List of Sahaba not giving bay'ah to Abu Bakr
This is a list of Sahaba not giving bay'ah to Abu Bakr. The Sahaba were the companions of Muhammad; bay'ah is the Islamic term for a formal oath of allegiance.
Introduction
After the death of the Muhammad, Abu Bakr came into power following the meeting at the Saqifah of Banu Sa'ida, becoming the first Caliph.
While no one source lists all these persons, this article lists the individuals as mentioned in a multitude of sources, and provides the sources where each name appears, and the context in which they are mentioned.
Additionally, not all sources state how long each individual withheld his bay'ah. Shi'as have maintained that Ali never paid allegiance to Abu Bakr, and there is support for this in both Shi'a and Sunni historical texts. A few Sunni sources, however, have suggested that Ali withheld for only six months. The details of whether Ali ever consented to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr is not mentioned in the sources themselves, but are generally taken as added by latter interpretors. Shi'a ideology maintains that Ali was forcibly taken to Abu Bakr, who later staged a mock allegiance ceremony to consolidate his power.
Compact List
Muhajirun
Banu Asad
Ansars
Banu Khazraj
Other
Detailed list
Banu Hashim
Ali
- Muhammad al-Bukhari, a 9th century Sunni Shafi'i Islamic scholar narrates "Ali noticed Nothing. 'Ali had not given the oath of allegiance during those months (i.e. the period between the Prophet's death and Fatima's death, Fatima's (daughter of Muhammad) funeral was held secret and Ali did not inform Abu Bakar as per will of Fatima)...(and Ali said) But we used to consider that we too had some right in this affair (of rulership) and that he (i.e. Abu Bakr) did not consult us in this matter, and therefore caused us to feel sorry"[4]
- Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, a 9th century Sunni Shafi'i Jariri Islamic scholar narrates the same as Muhammad al-Bukhari.[5]
- Ibn Qutaybah, a 9th century Sunni Islamic scholar narrates "I am the servant of God and the brother of the Messenger of God. I am thus more worthy of this office than you. I shall not give allegiance to you [Abu Bakr & Umar] when it is more proper for you to give bay’ah to me. You have seized this office from the Ansar using your tribal relationship to the Prophet as an argument against them. Would you then seize this office from us, the ahl al-bayt by force? Did you not claim before the Ansar that you were more worthy than they of the caliphate because Muhammad came from among you – and thus they gave you leadership and surrendered command? I now contend against you with the same argument…It is we who are more worthy of the Messenger of God, living or dead. Give us our due right if you truly have faith in God, or else bear the charge of wilfully doing wrong[6] ... 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.' "[7]
- Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, a 10th century Sunni Shafi'i Jariri Islamic scholar narrates "What prevented us from allegiance to you was not our denial of your virtue, nor was it envy of anything with which God has favoured you. Rather we believe that we have a rightful share in this affair, which you have denied us"[8]
- Ibn Abu al-Hadid, a 13th century Mu'tazili Islamic scholar says that they did not dare to force Ali into Baya while Fatimah was alive.[9]
`Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib
- Ibn Qutaybah, a 9th century Sunni Islamic scholar narrates that Al-`Abbas ibn `Abdul-Muttalib had told Abu Bakr that "If you demanded what you demanded through kinship to the Messenger of Allah, then you had confiscated our own. If you had demanded it due to your position among Muslims, then ours is a more prestigious than yours. If this affair is accomplished when the believers are pleased with it, then it cannot be so as long as we are displeased therewith.""[10]
Banu Khazraj
Sa'd ibn Ubadah
Sunni view
References
- ^ A Shi'i-Sunni dialogue on al-Islam.org [1]
- ^ a b A list composed of sources such as Ibn Hajar Asqalani and Baladhuri, each in his Ta'rikh, Muhammad Bin Khawind Shah in his Rauzatu's-Safa, Ibn Abdu'l-Birr in his Isti'ab
- ^ a b To be with the Truthful by Muhammad al-Tijani, quoting Sahih Bukhari on Al-islam.org [2]
- ^ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:546
- ^ Sahih Muslim, 19:4352
- ^ Ibn Qutaybah, vol. 1, p.29; quoted in Ayoub, 2003, 18 [3]
- ^ Imamate: The Vicegerency of the Prophet by Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi, quoting Ibn Qutaybah on Al-islam.org [4]
- ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, vol. 3, p.208; Ayoub, 2003, 21 [5]
- ^ Shi'a encyclopedia [6] quoting from Ibn Qutaybah,, Massudi, Ibn Abu al-Hadid
- ^ A Shi'i-Sunni dialogue quoting from Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa page 16 [7]