Regarding arbitration, he said: We did not make men the judge, but rather the Quran, because this Quran is a written book between two covers that does not speak with the tongue. So it was necessary that there be an interpreter for it, and those are men who interpret it. When those people gave us the message that we should make the Quran the judge between us, we were not such people that we would turn away from Allah's book. While the truth, the Exalted, says: 'If you dispute about anything, then (to settle the dispute) refer to Allah and the Messenger.' Referring to Allah means that we judge according to His book, and referring to the Messenger means that we follow his Sunnah. So if judgment is made from the Book of Allah with truth, then according to it, we are more deserving (of caliphate) than all people. And if judgment is made according to the Sunnah of the Messenger, then we are also more deserving of it than them. Now regarding your saying that why did the Imam keep a period between himself and them for arbitration. So I did this so that (in this period) the one who does not know may investigate, and the one who knows may remain firm on his method, and perhaps Allah the Exalted may set right the conditions of this ummah through this peace, and they may not be strangled in ignorance, that before truth becomes clear, someone may not take a step in haste and follow the first misguidance. Certainly, the best person to Allah is the one who remains acting on truth, even if it causes loss and harm to him, and does not turn to falsehood, even if it is causing some benefit to him. You are being misled. From where have you been brought (on Satan's path)? You are becoming ready and prepared to advance toward that nation that has turned away from truth and is wandering, that it does not see it, and they have been led astray in misguidances, that they do not want to come to the straight path after leaving them. These people are those who remain separate from the Book of Allah and have deviated from the correct path. But you are not any strong means that trust can be placed in you, nor are you supports of honor that can be attached to you. You are not capable of kindling the fire of war (for the enemy). Woe to you, how many troubles I have had to bear from you. I speak to you confidentially about (war) some days, but you prove to be neither true brave men at the time of calling, nor trustworthy brothers for confidential matters.