`Ali’s Acknowledgement of the Previous Khulafa’

‘Ali’s Acknowledgement of the Previous Khulafa’

Dr. Musa al Musawi writes in his book al Shia wa al Tashih:

Legitimate administration matters, shaping of the earthly Muslim community, and succession to Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam were among the many issues that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu addressed. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu acknowledged that the continuance of the Muslim polity with the acquiescence of the ummah after the demise of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was based on shura (mutual consultation) and not divine revelation per se. He once said: “The reasons the community pledged their allegiance to me are based on the same ambit as Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman. The (legislative power) of shura belonged solely to the Muhajirin and Ansar. Such was their authority that if they decided upon a leader to administer the community’s affairs, it would be bona fide and sanctioned by all. If anyone defected or rebelled, all measures would be taken to restore order.”^{^[1]}

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was once asked about Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu and so he said:

Allah Ta’ala referred to him with the epithet al Siddiq (the truthful) via the blessed tongue of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and Jibril ‘alayh al Salam. He was the deputy of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was pleased with him to administer our religious affairs, and thus we are all pleased with him to administer our worldly affairs.^{^[2]}

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu also said:

Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam designated Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu to lead the congregation in salah. I was present that day – and in my full senses (fully aware of what was happening around me). Had Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam willed he could have appointed me (in place of Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu), but he chose not to. Just as Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam are pleased with him (Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu) to administer our religious affairs, we too, are pleased with him to govern our worldly affairs.^{^[3]}

In the Mustadrak of al Hakim al Nisapuri, the Sahabi — ‘Abdul Rahman ibn ‘Auf radiya Llahu ‘anhu — narrates the following incident:

During his khutbah he (Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu) said: “By Allah, never once have I asked — publicly or in secret — Allah Ta’ala for this position; nor did I ever aspire to be here. I have been entrusted with such a weighty affair and I possess neither the strength nor will-power to fulfil its obligations, save with Allah’s Ta’ala succour.” ‘Ali and Zubair replied: “We have no objections to the decision reached. Despite the fact that we were delayed^{^[4]} in attending the consultation; we still regard Abu Bakr to be the most adept and deserving of this position; for was he not Nabi’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam companion in the cave; did Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam not appoint him to lead the congregation in salah while he salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was still alive? We fully acknowledge his excellence and superiority.”^{^[5]}

The renowned Shia scholar, Abu Jafar al Tusi recounts the following incident:

After the Battle of Jamal, ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu opposition assembled together and he said to them: “Everyone (here), including me, pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Similar was the case with ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu, everyone (here) pledged their allegiance to him and I followed suit. This was also the case with ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu; I pledged my allegiance to him — while seated in my house — like everyone else. Now, without any hankering or imposition whatsoever, you have pledged your allegiance to me. The only request I have from everyone is that I be given the same deference and regard as they were given.”^{^[6]}

Another famous Shia scholar, Abu Jafar al Tabarsi transmits from Muhammad al Baqir^{^[7]} rahimahu Llah the fact that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu too, consented to Abu Bakr’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu khilafah; and that he also pledged his allegiance to him.

He continues and mentions that when Usamah ibn Zaid, the beloved of Allah’s Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was on the verge of leaving (for an expedition), the news of Nabi’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death reached him and so he, and whoever was with him, immediately headed back to Madinah. Upon arriving in Madinah he noticed a huge throng gathered around Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He turned to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and asked: “What is happening?” ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu replied: “It is exactly as you see it.” So Usamah radiya Llahu ‘anhu asked: “Have you also pledged your allegiance (to him)?” ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu replied: “Yes.”^{^[8]}

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu abolished the apocryphal claim of Wasiyyah^{^[9]} by saying:

I am better suited as a wazir (minister) for you than as an amir (leader).

