In Sifatus Safwa,1 Ibne Jauzi has narrated from Hasan that:
“Ali (a.s.) said: When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) passed away, I was
worried about my circumstances. So, I recalled that the Prophet had appointed
Abu Bakr as the prayer leader. So, for the sake of my world, I gave consent to
what Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) had permitted for my religion, and I gave
precedence to Abu Bakr.”
Allamah Amini says: How much have the senior tradition scholars
exaggerated in narrating these blatant lies and deceptions for the weak ones of
Ummah, who become weak due to their ignorance, and casting veil on the reality
through such falsehoods, have the audacity and this is in the condition that they
are experts of this and from none of them have defects and faults present in these
false traditional reports remained concealed.
Yes, researchers in most of our books have so much narrated history by
concurrence of everyone and finds in the words of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)
authentic traditions, which deny this falsehood.
How great is the distance between this statement and words of senior
tradition scholars regarding refusal of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) to give
allegiance to Abu Bakr. Like Qurtubi in Al-Mafhim Sharh Sahih Muslim, which
is in explanation of traditions of Sahih Muslim and under the text: “Ali
commanded respect during the lifetime of Fatima.”:
“People accorded respect to Ali (a.s.) during the lifetime of Fatima, for the
sake of her nobility, as Fatima was the beloved daughter of Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.) and Ali was Fatima’s husband. When Fatima passed away and Ali did
not pay allegiance to Abu Bakr, people stopped paying respect to him till he also
entered in what the people had entered and their unity was restored.”
Yes, fabricators of traditions have exceeded all limits in attributing
falsehood to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), and this became apparent in the society
till Aamir bin Sharaheel writes:1
“From Islamic Ummah one, to whom the most falsehood is attributed is
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.).”
This is an example of what was attributed to him and he (a.s.) is immune
from it, it is mentioned that they added to the traditions of exaggeration about
Abu Bakr:
16.
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) that: “The first of those to enter Paradise are
Abu Bakr and Umar and I will remain with Muawiyah for accounting.”
17.
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) in a report with incomplete chains: “O Ali, don’t
write the permission for crossing the Siraat Bridge for one, who abuses Abu Bakr
and Umar. Indeed, after the Prophet, those two are the chiefs of the aged folks of
Paradise.”
18.
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) in a report with incomplete chains that: “The
most favorite companion for me and the best of them in my view and the most
honorable among them for Allah and the most excellent in the world and the
hereafter is Abu Bakr Siddiq.”
19.
Ali (a.s.) was asked: “O Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), who is the best of people
after Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)? He replied: Abu Bakr. Then he was asked:
Who after him? He replied: Umar. Then he was asked: Who after him? He
replied: Uthman. Then he was asked: Who after him? He replied: I.”
20.
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) that he swore by God that Allah, the Mighty and
High revealed the title of ‘Siddiq’ for Abu Bakr.
21.
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) in a report with incomplete chains that: “After
prophets and messengers, the sun did not rise and set on anyone more excellent
that Abu Bakr.”
22.
Abu Bakr asked Ali (a.s.): “Do you know that in this matter of Caliphate, I
am before you? He replied: You are right O Caliph of Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.). Then Ali (a.s.) stretched out his hand and gave allegiance to him.”
23.
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) in a report with incomplete chains that: “The
best ones from my Ummah after me, are Abu Bakr and Umar.”
These are darknesses of falsehood and malice, and concealing facts and it is
distortion and falsification, darknesses which are one upon the other.
Or say: These are fictions of the ancient people, who have written, traditions
of exaggeration and nonsensical tales, which committed dishonesty by attributing
falsehoods to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), and mixed them in the prophetic
Sunnah. We have discussed about them in detail throughout this book.2
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنْكَرًا مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَزُوْرًا
“And most surely they utter a hateful word and a falsehood.”3