Bismihi Ta’la
Assalam o alaikum
In the threads that followed to the topic: “Few hadiths you may like to see”, there are many issues being discussed here and to somewhat keep them in a flow is very difficult. The reason being that the issue of merit and superiority (afdaliyyah) has always been dictated and argued by the ahlal sunna as one deserving merit, and their claim that Imam Ali [a] never did put forward his claim for the caliphate.
My take on the issue of being superior is very simple: both sides will share their traditions to justify their position. I have to look at what happened in history and more importantly look at over whelming evidence. The tendency to rely on one “quote” and make it the basis of ones argument is generally a sign of weakness, in my humble opinion. How-ever to the issue of afdaliyyah, I must say that there is no merit more deserving and superior than being from the ahlul bayt. It was for this reason and this reason alone that Umar wanted to bind his hands in marriage with the duaghter of Imam Ali [a]. generally, those who indulge in the issue of superiority fall into what we call petitio principe, that is begging the question: so you all can beg and apply that principle, but it is to no avail
To begin with, let me summarize the quote from as-Suyuti’s, Tarikhul Khulafa [that luckily has been translated into english, Major H.S Barrett, Karachi, Pakistan and also by Taha Publishers under the title ‘The Caliphs who took the Right Way’], as under
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1 – imam Ali’s outright rejection that never was a bequest of succession made to his honor. This is in contradiction with several historical precedents and also a quranic aya, that certainly over weighs any historical material.
Narrated Ibn Humayed, from Salamah, from Muhammad Ibn Is’haq, from Abd al- Ghaffar Ibn al-Qasim, from al-Minhal Ibn Amr, from abdallah Ibn al-HarithIbn Nawfal Ibn al-Harith Ibn Abd al-Muttalib, from Abdallah Ibn Abbas, fromAli Ibn Abi Talib:
When the verse “And warn your close tribe (Quran 26:214)” was revealed to the prophet, he called me and said to me, “Ali, God has commanded me to warn my tribe of near kindred. I was troubled by this, since I knew that when I discuss the matter to them they would respond in a way which I would not like. I kept silent until Gabriel came to me and said “If you do not do what you are commanded, your Lord will punish you.” So prepare a measure of wheat for us, add a leg of lamb to it, fill a large bowl of milk for us, and then invite sons of Abd al- Muttalib for me so that I may speak to them what I have been commanded to tell them.”
I did what he had told me to do. At that time they numbered forty men more or less, including his uncles Abu Talib, Hamzah, al-Abbas, and Abu Lahab. When they had gathered together, he called me to bring the food which I had prepared. I brought it, and when I put it down, prophet took a piece of meat, broke it with his teeth, put it in the dish. Then he said, “Take in the name of God.” They ate until they could eat no more, and yet the food was as it had been. I swear by God, in whose hand Ali’s soul rests, that a single man could have eaten the amount of food which I prepared for them. Then he said “Give them something to drink.” So I brought them the bowl and they drank from it until they became full, and I swear by God that one man could have drunk that amount. When prophet wanted to speak to them, Abu Lahab interrupted him and said “Your host has long since bewitched you.” Then they dispersed without the prophet speaking to them. On the following day he said to me “Ali, this man interrupted what I wanted to say so that people dispersed before I could speak to them. Prepare the same food for us as you did yesterday, and invite them here.” I did this, and brought them food when he called me. He did as he had done the other day, and they ate until they could eat no more.
Then he said, “Bring the bowl,” and they drank until they could drink no more. Then he spoke to them, saying, “Banu Abd al-Muttalib, I don’t know of any young man among Arabs who has brought for his people something better than what I have brought to you. I bring the best of this world and the world after, since God has commanded me to summon you to him. Which of you will aid me in this matter, so that he will be my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you?” They all held back, and even though I was the youngest, I said “I will be your helper, O’ prophet of God.” He put his hand on the back of my neck and said “This is my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you, so listen to him and obey him.” They rose up laughing and saying to Abu Talib, “He has commanded you to obey your son and to obey him!”
