Story of Ali (part 2)

                                                                             

Life under Rashidun Caliphs

Succession to Muhammad

While Ali turned into getting ready Muhammad's frame for burial and appearing his funeral rites, a small group of about fourteen Muslims[34] met at Saqifah. There, Umar pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr, who subsequently assumed political strength. The collecting at Saqifah became disputed by means of some of Muhammad's partners, who held that Ali were specific his successor with the aid of Muhammad himself.[11][6] Nevertheless, the difficulty of succession to Muhammad brought on the Muslims to split into two companies, Sunni and Shia. Sunnis assert that despite the fact that Muhammad by no means appointed a successor, Abu Bakr changed into elected first caliph through the Muslim network. The Sunnis recognize the primary four caliphs as Muhammad's rightful successors. Shias believe that Muhammad explicitly named Ali as his successor at Ghadir Khumm and Muslim leadership belonged to him by way of dint of divine order.[11] According to Laura Veccia Vaglieri, whether Ali was hoping he may want to take the location of Caliphate after Muhammad, is dubious, in view that he made no effort to take manipulate of network, notwithstanding being advised by using al-Abbas and Abu Sufyan to do so.[35] Madelung, on the other hand, believes that Ali himself turned into firmly satisfied of his legitimacy for the caliphate based totally on his close kinship with Muhammad, his knowledge of Islam, and his deserves in serving its reason. Ali instructed Abu Bakr, madelung writes, that his delay in pledging allegiance (bay'ah) to him become based totally on his notion in his own declare to the caliphate. Ali did not change his thoughts, Madelung says, when he ultimately pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr and then to Umar and to Uthman, however had completed so, for the sake of the cohesion of Islam, at a time whilst it become clear that the Muslims had grew to become faraway from him. If the Muslim community, Madelung maintains, or a small segment of it, preferred him, he might not recall the caliphate simply as his "right", however additionally as his "responsibility".[36] According to Chirri, Ali believed that he ought to satisfy the position of Imam with out combating.[37]

Regarding the succession of Ali, historians and scholars of Islamic records have commonly both common the view of the Sunnis or considered the truth of the problem undetectable. One of the historians who has distanced himself from this not unusual belief is Wilferd Madelung.[38] In the Encyclopedia of Islam, Madelung considers the principle Shia claims, to be Ali's own view, due to the fact Ali considered himself the most worthy character for the caliphate, in comparison to other companions, and blamed the Muslim community for turning away from him, but, at the same time, he praised the caliphate of Abu Bakr and Umar, and condemned the destruction in their person.[39] Madelung believes that, on account that within the Arab customs of the time, specially the Quraysh, hereditary succession was not unusual, and since the Qur'an emphasised the importance of blood ties between the early prophets, particularly the Ahl al-Bayt, and since the Ansar supported Ali's caliphate, Abu Bakr knew that forming a council might lead to the election of Ali, so he led the state of affairs in a way that insured his very own election.[40] Vaglieri, On the opposite hand, believes that Arabs historically chose their leaders from among the elders, and Ali was a little over thirty years vintage at the time, and did not have the necessary credibility to be triumphant Muhammad, according to Arab traditions. Vaglieri believes that the Shias, by way of inventing or deciphering the words attributed to Muhammad within the mild in their beliefs, insist that the Prophet supposed to select Ali as his successor, while there may be no question that on the time of his ultimate illness, Muhammad did not mention this preference.[7] Some sources name the Hadith of the pen and paper, as the ultimate words of Muhammad, that's interpreted in a different way by Shias and Sunnis.[41]

