In the book "The Role of Aisha in the History of Islam" by the Shia scholar Allamah Sayyid Murtada Askari, the alim quotes an incident that runs totally contradictory to the mainstream Shia understanding dealing with succession:
Ali and the issue of caliphate
"Ali had no doubt that after the Prophet, the caliphate would belong to him and there would be no rival.(89) It was owing to this assurance that when his uncle al-’Abbas at the Prophet’s ablution ceremony said to him: “Give me your hand that I may swear allegiance to you so that the people would say that the uncle of the Prophet has sworn allegiance to his cousin. This would benefit you and no one would oppose you any longer,” he answered: “O uncle! Is there anyone beside me who covets the caliphate?”
He answered: “You will see soon enough.”
‘Ali said: “I have no wish to see the issue of my caliphate being settled behind closed shutters and I want all people to participate openly in it, and vote for me.” Then he remained silent."
Now this poses a very interesting question to the Shia's. If Imam Ali (as) was openly appointed at Ghader by the Prophet (pbuh), how come he wanted people to vote for his acceptance to the caliphate and not wanting to settle it behind closed doors? Hmm...it seems Imam Ali (as) himself was also keen on the idea of shura and election.
In fact, Imam Ali (as) himself even rejected the notion of being appointed at Ghader:
Narrated Rayeh bin al harith: A Group of Ansars came to Ali (as) in al Rahbah and said: Al Salamu Aleykum Ya Mawlana, He replied: How Can I be your Mawla and you are Arabian people? They Said: We heard the Prophet of Allah PBUH say on the Day of Ghadeer Khum: Whomsoever’s Mawla I am, this (Ali) is also his Mawla. Riyah said: When they left I followed them and asked whom they were, They said some folks from the Ansars and amongst them was Abu Ayoub al Ansari.
Narrated Imam Ahmad in His Munad 5/419, Shu'eib al Arna'out said Its Isnad is "Sahih", and it was mentioned in the Virtues of companions 2/570 #967.
Even Imam Ali (as) didn't even understand the word "Mawla" as leader/caliph.
In fact, Imam Ali (as) himself even rejected the notion of being appointed at Ghader:
Narrated Rayeh bin al harith: A Group of Ansars came to Ali (as) in al Rahbah and said: Al Salamu Aleykum Ya Mawlana, He replied: How Can I be your Mawla and you are Arabian people? They Said: We heard the Prophet of Allah PBUH say on the Day of Ghadeer Khum: Whomsoever’s Mawla I am, this (Ali) is also his Mawla. Riyah said: When they left I followed them and asked whom they were, They said some folks from the Ansars and amongst them was Abu Ayoub al Ansari.
Narrated Imam Ahmad in His Munad 5/419, Shu'eib al Arna'out said Its Isnad is "Sahih", and it was mentioned in the Virtues of companions 2/570 #967.
Even Imam Ali (as) didn't even understand the word "Mawla" as leader/caliph.
We see in Sermon 127 of Nahjul Balagha, Imam Ali (as) states:
"O' people. the most rightful of all persons for this matter (namely the caliphate) is he who is most competent among them to maintain it, and he who knows best Allah's commands about it. If any mischief is created by a mischief-monger, he will be called upon to repent. If he refuses. he will be fought. By my life, [1] if the question of Imamah was not to be decided unless all the people were present, then there would be no such case. But those who agreed about it imposed the decision on those who were absent, so much so that he who was present could not dissent and the one who was absent could not choose (any one else). Know that I shall fight two persons - one who claims what is not his and the other who ignores what is obligatory upon him."
So if Abu Bakr (ra) and Umar (ra) usurped his divine position to the caliphate, how come Imam Ali (as) didn't fight? So either Imam Ali (as) is contradicting himself and disobeying Allah's (swt) command to be the first divine caliph, or, there was no such announcement at Ghadeer regarding succession. Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran: "And Allah gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."Quran 2:247. If it was Imam Ali's (as) divine right to rule, Allah (swt) would have made it happen.
Furthermore, we read in Sermon 92 of Nahjul Balagha:
"Leave me and seek someone else. We are facing a matter which has (several) faces and colors, which neither hearts can stand nor intelligence can accept. Clouds are hovering over the sky, and faces are not discernible. You should know that if I respond to you, I would lead you as I know and would not care about whatever [anyone else] may say. If you leave me, then I am the same as you are. It is possible I would listen to and obey whosoever you make in charge of your affairs. I am better for you as a counselor than as chief."
How can the 12r Shias claim that he was divinely appointed when Imam Ali (as) himself is refusing to be the caliph after people came to him? Would Imam Ali (as) refuse the position which was granted to him by Allah (swt)? Imam Ali (as) was even ready to obey the person put in charge and even stated he would be better as a counselor as opposed to being the leader. Is this what a divine Imam does when people come to him to give him allegiance?
Additionally, Imam Ali (as) states in Sermon 205 of Nahjul Balagha:
“By Allah, I had no liking for the caliphate nor any interest in government, but you yourselves invited me to it and prepared me for it.”
Imam Ali (as) states that he had no liking for the caliphate and that people forced him into the position. No mention of divine succession anywhere.
MashAllah, we have a very similar narration in our books where Imam Ali (as) states:
"Ibrahim the son of Abdul-Rahman Ibn Awf narrated to us that (his father) Abdul-Rahman Ibn Awf was with Omar Ibn Al-Khattab when Muhammad Ibn Maslamah broke the sword of Al-Zubayr, Abu Bakr began his speech and apologised to the people and said: "By Allah, I have not been eager for power (Al-Imama/Rulership) in the slightest way and I was not interested in it, neither did I asked Allah in secrecy nor in public for it."
