Re: The issue of Fadak
coming back to our topic the participation of Ali in the administration of abu bakr , umar and uthman was not very different from that of many other senior companions.
it has to be accepted that ali was not one of the closest friends of any of the first 3 caliphs as all senior companions had their own group of buddies ( e.g it can be argued that abu ubaydah was to umar what ammar was to ali )...that explains why ali was not first choice for many govermental posts but by the same logic when ali became caliph he also favored those companions/followers ( albiet of high religious standing ) as candidates for office whom he trusted most.In this respect ali followed umar's example to a great extent of basing appointments of seniority.