Caliphate of Abu Bakr

At the beginning of Abu Bakr's caliphate, there has been a problem about Muhammad's endowment to his daughter, especially the oasis of Fadak, between Fatima and Ali on one facet and Abu Bakr on the opposite facet. Fatima asked Abu Bakr to show over their assets, the lands of Fadak and Khaybar, but Abu Bakr refused and advised her that "The Messenger of God has said: We do now not have heirs, something we depart is alms." Fatima have become indignant and stopped talking to Abu Bakr, and continued assuming that mindset until she died.[42] According to a narration through ibn Sa'd, Ali countered Abu Bakr through quoting some verses of the Qur'an, in accordance which "Solomon have become David's inheritor" (Qur'an 27:16) and "Zachariah stated [in his prayer: give me a next-of-kin] who will inherit from me and inherit from the own family of Jacob". (Qur'an 19:6).[o][43] According to some resources, Ali did now not deliver his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr till some time after the loss of life of his wife, Fatima, within the year 633.[2] According to Tabari, a group of Abu Bakr's warring parties, which includes Zubayr ibn al-Awwam]], accrued at Fatima's residence. To make them pop out and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr, Umar threatened to set the residence on hearth and pulled them out.[44] While al-Baladhuri states that the altercation in no way have become violent and ended with Ali's compliance,[45] some traditions add that Umar and his supporters forcibly entered the house, ensuing in Fatima's miscarriage in their unborn son Muhsin.[46] Professor Coeli Fitzpatrick surmises that the tale of the altercation displays the political agendas of the duration and should therefore be handled with warning.[47]

Ali lived an isolated life in the course of Abu Bakr's period and become specifically engaged in spiritual affairs, devoting himself to studying and teaching the Quran. He also recommended Abu Bakr and Umar on authorities matters.[1] According to Ismail Poonawala, the primary historically compiled Quran is attributed to Ali. Ali's know-how of the Quran and Sunnah would assist the preceding caliphs in religious subjects.[2][48] The order of Qur'an, compiled be Ali, reportedly differed from that which changed into collected later for the duration of the Uthmanic generation. This ebook was rejected by way of several human beings whilst he showed it to them. Despite this, Ali made no resistance against the standardised mus'haf.[49]

Caliphate of Umar

Ali retired from public life at some point of Caliphate of Abu Bakr and Umar, however, he usual their rule and even gave his daughter, Umm Kulthum in marriage to Umar. He additionally become consulted in subjects of country.[1] According to Vaglieri, however, whilst it is possibly that Umar requested Ali's recommendation on criminal problems, due to his exceptional know-how of Qur'an and Sunnah, it isn't always certain whether or not his recommendation turned into widely wide-spread on political subjects. As an instance, al-Baladhuri mentions Ali's view on Diwani revenue, which changed into opposite to that of Umar. Since, Ali believed the whole earnings should be disbursed, without protecting something in stock. During the Caliphate of Umar (and Uthman) Ali held no position, besides, in keeping with Tabari, the lieutenancy of Madina, in the course of Umar's journey to Syria and Palestine.[50] During the caliphate of Umar, Ali claimed Fatima's paternal inheritance once more; But Umar's answer turned into the same as Abu Bakr's. However, Umar agreed to return some of the property of Medina (which became considered a part of Fatima's inheritance) to the sons of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who represented Banu Hashim; But the belongings of Fadak and Khybar remained as nation property and become now not returned to Banu Hashim.[51]

Election of the third caliph

Ali changed into one of the electoral council to pick the 1/3 caliph which was appointed through Umar. Although Ali become one of the two essential applicants, the council was willing towards him. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and Abdur Rahman ibn Awf, who had been cousins, have been clearly inclined to aid Uthman, who changed into Abdur Rahman's brother-in-law. In addition, Umar gave the deciding vote to Abdur Rahman, who supplied the caliphate to Ali on the circumstance that he need to rule according with the Qur'an, the Sunnah ( the instance set via Muhammad), and the precedents hooked up by way of the first  caliphs. Ali rejected the 0.33 situation even as Uthman frequent it. According to ibn Abi al-Hadid's Comments at the Peak of Eloquence, Ali insisted on his prominence there, however maximum of the electors supported Uthman and Ali become reluctantly urged to just accept him.[52]