Thereupon the Muhajirs (Sahabah) emrabced him and accepted his excuse and Ali (Ibn Abi Talib) and Al-Zubayr said: "We got only upset for being delayed in the matter of MASHAWIRAH (Shura/consultation) [at Saqifah], we believe that Abu Bakr is the most deserving of the Caliphate after Rasulullah, peace and blessings be upon him, for he He was the companion of the Messenger of Allah in the cave, THE SECOND OF TWO, and verily, we are well aware of his privilege and greatness. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing be upon him, had ordered him to lead the prayers while he was alive.”
-Al-Mustadrak alaa al-Sahihain; Ibn Kathir in his Al Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah, Vol 5 said:'It's chain is authentic
A similar narration states:
Ali ibn Abi Talib said to Zubair: “(Although) we got angry momentarily at the time of consultation (i.e. Saqifah), we can now see that Abu Bakr is the most deserving of the Caliphate: He was the companion of the Messenger of Allah in the cave. We know of his life and we know that the Messenger of Allah had ordered him to lead the prayers.” And then he (Ali) gave his Baya’ah (to Abu Bakr).
Sharh Nahjul-Balagha; Ibn Abi Al-Hadeed; Vol.1, p.132
"Verily, the people who payed allegiance to Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman, have payed allegiance to me based on the same principles as the allegiance to them. So anyone who was present has no right to go against his pledge of allegience, and anyone who was absent has no right to oppose it. And verily shura (consultation) is only the right of the Muhajirs and the Ansar. So if they decide upon a man and declare him their imam, then it is with the pleasure of Allah. If anyone goes against this decision, then he must be persuaded to follow the rest of the people. If he persists, then fight with him for leaving that which has been accepted by the believers. And Allah shall let him wander misguided and not guide him."
First, we see the people at al-Islam.org make tahreef to this letter by adding the word "supposed" in the third sentence in an attempt to change the actual meaning of the letter.
The actual Arabic text with no mention of the word "suppose" anywhere:
إنه بايعني القوم الذين بايعوا أبا بكر وعمر وعثمان ، على ما بايعوهم عليه ، فلم يكن للشاهد أن يختار ولا للغائب أن يرد ، وإنما الشورى للمهاجرين والأنصار ، فإن اجتمعوا على رجل وسموه إماماً كان ذلك لله رضى فإن خرج منهم خارج بطعن أو بدعة ردوه إلى ماخرج منه فإن أبى قاتلوه على اتباعه غير سبيل المؤمنين ، وولاه الله ما تولى
In the letter, Imam Ali (as) is legitimizing himself in front of Muawiya by using Saqifa as a justification. Imam Ali (as) is telling Muawiya not to use double standards because he (as) himself was selected as the caliph by the Muslims in the same process as the previous three caliphs (ra) were. The same must go for Imam Ali (as), because if Imam Ali (as) claimed that the process of Saqifa was invalid, then he is also using double standards by attaining the caliphate the same way as the previous caliphs (ra) and legitimizing himself in front of Muawiya. Furthermore, Imam Ali (as) explicitly states that whomever the Muhajirs and Ansars appointed as the Imam through shura, has the "pleasure of Allah (swt)" and they must be obeyed.
In Tabari vol. 3, p 202:
"When Abu Bakr (ra) became Calipah, Abu Sufyan came to Imam Ali (as) and inquired why in his presence the caliphate is being assigned to a junior tribe. He requested Imam Ali (as) to extend his hand for taking allegiance, and if people opposed him, he would post a huge contingent of soldiers and horsemen in Madinah for his support. Imam Ali (as) replied " Abu Sufyan, you are always in pursuit of inflicting harm to Islam. I do not your require counsel and admonition. We have selected Abu Bakr (ra) as calipah finding him most competent.
Lastly, Imam Suyuti narrates in Jami Al Masaneed wal Maraseel and Al Muttaqi Al Hindi in Kanzul Ummal: عن زيد بن عليَ عن أَبِيهِ أَنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ جَاءَ إِلٰى عَلِيَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ: «يَاعَلِيُّ بَايَعُوا رَجُلاً أَذَلَّ قُرَيْشٍ قَبِيلَةً، وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ شِئْتَ لَنُصَدعَنَّهَا عَلَيْهِ أَقْطَارَهَا، وَلأَمْلأَنَّهَا عَلَيْهِ خَيْلاً وَرَجَلاً، فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ : يَا أَبَا سُفْيَانَ إِنَّ المُؤمِنِينَ وَإِنْ بَعُدَتْ دِيَارُهُمْ وَأَبْدَانُهُمْ قَوْمٌ نَصَحَةٌ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ، وَإِنَّ المُنَافِقِينَ وَإِنْ قَرُبَتْ دِيَارُهُمْ وَأَبْدَانُهُمْ قَوْمٌ غَشَشَةٌ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ، وَإِنَّا قَدْ بَايَعْنَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ لِذٰلِكَ أَهْلاً
Hadith by Zayd bin Ali, through his father, that Abu Sufyan came to Ali (at the announcement of the Khilafa of Abu bakr) and said: "O Ali, they gave Bay'ah to a man who is from the most humuliated tribe in Quraysh!!. If you allow me we (Bani umawyyah) will destroy the whole thing on them, and I will fill it (Madina Sharif) with Horses and Men (fighters) (to overturn the Bay'ah of Abu Bakr). Ali replied: O Abu Sufyan: " The believers even when their homes and bodies are far apart, but are with each other. And the Munafiqin even when they are close with their bodies and residences, are cheaters (not sincere) to each other, and we have given Bay'ah to Abu Bakr and he is worthy of it".
We in Ahl Al Sunnah follow the sunnah of Imam Ali (as) when he gave bayah to Abu Bakr (ra).
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