When Abu Bakr was informed that few of those who had not given bay’at to him were sitting along with Ameerul Mo’meneen Hazrat Ali (a.s.), he sent Umar with a large group to the house of Hazrat Ali (a.s.)[1]. Umar asked for the people to come out, but they refused. Umar ordered for some wood to be brought and said, “By the One in whose Hands is my life! If you do not come out, I will burn the house down along with its inhabitants.” The people told him, “O Abu Hafas, Fatemah (s.a.) is there in the house.” He replied, “So what!”[2]
Umar sought permission to enter the house of Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.), but it was not granted to him. At this, Umar created a huge uproar and began threatening the people.[3]
[1] Al Ihtejaj, page 80
[2] Al Imamah was Siyasah, volume 1 page 19. I humbly state that Allamah Tabarsi has narrated this part from Abdulah Ibne’ Abdur Rahman (Ibne’ Qutaybah has also narrated from him) thus – when Umar realised that these people would not swear allegiance, he said, “I don’t care for you (meaning, I will burn this house). Because I have decided to frighten you.” Al Ihtejaj, page 80; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 28 page 204. There is no doubt that this tradition has been tampered with, for how wil a Sunni write that Umar said, “even though Fatemah be in this house.” While the Shiahs quote this tradition as it is! It may be possible that the narrator may have been in Taqaiyyah (dissimulation) and did not dare to quote the tradition explicitly.
[3] Masalebun Nawaseb, page 136/137; Rasaelul Eteqadiyah volume, 1 page 447
