Fadak: The inheritance that wasn't

Fadak is a classic issue between two personalities who are held in high regards by either of the school of thought. The sunnis honor Abu Bakr as well as Hz Fatima (AS), while the shias revere Hz Fatima (AS) but don't hold Abu Bakr in high regards mainly due to this very issue.

Fadak was a piece of Land which was given to the Prophet (SAW) by the Jews under terms of mutual agreement. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was in charge of the land. The dispute however is if he controlled the land considering it to be his personal property or as the position of the head of state.

To summarize the events, after the demise of Prophet (SAW), his daughter Hz Fatima (AS) claimed Fadak to be her right of inheritance but was denied on the basis of a narration that the Prophet had no heirs.

Before going any further, i would love to mention a comment made by a very dear Sunni friend. He said that the ownership and the status of Fadak are irrelevant questions and totally a separate issue. What mattered was that it was Fatima (AS), daughter of Muhammad (SAW) who claimed something to be her right, and given her superior status and inclusion in the verse of purity, she should have been given Fadak without a question.

But then, this is what we believe. For people who are more interested in statistical and referenced responses, this article is for them.

It is narrated on the authority of Urwa b. Zubair who narrated from A'isha that she informed him that Fatima, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), sent someone to Abu Bakr to demand from him her share of the legacy left by the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) from what Allah had bestowed upon him at Medina and Fadak and what was left from one-filth of the income (annually received) from Khaibar. Abu Bakr said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:" We (prophets) do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity." The household of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) will live on the income from these properties, but, by Allah, I will not change the charity of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) from the condition in which it was in his own time. I will do the same with it as the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upun him) himself used to do. So Abu Bakr refused to hand over anything from it to Fatima who got angry with Abu Bakr for this reason. She forsook him and did not talk to him until the end of her life. She lived for six months after the death of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). When she died, her husband. 'Ali b. Abu Talib, buried her at night. He did not inform Abu Bakr about her death and offered the funeral prayer over her himself. Sahih Muslim, Book 19, Number 4352

Narrated 'Aisha: (mother of the believers) After the death of Allah 's Apostle Fatima the daughter of Allah's Apostle asked Abu Bakr As-Siddiq to give her, her share of inheritance from what Allah's Apostle had left of the Fai (i.e. booty gained without fighting) which Allah had given him. Abu Bakr said to her, "Allah's Apostle said, 'Our property will not be inherited, whatever we (i.e. prophets) leave is Sadaqa (to be used for charity)." Fatima, the daughter of Allah's Apostle got angry and stopped speaking to Abu Bakr, and continued assuming that attitude till she died. Fatima remained alive for six months after the death of Allah's Apostle................. Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Hadith 325

Narrated AbuBakr: AbutTufayl said: Fatimah came to AbuBakr asking him for the inheritance of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). AbuBakr said: I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: If Allah, Most High, gives a Prophet some means of sustenance, that goes to his successor. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 19, Hadith 2967

Narrated Malik bin Aus: '......'Umar said, 'So let me talk to you about this matter. Allah favored His Apostle with something of this Fai' (i.e. booty won by the Muslims at war without fighting) which He did not give to anybody else; Allah said:-- 'And what Allah gave to His Apostle ( Fai' Booty) .........to do all things....(59.6) And so that property was only for Allah's Apostle . Yet, by Allah, he neither gathered that property for himself nor withheld it from you (Ali), but he gave its income to you, and distributed it among you till there remained the present property out of which the Prophet used to spend the yearly maintenance for his family, and whatever used to remain, he used to spend it where Allah's property is spent (i.e. in charity etc.). Allah's Apostle followed that throughout his life. Now I beseech you by Allah, do you know all that?' They said, 'Yes.' 'Umar then said to 'Ali and 'Abbas, 'I beseech you by Allah, do you know that?' Both of them said, 'Yes.' 'Umar added, 'And when the Prophet died, Abu Bakr said, ' I am the successor of Allah's Apostle, and took charge of that property and managed it in the same way as Allah's Apostle did...... Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 80, Hadith 720

