Mohammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Is’haq Taleqani narrated: Abu saeed Hassan ibn Ali Al Odwani narrated from Haitham ibn Abdullah Rammani who said: I asked Imam Ridha (AS): Please explain why Imam Ali (AS) for 25 years after the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) did not fight with his enemies, but when he became Caliph he fought them? Imam Ridha (AS) replied: Imam Ali (AS) followed the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).

After his appointment by God, the Prophet (PBUH) for 13 years in Mecca and 19 months in Medina did not fight enemies of God because of lack of support and small number of companions and followers, and Imam Ali (AS) for the same reason could not fight enemies of God. Therefore, as the refusal of the Prophet (PBUH) in the mentioned periods to fight enemies did not affect his prophethood, the same applies to Imam Ali (AS) and his Imamate, because the reason for both cases was the same [1].

[1] Elalul Sharaye’a, Vol. 1, page 495.

Source: Shafaqna