It is narrated from Ali bin Rabah Nakhai that:
Umar delivered a sermon saying: “One, who has a query about the Holy Quran, should address it to Ubayy bin Kaab; and one, who has a query regarding
the lawful and the unlawful, should address it to Maaz bin Jabal; and one, who
has a query about obligations (inheritance) should ask Zaid bin Thabit; and one,
who has a query about monies should refer to me, because I am the treasurer.”
It is mentioned in another version: “Because Allah, the Mighty and High has
appointed me as caretaker and distributor of monies.”1
In this authentic and narrated sermon from the Caliph, which is narrated
through correct chains of authorities and its narrators also being reliable, and
Hakeem and Dhahabi have also considered it authentic, the admission is that in
those three sciences, only those three mentioned were point of reference for
Caliph and the Caliph had no duty, except to control funds.
Is it logical that someone, who is ignorant of these three sciences, whose
points of reference were some other people – as is clear from his account – and
that he should be regarded as successor of Prophet in matters concerning religion
and issues related to Quran and Sunnah, and its branches?
How much is the disparity between the issuer of this statement one, who,
always cast himself into intricate problems and intellectual difficulties and
without any qualms solved issues of religion! One, who declared from the pulpit:
“Ask me, before you are deprived of me. As after me, you will not get
anyone like me whom you can ask.”2
And he says: “You will not ask me about any verses of Quran and tradition
of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), except that I would reply to you.”3
He also says: “O people, ask me. By God, you will not ask me of the reports
of future till Judgment Day, but that I would reply to you; and ask me about Book
of Allah, by Allah, there is not a verse in it, but that I know whether it was
revealed during the night or day; in the plains or on mountain.”4
He also says: “Is there no one, who would ask me, so that he would benefit
himself and his companions?”5
He also says: “By God, no verse was revealed, but that I know about whom
it was revealed and where it was revealed; because my Lord has bestowed me
with a very grasping mind and a very vocal tongue.”6
He also says: “Ask me before you are deprived of me. Ask me about Book
of Allah and know that there is no verse in it, except that I know the place of its
revelation; whether it was revealed on mountain or on plains. And ask me about
calamities and mischiefs, because there is no mischief, except that I know, who
would create it and who would be killed in it.”
This tradition is mentioned by Ahmad, the imam of Hanbalis, who adds the
remark:
“Many such statements are narrated from him.”7
Also, when His Eminence was seated on the pulpit at Kufa, wearing the coat
of mail of Prophet, carrying sword of His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) and had the
Prophet’s turban on his head, he pulled up his garments and declared:
“Ask me, before you are deprived of me. Indeed, there is excess of
knowledge in my breast. This is the casket of perfume of knowledge, this is the
syrup of knowledge of Prophet, and this is knowledge, which Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) placed in my breast grain by grain. By Allah, if I occupy the chair of
knowledge, I would definitely reply to Jews through their Taurat and Christians
through their Injeel till Almighty Allah makes Taurat and Injeel speak up: Ali is
right, indeed your reply is according to what is revealed in me. While you read
the Book; have you then no sense?”8
Saeed bin Musayyab says: “Except for Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), no
companion ever declared: ‘Ask me.’”9