Ibne Qutaibah in Al-Marif1 and Abul Fida in his Tarikh2 have mentioned
among the instances, in which people found fault with Uthman, was handing over
Fadak to Marwan, which was regarded as Sadaqah for the Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.). Abul Fida has written that:
Fadak, which was Sadaqah of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and which
Fatima demanded as inheritance, and Abu Bakr narrated from Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.a.): ‘We prophets do not leave any inheritance; whatever we leave is
Sadaqah’, Uthman gave that to Marwan bin Hakam [and gave its possession to
him], and Fadak remained under the control of Marwan and his sons, till Umar
bin Abdul Aziz came to throne. He seized it from them and declared it to be
Sadaqah.
And Baihaqi in Sunanul Kubra,3 through the chains of Mughira, has narrated
regarding Fadak that: When Umar died, Uthman gave Fadak to Marwan. And he
says: The Shaykh said: During the reign of Uthman bin Affan, Fadak was given
over to Marwan, as if Uthman interpreted the report of the Prophet; When God
gives a sustenance to a prophet, that sustenance is for him, who comes to power
after him, and if he is needless of that sustenance through his personal wealth, he
gives it over to his near-kindred and does a good turn to them…
Ibne Abil Hadid has written in his Sharh:4
“Uthman handed over Fadak to Marwan and Fatima (s.a.) after the passing
away of her father, sometimes demanded it as her inheritance and sometimes as a
gift, but she was spurned [and was not given to her].”
Allamah Amini says: I do not understand the reality behind this transfer,
because if Fadak was booty of Muslims – as Abu Bakr claimed – by what
reasoning was it restricted only to Marwan?
And if it is inheritance of the family of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) – as
Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.) reasoned in favor of it in her sermon, and the Holy
Imams (a.s.) and before all, their chief Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) argued – then
Marwan is not in the circle of this family and the Caliph did not have any right to
issue a judgment regarding it.
And if it was a gift of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) for his beloved
daughter, Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.) – as Her Eminence claimed and Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.) and her two sons, who were two holy Imams and two grandsons
of Prophet and Umme Aiman, who was guaranteed Paradise, had testified in her
favor, and her testimony was rejected by something which does not please
Almighty Allah and His Messenger. And if the testimony is rejected from one,
for whom the verse of purification was revealed, by what can confidence be
gained? And on what reasoning can one rely?
“If this continues and events of the day do not narrate anything of it, there
would be no weeping for any deceased and there will be no joy at any newborn.”
Thus, what connection does it have with Marwan? And what discretion
Uthman had on it that he should leave it to someone?
Indeed, the acts of the three Caliphs regarding Fadak, were contradictory to
each other, Abu Bakr seized it from Ahle Bayt (a.s.), Umar returned it to them,
and Uthman transferred it to Marwan; then during the reign of later Caliphs, from
the time Muawiyah for a long time, Fadak was seized from the family of
prophethood; and every time it was restored to them and it was dealt with
according to the whims and fancies of the rulers.5
Funds were brought to Maula Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) from Isfahan. He
divided it into seven parts and one bread was in surplus; he divided it into seven
pieces and placed each piece in every share. After that he drew lots among people
that who would take his share first.6