The author of ‘The Issue of Fedek: A rebuttal to common lies propagated against Ahl al-Sunnah regarding Ahlul-Bayt’ makes this curious unfounded claim in his article, namely that Abu Bakr used the land in exactly the same manner that Rasulullah (s) wished.
Ahmad Jawdat Pasha al-Lofji writes in his Qisas-e-Ambiya:
“Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam devoted his date orchard named Fadak in Khaybar to the pious foundation and dictated how it was to be utilized. He advised in his will that income from the orchard should be given to foreign ambassadors, to visitors, guests and travellers. Hadhrat Abu Bakr, Radhi Allahu ‘Anhu implemented this will during his Khaleefat”.
Reply One
The author’s assertion that Khayber and Fadak were used for supporting guests, travellers and ambassadors is a complete lie. Let us see how Fadak and Khayber was utilised by Rasulullah.We read in Sahih Muslim, Bab ul Fai Book 019, Number 4347:
It has been narrated on the authority of Umar, who said: The properties abandoned by Banu Nadir were the ones which Allah bestowed upon His Apostle for which no expedition was undertaken either with cavalry or camelry. These properties were particularly meant for the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him). He would meet the annual expenditure of his family from the income thereof, and would spend what remained for purchasing horses and weapons as preparation for Jihad.
Umar said that the land was given to support his family and for weapons, al Lofji claims that it was to meet the expenditure of foreign ambassadors, visitors, guests and travellers.Now the reader has to decide whose words are to be relied upon Umar or those of al Lofji?
Reply Two
If Abu Bakr was merely implementing the ‘will’ of Rasulullah (s) then how did he have possession of it and not his descendants? If one consults Sahih Bukhari, we see that Ayesha provides a detailed description of the final days of the Prophet (s), and yet she furnishes no evidence of Abu Bakr being within close proximity of the Prophet (s) during that time, rather she informs us:
‘When Allah’s Apostle fell sick with the fatal illness and when the time of prayer became due and Adhan was pronounced, he said, ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer’
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 11, Number 633
We would also like some clarity, who is to be in possession of the will after the death of the deceased,his legal heirs or the khalifa of the time? Moreover if this Will ever existed then why wasn’t this presented as evidence during the Fadak dispute? Why do we not find any Sunni sources proving that Abu Bakr produced this will, or made reference to the will of the Prophet (s)? This Nasibi Mullah has attributed something to Abu Bakr that he never himself claimed. At no time did Abu Bakr say that he was implementing the will of Rasulullah (s). We challenge this unnamed author to produce any Sunni text containing copy of this will with these conditions? How did Abu Bakr get sight of it? Abu Bakr would only have had sight of the will if he was the trustee or the beneficiary. He was neither. Maula Ali (as) was the Wasi, and Sayyida Zahra (as) was the beneficiary – so how does Abu Bakr come into the equation? No one would have greater knowledge on this supposed will than these two individuals, so Can the Ahl’ul Sunnah produce a single source wherein Imam ‘Ali (as) and Sayyida Zahra (as) referred to Prophet (s) stipulating this order under his will?
In any case this whole discussion should be (in Sunni eyes) an irrelevant issue since their principle book would have us believe that Rasulullah (s) left no will whatsoever. This is what we read in Sahih Bukhari:
Narrated Talha bin Musarrif:
I asked ‘Abdullah bin Abu Aufa, “Did the Prophet make a will?” He replied, “No,” I asked him, “How is it then that the making of a will has been enjoined on people, (or that they are ordered to make a will)?” He replied, “The Prophet bequeathed Allah’s Book (i.e. Quran).”
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 51, Number 3
The unnamed author claims that Abu Bakr was implementing the will of the Prophet (s), Muhammad bin Ismaeel Bukhari recorded that the Prophet (s) left no will, we leave it to our readers to decided on which of these two is lying........TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II
