In Sahih Muslim, there is a famous tradition narrated by Ibn 'Abbas saying:
Three days before the Prophet's death, 'Umar and
other companions were present by his side. The Prophet said, "Now let me
write something for you whereby you shall not go astray after me." 'Umar
said, "The Prophet is overcome by illness; you have the Qur'an, the Book
of Allah, which is sufficient for us."
'Umar's statement caused a
furor among those present. Some were saying that the Prophet's command should
be obeyed so that he might write whatever he desired to write for their
guidance. Others sided withUmar. When the tension and uproar intensified, the
Prophet said, "Get away from me!" Therefore, Ibn 'Abbas used to say,
"It was a miserable, absolutely miserable, occurrence that the conflict of
opinion and noise made by the people came in the way of the Prophet's writing a
will and, because of it, the Prophet could not leave behind what he wanted to
put on paper."4
The
above event, famously known as the event of Pen and Paper and tradition
mentioned therein, Hadith Qirtaas, occurred few days before the Martyrdom of
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s). This event is a precursor to what was going to happen
after the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s).
History
has recorded the atrocities committed by the so-called muslims on the family of
Holy Pophet (s.a.w.s). In this article we will (God-Willing) enlist a brief
account of what transpired after the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) on 28th Safar, 11 A.H.
Event of Saqifa
After the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s), Imam
Ali (a.s.) and other members of Bani Hashim were busy in the burial ceremonies
of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s). News reached to Umar that the Ansars have gathered
at Saqifah (a place at the outskirts of Medina) to select a Caliph amongst
themselves. Umar informed Abu Bakr and they both left the house of Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s) in pursuit of Caliphate (This highlights the relation of these two
with the Holy Prophet. The so-called family members left the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s) before his burial).
On
their way they took along with them Abu Ubaydah Jarrah and reached Saqifah.
What ensued at Saqifah is recorded in many books. Readers are requested to
refer to the book of Sulaym bin Qays Hilaali for the detailed events.
The outcome of the altercation was Abu Bakr
elected Caliph by deceit.
Burial of Prophet
Salman (a.r.) says:
“I went to
Imam Ali (a.s.) when he was giving the ritual bath to the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.S) since the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) has
said that none other than Ali (a.s.) must give him the ritual bath. When the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) said to Imam Ali (a.s.) that none other than him should
give him the ritual bath, Imam Ali (a.s.) had asked: “O Prophet of
4 The Life of Muhammad The Prophet – By Syed Saeed
Akhtar Rizvi
Allah, who would help me in giving the bath?”The
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) had replied “Archangel Jibra’eel will help.”
So when giving the bath whenever Imam Ali (a.s.) wanted to turn any part
of the Holy Prophets (S.A.W.S) body, the part would turn itself. After Ali
(a.s.) had completed giving the ritual bath, hunut and shroud, he let me in,
and he also let Abu Dhar (a.r.), Miqdad (a.r.) and Lady Fatimah (s.a.), Hasan
(a.s.) and Husain (a.s.) in. Ali (a.s.) stood in front and we stood behind him
and recited the prayer.
And Ayeshah was in her room - she did not know
anything. Allah had put a curtain over her eyes.
After that ten people from Muhajireen and ten
people from Ansar - they were coming in and praying and going out until
suchtime that there was no one left from the Muhajireen and
Ansar who had not prayed.” 5
Imam Ali (a.s.) seeking
support from the people of Medina for his claim of Imamat
Salman (a.r.) said:
“When it was night, Imam Ali
(a.s.) made Lady Fatimah (a.s.) ride and took hands of his sons Hasan (a.s.)
and Husain (a.s.) and went to each and every house of those muhajireen and
Ansar who were of Badr, and reminded them of his rights called them to help
him. But except 4 people nobody came forward to help. He asked the helpers to
shave their heads and in the morning go to him with their weapons ready to help
and pay allegiance to death. In the morning except 4, no one kept their
promise.”
So I (Sulaym) asked: “Who
were those 4?”
Salman (a.r.) replied: “Myself
(a.r.), Abu Dhar (a.r.), Miqdad (a.r.) and Zubayr.
Then on the second night Imam Ali (a.s.)
returned to all those who did not come and reminded them to fulfill their
promise. They all said they would turn up the next morning but except us no one
turned up. On the third night Imam Ali (a.s.) went again and again on the third
day except us no one turned up.
When Imam Ali (a.s.) saw their treachery and
disloyalty, he remained inside his house and started compiling the Quran, and
did not come out of his house until the whole Quran was compiled. At that time
verses were written in wood, skin and pieces.6
Compilation of Quran by Imam
Ali (a.s.)
Ali (a.s.)
compiled and completed the whole Quran in one piece of cloth and came to people
when they were with Abu Bakr in Masjide Nabawi. He very loudly said:
“O people, since the passing
away of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) I was busy giving him the ritual bath, and
compiling the Quran, until it has been collected in one piece of cloth.
There is not any verse that Allah T’Ala has
revealed which is not in this compilation, and there is not a single verse that
the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) did not make me read, and there is no verse of which
the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) did not tell me the meaning.”
