The hatred of H. Ali (a.s) towards Abu Bakr (la) & Umar (la) and his remaining aloof and cold towards the two caliphs is an undeniable historical fact. Trying to prove any affection and friendliness between H. Ali (a.s) and the two caliphs is like pouring water on stone. As documentary evidence, we present for our esteemed readers some historical facts.
(a) Muslim bin Hejab Nishopuri writes, “Once Umar – in the presence of Usman bin Affan, Abdur Rehman bin Awf, Zubair bin Awam and Saad bin Abi Waqqas – told J Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib (uncle of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)) & H. Ali (a.s) that ‘When Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) passed away from the world and when Abu Bakr was elected as his caliph, both of you considered him as a liar, sinner, shrewd and usurper. After him I became his successor. You too considered me as a liar, evildoer, shrewd and usurper. (Sahih Muslim, pg 832)
(b) Mohammed bin Ismail Bukhari narrates from Ayesha who said, “H. Ali (a.s) always considered Abu Bakr as being authoritarian and a tyrant. He always avoided meeting Umar ibn Khattab and would become restless if Umar ibn Khattab was present in any gathering with him”( Sahih Bukhari, pg 843)
(c) Umar ibn Khattab – in a journey to Damascus with Abdullah ibn Abbas (cousin of H. Ali (a.s)) – said, “I have a complaint against your cousin (Ali). When I requested him to accompany me on this journey to Damascus, he refused. Your cousin is always upset with me. Why do you think is he constantly annoyed with me? (Sharh Nahjul Balagha, vol 12, pg 78)
(d) Mohammad ibn Ismail Bukhari & Muslim ibn Hajjaj Nishapouri narrate, “J. Zahra (s.a) was angry with Abu Bakr and till she died, she never spoke to him. When she passed away from the world, her husband H. Ali (a.s) recited her funeral prayers and buried her in the middle of the night. And he did not inform Abu Bakr about her burial.(Sahih Bukhari, pg 843; Sahih Muslim pg 833)
What has been mentioned above are only a few instances from the historical evidences that present a perspective of the strained relation of H. Ali (a.s) with the two caliphs. Is it right to bury one’s head in the snow like a snowcock (a bird found in Northern Iran) and claim that there were cordial relations between H. Ali (a.s) & the two caliphs (la)?
We would like to ask those who claim about the friendly relations between Ameerul Momineen (a.s) and the two caliphs (la):
• Will someone who always believed that Abu Bakr (la) & Umar (la) to be fraudsters, sinners, cunning and shrewd – maintain friendly relations with them?
• Why would H. Ali (a.s) avoid meeting Umar (la) and get upset whenever they were in the same gathering?
• Why did H. Ali (a.s) refuse to accompany Umar (la) in his travels and why did he (a.s) not participate in the battles along with Umar (la)?
• Why did H. Ali (a.s) bury J. Zahra (s.a) in the darkness of the night and did not inform Abu Bakr (la) & Umar (la)?
• Why was J. Zahra (s.a) angry with Abu Bakr (la)? Why did she not speak to him till her last breath?
• Is considering Umar (la) & Abu Bakr (la) as usurpers, liars and sinners tantamount to praising and complimenting them?
• Whether the statement of H. Ali (a.s) – “Indeed the rulers before me have opposed Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) in great matters” – is a compliment for Abu Bakr (la) and Umar (la)?
(The background of this statement is that once Ameerul Momineen (a.s) – in his sermon – said, “The rulers before me have committed many shameful acts. And have intentionally acted against the directives of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a).)
• Can whatever H. Ali (a.s) has mentioned in the “Sermon of Shiqshiqayyah” (Sermon no 3 of Nahjul Balagha.) be considered as a praise and compliment for Abu Bakr (la) and Umar (la)?