(1) History of al-Tabari, English version, v6, pp 88-91
(2) History of Ibn Athir, v2, p62
(3) History of Ibn Asakir, v1, p85
(4) Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Hafidh Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, v5, p97
(5) Tafsir al-Khazin, by Ala’uddin al-Shafi’i, v3, p371
(6) Shawahid al-Tanzil, by al-Hasakani, v1, p371
(7) Kanz al-Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v15, p15, pp 100-11
(8) al-Sirah al-Halabiyah, v1, p31
(9) Dala’il al-Nabawiyyah, by al-Baihaqi, v1, pp 428-430
(10 al-Mukhtasar, by Abul Fida, v1, pp 116-117
(11) Life of Muhammad, by Hasan Haykal, p104 (First Arabic Edition only. In the second edition the last sentence of Prophet is deleted.)
(12) Tahdhib al-Athar, v4, pp 62-63.
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2 – also the appointment of imam Ali [a] at Ghadir Khum is un-disputed and can be read at www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter3/2.html . It was on this basis that imam Ali [a] made claim to his succession many a times, and it also reminded his contemporaries at these occasions
1–On the day of Shura (Election Day for Uthman)
2–During the days of Uthman’s rule
3–The Day of Rahbah (year 35) where 24 companions stood up and swore that they attended and heard the tradition of the Prophet (PBUH) first hand, twelve of whom were the warriors of Badr.
4–The Day of Jamal (the War of Camel, year 36) where he reminded Talha. - The Day of the Riders where 9 witnesses testified.
About the Battle of Camel, al-Hakim and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and others recorded that:
We were in the camp of Ali on the day of Battle of Camel, where Ali sent for Talha to talk to him (before the beginning of war). Talha came forward, and Ali told him: I adjure you by Allah! Didn’t you hear the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) when he said: `Whoever I am his MAWLA, this Ali is his MAWLA. O God, love whoever loves him, and be hostile to whoever is hostile to him’?" Talha replied: “Yes.” Ali said: “Then why do you want to fight me?”
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 169,371
-Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, on the authority of Ilyas al-Dhabbi- Muruj al-Dhahab, by al-Mas’udi, v4, p321
-Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v9, p107
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal recorded in his Musnad that: Abu Tufayl narrated that He (Ali) gathered the people in the plain of Rahbah (on year 35 AH) and adjured in the name of Allah every Muslim male present there who had heard the proclamation of al-Ghadir from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to stand up and testify what they had heard from the Messenger on the Day of Ghadir. Thereupon thirty (30) men stood up and gave evidence that the Prophet grasped Ali’s hand and said to the audience: “He (Ali) has superior authority over those who believe me to have superiority over their lives. O Allah! Love him who loves him and hate him who hates him.” Abu Tufayl says that it was in a state of great mental agitation that he left the plain of Rahbah, for the Muslim masses had not complied with the tradition. He therefore called on Zaid Ibn Arqam and told him what he heard from Ali. Zaid told him not to entertain any doubt about it for he himself had heard the Messenger of Allah uttering those words.
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v4, p370
also:
Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abu Laylah said: I witnessed Ali administering an oath to the people in the plain of Rahbah. Ali said: “I adjure those of you in the name of Allah who heard the Messenger of Allah on the day of Ghadir saying `Ali is the Mawla of whom I am Mawla’ to stand up and to testify. He who was not an eyewitness doesn’t need to stand up.” Thereupon twelve (12) such companions who had participated in the Battle of Badr stood up. The occasion is still fresh in my memory.
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, p119, see also v5, p366
- Khasa’is, by al-Nisa’i, pp 21,103, narrated similar to above on the authority of three others: Umayah Ibn Sa’d, Zaid Ibn yathigh, and Sa’id Ibn Wahab.
It is also recorded that: When Ali said to Anas: “Why don’t you stand up and testify what you heard from the Messenger of Allah on the day of Ghadir?” He answered, “O Amir al-Mumineen! I have grown old and do not remember.” Thereupon Ali said: “May Allah mark you with a white spot (of leprosy; Alphosis) unconcealable with your turban, if you are intentionally withholding the truth.” And before Anas got up from his place he bore a large white spot on his face, Thereafter Anas used to say, “I am under the curse of the righteous servant of Allah.”
