348 - Muhammad informed us, saying: Waki' reported to us, from al-A'mash, from Abu Salih, who said: A camel driver was driving the camels for 'Uthman, saying:
[Al-Rajaz Meter]
Indeed the leader after him is 'Ali, And in al-Zubayr (there is) a successor who is pleasing.
He said: Then Ka'b said: "No, rather it is the owner of the grey-white mule," meaning Mu'awiyah. It was said to Mu'awiyah: "Ka'b is mocking you, claiming that you will take charge of this affair." So he came to him and said to him: "O Abu Ishaq, how (can that be), while 'Ali, al-Zubayr, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) are here?" He replied: "You are its owner."
٣٤٨ - أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ: أَنْبَأَ وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، قَالَ: كَانَ الْحَادِي يَحْدُو بِعُثْمَانَ، وَهُوَ يَقُولُ:
[البحر الرجز]
إِنَّ الْأَمِيرَ بَعْدَهُ عَلِيَّا ... وَفِي الزُّبَيْرِ خَلَفًا رَضِيَّا
قَالَ: فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ: «لَا، وَلَكِنَّهُ صَاحِبُ الْبَغْلَةِ الشَّهْبَاءِ» يَعْنِي مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَقِيلَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ: إِنَّ كَعْبًا يَسْخَرُ بِكَ، يَزْعُمُ أَنَّكَ تَلِي هَذَا الْأَمْرَ، فَأَتَاهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، وَكَيْفَ وَهَاهُنَا عَلِيٌّ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَأَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: «أَنْتَ صَاحِبُهَا»
