Umar at Fatimah's house

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Some Shi'a and Sunni sources narrated that during the Succession to Muhammad, after the general bay'ah, Abu Bakr sent a group of people headed by Khalid ibn Walid and Umar at Fatimah's house. Shi'a portray this event as a military Coup d'état, while Sunni are prone to view it in a totally different maner.

Contents

[edit] Previous events

According to the Shi'a view, Umar ibn al-Khattab was not only one of Abu Bakr's most zealous supporters, but also his co-conspirator and in some cases his superior. Umar led a party of armed men against Ali's house in Medina and called for Ali and his men to come out and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr, who they had decided would take power in the the meeting at Saqifah. Umar and Khalid ibn Walid threatened to burn the house down if they did not submit.

[edit] Event

[edit] The door

Umar ibn al-Khattab and his men broke down the door. According to one narration of the Peshawar Nights debate, Abi'l-Hasan Ali Bin Husain Mas'udi was cited to have written that Fatima Zahra, who was pregnant at the time, was standing behind the door and she was pressed severely enough that she miscarried a son whom the Shi'a call Al Muhsin[1]. She cried out:

“ You have left the body of the Apostle of Allah with us and you have decided among yourselves without consulting us, and without respecting our rights. Before Allah, I say, either you get out of here at once, or with my hair dishevelled I will make my appeal to Allah."[2] ”

[edit] Arrests

The Peshawar debate claim is that at this point Zubayr ibn al-Awwam went out, but was disarmed, and Ali was arrested [1]. They were both brought to Abu Bakr, but since situation critical due to the Fatimah event, they did not put a death ultimatum on Ali's homage. Ali held out and did not pay homage until or after Fatima's death [3]

Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi, a 21st century Shi'a twelver Islamic scholar writes:

“ ...after saqifah, he (Zubayr) had taken out his sword to fight those who had entered the house of 'Ali to take him to Abu Bakr [4]. ”

[edit] Talk with Abu Bakr

Ibn Qutaybah, 9th century Islamic scholar writes:

“ When Abu Bakr had taken the caliphate, 'Ali was dragged to Abu Bakr as he repeatedly declared,
"I am the slave of Allah and the brother of the Messenger of Allah."

Then 'Ali was commanded to take the oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr. 'Ali said:

"I have more rights to the caliphate than anyone of you. I will not pledge obedience to you. As a matter of fact, you should give the pledge of obedience to me. You called the ansar to give their bay'ah on the ground that you had blood relations with the Messenger of Allah. You are usurping the caliphate from us, the members of his house. Did you not reason with the ansar that you have better rights to the caliphate than they because the Apostle was of your kinship, and they handed over the government to you and accepted your leadership? Therefore, the very reason put forth by you before the ansar is now forwarded by me. Our relations with the Apostle in life as well as in death are much closer than those of anyone of you. If you are faithful to your argument, you should do justice; otherwise you know that you have knowingly moved towards tyranny."

'Umar said,

"Unless you give bay'ah, you will not be released."

'Ali cried,

"Milk out as much as you can for the udders are in your hand. Make it as strong as possible today, for he is going to hand it over to you tomorrow. 'Umar, I will not yield to your commands: I shall not pledge loyalty to him."

Ultimately Abu Bakr said,

"O 'Ali! If you do not desire to give your bay'ah, I am not going to force you for the same" [4].
 ”

[edit] List

Among the people enumerated to have been included in the siege, the following are included:

Among those in the besieged house are the following included:

[edit] Views

[edit] Shi'a view

Fatima Zahra wanted to defend the first Imam (Ali ibn Abi Talib) and by most accounts her words and her actions succeeded in protecting Ali from Umar and his men. When she faced Umar ibn al-Khattab and his soldiers, she set an example to all Shi'a (since she faced them as a Shi’a of Ali, not as the wife of Ali), and this action is a significant part of what has defined her role as a Shi'a and as a Muslim woman. [7].

[edit] Non-Muslim view

Edward Gibbon, a 18th century non-Muslim Islamic scholar wrote:

“ After the simple inauguration of Abubeker, he was obeyed in Medina, Mecca, and the provinces of Arabia: the Hashemites alone declined the oath of fidelity; and their chief, in his own house, maintained, above six months, a sullen and independent reserve; without listening to the threats of Omar, who attempted to consume with fire the habitation of the daughter of the apostle. The death of Fatima, and the decline of his party, subdued the indignant spirit of Ali: he condescended to salute the commander of the faithful, accepted his excuse of the necessity of preventing their common enemies, and wisely rejected his courteous offer of abdicating the government of the Arabians. [8] ”

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Peshawar Nights [1] on Al-Islam.org
  2. ^ Jafri 1979 p 52, citing Baladhuri,1 pp585 f; Ya'qubi II, p126; al-Tabari I p1818; Abu Bakral Jawhari in his Sharh Nahj al-Balagha II p47,50,56f. Iqd IV p259f. al-Imama Wa's-Siyasa, I, pp 12-13
  3. ^ Jafri 1979 p53 citing Yaqubi II 126 Baladhuri I 586, al-Tabari I 1825 Iqdd IV 260 and Hadith II 22; he points out that this is the most common and oldest written tradition, but that there are a few more recent variations on this.
  4. ^ a b Imamate: The Vicegerency of the Prophet al-islam.org [2]
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fatima the Gracious by Abu Muhammad Ordoni, chapter "Attacking the House of Fatimah (AS)"
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l A Shi'i-Sunni dialogue on Al-Islam.org [3]
  7. ^ Ali Shariati. Fatemeh is Fatemeh. Tahrike Tarsile Quran' 1982 ISBN 0-940368-09-9 Excerpts online accessed 11 July 2006.
  8. ^ The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , section Reign of Abubeker; A.D. 632, June 7.

[edit] External links

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