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• Firstly, do we have all historical details of the life of Ameerul Momineen (a.s)?
• Have the sons of Umar (la) mentioned the killing of their father by Abu Lulu in their entire life time?
• After the burial of J. Zahra (s.a), Ameerul Momineen (a.s) lamented before Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and said “….. From tonight my sorrow is eternal and my nights will be sleepless. Till the day when Allah too calls me near you” (Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 202, pg 422, 423; al-Kafi vol 1 pg 459)
• There is a hadees from Sulaym bin Qais which is narrated from H. Ali (a.s) and which is mostly from the time of his (as) reign as caliph. Sulaym says, “I asked H. Ali (a.s) about the atrocities and crimes of Umar. He (as) said, ‘Do you know why Umar would not punish & penalise, Qunfooz, like he punished his other slaves?’ I said ‘No’. He (a.s) said, ‘When Fatima stood between me and the boisterous crowd that had gathered at the door, the one who had whipped her ruthlessly was Qunfooz. The impact and mark of that lashing was so severe that it remained upon Fatima till she left this world. Thus, due to his cooperation and obedience, Umar never punished Qunfooz like his other slaves” (Kitab Sulaym pg 674, H no 30)
• Abdullah ibn Abhas narrates, “During the battle of Siffeen (that was fought in the reign of H. Ali (a.s)) I went to meet H. Ali (a.s) while we were in a place called as Zi-qaar. When I was with him, he (a.s) showed me a book and said, ‘O Ibn Abbas! Whatever is in this book was dictated by Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and I have jotted it down with my own hands.’ Abdullah ibn Abbas says, ‘I requested Ameerul Momineen (a.s) to read from that book’. H. Ali (a.s) read all the incidences that occurred after the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) from that book. It mentioned all the oppressions that would befall upon him (as). It also contained the tragic incidence that led to the martyrdom of J. Zahra (s.a)’
Is H. Ali (a.s) expected to remember and reminisce about the martyrdom of J. Zahra (s.a) more than this? If the conscience of a person has gone to sleep then a even a single impetus will awaken it. But if a person has put his conscience to sleep then hundred such reminders of H. Ali (a.s) will be futile. Following the footsteps of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and keeping in mind the socio-political conditions as well as the sensitivities of the people, H. Ali (a.s) chose not to repeat and harp upon the bitter memories of the past. But this political approach & the silence of Ameerul Momineen (a.s) does not mean that he had completely forgotten (and forgiven) the atrocities that befell upon him and his family. The sharp criticism of Ameerul Momineen (a.s) in the Sermon of Shiqshiqyyah - in which he has reprimanded Abu Bakr, Umar & Usman - shows that whenever he (as) felt that the circumstances are right, he (as) has taken them (la) to task.
