Allah's saying: 'Obey Allah and obey the Messenger of Allah and those in authority among you (ulu al-amr, the successors of the Prophet).' This expression, 'those in authority,' belongs only to us, the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), and to no one else. [Yet you abandoned us and] returned to your former state (the age of ignorance), all of you turned back, violated our authority, and broke the covenant. [From this evil deed and disgraceful practice of yours] no harm at all reaches Allah [rather, its evil returns upon yourselves]. Allah commanded you to refer the matter [of guardianship] to Allah, His Prophet, and those in authority among you, who are the people who derive knowledge. But you first acknowledged and accepted it, then afterward denied it, even though Allah had said: أَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِی أُوفِ بِعَهْدِکُمْ وَ إِیَّایَ فَارْهَبُونِ [Fulfill My covenant, I will fulfill your covenant, and be in awe of Me alone].