So we learn from these traditions that after the demise of prophet Muhammad (SAW);

• Hz Fatima (AS) went to Abu Bakr for Fadak which according to her was her right
• One tradition labels the property of Fadak as Khums (one-fifth of the war booty)
• Another tradition labels the property as Fay (which is earned without a battle)
• Abu Bakr claimed that Prophets do not leave any property, what they leave is charity which is forbidden for the Ahlulbayt.
• Abu Bakr claims that whatever property the Prophet has for sustenance, it goes to his successor
• Abu Bakr considered himself to be the successor of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and thus he considered him to have the rights over the property of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
• Umar claims that Fadak was used by the Prophet (SAW) only to feed his own family, it's income was given to the Prophet's family, give charity from it and spend wealth from it on military expeditions
• Abu Bakr and Umar thought that the Prophet (SAW) used Fadak as a state property and thus being the head of the state the Prophet (SAW) did with it as he pleased
• This merited Hz Fatima's anger upon him and shunning him till her death
• Abu Bakr was not called for and neither informed about the death and funeral of Hz Fatima (AS)

Why is this then such a big issue, specially for the Sunnis?

The Justice of the Sahaba - If the 'best friend' of the Prophet (s) could behave in such an unjust manner what can we expect of the other Sahaba? If Abu Bakr ruled in such an unjust manner then how can he be deemed the rightly guided Khalifa of the Prophet (s)? If hatred for Abu Bakr is a sin then why did Sayyida Fatima (as) hate Abu Bakr until her dying day? http://answering-ansar.org/answers/fadak/en/index.php

Coming back to the narrations from Sahah Sittah, we get to know that Hz Fatima (AS) considered Fadak to be her right. The question now arises that why would a woman like Fatima (AS), a role model for the muslim women, a member of the purified household regarding whom the verse of purity was revealed, the leaders of the women of paradise,

Narrated 'Aisha: Once Fatima came walking and her gait resembled the gait of the Prophet . The Prophet said, "Welcome, O my daughter!" ..........."The Prophet said. 'Every year Gabriel used to revise the Qur'an with me once only, but this year he has done so twice. I think this portends my death, and you will be the first of my family to follow me.' So I started weeping. Then he said. 'Don't you like to be the mistress of all the ladies of Paradise or the mistress of all the lady believers? So I laughed for that." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith 819s

and a woman who is foretold to be the first one from the Prophet's (SAW) family to join him, why will she ask for something which is not hers? Or did Hz Fatima Zahra (AS) desired this materialistic world more than the hereafter? This is obviously not true. She believed Fadak was her Father's property and it was her right to inherit Fadak which is the reason she asked for it.

Reading the verse of purity, and Hz Fatima's (AS) inclusion in it, it can be concluded that she was pure from all rijs, all worldly and materialistic pleasures. She cannot lie. This is one of the reasons how Mawla Ali (AS) put forward her case the way he did. Imam Ali (AS) proved Fatima's (AS) infallibility using the verse of purification in his argument with Abu Bakr.
 

Imam Ali asked Abu bakr if he read the book of Allah. On his affirmative reply, the Imam added, "Then tell me about whom was the following verse revealed? 'And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye Members of the Family, and make you pure and spotless (33:33).' "Was it not revealed in regard to us, Ahlul-Bayt?"
Abu Bakr said "Yes, it was revealed regarding you". Then Ali asked, "If some men testify that Fatima, the Messenger's daughter, committed an abomination what would you do?" Abu Bakr said "I would administer the legal punishment to her, just like any other Muslim woman!' Imam Ali then said "If you did so, you would be an infidel in the eyes of Allah." "Because you would have rejected Allah's testimony of her purity and virtue (infallibility), and surpassed people's testimony over it..." Fatima(AS) The Gracious, by Muhammad Ordoni: Published by Ansariyan Publications, Page 76

Keeping in mind her merits, the issue of Fadak will not seem complicated anymore. However we would continue to analyze the event as it is narrated by the Sahah Sittah.

