Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons
Sermon 74: You have certainly known that...
When the Consultative Committee (or Shura) decided to swear allegiance to `Uthman, Amir al-mu'minin said:
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)
لمّا عزموا على بيعة عثمان
You have certainly known that I am the most rightful of all others for the Caliphate. By Allah, so long as the affairs of Muslims remain intact and there is no oppression in it save on myself I shall keep quiet seeking reward for it (from Allah) and keeping aloof from its attractions and allurements for which you aspire.
لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّي أَحَقُّ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِي، وَوَاللهِ لاَسْلِمَنَّ مَاسَلِمَتْ أُمُورُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِا جَوْرٌ إِلاَّ عَلَيَّ خَاصَّةً، الْتمَاساً لاِجْرِ ذلِكَ وَفَضْلِهِ، وَزُهْداً فِيَما تَنافَسْتُمُوهُ مِنْ زُخْرُفِهِ وَزِبْرِجِهِ
Alternative Sources for Sermon 74
(1) Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, chronicles of the year 23;
(2) al-'Azhari, Tahdhib, I, 341;
(3) al-Harawi, al-Jam`;
(4) al-Shaykh Warram, Tanbih;
(5) Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, events of the year 23.