According to Madelung, Ali could not have was hoping to end up the caliph after Umar, on the idea of his kinship with Muhammad; Because the Quraysh did not aid the accumulation of prophethood and caliphate in a single clan. He believes that it turned into not "Abu Bakr's and Umar's coup" at Saqifah which averted Ali from becoming caliph, but it stems from the deep jealousy of the Quraysh toward Ali. Therefore, Madelung says, Ali's handiest threat to participate in the affairs of the Muslims will be his full participation inside the council, which was based by using Umar. Ibn Abbas narrates that Umar once advised him that Ali turned into in truth the maximum worthy man or woman to be triumphant Muhammad, but we have been fearful of him for two motives. When ibn Abbas eagerly asks Umar approximately these reasons, Umar answered that the first is his adolescents and the second is Ali's incredible interest inside the Banu Hashim circle of relatives. In his address, Umar refers to his notion within the formation of the council as the basis for appointing a caliph, and in exercise, any longer, denounces any appointment of a caliph with out consultation. Thus, by way of doing so, the caliphate could not be monopolized via positive clan and belonged to all of the Quraysh.[53]

Caliphate of Uthman

There is controversy among historians approximately the relationship between Ali and Uthman.[54] According to Seyyed Hossein Nasr Ali identified Uthman as the caliph, but had taken a impartial position among his supporters and warring parties.[1] Robert M. Gleave believes that Ali became as a minimum spiritually at the leading edge of Uthman's combatants; Ali, along side Talha and Zubayr, have been a number of the critics of Uthman; and Ali said that Uthman had deviated from the Sunnah of the Prophet,[3] particularly on the question of spiritual regulation which ought to be meted out in several cases, inclusive of the ones of Ubayd Allah ibn Umar and Walid ibn Uqba(accused of ingesting).[50][54][3] Ali additionally adversarial Uthman for converting the prayer ritual, and for declaring that he might take something he wished from the fey'. Ali also endeavored to defend partners including ibn Mas'ud,[54] Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (who was exiled from Medina, because of his preaches towards the misdeeds of the effective),[50][3] and Ammar ibn Yasir[2] from maltreatment through the caliph. According to Madelung, when human beings revolted in opposition to Uthman in some cities and areas and moved to Medina, Uthman requested Ali to talk with them and persuade them to return to their cities. Uthman, committing himself to observe Ali's advice any further, Madelung writes, gave him full authority to negotiate with the insurgents as he needed. According to this document, Ali reminded Uthman that he had talked to him approximately this before, but he favored to listen to Marwan ibn Hakam and the Umayyads alternatively. Uthman as a result promised that any more, he might shrink back from them and listen to Ali; and ordered other Ansar and Muhajirun to enroll in Ali. He additionally requested Ammar to sign up for the institution, but he rejected the provide.[55] Accordiing to Poonawala Ali had a restraining influence on Uthman right now without directly opposing him. He conveyed criticisms of the Companions to Uthman, and negotiated on behalf of Uthman with the opposition who had come to Medina; which appears to have caused suspicion among Ali and Uthman's household. Later, whilst the rebels besieged Uthman's residence, Ali attempted to mitigate the severity of the siege by using his insistence that Uthman must be allowed water.[2] When Uthman was in risk of being attacked, Ali despatched his sons to defend his residence. When Uthman became killed through the insurgents, Ali blamed his sons for inadequate safety of Uthman's house.[1] According to Vaglieri, the rebels asked Ali to be their head, and despite the fact that he refused and must be excluded from the bloody end in their act, but, Vaglieri says, there are reasons that Ali became in settlement with rebels that Uthman have to abdicate.[50] According to Madelung "there may be no proof that Ali entertained close members of the family with them at this time or directed their moves. But he became without a doubt privy to them."[56] It is suggested from Tabari that Ali attempted to detach himself from the besiegers of the house of Uthman and their partisans, as soon as circumstances allowed him.[50] Madelung relates that, years later, Marwan advised Zayn al-Abidin, the grandson of Ali, that "No one [among the Islamic nobility] turned into extra temperate in the direction of our master than your master."[57]