According to one of the traditions, Fadak is declared as the part of Khums property, owned by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

And know that whatever thing you gain, a fifth (Khums) of it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for the near of kin (of the messenger) and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if you believe in Allah and in that which We revealed to Our servant, on the day of distinction, the day on which the two parties met; and Allah has power over all things. Quran [8:41]

As for the share of the Prophet's relatives, it is paid to Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib, because the children of Al-Muttalib supported Bani Hashim in Jahiliyyah after Islam. They also went to the mountain pass of Abu Talib in support of the Messenger of Allah and to protect him (when the Quraysh boycotted Muslims for three years). Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 8 Verse 41

So we know that the part of Khums would go to the relatives of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Fadak however was not a war booty or Maal e Ghanimah. Fadak was Fai' (Fay), which is earned without a battle.

Allah explains the spoils of war in detail, as He has specifically allowed it for this honorable Ummah over all others. We should mention that the `Ghanimah' refers to war spoils captured from the disbelievers, using armies and instruments of war. As for `Fai', it refers to the property of the disbelievers that they forfeit in return for peace, what they leave behind when they die and have no one to inherit from them, and the Jizyah (tribute tax) and Khiraj (property tax). Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 8 Verse 41

War booty is to be distributed amongst the participants, but Fai' is under the exclusive ownership of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He may use it as he wills. In other words, it is the property of Rasool Allah (SAW).

And what Allah gave as booty (Fai') to His Messenger from them -- for this you made no expedition with either cavalry or camelry. But Allah gives power to His Messengers over whomsoever He wills. And Allah is Able to do all things. Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns, it is for Allah and for the Messenger, and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it may not be a thing taken by turns among the rich of you, and whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, keep back, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in retributing (evil): (It is) for the poor who fled their homes and their possessions, seeking grace of Allah and (His) pleasure, and assisting Allah and His Messenger: these it is that are the truthful. Quran [59:6-8]

Allah the Exalted explains the regulations for Fai', the booty that the Muslims acquire from the disbelievers, without fighting them or using cavalry and camelry in war against them. For instance, the booty collected from Bani An-Nadir was not acquired because of fighting them using horses and camels. The Muslims did not fight Bani An-Nadir in battle, but Allah forced them out of their forts on account of the fear that He placed in their hearts for Allah's Messenger . Therefore, it was Fai' that Allah awarded His Messenger, with his discretion to spend it however he sees fit. Indeed, the Prophet spent the Fai' on righteous causes and for the benefit of Muslims as stated by the verses above. Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 59, Verse 6

Thus the Fai' is an exclusive property of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The warriors do not have a share in it. However it must be, on need and as desired by the Prophet (SAW), be distributed amongst the Prophet's family and Muslims who are in need. Fatima (AS) being the closest relative of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was thus entiitled to Fai'. Also note that she was a Muhajir and she was one of those who fled her home and possession seeking the grace of Allah and his messenger (Migration to Medina).

In addition to all that which has been said concerning the rights of the Ahl ul Bayt in Bani Israil: 26; Naml: 15 and 16; Nahl: 90, and Maryam: 2 to 15 and Hashr: 6 and 7, the fact that Fatimah was a mahajir should have been taken into consideration. Why not the share of other mahajirin was confiscated to enrich the public funds? Aqa Mahdi Puya, Commentary of Surah 59 Verse 8

Coming to the issue of Fadak,

Half the Land of Fadak, which was given by Jews after the peace treaty, was purely the property of Rasool Allah (s). Similarly, 1/3rd of the Valley of Qari and 2 castles of Khayber were the exclusive property of the Prophet (s) and no one else had a share of it. This view of Fadak being the exclusive property of Muhammad was also shared by Al-Nasa'j, Ali ibn Ahmad al-Samhudi, Ibn Hisham and Abu al-Fida. Al Minhaj bi Sharh Sahih Muslim Volume 2, p92
Al-Sunan al-Sughra, v7, p137
Wafa al-Wafa, v4, p1280
Sirah Rasul Allah by Ibn Hisham, v3, p353
The Concise History of Humanity or Chronicles, p140, Dhikr Ghazwa Khayber

Thus technically, Fadak was a Fai'.

