What is attributed to Sayyidina ‘Ali

The narrations from Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais

Two narrations from Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais mention that ‘Umar excused one of his officials, named Qunfudh, from the fine imposed on all his officials in the provinces, as a reward for striking Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha. Although the narrations have the same content, they are mentioned twice in the book with slight differences, so we examined each narration separately.

First Narration from Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais

Sulaim reported: Abu al Mukhtar ibn Abi al Si’q wrote to ‘Umar ibn al Khattab with verses complaining about the injustice of his officials.

فلما قرأها عمر أغرم تلك السنة جميع عماله أنصاف أموالهم لشعر أبي المختار ولم يغرم قنفذ العدوي شيئًا وقد كان من عماله وردَّ عليه ما أخذ منه وهو عشرون ألف درهم ولم يأخذ منه عشره ولا نصف عشره قال سليم فلقيت عليًا عليه السلام فسألته عما صنع عمر فقال هل تدري لم كف عن قنفذ ولم يغرمه شيئًا قلت لا قال لأنه هو الذي ضرب فاطمة عليها السلام بالسوط حين جاءت لتحول بيني وبينهم فماتت صلوات الله عليها وإن أثر السوط في عضدها مثل الدملج

When ‘Umar read it, he fined all his officials that year of half their wealth for the poetry of Abu al Mukhtar, but he did not fine Qunfudh al ‘Adawi, who was one of his officials. Instead, he returned to him what he had taken from him, which was twenty thousand dirhams, without taking his tenth or half-tenth.

Sulaim said: I met ‘Ali and asked him about what ‘Umar did. He said: “Do you know why he refrained from fining Qunfudh and did not fine him at all?”

I said: “No.”

He said: “Because he is the one who struck Fatimah with the whip when she intervened between me and them. She died, peace be upon her, and the mark of the whip was on her arm like a bracelet.”^[1]

Study of the Isnad

We have previously discussed Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais, proving it to be fabricated and lacking any authentic chain, and that its copies are subject to tampering and alteration.

The Opinion of Imamiyyah Scholars on the Isnad

Muhammad Asif Muhsini judged this narration as unworthy of consideration in his book Mashra’at Bihar al Anwar.^[2]

Second Narration from Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais

Sulaim said:

انتهيت إلى حلقة في مسجد رسول الله ليس فيها إلا هاشمي غير سلمان وأبي ذر والمقداد ومحمد بن أبي بكر وعمر بن أبي سلمة وقيس بن سعد بن عبادة فقال العباس لعلي عليه السلام ما ترى عمر منعه من أن يغرم قنفذًا كما أغرم جميع عماله فنظر علي عليه السلام إلى من حوله ثم اغرورقت عيناه بالدموع ثم قال شكر له ضربة ضربها فاطمة عليها السلام بالسوط فماتت وفي عضدها أثره كأنه الدملج

I came to a gathering in the Masjid of the Prophet, where there were only Hashimis, except for Salman, Abu Dharr, al Miqdad, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah, and Qais ibn Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah. Al ‘Abbas said to ‘Ali, “What do you think prevented ‘Umar from fining Qunfudh as he did with all his workers?”

‘Ali looked around at those present, and his eyes filled with tears, then he said, “He thanked him for the blow he gave to Fatimah with the whip, and she died with its mark on her upper arm, like a bracelet.”^[3]

Study of the Isnad

This narration, like the previous one, is taken from Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais which has been previously discussed. Its content is similar to the previous narration with slight differences.

The Opinion of Imamiyyah Scholars on the Isnad

Muhammad Asif Muhsini ruled this narration as unreliable in his book Mashra’at Bihar al Anwar.^[4]

NEXT⇒ What is attributed to Sayyidina Salman

^[1] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais, pg. 223.

^[2] Mashra’at Bihar al Anwar, 2/37.

^[3] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais, pg. 224.

^[4] Mashra’at Bihar al Anwar, 2/37.