Umar was incensed by the reply of Janabe Zahra (s.a.) and said, “Why should these women interfere in our work?” He ordered the people present there to collect firewood.[1]
As per another report, on hearing the reply of Janabe’ Zahra (a.s.), Umar became extremely restless. He said to Khalid ibne Waleed and Qunfuz, “Gather wood and fire.”[2] Abu Bakr told Umar to call the most hardhearted and insensitive person that he could find.[3] Go to their house and draw them out. If they do not agree, then wage war with them.[4]
Umar gathered a large group[5] which included the companions[6], Mohajir, Ansar[7], those who were freed after the conquest of Mecca[8], hypocrites[9], some weak Arabs, foot soldiers[10] and led them to the house of Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.). A narration reports that the group was made up of 300 people.[11] Some narrators have even reported a higher number. Some of the members of that group were”
1. Umar bin Khattab[12]
2. Khalid bin Waleed[13]
3. Qunfuz[14]
4. Abdur Rahman bin Auf[15]
5. Aseed bin Azeer (Haseen) Ash’haly[16]
6. Salmah bin Salaamah bin Duqsh Ash’haly[17]
7. Salmah bin Aslam.[18] According to one tradition it is Salmah bin Aslam bin Jarish Ash’haly
8. Mughyara bin Sha’ab[19]
9. Abu Obaydah bin Jarrah[20]
10. Sabith bin Qays bin Shemas[21]
11. Mohammed bin Salmah[22]
12. Saalem Maula, Abu Huzayfah[23]
13. Aslam Adavi[24]
14. Ayyash bin Rabi’[25]
15. Hirmaz Al Farsi (Grandfather of Umar bin Abil Miqdam)[26]
16. Usman[27]
17. Zaid bin Lubayd[28]
18. Abdullah bin Abi Rabi’[29]
19. Abdullah bin Zama’[30]
20. Sa’ad bin Malik[31]
21. Hammad[32]
Some narrators have reported that Abu Bakr too was present in this group.[33] Some have mentioned the name of Zayd ibn Saabit.[34] Umar said to them, “Come, let us all collect firewood.”[35] The people brought wood[36] and fire[37], while Umar himself clutched a lighted rope[38] (or as per another narration, Umar was holding a lighted piece of wood) [39]. He was heard saying, “If these people do not come out of their house to pay their allegiance, I will burn down their house.” The people asked him, “Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) is within this house. Will you also burn her along with the house?” He replied, “I will confront Fatemah.”[40]
[1] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 83
[2] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 250
[3] Insaabul Ashraf, volume 1 page 587/588
[4] Eqdul Fareed, volume 1 page 259 (Egypt edition)
[5] Al Ya’qoobi, volume 2 page 126; Al Mustarshid page 377/378; Shar'he Nahjul Balagha volume 2 page 49; Al Ihtejaj page 70
[6] Al Kashkul, page 73/74
[7] Tareekhe' Khamees, volume 2 page 169
[8] Ilmul Yaqeen, volume 2 page 676
[9] Kamil Bahai, volume 1 page 305; Hadeeqatush Shiah, page 30
[10] Misbah ul Jaraer, volume 463/464
[11] Jannatul Kholood, page 19
[12] All historians are unanimous that Umar was present in that group
[13] Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 66; Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 57; Al Ikhtesas, page 176, Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 251; Kamil Bahai, volume 1 page 305; Al Kashkul, page 73/74; Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 178/179; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 290/347 and volume 35 page 13.
[14] Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 307/308; Al Jamal page 117; Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 174; Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 178/179/400; Hadeeqatush Shiah, page 30; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 290/347 and volume 53 page 17
[15] As Sonan by Behqi, volume 7 page 152; Nustadrak volume 3 page 66; Hayatus Sahabah by Kanz Halawi, volume 2 page 13; Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 47; Al Kashkul, page 73/74; Hadeeqatush Shiah, page 30
[16] Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 50 and volume 6 page 11/47; Al Imamah was Siyasah, volume 1 page 17; 49; Al Ihtejaj page 73; Tareekhe' Khamees, volume 2 page 169
[17] Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 50 and volume 6 page 11/47; Al Ihtejaj page 73; ; Tareekhe' Khamees, volume 2 page 169
[18] Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 6 page 11; Al Imamah was Siyasah, volume 1 page 17
[19] Al Mustarshid, page 378
[20] Al Ikhtesas, page 176; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 66; Kaukabe' Durriyah, volume 1 page 194
[21] Kaukabe' Durriyah, volume 1 page 194
[22] Tareekhe' Khamees, volume 2 page 169; Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 47
[23] Al Jamal, page 117, Al Ikhtesas, page 176; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 67
[24] Ash Shafi by Ibne’ Hamzah, volume 4 page 173
[25] Ash Shafi by Ibne’ Hamzah, volume 4 page 173
[26] Al Ikhtesas, page 176; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 66/67
[27] Al Ikhtesas, page 176; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 66/67
[28] Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 3 page 56 and volume 6 page 47
[29] Tashbeetul Imamah, page 17
[30] Masalebun Nawaseb, page 136
[31] Masalebun Nawaseb, page 136
[32] Masalebun Nawaseb, page 136
[33] Al Ikhtesas, page 176; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 66; Kaukabe' Durriyah, volume 1 page 194/195. Perhaps this is taken from the narration reported by Shaykh Mufeed in his Amali, page 49/50
[34] The name of Zayd bin Saabit is in a fabricated tradition which Abu Sa’eed Khudri has narrated in Kanzul Ummal, volume 5 page 613
[35] Dalaelul Imamah volume 2; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 293
[36] Taraef page 239; Nahjul Haq, page 271; Sulaym Ibne' Qays page 173
[37] Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 307, Sulaym Ibne' Qays page 250;Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 178/179
[38] An Nasabul Ashraf, volume 1 page 576
[39] Eqdul Fareed, volume 4 page 242; Taarekhe’ Abul Fida’, volume 1 page 156
[40] Ash Shafi by Ibne’ Hamzah, volume 4 page 173