- al-Ma’arif, by Ibn Qutaybah, p14, in the account of Anas among disabled persons.
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, p199, where he testifies to the above anecdote, as he says : “All stood up except three persons who came under the curse of Ali.”
- Hilyatul Awliya’, by Abu Nu’aym, v5, p27
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3 – the second piece of the quote from as-Suyuti’s Tarikh states that imam Ali and other took counsel for the matter of the succession to the caliph. The fact of the matter is that the Banu Hashim was busy burying the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr, Umar and Abu Ubaidah were to busy wrangling over who was going to be the successor with the Ansar. In the tradition from Sahih al Bukhari [see below], it is evident from the words of Umar that “the pledge of allegiance given to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful. No doubt, it was like that, but Allah saved (the people) from its evil …”
Also the tradition outright throws out the claim that the ansar and the muhajirun were present TOGETHER. Also Umar says that “'By Allah, if ‘Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person.’, history tells us that this such-andsuch-person was none but Imam Ali [a] himself.
The dis-agreement with the ansar is in contrast to the rosy picture presented from the historical work of as Suyuti’s ‘Tarikhul Khulafa’.
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 8.817
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: I used to teach (the Qur’an to) some people of the Muhajirln (emigrants), among whom there was 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf. While I was in his house at Mina, and he was with 'Umar bin al-Khattab during 'Umar’s last Hajj, Abdur-Rahman came to me and said, “Would that you had seen the man who came today to the Chief of the Believers ('Umar), saying, 'O Chief of the Believers! What do you think about so-and-so who says, 'If ‘Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person, as by Allah, the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr was nothing but a prompt sudden action which got established afterwards.’ 'Umar became angry and then said, 'Allah willing, I will stand before the people tonight and warn them against those people who want to deprive the others of their rights (the question of rulership).”
… In the meantime, 'Umar sat on the pulpit and when the callmakers for the prayer had finished their call, 'Umar stood up, and having glorified and praised Allah as He deserved, he said,…
… (O people!) I have been informed that a speaker amongst you says, 'By Allah, if ‘Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person.’ One should not deceive oneself by saying that the pledge of allegiance given to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful. No doubt, it was like that, but Allah saved (the people) from its evil, and there is none among you who has the qualities of Abu Bakr. Remember that whoever gives the pledge of allegiance to anybody among you without consulting the other Muslims, neither that person, nor the person to whom the pledge of allegiance was given, are to be supported, lest they both should be killed.
And no doubt after the death of the Prophet we were informed that the Ansar disagreed with us and gathered in the shed of Bani Sa’da. 'Ali and Zubair and whoever was with them, opposed us, while the emigrants gathered with Abu Bakr. I said to Abu Bakr, ‘Let’s go to these Ansari brothers of ours.’ So we set out seeking them, and when we approached them, two pious men of theirs met us and informed us of the final decision of the Ansar, and said, ‘O group of Muhajirin (emigrants) ! Where are you going?’ We replied, ‘We are going to these Ansari brothers of ours.’ They said to us, ‘You shouldn’t go near them. Carry out whatever we have already decided.’ I said, ‘By Allah, we will go to them.’ And so we proceeded until we reached them at the shed of Bani Sa’da. Behold! There was a man sitting amongst them and wrapped in something. I asked, ‘Who is that man?’ They said, 'He is Sa’d bin ‘Ubada.’ I asked, ‘What is wrong with him?’ They said, ‘He is sick.’ After we sat for a while, the Ansar’s speaker said, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ and praising Allah as He deserved, he added, ‘To proceed, we are Allah’s Ansar (helpers) and the majority of the Muslim army, while you, the emigrants, are a small group and some people among you came with the intention of preventing us from practicing this matter (of caliphate) and depriving us of it.’
