From Saqifah to Karbala
Imam al – Ali’s Refusing To Swear Allegiance
Imam al–Ali refused to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr since he considered it an obvious violation of his own right [Being Prophet’s caliph ] . Imam al – Ali explained his position in caliphate as the position of the axis of mill pole, a high position from which flood flows and is out of birds reach. Imam al–Ali did not guess people to make disturbance in caliphate and keep it away from their Holy Prophet’s infallible households. When Abbas , Imam al–Ali’s and the Prophet’s uncle , asked Imam al–Ali to bring his hands forward to swear allegiance to him , consequently , people would say Prophet’s uncle swore allegiance to Prophet’s brother–in–law , and then , nobody ( even two individuals ) would refuse it, Imam al–Ali said , “ who else , except us , is infavour of it and calls for it ? ” (1)
Forcing Imam al – Ali to Swear Allegiance
People agreed on forcing Imam al–Ali to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr , so they sent a group of commissionaires to Imam al–Ali’s house to besiege the house , get him out of it disrespectfully , and bring him to Abu Bakr . People were severely shouting , “ Swear allegiance to Abu Bakr ! ” .
Not being afraid of their power and majesty, Imam al–Ali rejected their request with his rich logic. “I am more qualified than you to be caliph; therefore, I will not swear allegiance to you . You deprived the aids ( Ansar ) of caliphate , reasoning that you are more intimate and closer to the Prophet , and now , deprive us tyrannically from this right ( caliphate ) . Were not you claiming that Prophet Muhammad belonged to your tribe, thus you are more merited than Ansar to be caliph? Did not Ansar commit leadership to you due to your claim? Now, I reason you in the same way. Are not we more intimate and closer – family wise – than you to the Prophet, and consequently, more merited to be caliph than you? Now, if you believe in God and trueness, treat us fairly and justly, and hand over our right; otherwise, do injustice to us (while you are aware of our true right).
With such a projecting reasoning, Imam al- Ali cleared up the subject , and treated them with their own reasoning – intimacy and family relation with Prophet . Khatab’s son [Omar] who had no convincing proof to reject Imam al–Ali’s reasoning , angrily stood up and tyrannically said to Imam al–Ali “ You will not be released , unless you swear allegiance ”. Imam al – Ali gave him a knockdown answer , “ You are doing what benefits you in future . You are reinforcing Abu Bakr’s caliphate foundation to hand it over in future”. Imam al–Ali revealed Omar’s real intention behind his excitement and deeds: inheriting caliphate after Abu Bakr. Then he shout at Omar and said, “I swear to God that I would not accept your order and will not swear allegiance to Abu Bakr ” .
Abu Bakr who had become afraid of Imam al–Ali’s anger and that it might change the situation against him [Abu Bakr], calmly addressed Imam al – Ali and said, “If you are not eager to swear allegiance, there will be no force”. Abu Obaidah, trying to lessen Imam al–Ali’s revolutionary anger and attract his friendship, said to him, “O my cousin! You are still a young person while Abu Bakr is one of your tribe adults. Also, he is more experienced, more tolerant, and more qualified than you for caliphate. Therefore, you had better take over the responsibilities to Abu Bakr, and survive. You will be a qualified caliph in the future due to you religiosity, knowledge, understanding, family relationship with Prophet,…. ” .
Such a deceiving speech annoyed Imam al–Ali very much and made him to address the Immigrants (Mohajerin ) and reminded them of the Prophet’s infallible household’s (Ahlolbayt) qualification and superiority . “For God’s sake! For God’s sake! O you, the Immigrants!
Do not take out Prophet Muhammad’s power – within Arab society – from his home and bring it into your own homes. Do not keep the infallible households ( Ahlolbayt ) away from their right [ caliphate ] and from their position in society .
By God! O, the Immigrants! we - Ahlolbayt – are the most qualified people for caliphate since we are the infallible households. Are not we the readers of Quran, religious authorities, people’s evenhanded leaders, and responsible for their affairs? By God, all the mentioned characteristics belong to us thus , do not follow your carnal desires ; otherwise, you will be misled from truth and God’s way . ” (2)
Dreadful Actions
Abu Bakr decided to utilize a set of dreadful actions against Imam al – Ali to weaken his position in order to enable himself to overcome Imam al – Ali’s opposition, because, he had become a symbol of opposition and majority of Ansar disposed to him and were infavour of his leadership and caliphate. The followings are some of Abu Bakr’s actions against Imam al– Ali:
Economic Blockade: this is one of the best and most successful and applicable strategies to negate opposing movements in society, because money and wealth, during all historic periods, have been a support for opposing parties to dethrone a government. That is why governments – all over the world – confiscate their opponent’s properties or deprive them of profiting it, so that they become disabled to dethrone. Abu Bakr, too, utilized this strategy to lessen Imam al–Ali’s revolutionary potency. He made these efforts:
- Invalidating khoms : khoms is the Prophet’s households right obliged to all Muslims , as God stated in the Quran , “ Be aware that whatever you take as booty , one fifth of it belongs to God , the Prophet , his households , poors , and those who become moneyless while traveling if you believe in God and what we revealed on our worshipper ( Abd ) . In the Distinction day that the two group line up across each other , God is capable of any thing:
(( و اعـلموا انما غـنمتم من شيء فـان لله خـمسه وللـرسـول و لـذي الـقـربى
و اليتامى و المساكين و ابن السبيل ان كنتم امنتم بالله و ما انزلنا عـلى عبدنا
يوم الفرقان يوم التقى الجمعان والله عـلى كل شيء قدير ))
All Muslims agree that Prophet Muhammad set aside a part of khoms for himself and allow the left for him households . This process was performed till Prophet’s departure from this world. Abu Bakr invalidated this right after Prophet’s death and regarded Bani Hashim as others. (3)
Abu Bakr’s Reason for His Deed
Abu Bakr retold one of Prophet’s sayings: “I will not leave any heritage, but charity’, and justified his deed according to it. (4)
1) Imamah and Siasah : 1,12
2. Imamah and Siasah : 1.18 – 19
3. al - kashaf , interpretation of the khoms verse
4. Belaghat al – Nesaa : p. 19 ; Aalam al – Nesa : 4,116 ;
Ibn Abi al–Hadid’s Interpretation of Nahj al – Balaghah: 6,46