NEXT⇒ ‘Ali: A Counsellor and Advisor

^{^[1]} Al Sharif al Radi: Nahj al Balaghah 3/7

^{^[2]} Al Sharif Muhammad ibn al Hassan ibn ‘Abdullah al Hussaini al Wasiti: Mukhtasar Hilyat al Auliya’ 1/156

^{^[3]} Op. cit. 1/159

^{^[4]} Much has been made — primarily by the Rafidah — concerning narrations which describe how both Zubair ibn ‘Awwam and ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhuma delayed pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Almost all of those narrations, however, are not authentic; the one exception is a narration that was related by Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhu, who said: “Verily ‘Ali, Zubair, and others who were with them stayed behind in the house of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha.” (Sahih al Towthiq fi Sirah wa Hayat al Siddiq p. 98)

They were there for a reason: they were in charge of making preparations for the burial of the Rasul of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Their primary duties involved washing Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and wrapping him in a shroud. This information is based, not on mere conjecture, but on a narration that was related by Salim ibn ‘Ubaid radiya Llahu ‘anhu. According to that narration, Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu said to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and to the other members of Nabi’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household: “Busy yourselves with [the burial preparations of] your companion.” Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu then ordered them to wash Nabi’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam body. (Ibid)

It is important to understand that the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had just died, and so, yes, some people had to concern themselves with the future course of the Muslim nation; but others had to busy themselves with making preparations for the Nabi’ s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam burial. As a result, it was on the day after Nabi’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death, which was Tuesday, that Zubair ibn ‘Awwam and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhuma pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Abu Sa’id al Khudri radiya Llahu ‘anhu said:

When Abu Bakr climbed the pulpit, he looked at the faces of the people who were before him. Not finding Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam anywhere among the crowd, Abu Bakr summoned for him to come. When Zubair came [a short while later], Abu Bakr said to him: “O cousin and helper of the Rasul of Allah, do you want to break the stick of the Muslims [i.e. do you want to be the cause of disunity]?” Zubair said: “There is no blame upon you [for what you say], O Khalifah of the Rasul of Allah.” after which he stood up and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr then looked in the faces of the crowd, and, not finding ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib anywhere among them, summoned for him to come. When ‘Ali came [a short while later], Abu Bakr said: “O cousin of the Rasul of Allah, do you want to break the stick of the Muslims [i.e. do you want to be the cause of disunity]?” ‘Ali responded: “There is no blame upon you [for what you say], O Khalifah of the Rasul of Allah.” after which he stood up and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu.” (Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah 5/249, Ibn Kathir ruled that this hadith is authentic.)

This authentic narration was deemed so important by Imam Muslim ibn al Hajjaj — the compiler of the second most authentic hadith compilation, Sahih Muslim — that he went to his teacher, Imam al Hafiz Muhammad ibn Ishaq al Khuzaimah, and asked him regarding it. Ibn al Khuzaimah wrote out the hadith for him and read it for him. Speaking figuratively, Imam Muslim said: “This hadith is worth a badanah (a large cow that is slaughtered in Makkah, i.e. this hadith is something of great value).” Ibn Khuzaimah responded: “This hadith is not only equal to a badanah; instead, it is equal to a badarah (a bag that contains 1000 or 10 000 gold coins; or in other words, this hadith is a priceless treasure of great importance). Commenting on Abu Sa’id’s above-mentioned narration, Ibn Kathir remarked:

“This chain of narration is both authentic and correctly memorised.”

And the hadith imparts very important information: Either one or two days after Nabi’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death, ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu. And this is certainly true, for (throughout the duration of Abu Bakr’s khilafah), ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu always remained in the close company of Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu; in fact, he never missed performing a single salah behind him. (al Bidayah wa al Nihayah 5/249)

According to another narration, Habib ibn Abi Thabit said:

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib was in his house when a man came to him and said: “Abu Bakr has sat down in order for people to pledge allegiance (to him).” At that very moment, ‘Ali was dressed casually, wearing only a long shirt, with no lower garment, or robe above it. But he was in a rush, for he did not want to delay pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr; and so, without bothering to put on the rest of his attire, he went out the masjid. Once there, he sat down and asked someone to bring his robe for him. Some people brought it for him, and he wore it over his shirt. (Al Khulafa’ al Rashidun. al Khalidi p. 56)

Al Hakim al Nisapuri: Mustadrak al Hakim

^{^[6]} Al Tusi: Al Amali 2/121

^{^[7]} Muhammad al Baqir rahimahu Llah is considered to be the fifth Imam according to the Shia doctrine of Imamah.

^{^[8]} Al Tabarsi: Al Ihtijaj p. 50.

^{^[9]} The claim of Asiyyah is an integral concept within the Shia tradition. It is claimed that Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on his deathbed, appointed ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu as his successor. [translator’s note]

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