Re: Who Are the Shias...................
After the successful ten years of caliphate the powerful caliph met his end by the dagger of a persian slave and died on 26 Dhul-Hijja 23/3 Nov 644. He nevertheless restricted the choice to six of the early companions among the Muhajirun, who had to choose one of themselves as the new Caliph. The members of this commitee, later referred to bythe Muslim jurists and theorists as the Shura were: Usman, Abd ar-Rahman b.Awf, Sad b.Abi Waqqas, Zubayr, Talha and Ali and Umars own son Abd Allah only in the capacity of an advisor, not as a candidate. Check Tabari, 2, pp.74, Baladhuri , 5, pp.16
Firstly the community at large and no part in this and again the principle of so called democracy cannot be applied here as well. Secondly Ansar were completely excluded from expressing their opinion in this affair. Perhaps this was due to Ansar's pro-Ali sympathies manifested at the Saqifa.
Umar laid down the regulations which had to be followed by the commitee. *These regulations were that: (1) The new caliph must be one of this commitee, elected by the majority vote of its members; * (2) That in the case of two candidates having equal support, the one backed by Abd ar-Rahman b.Awf was to be nominated; (3) that if any participant shrank from participating he was to beheaded instantly; and lastly (4) that when a candidate had been duly elected, in the event of one or two members,or, in the case of equal division of three members on each, the group opposed to Abd-ar-Rahman, were to be slain. Check Ibn Sad,3,pp.341, Tabari,1,pp.2779
Umar was sure that only one of the six companions could become the next Caliph, but, on the the other hand, he was certain that they oppose eachother in order to avail themselves of the opportunity for leadership. He was therefore afraid of the critical dissension among the possible candidates and disastrous consequences this would have for the young community. The measures imposed by Umar completed the task of keeping the caliphate away from Banu Hashim. But Umar knew that hz Ali(as) would not agree to make his claims the subject of debate in a self-instituted council of electors unless he was bound to do so under compulsion. Though aware of the considerable ambitiobs of both Zubayr and Talha, Umar also recognized the Ali and Usman carried mich more weight and realistically were the only ones who had the support necessary to advance themselves as serious candidates, each backed by its own clan, the Banu Hashim and Banu Umayya respectively.
**By bestowing both the chairmanship and the final authority of the commitee on Abd-Rahman b.Awf, Umar effectively blocked the chances of Ali and virtually guaranteed the nomination of Usman. Abd ar-Rahman belonged to the Banu Zuhra and Usman belonged to Banu Umayya, both of which had been serious rivals of Banu Hshim before Islam. Abd ar-Rahman was Usman's brother-in-law and Abd ar-Rahman could be expected to support Usman which also explains the reason why the final authority rested in his hands, check Umar's (2) regulation above.
When hz Ali(as) came to know of this he said : "By God, the caliphate has again been taken away from us because the final authority rests in the hands for Abd ar-Rahman, who is an old friend and brother-in-law of Usman whereas Sad b.Abi Wawwas is Abd ar-Rahman's cousin from the Banu Zuhra; naturally these will support each other, and even if Zubayr and Talha vote for me it would be of no use" Check Baladhuri ,5, p.19; Tabari,1, p.2780 **
Hazrat Ali(as) again was denied to his rightful claim. But why? The regulations imposed by Umar left no chance for Ali(as) as is evident. But why? Why did they not want Ali? Can someone explain me that?
In is said that after three days of lon debates at the time of morning prayers when the Muslims assembled in the mosque to hear the decision of the electoral body, Abr ar-Rahman first offered Caliphate of Ali on two conditions: firstly that he should rule in accordance witht the Quran and Sunna of the Prophet(pbuh) and secondly that he must follow the precedents established by two former caliphs. Accepting the first Ali(as) declined to comply with the second one. This shows that hazrat Ali(as) had disgreements with the two caliphs. Thereby Usman readily accepted them and was declared the Caliph. Baladhuri 5 p.22, Tabari 1 p.2793.
