Ali bin Abi Talib.

          No controversy or misunderstanding in the institution of    the Khalifate.

How can there be controversy or misunderstanding in a Sunna of Allah in which He defended in saying, �And indeed We have put forth every kind of example (similitude) in this Qur�an, for mankind that he may remember�. There is no need to enter into disputes or controversy on things that are obvious and one is accountable to. Imam Shankiti in his Tafsir said, �Things are so explained in the holy Qur�an like the 4^th hour of the day that no one will ever deny not seeing them, but some people because of their prejudice and obstinacy deny such sings�. Let us respect the Sahabas, the people Allah chose to be witness to Muhammad�s Imaan. He asked them 3 times in a crowd of 120,000 if he had delivered the Message intact and unadulterated. They all affirmed to him that he had delivered the Message as was sent to him. If what we are saying about the Sahabas was a misquote or underreporting by one of them, then his case will be with Allah, for no one told him the truth, or explained to him what was dubious to him. Probably he just accepted Islam the day before! But today the Sunna is 1429 years old. Let us weigh, compare, estimate our way of life with those of the Sahabas covering the period 10-40 A.H, and the Umayyad (40-122 A.H) and Abbasid empires. If any of them disbelieved about the nature of Khalifate as described and command by Allah then according to Qur�an chapter 22:19, �These two opponents (believers and disbelievers) dispute with each other about their Lord: then as for those who disbelieved, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads�. Are we saying that Abubakar, Umar, Uthman, Talhah, Zubayr, ibn Umar and the rest of the participants of Uhud and Badr who witnessed the battle Siffin and Camel, and all the wives of the holy Prophet are in Hell fire, only Ali bin Abi Talib is in Paradise?  We are expecting the 600 Syrian fighters put to slaughter by Aisha to be in Hell fire? No! Ali was extremely lenient to those who fought him and took the option of not putting them to slaughter. Muhammad Rasulullah did the same thing. That fell under the prerogative of the Khalifa, the leader of the Muslim Umma under the Divine Guidance of Allah. Let us face our problem- sectarianism, despotism, supporting illiterate and tyrants as our rulers. If according to Maududi, Abi bin Abi Talib reciting chapter 7:43 said, �I do expect that Allah will remove the misunderstandings between me and Uthman and Talhah and Zubair�, Allah will not remove the misunderstanding between us. Their incidence is supposed to serve as a lesson to us, just as the previous revelations. It was just a reemphasis that we should not behave like the Children of Israel disliking what Allah chose for us. What destroyed the Children of Israel was lack of Khalifa from Allah

Allah commanded us in chapter 5:8, �To stand our firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice�. I understand to stand out firmly for Allah means to be the representative of Allah, saying what He says in the holy Qur�an. Then in chapter 4:135 He says, �Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses even though it is against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor�. I understand this meaning: One should tell the truth regarding the Sunna, for justice was established by the holy Prophet and the Sahabas.  It also commanded us not disunite but to remain one body! Are we saying that the Sahabas did not stand for justice immediately after the death of the holy Prophet!

We should therefore understand what happened when Prophet Muhammad returned to his house after Gabriel visited him in the cave of Hiira:-

(1)  He met his wife Khadija and she accepted Islam after assuring him of his Prophethood.   Ruqayya and Zaynab and Umm Kulthum were not in the house. Fatima was barely 5 years old and was given precedence as Ali was then 10 years old. So he became the first young male child within the family of Muhammad to accept Islam after hesitating initially. Zayd about 20 years old, was probably sent on a mission as he was older than Ali. So when he returned he was told about Islam and he accepted it.

(2)  Historians said Abubakar was not in town by the time the holy Prophet returned from the cave. He was in Yemen or en route from Yemen to Makka. On entering Makka he was met by Abu Jahl and Mughira who told him of the news of Muhammad declaring himself as Prophet. He immediately went to the holy Prophet and enquired about the much awaiting News. He confirmed to him and there and then he accepted Islam. The holy Prophet remarked, �Whenever I offered Islam to any person he showed hesitation before embracing it. But Abubakar is an exception, because he accepted my offer to join it without the slightest hesitation on his part�.

(3)  Historians gave credit to Abubakar for spreading Islam to his friends. He was able to get 16 influential Qurayshites to accept Islam giving way to spread of Islam in Makka. He was 37 years then and held influential position among the Quraysh tribe. He was consulted on all matters of vital importance and considerable weight was given to his opinion. His important function was that of Ushnaq (hanging) and in no case murder blood-money could be accepted without his approval. His business in merchandise made him well known in neighboring Syria, Yemen.  He was among the 10 most respected Quraysh elders of Makka and an expert in their genealogy. Historians concluded that it is not easy to separate the life history of Muhammad from that of Abubakar and Umar. Each clan of the Quraysh played their own role in the propagation of Islam directly or indirectly. Abu Jahl, Utba, Umayya, Abu Lahab, Mughira, etc should not be castigated by anyone today for in the long run they could produce  their argument on the Day of Judgment that without them there would have been no Revelation. They would then be forgiven and enter Paradise.  Definitely the role played by Abubakar in the propagation of Islam is available in the annuls of Islamic history.  Those interested to know what he did to Islam should pursue unbiased scholarship and copy him to vie with him on the Day of Judgment. As for me I will vie with Hamza, Umar and Ali on that Day for I am not wealthy.