When the speaker had finished, I intended to speak as I had prepared a speech which I liked and which I wanted to deliver in the presence of Abu Bakr, and I used to avoid provoking him. So, when I wanted to speak, Abu Bakr said, ‘Wait a while.’ I disliked to make him angry. So Abu Bakr himself gave a speech, and he was wiser and more patient than I. By Allah, he never missed a sentence that I liked in my own prepared speech, but he said the like of it or better than it spontaneously. After a pause he said, ‘O Ansar! You deserve all (the qualities that you have attributed to yourselves, but this question (of Caliphate) is only for the Quraish as they are the best of the Arabs as regards descent and home, and I am pleased to suggest that you choose either of these two men, so take the oath of allegiance to either of them as you wish. And then Abu Bakr held my hand and Abu Ubada bin Abdullah’s hand who was sitting amongst us. I hated nothing of what he had said except that proposal, for by Allah, I would rather have my neck chopped off as expiator for a sin than become the ruler of a nation, one of whose members is Abu Bakr, unless at the time of my death my own-self suggests something I don’t feel at present.’
And then one of the Ansar said, ‘I am the pillar on which the camel with a skin disease (eczema) rubs itself to satisfy the itching (i.e., I am a noble), and I am as a high class palm tree! O Quraish. There should be one ruler from us and one from you.’
Then there was a hue and cry among the gathering and their voices rose so that I was afraid there might be great disagreement, so I said, ‘O Abu Bakr! Hold your hand out.’ He held his hand out and I pledged allegiance to him, and then all the emigrants gave the Pledge of allegiance and so did the Ansar afterwards. And so we became victorious over Sa’d bin Ubada (whom al-Ansar wanted to make a ruler). One of the Ansar said, ‘You have killed Sa’d bin Ubada.’ I replied, ‘Allah has killed Sa’d bin Ubada.’ Umar added, “By Allah, apart from the great tragedy that had happened to us (i.e. the death of the Prophet), there was no greater problem than the allegiance pledged to Abu Bakr because we were afraid that if we left the people, they might give the Pledge of allegiance after us to one of their men, in which case we would have given them our consent for something against our real wish, or would have opposed them and caused great trouble. So if any person gives the Pledge of allegiance to somebody (to become a Caliph) without consulting the other Muslims, then the one he has selected should not be granted allegiance, lest both of them should be killed.”
Concluding this tradition, consider this:
A)- Umar said that: One should not deceive oneself by saying that the pledge of allegiance given to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful.
B)- Umar said that Ali and Zubair and whoever was with them, and Ansar disagreed with them : And no doubt after the death of the Prophet we were informed that the Ansar disagreed with us and gathered in the shed of Bani Sa’da. 'Ali and Zubair and whoever was with them, opposed us, while the emigrants gathered with Abu Bakr.
C)- Umar gave his hand to Abu bakr without counselling with muslims. He gave his hand FIRST, and then others gave their hands too. Then there was a hue and cry among the gathering and their voices rose so that I was afraid there might be great disagreement, so I said, ‘O Abu Bakr! Hold your hand out.’ He held his hand out and I pledged allegiance to him, and THEN all the emigrants gave the Pledge of allegiance and so did the Ansar afterwards.
D)- There was news that Umar and his followers had killed Sa’d bin Ubada. (I am not saying that he did. What I am saying that this was a common news on those days. That is all.) One of the Ansar said, ‘You have killed Sa’d bin Ubada.’ I replied, 'Allah has killed Sa’d bin Ubada.
E)- While Umar gave his hand to Abu bakr without consulting others, he ordered that such person should be killed: So if any person gives the Pledge of allegiance to somebody (to become a Caliph) WITHOUT consulting the other Muslims, then the one he has selected should NOT be granted allegiance, lest both of them should be killed."
F)- While he did not wish to accept others’ decision, he, himself, applied his own decision to others: there was no greater problem [compared to death of the prophet] than the allegiance pledged to Abu Bakr because we were afraid that if we left the people, they might give the Pledge of allegiance after us to one of their men, in which case we would have given them our consent for something against our real wish, or would have opposed them and caused great trouble.