Narrated Abdullah ibn AbuBakr: Abdullah ibn AbuBakr and some children of Muhammad ibn Maslamah said: There remained some people of Khaybar and they confined themselves to the fortresses. They asked the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) to protect their lives and let them go. He did so. The people of Fadak heard this; they also adopted a similar way. (Fadak) was, therefore, exclusively reserved for the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), for it was not captured by the expedition of cavalry and camelry. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 19, Hadith 3010

This was the same property which Hz Fatima (AS) claimed belonged to her.

Narrated Sad bin Abu Waqqas: The Prophet came visiting me while I was (sick) in Mecca, ......  I said, "O Allah's Apostle! May I will all my property (in charity)?" He said, "No." I said, "Then may I will half of it?" He said, "No". I said, "One third?" He said: "Yes, one third, yet even one third is too much. It is better for you to leave your inheritors wealthy than to leave them poor begging others, and whatever you spend for Allah's sake will be considered as a charitable deed even the handful of food you put in your wife's mouth. .... At that time Sad had only one daughter. Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 51, Hadith 5

The Prophet (SAW) advised his companion to leave his daughter a healthy share of inheritance so she doesn't rely on others and begs them to help her. Will this same Prophet leave his own daughter in similar state, where she will have to rely on Abu Bakr to give her limited income or what ever he gives her from Fadak for her and her family's sustenance?

She was countered by the argument that the Prophet's leave no inheritance, whatever they leave is a charity and charity is forbidden for the Ahlulbayt.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "My heirs should not take even a single Dinar (i.e. anything from my property), and whatever I leave, excluding the expenditure of my wives and my laborers (servants), will be Sadaqa (i.e. be used for charity)."' Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Hadith 328

Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet said, "Our (Apostles') property should not be inherited, and whatever we leave, is to be spent in charity." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 80, Hadith 719

Narrated 'Urwa: 'Aisha said, "When Allah's Apostle died, his wives intended to send 'Uthman to Abu Bakr asking him for their share of the inheritance." Then 'Aisha said to them, "Didn't Allah's Apostle say, 'Our (Apostles') property is not to be inherited, and whatever we leave is to be spent in charity?'" Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 80, Hadith 722

You must note that

• Hz Fatima (AS), daughter of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
• Mawla Ali (AS), cousin, brother, son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and the gate of knowledge
• All the wives of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) except Ayesha

were unaware of the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) where he has nullified any inheritance for the members of his own family. Abu Hurairah who accepted Islam 2 years before the death of Prophet (SAW) was aware of the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) but Mawla Ali (AS) who had spent 36 years of his life with Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was unaware of this law regarding the prophets? Infact, everyone who was entitled to inherit the property (if any) of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was unaware of the fact that they cannot inherit it but Abu Huraira, Ayesha and her in-power father Abu Bakr were aware of this order of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). And isn't it strange that the Prophet would leave something for his own wives (ayesha included) but deprive his own daughter, Fatima (AS) of her inheritance rights?

As stated by a sermon by Hz Fatima (AS) later on, she countered this fake argument of Abu bakr using Quran.

Even if we were to assume that Prophets do not leave inheritances, as Abu Bakr narrated from the Prophet, she refuted his claim and opposed him by quoting the text of the Qur'an which states "And Solomon inherited from David".