How Allah Willed Abubakar to be the 1^st Khalifa. Abubakar was a distant brother of the holy Prophet meeting the holy Prophet at the 9^th position of the family tree of the Quraysh. Those nearest to the holy Prophet who accepted Islam among his male uncles was Hamza bin Abdul Mutallab. Their age difference was just about 6 months. His conversion sent Makka into convulsions for he accepted Islam after drawing dagger with the with the Banu Makhzum tribe. It was an unprecedented conversion.  I often reflect, had Hamza not martyred in the battle of Uhud, could Abubakar be elected as the Khalifa? Supposing Al-Abbas did not hide his faith, could Abubakar be elected s the Khalifa? This will be my question to Allah on the Day of Judgment.

The incident in the Saqifa (shade) Bani Sa�dah was the doing of the Ansars and not the Muhajirin. A messenger came with the news that the Ansar have assembled there discussing on who is to lead the Muslim Umma. Then Umar suggested to Abubakar that they should attend the meeting. The Adi clan of Umar were the ambassadors of the Quraysh. So, Umar accordingly was right to think that way. The Ansars were right to quickly begin to know who would be their leader because they knew the advantage of a leader with Divine Guidance from Allah. The Muhajirin did not nurse that idea in their hearts because their migration was solely for the sake of Allah and not worldly position. Let us remember that the Muhajirin were not allowed by Prophet Muhammad to take possessions of their property in Makka after its conquest. After the lengthy discussions between the Ansar and Muhajirin, Zaid bin Thabit and Bashir bin Sa�d (sa�d bin Ubbaada [all Ansar]) convinced their tribesman to put down their claim of leading the Muslim Umma. When they agreed to surrender leadership to the Muhajirin, to await their reward from Allah, Abubakar now suggested that the Muhajirin should select either Umar or Abu Ubayda bin al Jarrah to lead the Muslim Umma. This was as a result, I guess according to the position their ancestors occupied in the Quraysh family tree. Umar bin Khattab and ibn al-Jarrah now cut in and said, �No, we cannot give preference to ourselves over you in this matter. You are undoubtedly the most excellent of the Muhajirin; you are the second of the two in the Cave (quoting chapter 9:40); you have officiated the holy Prophet in leading the Salat; and Salat is the most excellent (thing) in religion. For whom therefore would it be proper to take precedence over you in this matter and assume the office (or the Khilafat in your presence)? Stretch your hand and we offer bai�at unto you�. This was the reason given by the Sahabas in choosing Abubakar.

How Allah willed Ali bin Abi Talib to be a Khalifa. Some Muslims recall the meeting that took place 3 years after the beginning of revelation using it to assert the Khilafat of Ali bin Abi Talib. However we should remember that the reason behind the meeting was to invite the immediate relations to Muhammad to accept Islam as a prelude to its dissipation openly in Makka. By then the preaching was done in house except Abubakar who made it open. The meeting in the house of the holy Prophet was attended by Zayd, Ja�afar and Ali and the chiefs of Makka totaling 40 of them. In the meeting the holy Prophet invited them to accept Islam and to be his deputies later. Zayd and ja�afar did not respond to the call for they were already Muslims. Those in attendance all kept quiet. It was then that the 13 year old Ali who answered him. The holy Prophet then said, �This is my brother, mine executor and my successor amongst you. Hearken unto him, and obey him�.  Alhamdulillah the saying of Muhammad later became true. But this is not the only prediction of the holy Prophet that became true to those who lived to see it. What of what happened at the battle of Mu�ta, the assassination of Umar, Uthman and Ali? He predicted the division of his Umma into sects and the appointment of illiterate and immoral people as leaders of his Umma. So what, in that sense? He told that Abu Zar will die alone.  

It is not true that Allah singled out Ali bin Abi Talib at the exclusion of all believers. Those who know Asbabun Nuzul will understand that even Abu jahl and the rest of the disbelievers were mentioned indirectly in the holy Qur�an. Chapter 9:40 definitely was referring to Abubakar; chapter 9:118 was referring to Ka�b, Murara and Hilal. Chapter 58:11-12 was a conversation between Ali and the holy Prophet. We have 4 verses revealed in relation to Umar. Imam Shatibi mentioned some 38 verses of the holy Qur�an revealed as compensation to the believers in singling out the holy Prophet.

How Ali became the 4^th Khalifa. According to my research there were only about 20 Sahabas excluding the wives of the holy Prophet alive by 36 A.H. The eldest of them were Sa�d bin Abi Waqqas and Ali bin Abi Talib all round 59 years old. Mua�awiya was 3 years younger than them. So the only one who could contest the Khalifate with Ali was ibn Waqqas. But we knew that he opted out of it during the selection of Uthman. So Ali became the only one form the Muhajirin to be elected according to the precedence of age, knowledge and the time of Hijra.  There was a criterion set by the Muslim scholars for selecting a Khalifa and according to them an Umma seized to be a Muslim Umma when they failed to comply with them. Those who want to understand the position of Khalifate should read the following books:

Al-Mizan by Taba Taba�I Vol.1.

Tafsir Qur�an by Shinkiti P. 56-66.

Nizaamul Hukm fii Islam by Dr. Muhammad Yusuf Musa.

Dawlat Rasuul fii Madina by Dr. Salih Ahmad Aliyu.

The Islamic State by Taqiuddin an-Nabhani.

There are others but these are enough unless one is looking for the impossible � finding controversy or failure for one to say he has not understood the Sunna.

Friendship.

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