WHAT THE GREAT SAINTS AND SCHOLARS HAVE SAID IN
REFUTATION OF THE BELIEFS OF THE SHIAS
IMAM-I-RABBANI SHAIKH AHMAD SIRHINDI MUJADDID ALF THANI (rah), who lived almost 400 years ago, has written a good deal about the Shias and their sect in many of his letters. He confirms the Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu). In his famous book, "RADD -E-RAWAAFID", he states:
Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) acknowledged Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique's (radi Allahu anhu) Caliphate willingly. The Shias, who knew this fact said, "He admitted it unwillingly." The Shias did not make any further comments.
However, after Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) left this world physically, the Sahaba (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) embarked on a job of appointing the Khalifa before the interment (burial). They considered this to be Wajib (necessary). This was due to the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) commanding that the guilty should be punished as prescribed by the Shariat and that they (the Muslims) should be ready for war. In addition to other things which the government should do, it was Wajib to elect the representative who would execute these Wajibs.
Therefore, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) stood up and said, "If you worship Hazrat Muhammed (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), know that he passed away. If you worship Allahu Ta'ala know that Allah never dies, His is always alive."
"You have to choose someone to carry out His Commandments. Think, find, and choose!" Everybody agreed with him.
Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu) immediately stood up and said,
"We want you, Abu Bakr!"
All those present there said, "We have elected you."
Then, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) mounted the mimbar and looked around, "I cannot see Zubair. Call him."
When Hazrat Zubair (radi Allahu anhu) came, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) said to him, "The Muslims have elected me as the Khalifa. Will you disagree with their concensus (unanimity)?"
"O You, the Messenger's (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) Khalifa! I do not disagree," and held out his hand and did musaafaha (shook hands in a manner prescribed by Islam) with him.
Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Zubair (radi Allahu anhuma) apologised to the Khalifa for being late for the election, and said, "We did not come because we were not notified in advance. We are sorry about it. We consider Hazrat Abu Bakr to be more worthy of the Caliphate. He was Rasoolullah's (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) companion in the cave. He is the most honoured and the best of us. Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) chose him as the Imaam from amongst us. We performed Salaah behind Him."
From the above we can safely say that if Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) had not been worthy of the Caliphate, Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) would NOT have accepted him and would have said, "It is my right." As a matter of fact, he refused Hazrat Muawiyya (radi Allahu anhu) as being the Khalifa. Although Hazrat Muawiyya's (radi Allahu anhu) army was very strong, he strove hard so that he himself would be the Khalifa. As a result of this, many lives were lost. Since he asked for his right at such a difficult situation, it would have been much easier to ask for it from Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) if he had considered it his right. He would have asked to be chosen, and that would have been done immediately.
After choosing Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) as the Khalifa and paying homage to him, Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) sat in front of the mimbar. In their next conversation he gave effective answers to the Khalifa's questions and supported him.
One of the greatest guides of the Sufiya-e-Alawiyyah, GHOUS-E-AZAM, SAYYID ABDUL QAADIR JILANI (RADI ALLAHU ANHU), writes in his book, "GHUNYAT-UT-TAALIBIN", that:
Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) became the Khalifa with the unanimity of the Muhajirs and Ansars, as follows:-
When Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) passed away, the Ansar-i-Kiram said, "Let one Amir be from you and one Amir be from us."
Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu) stood up and said, "O Ansar! Have you forgotten how Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) called Abu Bakr, 'the Imam of my Sahaba'?"
They said, "We know, O Umar."
Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu) went on, "Is anyone among you higher than Abu Bakr?"
The Ansar replied: "We trust ourselves to Allah's protection from considering ourselves higher than Abu Bakr."
Then, Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu) asked, "Who among you would tolerate to remove Abu Bakr from the ranking office where Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) appointed him?"
The Ansar said, "None of us will tolerate it. We trust ourselves with Allah's protection from removing Abu Bakr."
With the co-operation of the Muhajirs, they appointed Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) as the Khalifa. Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Zubair (radi Allahu anhuma) came later. Both accepted the Khalifa. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) stood up three times and said each time, "Is there anyone among you who has given up choosing me as the Khalifa?" Hazrat Ali who was sitting in the front stood up and said, "None of us gives up. Nor shall we ever think of giving up. Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has put you ahead of us. Who on earth can remove you?"
Thus, we have heard through strong and sound witnesses that the person who wanted Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) to become the Khalifa and uttered the most influential words, was Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu). For example, after the Camel Event, Hazrat Abdullah bin Kawa (radi Allahu anhu) came to Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and said, "Did Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) tell you anything about the Caliphate?" Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) replied, "First we mind our duty concerning the Deen. The archstone of the Deen is Salaah. And we like and choose for the world what Allah Ta'ala and His Messenger (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) have chosen from among us. We have therefore chosen Abu Bakr as the Khalifa."
As Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was sick during the final days of his life, he appointed Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) as the Imaam in his place so that he would conduct the Salaah. Each time Hazrat Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) called the Adhan, Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) used to say, "Tell Abu Bakr to be the Imaam for the people." He used to say this repeatedly. This was taken to imply that after his demise Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) would be most suitable for Caliphate, and that each of Umar, Uthman and Ali (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) was the most suitable for the Caliphate among the people of his time.