4. The Commendation of Abu Bakr by `Ali Zayn al-`Abidin and his Son, Zayd

5. The Incidents of Muhammad al-Baqir, Ja`far al-Sadiq and Musa al-Kazim
May 30, 2016
3. The Incidents of `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, Ibn `Abbas and `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Tayyar
May 30, 2016
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Table of Contents
  1. ‘Ali Zayn al ‘Abidin
  2. Zaid ibn ‘Ali
    1. The Benefits of These Narrations
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4. The Commendation of Abu Bakr by ‘Ali Zayn al ‘Abidin and his Son, Zaid

 

‘Ali Zayn al ‘Abidin

 

حدثني ابو معمر عن ابي حازم قال جاء رجل الي علي بن الحسين (زين العابدين)فقال ما كان منزلة ابي بكر و عمر من النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم فقال منزلتها الساعة.

Abu Hazim narrates that a person once approached ‘Ali, Zayn al ‘Abidin, and inquired, “What is the position of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar in relation with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?”

He responded, “Their position is the very position they have now with Rasulullah (i.e. just as they were his close associates during his lifetime so too do they enjoy this position at this very moment).”[1]

 

حدثنا الفضل بن جبير الوراق نا يحي بن كثير بن جعفر بن محمد عن ابيه قال جاء رجل الي ابي يعني علي بن جسين قال اخبرني عن ابي بكر قال من الصديق تسأل؟قال رحمك الله و تسميه الصديق؟قال ثكلتك امك قد سماه صديقا من هو خير مني و منك رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم و المهاجرون و الانصار فمن لم يسمه الصديق فلا صدق الله قوله في الدنيا و الاخرة.

Ja`far al-Sadiq narrates from his father Muhammad al-Baqir: A person came to my father [`Ali Zayn al-`Abidin] and asked, “Tell me about Abu Bakr.”

He responded, “Do you ask about al Siddiq?”

He replied, “May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, have mercy on you! Do you call him al Siddiq?”

He retorted, “May your mother weep over you! Those who are better than me and you have named him al Siddiq, (namely) Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the Muhajirin, and the Ansar. Hence, he who is unwilling to accord him the title of al Siddiq, may his statements never be honoured, not in this world or in the next.”[2]

 

Zaid ibn ‘Ali

 

حدثنا محمد بن كثير عن هاشم بن البريد عن زيد بن علي قال قال لي يا هاشم اعلم والله ان البرآءة من ابي بكر و عمر لبرآءة من علي فان شئت فتقدم و ان شئت فتأخر.

Hashim ibn al Barid narrates that Zaid ibn ‘Ali said to him, “O Hashim! Behold! Disassociation from Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is disassociation from ‘Ali. Decide for yourself as to whether you want to go ahead or not.”[3]

 

عن زيد بن علي قال البرآءة من ابي بكر و عمر برآءة من علي فمن شاء فليتقدم و من شاء فليتأخر.

Translation similar to above.[4]

 

Ahead I will endeavour to present before you the statements of Zaid ibn ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhuma that he made in favour of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma which appear in the books of Shia scholars and historians, whereby the status that they held in the sight of the Ahlul Bayt will become evident.

 

طا‎‌‍‌‎ئفہ از معارف کوفہ با زید بیعت کردہ بودند۔ در خدمتش حضور یافتہ گفتند رحمک اللہ در حق ابی بکر وعمر چہ گوئ؟ فرمود در بارہ ایشاں جز بخیر سخن نکنم واز اہل خود نیز در حق ایشاں جز سخن خیر نشنیدہ ام۔۔۔۔بالجملہ زید فرمود ایشاں بر کس ظلم وستم نراند ند وبکتاب و سنت رسول کارکردند۔

A group of the elite of Kufah came to Zaid ibn ‘Ali and asked him regarding his view about Abu Bakr and ‘Umar.

He said, “I do not say anything but good about them and have not heard anything but praise for them from my family…”

In essence, he said, they were free from oppression and had led their lives according to the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”[5]

 

و كان اصحاب زيد لما خرج سألوه ما تقول في ابي بكر و عمر ؟فقال ما اقول فيهما الا الخير و ما سمعت من اهلي فيهما الا الخير فقالوا لست بصاحبنا…..و تضرقوا عنه فقال رفضونا القوم فسموا الرافضة.

And the companions of Zaid, when they had joined him in his rebellion (against the Umayyad ruler Hisham ibn ‘Abdul Malik), asked him, “What do you say about Abu Bakr and ‘Umar?”

He said, “I do not say but good about them and have not heard but good about them from my family.”

They responded by saying, “You are not fit to be our leader,” and forsook him.

Upon which Zaid remarked, “They have abandoned us.” Henceforth they were known as the Rafidah (Deserters).[6]

 

The Benefits of These Narrations

  1. Imam Zaid had spoken the truth and had not shied away from it.
  2. Hence, it is also established that all the members of the Banu Hashim and the progeny of Abu Talib loved and venerated Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. This is clearly understood from the answer Imam Zaid gave to those people.
  3. He remained firm upon his stance despite being forsaken just moments before the commencement of the battle.
  4. Our friends had attained the title of ‘Rafidah’ subsequent to their betrayal with Imam Zaid radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Therefore they should not feel offended.
 

NEXT⇒ 5. The Incidents of Muhammad al Baqir, Jafar al Sadiq and Musa al Kazim

[1]  Al I’tiqad ‘ala mazhab al Salaf,187-188; al Fath al Rabbani li Tartib Musnad Ahmed ibn Hanbal, 22/182.

[2]  Fada’il Abi Bakr al Siddiq, p. 9.

[3]  Fada’il Abi Bakr al Siddiq, p. 9.

[4]  Al Riyad al Nadirah, 1/58.

[5]  Nasikh al Tawarikh, 2/59.

[6]  ‘Umdat al Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah, 256-257.