Continued from part 1 .....
The point that is clear from the above excerpt is that by denying J. Zahra her lawful inheritance, Abu Bakr made her angry and caused her immense agony. He took the help of a (fictitious) tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)“We prophets do not leave behind any inheritance” and deprived her (s.a.) of her rights.
Now pay attention to this discussion that is found in SahihBukhari, Sahih Muslim &Musnad of Ahmed ibnHanbal.
أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ النَّبِيَّﷺ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلٰى أَبِيْ بَكْرٍ تَسْأَلُهٗ مِيرَاثَهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِمَّا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَ فَدَكَ وَ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ خُمُسِ خَيْبَـرَ. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَا نُوَرِّثُ مَا تَرَكْنَاهُ صَدَقَةً...فَأَبَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَدْفَعَ إِلٰى فَاطِمَةَ شَيْئًا. فَوَجَدَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلٰى أَبِيْ بَكْرٍ فِي ذٰلِكَ، فَهَجَرَتْهُ فَلَمْ تُكَلِّمْهُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَتْ، وَ عَاشَتْ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍفَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَتْ دَفَنَهَا زَوْجُهَا عَلِيٌّ لَيْلًا وَ لَمْ يُؤْذِنْ بِهَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا...وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَايِعُ تِلْكَ الْاَشْهُرِ.
“J. Zahra (s.a.) sent an envoy to Abu Bakr demanding her inheritance. The inheritance included her share of the booty of Madina, the orchards of Fadak and the portion of Khums (Sahme Imam). Abu Bakrflatly refused saying, ‘Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has said that we do not leave behind any inheritance. Whatever is left behind by us is charity (i.e. it belongs to everyone and not to any particular person).”Thus he declined to give J. Zahra (s.a.) her inheritance. This angered her (s.a.) immensely and she refused to talk to him all her life. She lived for six months after the demise of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). When she left for the heavenly abode, H. Ali (a.s.) buried her in the darkness of the night without informing Abu Bakr about her death. H. Ali (a.s.) prayed her funeral prayers alone. Till then he had not pledged his allegiance to Abu Bakr” [1]
The above discussion is mentioned in the following books with slight variations
* Kitab-o-JehadwaSair, vol. 4, p. 29; published by Mo’asisAzzuddin 1408 AH
* Musnad of Ahmed ibnHanbal, vol. 1, p. 9; published by DaarusSadir, Beirut
* Tabaqaat-e-IbnSa’ad, vol. 2, p. 315; published by Daar-e-Beirut, 1405 AH
* Tareekh-e-Tabari, vol. 2, p. 236; published by DarrulQutubulAalemiyaah 1408 AH
Does the intellect accept this fact that both H. Ali (a.s.) and J. Zahra (s.a.) were unaware of such a tradition from Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)while they (a.s.) were the nearest to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)? Isn’t it strange that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) never mentioned this tradition to them in all these years? Had such a tradition really existed, then J. Zahra (s.a.) would never have staked her claim to her inheritance knowing the saying of her father (s.a.w.a.).
The AhleSunnah and the Shias are unanimous that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had appointed H. Ali (a.s.) as his successor. Is it possible that on one hand Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declared H. Ali (a.s.) as his successor and on the other hand he (s.a.w.a.) failed to inform him about the matter of inheritance?Isn’t the famous tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)“I’m the city of knowledge while Ali is its gate” commonly found in all books of traditions?
اَنَا مَدِيْنَةُ الْعِلْمِ وَ عَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا.[2]
Who can forget Hadees-e-Saqlain? It is such a well-known tradition that both Shia and AhleSunnat scholars[3] have narrated it in their books of traditions. Has not Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) equated H. Ali (a.s.) with the Holy Quran in this tradition? It means that H. Ali (a.s.) was fully cognizant with the Holy Quran.
To be continued in part 3 .....
[1] SahihBukhari, vol. 5 p. 252
[2] AsadulGhabah, vol. 4 p. 22 published by DaaraIhyaToraasulArabi, Beirut
[3] Musnad Ahmed ibnHanbal, vol. 5 p. 182 – 189; published by DaarusSadir, Beirut