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4—also further tradition [below] also bears that
1-- Imam Ali refused his allegiance to Abu Bakr for six months.
2-- Imam Ali was NEVER consulted for the succession issue
3-- Fatima died and Abu Bakr was not informed of the burial
4-- Imam Ali mentions his claim to the right of succession and says to Abu Bakr "But we used to consider that we too had some right in this affair (of rulership) and that he (i.e. Abu Bakr) did not consult us in this matter, and therefore caused us to feel sorry.
5—Umar feels threatened with Imam Ali sent for to meet Abu Bakr and Umar says: "No, by Allah, you shall not enter upon them alone " Abu Bakr said, "What do you think they will do to me? By Allah, I will go to them’ … spells much much dis-agreement between them.
Sahih Bukhari Hadith: 5.546
Narrated 'Aisha:
Fatimah the daughter of the Prophet sent someone to Abu Bakr (when he was a caliph), asking for her inheritance of what Allah’s Apostle had left of the property bestowed on him by Allah from the Fai (i.e. booty gained without fighting) in Medina, and Fadak, and what remained of the Khumus of the Khaibar booty. On that, Abu Bakr said, "Allah’s Apostle said, “Our property is not inherited. Whatever we leave, is Sadaqa, but the family of (the Prophet) Muhammad can eat of this property.’ By Allah, I will not make any change in the state of the Sadaqa of Allah’s Apostle and will leave it as it was during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle, and will dispose of it as Allah’s Apostle used to do.” So Abu Bakr refused to give anything of that to Fatima. So she became angry with Abu Bakr and kept away from him, and did not talk to him till she died. She remained alive for six months after the death of the Prophet. When she died, her husband 'Ali, buried her at night without informing Abu Bakr and he said the funeral prayer by himself.
When Fatimah was alive, the people used to respect 'Ali much, but after her death, 'Ali noticed a change in the people’s attitude towards him. So Ali sought reconciliation with Abu Bakr and gave him an oath of allegiance. Ali had not given the oath of allegiance during those months (i.e. the period between the Prophet’s death and Fatima’s death).
'Ali sent someone to Abu Bakr saying, “Come to us, but let nobody come with you,” as he disliked that 'Umar should come, ‘Umar said (to Abu Bakr), "No, by Allah, you shall not enter upon them alone " Abu Bakr said, "What do you think they will do to me? By Allah, I will go to them’ So Abu Bakr entered upon them, and then 'Ali uttered Tashah-hud and said (to Abu Bakr), “We know well your superiority and what Allah has given you, and we are not jealous of the good what Allah has bestowed upon you, but you did not consult us in the question of the rule and we thought that we have got a right in it because of our near relationship to Allah’s Apostle .” Thereupon Abu Bakr’s eyes flowed with tears. And when Abu Bakr spoke, he said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is to keep good relations with the relatives of Allah’s Apostle is dearer to me than to keep good relations with my own relatives. But as for the trouble which arose between me and you about his property, I will do my best to spend it according to what is good, and will not leave any rule or regulation which I saw Allah’s Apostle following, in disposing of it, but I will follow.” On that 'Ali said to Abu Bakr, “I promise to give you the oath of allegiance in this after noon.”
So when Abu Bakr had offered the Zuhr prayer, he ascended the pulpit and uttered the Tashah-hud and then mentioned the story of 'Ali and his failure to give the oath of allegiance, and excused him, accepting what excuses he had offered; Then 'Ali (got up) and praying (to Allah) for forgiveness, he uttered Tashah-hud, praised Abu Bakr’s right, and said, that he had not done what he had done because of jealousy of Abu Bakr or as a protest of that Allah had favored him with. 'Ali added, “But we used to consider that we too had some right in this affair (of rulership) and that he (i.e. Abu Bakr) did not consult us in this matter, and therefore caused us to feel sorry.” On that all the Muslims became happy and said, “You have done the right thing.” The Muslims then became friendly with 'Ali as he returned to what the people had done (i.e. giving the oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr).
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this I believe sums up the discussion that was revolving around the issue of as Suyutis claim.
Abbas
www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia