The people took Hazrat Ali (a.s.) to Abu Bakr and made him sit before him.[1] At that moment Umar stood behind him holding a sword to his neck. Khalid ibne Waleed, Abu Obaydah bin Jarrah, Saalem Maula Abu Huzayfah, Ma’az bin Jabal Mughayrah bin Shoaybah, Aseed ibne Saeed and some other companions were gathered there with their arms.
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, How soon have you attacked the house of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). O Abu Bakr! On the basis of which right, on the basis of which inheritance or which merit are you seeking allegiance from the people. Did you not, on the order of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), give bay’at to me and acknowledge my wilayat and leadership?[2] At this, Umar sat on Hazrat Ali’s (a.s.) thigh and held him tight with both hands.[3] He shook Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and said, “Leave all this aside and just do bay’at. ” Hazrat Ali (a.s.) challenged him saying, “and if I do not agree to give bay’at? ” They said, “We will kill you with utmost disgrace and humiliation.” Some narrations attribute this statement to Abu Bakr and others to Umar – “We swear by La ilaha illallah, we will sever your head.”
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) asked, “Will you kill a servant of God and the brother of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)?” Umar or Abu Bakr replied, “We accept that you are a servant of God. But your claim to be the brother of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) is not correct.”[4]
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, “if my Lord had not made a clear decision in this regard, and if my brother, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) had not taken a covenant from me, I would have shown you all whose helpers and aides are less.” Then Ali (a.s.) turned his attention towards the people and said, “O Muslims, Mohajir and Ansar both, I ask you for the sake of Allah, did you not hear the narration of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) on the day of Ghadeer? Did you not hear what he (s.a.w.) said on the Day of Tabuk?”
Then Hazrat Ali (a.s.) questioned the people one by one about all those reports, which were made by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) in his favor on innumerable occasions. Each one of them said, yes, we have heard this from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.).
Sensing that the people may change their minds and become prepared to support Hazrat Ali (a.s.), Abu Bakr stepped forward and said, “Whatever you have said is correct and is the truth. We heard all this with our ears and captured it well within our hearts. But then we also heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) say, “Allah has chosen us, Ahle’ Bayt (a.s.) and granted us respect and honor. He favored us and chose the hereafter for us over this world. Surely Allah did not ordain both Nabuwwat and Khilafat for us (at one place).”
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, “Has any companion other than you heard this tradition?”
Umar said, “The caliph of Allah has spoken the truth. Yes, I have heard this tradition too.”
Abu Obaydah who was the freed slave of Huzayfah, Salem and Ma’az bin Jabal also said that yes, we have heard this tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.).
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, “In reality, you are fulfilling the accursed pact, which you made amongst yourself in the Ka’bah – that if ever Mohammed is killed or departs from this world, we will snatch the caliphate from the Ahle’ Bayt (a.s.).”
Hearing this, Abu Bakr was stunned. He said, “How did you come to know of this? We never disclosed this to you.”
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, “Zubayr, Salman, Abu Zar and Miqdad – I ask you one question for the sake of Allah. Were you not present when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) narrated that “some people” – he (s.a.w.) even took their names – had made a pact amongst themselves. Is this not the same pact which is being put into effect here?
All of them answered in the affirmative and confirmed that they had heard this narration of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) – that these people had made a disruptive pact amongst themselves to act in this manner – that if I die, O Ali, these people will seek to take the caliphate far away from you. At that time, you had asked the Holy Prophet what would be the best course of action when this event occurs.
The Holy Propet (s.a.w.) said, “If you find supporters and helpers then perform jehad with the Quran. If you are forsaken and do not find helpers, then take all possible steps to protect your life.”
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, “I swear by Allah! If the 40 people who swore allegiance to me would have been faithful, I would have surely done jehad with you for the sake of Allah. I swear by Allah, you will not find this in your progeny till the Day of Qiyamat. And you dare to falsify this saying of Allah with the narration of the Prophet (s.a.w.)?”
أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَا آتَاهُمُ اللهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ فَقَدْ آتَيْنَآ آلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَآتَيْنَاهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا
(Surah Nisa: verse 54)
“In this verse, the word Kitab means Nabuwwat, Hukumat means Sunnat, Mulk means Khilafat and Ale’ Ibrahim means us, Ahle’ Bayt (a.s.)”
At this moment, Boraydah stood up and said, “O Umar, did not the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) order you and Abu Bakr to go to Ali (a.s.) and to convey salaam to him and address him as Ameerul Mo’meneen? Then you both questioned the Prophet (s.a.w.) whether this order from was from Allah (s.w.t.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) had replied, yes.”
Abu Bakr spoke up, “O Boraydah, this was as you say. But you were not present there while we were. After this, there arose a completely different situation.”
Another narration reports that Abu Bakr replied, “Yes, it was as you say. But after this, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said that both Nabuwwat and Khilafat will not be present in Ahle’ Bayt (a.s.).”
Boraydah said, “By Allah, did the Prophet (s.a.w.) say such a thing?”
Umar shouted, “What do you have to do with these matters. Why are you interfering in this issues?”
Boraydah replied, “I do not like to stay in the same city as you.” After this Umar ordered that Boraydah be thrown out of the city.
Then Janabe’ Salman arose and addressed the gathering as follows, “O Abu Bakr, fear Allah. Step down from your position and return the seat to it rightful owners. By this action, people will be able to lead their lives in peace and safety till the Day of Qiyamat. There will remain no dispute amongst the people.”
Abu Bakr did not have any reply to this. Salman repeated his words. Umar pushed Salman and said to him, “what say do you have in these matters?” Salman asked Umar to calm down and addressed Abu Bakr, “O Abu Bakr, relieve your position and return it to its rightful owners. By this action, people will be able to lead their lives in peace and safety till the Day of Qiyamat. If you do not do so, there will be bloodshed and dispute will be rife amongst the people. By Allah! If I knew that I could protect a single oppressed person, or be the cause of pride for Islam, then I would fight shoulder to shoulder with my sword. But you have joined forces to rebel against the successor of the Prophet (s.a.w.). Then become ready to face calamities and despair of ever regaining peace.”
Then Janabe’ Abu Zar arose and addressed the gathering as follows, “O the people who have been deviated after the prophet! O the people who have been disgraced by their disobedience! Allah (s.w.t.) has said
إِنَّ اللهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِن بَعْضٍ وَاللهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran above the nations. Offspring, one of the other; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing”
(Surah Ale Imran verse 33/34)
They are the respected Aale’ Mohammed from the progeny of Hazrat Nuh (a.s.). They are Ale’ Ibrahim who continued from Janabe’ Ismail. They are the family of the prophet (s.a.w.). The centre of prophethood, the place of angels. Their position is elevated like the heavens, firm like the mountains and sacred like the Ka’aba. They are the fountainhead of purity and the rising stars, the blessed tree, sweet nectar and beautiful blossoms.
The Holy Prophet Mohammed Mustafa (s.a.w.) Khatmun Nabiyyeen (the seal of the prophets) is the master of all prophets and Ali (a.s.) is the leader of vicegerents – the chief of the pious, a shining star for the guided. He is Siddeeqe’ Akbar and Farooque’ Azam and none other than him is the heir of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and the inheritor of his knowledge. He has more authority on the selves of Mo’meneen than they have over themselves. As Allah declared in the Holy Quran,
النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ وَأُوْلُو الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَى بِبَعْضٍ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ إِلاَ أَن تَفْعَلُوا إِلَى أَوْلِيَائِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا كَانَ ذٰلِكَ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَسْطُورً
“The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves, and his wives are (as) their mothers; and the possessors of relationships have the better claim in the ordinance of Allah to inheritance, one with respect to another, than (other) believers, and (than) those who have fled (their homes), except that you do some good to your friends; this is written in the book ”
(Surah Ahzab verse 6)
Then you prefer those whom Allah has preferred and follow those whom Allah has ordered to follow. Then whoever Allah has chosen as his wali and his representative, you accept him and submit to him.”
After this Abu Zar, Miqdad and Ammar addressed Hazrat Ali (a.s.), “What is your command for us.” If you order us, we will keep fighting for the truth till our death. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) replied, “May Allah bless you with His Mercy. Be silent. Remember what the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has willed. Then these people become silent.
After this the grandmother of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and Janabe’ Umme' Salma came forward and said, “O Ateeq! To what extent have you expressed your intense jealousy for the family of Mohammed” Umar ordered them to be expelled from the mosque and said, “What do we have to do with the talks of women.”[5]
Then Umar turned to Abu Bakr (at this time, Abu Bakr was seated on the pulpit of the mosque) and said, “Who made you sit on the pulpit? (granted you with the authority to take decisions) These people (Hazrat Ali (a.s.)) continue to sit (oppose) you and refuse to stand and swear allegiance to you. Why don’t you order that they be beheaded?”
Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) were standing there and witnessing this scene. On hearing these harsh words from Umar, they began crying. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) embraced them and said, “Don’t cry, these people cannot murder your father.” At this moment, Umar once again said, “O son of Abu Talib, stand up and offer your allegiance!”
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) challenged him, “and if I refuse to do so?” Umar replied, “We will sever your head from your body”
Then Hazrat Ali (a.s.) turned his face towards the sky and said, “O my Lord! You be a witness to these events.” The people then tried to forcibly open the hands of Hazrat Ali (a.s.), but he clenched them so tightly that none was able to do so. Finally, Abu Bakr rubbed his hand over the clenched fist of Hazrat Ali (a.s.).
[1] Al Mustarshid, page 377/378
[2] Sulaym Ibne' Qays page 74/75 and page 251
[3] Kaukabe' Durriyah, volume 1 page 194/195
[4] Sulaym Ibne' Qays page 76; Al Iezah, page 367, Al Imamah was Siyasah, volume 1 page 19/20; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 67; Al Ikhtesas page 187; Ash Shafi, volume 3 page 244; Al Mustarshid, page 377-381; Al Ihtejaj page 73
[5] Sulaym Ibne' Qays page 86/87 and pages 251/252