The Ali (a.s.) said to those people:
5
Kitaab Sulaym Bin Qais – Hadith No. 4
6 Ibid.
“So that you do not tell me
surely we were heedless of this (Surah Araf , Verse 172)”
Then Imam Ali (a.s.) said to them:
“So that on the Day of Judgment you do not say that I did not call you
to help me and did not remind you of my right, and I did not call you to the
Book of Allah from beginning to end.”
Umar said:
“You are calling us to you, but the Quran that we have is sufficient for
us.”
Then Imam Ali (a.s.) went home.7
Burning of the House of
Ameerul Momineen (a.s) and Death of Janabe Mohsin (a.s.)
Umar knew that till the time
Imam Ali (a.s.) did not pay his allegiance, their caliphate would be
meaningless, hence he suggested to Abu Bakr to send someone to Imam Ali’s house
to seek his allegiance to Abu Bakr.
Imam Ali (a.s.) refused to
give allegiance. Thereafter Imam Ali (a.s.) along with Janabe Zahra (s.a.) and
their sons went to the houses of people of Medina reminding them of his rights
and seeking their help. However, except four people (Salman, Abu Zar, Miqdad
and Zubayr), no one came to assist them.
Umar told Abu Bakr to send
Qunfuz who was known to be tough and a short tempered oppressor. When Qunfuz
reached the house of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), he sought permissionto enter it
however Imam Ali (a.s.) refused permission to him. Thereafter Umar sent orders
to Qunfuz that he should enter the house forcefully even if he is denied
permission and after sometime he also reached the spot.
Umar asked his men to gather
wood and in the meantime he threatened Imam Ali (a.s.) that if he does not pay
allegiance to Abu Bakr then he will burn the house.However when Imam Ali (a.s.)
did not come, he brought fire and burned the door of the house and entered. To
protect Imam Ali (a.s.), Janabe Zahra (s.a.) came between the troops of Umar.
Qunfuz (Curses of Allah be on
him ) hit Janabe Zahra (s.a.) with a sword due to which she suffered a
miscarriage leading to the martyrdom Janabe Mohsin (a.s.). Some traditions also
mention when the door was burnt, it broke and fell on Janabe Zahra (s.a.). A
nail on the door pierced on the womb of Janabe Zahra (s.a.) which led to the
martyrdom of Janabe Mohsin (a.s.).
Imam Ali (a.s.) in the Court
of Abu Bakr
Umar and his troops
forcefully took Imam Ali (a.s.) to Abu Bakr so that Imam Ali (a.s.) would give
allegiance to Abu Bakr. However Imam Ali (a.s.) refused and gave proofs of his
righteousness and why he was the sole inheritor of the Imamate and Caliphate.
Along with Imam Ali (a.s.), his companions Salman, Abu Zar and Miqdad also gave
sermons reminding people of the status of Imam Ali (a.s.)
However the words did not have any effect on the people.
7 Ibid
Fadak
was a huge garden whose boundaries extended from Aden to Samarkand and from
Africa to Caspian/Armenia. This garden was bestowed on Janabe Zahra (s.a.) by
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) after the battle of Khaiber.
After
the usurpation of the caliphate, Abu Bakr and Umar feared that people should
not get attracted to the Ahle Bayt (a.s.) due to their wealth. Hence a plot was
hatched that to seize Fadak.
Abu
Bakr sent his men to expel the representative of Janabe Zahra (a.s.) in Fadak
and took Fadak in the possession of the government by bringing forward the
fabricated tradition that the Prophets do not leave anything in inheritance.
Imam
Ali (a.s.) put forward such arguments to debate the claim of Abu Bakr that Abu
Bakr Bakr said to Umar:
“Did you see how Ali acted with us? If he
debates with us in this same manner again, he would destroy our rulership.”
Plot to Kill Ameerul Momineen
Imam Ali (a.s.)
Abu
Bakr and Umar felt so disgraced by the debate of Imam Ali (a.s.) that they
plotted to kill him. They hired Khalid ibn Walid for this task. Asma binte
Umais who was the wife of Abu Bakr, was an adherent of Imam Ali (a.s.),
overheard their conversation and forewarned Imam Ali (a.s.) about their
conspiracy.
It was decided that after Abu
Bakr would complete the prayers Khalid ibne Walid would attack Imam Ali (a.s.).
However during the prayers Abu Bakr changed his mind and turned to Khalid and
said to him not to do what he had ordered him to do. Thereafter Imam Ali (a.s.)
asked Khalid what he was ordered to do to which he replied that Abu Bakr
commanded him to kill Imam Ali (a.s.). Hearing this Imam Ali (a.s.) caught him
and threw him on the ground.
Above
are a few incidences which occurred after the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s).
It is evident that with the closing of the eyes of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s), the
hyprocites showed their true colors.
Today
the misguidance and embarrassment faced by the muslim community is because the
community left the doors of the true inheritor of Prophet. We pray to Allah to
hasten the reappearance of His Last Hujjat (a.t.f.s) so that the atrocities
committed by the Muslim Ummah on the House of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) can be
avenged. Aameen.
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