I performed my duties at a time when all others lacked the courage to step forward on this path. I came forward raising my head when others were hiding in corners, and I opened my tongue when others were mute, and I advanced in the light of Allah when others had fallen to the ground. Although my voice was softer than all of them, I was ahead of all in precedence and taking the lead. I was the one who had to hold the reins of this movement, and it flew away. And I was the clear one who won in this field. I appeared like a mountain that neither strong winds can move nor fierce storms can shake from its place. There was no opportunity for fault-finding in me nor room for criticism. The oppressed is powerful in my eyes until I get his right for him, and the powerful is weak in my view until I take the right of another from him. We have become content with the divine decree and have entrusted all matters to it. Do you think that I fabricate lies against the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? By Allah, I am the one who first affirmed him, so how would I now take the lead in fabricating falsehood against him? I looked at my circumstances and saw that obedience to the Messenger was more important to me than any kind of allegiance, and the covenant and pact that was on my neck from him.