What impelled His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) to insist and repeat his plea even
though Almighty Allah refused to grant it and desired the contrary?
And other numerous questions! And these are difficulties, which I don’t
think is possible to reply by one, who relies on this report. Fie upon this writer that he wrote this false tradition and regarded it as subtle.1 And shame on the
other writer, who regarded it as strange and said:
“This tradition derives strength from authentic traditions.”2
O God, I complain (only) to you!
It is narrated from Jabir in a chainless tradition that:
“Abu Bakr is my vizier and after me, he is the Imam; Umar is my close
confidant and he speaks according to my wishes. Uthman is from me and Ali is
my brother and the carrier of my standard.”
In Kanzul Ummal,3 it is narrated from Anas that:
“Abu Bakr is my vizier and my successor; Umar speaks according to me; I
am from Uthman and Uthman is from me.”
This tradition is from fabrications of Kadih bin Rahma, who was a liar.
Dhahabi has brought this tradition in Mizanul Etedal4
upon the authorities of Kadih. Ibne Adi5 has said: Most traditions of Kadih are incorrect.
5. Hakeem has narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr from the
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) that:6
“Bring ink and paper,7 so that I may leave a writing for you that you may not
get deviated.” Then he said: “Allah and the believers will not accept anyone,
except Abu Bakr.”
6. It is narrated from Ayesha that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to me
during his last illness:
“Ask your father and brother to come to me, so that I may write a document
as I fear a person, who aspired Caliphate, would vie for it and raise a claim for it
and someone might say: I am more deserving of Caliphate and Almighty Allah
and believers will not accept anyone for Caliphate, except Abu Bakr.”8
Muslim, Ahmad and others have narrated this report from various channels
from Ayesha.9 In some reports it is mentioned:
“The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to me during his terminal illness: Call Abdur
Rahman bin Abu Bakr, so that I may write a document for Abu Bakr, that no one
may differ regarding him.” Then he said: “Leave him to his devices. I seek refuge
of God from the fact that believers should differ about Abu Bakr.”
7. It is narrated from Ayesha in a chainless report:
“I have decided to send someone to summon Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr
so that I may a write a pledge for him (to make a bequest that Abu Bakr should
be my Caliph after me) that people should not say (because I don’t want anyone
to say: I am more worthy of Caliphate) and aspirers should not aspire, that is no
one should aspire that someone other than Abu Bakr should be Caliph. I said:
God refuses and believers also will not accept anyone other than Abu Bakr (that
is I did not make a will, because I know Almighty Allah forbids anyone else to be
Caliph and believers also will not accept anyone else) or Allah will not accept
(someone else) and believers disagree.”
Sanani has quoted this tradition from Mashariqul Anwar10 and stated in its margins: I did not find this tradition in Saheeh Bukhari, so it should be referred
once more and Ibne Malik in his Sharh has mentioned the tradition as I said in
parentheses and has explained it and Ibne Hazm has mentioned it in Fisal and
said:11
“This clarification from the Prophet is based on appointment of Abu Bakr
after him in the Ummah. This is the distorted form of the tradition of paper and
inkpot, a tradition, which is mentioned in different authentic books, especially
two most important Saheeh books; and when they saw that there is no clear
tradition, they changed it into this form; but the problem is that it is narrated from
Ibne Abbas through reliable authorities that:
“At that time the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was prevented from writing a
document that the Ummah should not deviate; and clamor increased and they
accused His Eminence of something, which was unworthy for him; and a man
said: He is talking nonsense or the illness has overpowered him. After the passing
away of His Eminence, according to a pre-planned plot that correct history was
distorted.”
Ibne Abil Hadeed says in Sharh Nahjul Balagha:12
“They fabricated this report as opposed to the tradition narrated about illness
of His Eminence: Bring paper and ink, so that I may write something for you;
that you may not deviate. Then a dispute arose in the presence of Prophet and
some people said: Illness has overpowered him and the Book of Allah is
sufficient for us.”
Allamah Amini says: This seeking of refuge13 can have two meanings:
Either it tells about there being no dispute among believers or it implies
forbidding disputes.
According to the first meaning: Its requirement is falsehood, because it is
natural that there should be disputes – and what a dispute? In which Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.), Bani Hashim and group of senior companions, who were his
followers, leader of the Khazraj, Saad bin Ubadah and other Ansars became
opponents, although the sentiments and stance of this group opposed the regime
and they refused to pay allegiance.
After sometime they acquiesced to the regime, but feelings the partisans of
Ali (a.s.) bore in their hearts remained forever and would remain forever. And
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and his family and partisans raised their voices at every
opportunity and exposed the matter of their usurped Caliphate and rights.
According to the second meaning: Its requirement is that large group of
senior companions should be transgressors; because by this they opposed the
prohibition of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and began to oppose this group. And
this is not compatible with justice of all companions, except that the command of
justice should be specified for other than Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and his close
companions. Thus, the captioned traditional report is invalid in whatever meaning
it might be.
Come let us ask Ayesha regarding this report that why she did not mention
this report on the day arguments arose about Caliphate? And did not mention this
clarification of the Prophet to one, who disputed with her father? Perhaps she
may reply: “I never heard this false report from my noble husband,” but the
debased reporters, after the passing away of His Eminence, did not respect the
honor of his nobility and attributed this false report to him. The testimony of this
reply is the authentic traditional report narrated from her chains, and it proves the
absence of appointing a successor, and this report will be mentioned soon.
وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا وَاقٍۢ (٣٧)
“And if you follow their low desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you shall not have against Allah any guardian or a protector.”14