And certainly We gave knowledge to Dawood and Sulaiman, and they both said: Praise be to Allah, Who has made us to excel many of His believing servants. And Sulaiman was Dawood's heir, and he said: O men! we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things; most surely this is manifest grace. Quran [27:15-16]

Dawood (AS) and Sulaiman (AS) were prophets at the same time. Thus considering knowledge, wisdom and prophethood to be inheritance is pure biasness or ignorance as inheritance of property occurs only after one's death. Both of these prophets were rich kings. If Sulaiman (AS) did not inherit prophet Dawood's (AS) kingdom, then can you prove which kingdom did Hz Sulaiman (AS) rule? Also can you prove that Dawood (AS) divided his kingdom into small territories and gave it away to poor people as charity before his death? Prophets do have heirs and this father-son example supports this fact.

The traditions put forward by the Sunnis lack consistency. They put forward different excuses as listed down below, for a similar aim which is to deprive Fatima (AS) of Fadak.

• Some put forward the excuse that Prophets do not leave inheritance
• Some put forward the excuse that Prophet Muhammad (SAW), used his property to spend for military expenditures and give charity to the poor, thus he used it as a state's property
• Another excuse is that any property left by the Prophet is to be inherited by his successor and not his children
• The final excuse in the books of history, as posted above, is that everything left behind the Prophet excluding the sustenance for his wives and servants should be given as charity

I think things should be crystal clear by now. For those who revere all companions of Prophet (SAW) irrespective of their contribution to Islam, their actions and deeds, their attitude towards the Prophet and his family etc, they fail to give a clear conclusion. For them, it is much easier to label Hz Fatima (AS) as a materialistic woman and deny Quran rather than accepting the fact that people usurped the property rights as well as the ruling rights of Banu Hashim after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

If it is accepted that Fatima (AS) had no right in the property owned by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), then shall we discard the following tradition.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "O Bani 'Abd Munaf! Buy yourselves from Allah; O Bani 'Abdul-Muttalib! Buy yourselves from Allah; O mother of Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam, the aunt of Allah's Apostle, and O Fatima bint Muhammad! Buy yourselves from Allah, for I cannot defend you before Allah. You (both) can ask me from my property as much as you like. " Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Number 728

Which property is the Prophet (SAW) talking about. I thought he will leave behind nothing and Fatima (AS) has no right in his property. It also points towards the fact that the Prophet (SAW) is ready to give his family members as much of his property as they desire.

Narrated Jubair bin Mut'im: 'Uthman bin Affan went (to the Prophet) and said, "O Allah's Apostle! You gave property to Bani Al-Muttalib and did not give us, although we and they are of the same degree of relationship to you." The Prophet said, "Only Bani Hashim and Bani Al Muttalib are one thing (as regards family status)." .... Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Number 706

Which property did the Prophet (SAW) to which family member of his? The fact remains that Fadak being the Fai' property of Hz fatima (AS), the prophet had gifted it to her daughter during his life time.

It is said on return from Khyber the Holy Prophet sent Mohayyasah bin Mas'ud Ansari to the people of Fadak to invite them to Islam. At that time their chief was a man from among themselves named Yusha' bin Noon, the Jew. He offered to make peace with the Prophet by giving half the land to him, and the Holy Prophet accepted it. Hence, Fadak became exclusively the Prophet's property because the Muslims had not advanced on it with their horses and camels. Baladhuri's Futuhul Buldan page 45

Fatimah said to Caliph Abu Bakr, ' Give Fadak to me because the Holy Prophet had reserved it for me' and presented Ali as her witness. He (Abu Bakr) demanded another witness. She produced Umme Aiman. He said, ' O daughter of the Prophet! You know that evidence is not complete unless it is given by one man and two women'. Hearing this she went away.
Baladhuri's Futuhul Buldan page 47-48

Fatimah went to Caliph Abu Bakr and inquired, ' When you- die who will be your successor' ? He said, ' My issues' . Fatimah said, ' Then how is it that despite our presence you have become the successor of the Holy Prophet' . He said, ' O daughter of the Prophet! By Allah I have not inherited gold or silver or any other thing from your father' . She said, ' Khyber is our share and Fadak is a gift to us' . He said, ' O daughter of the Prophet! I have heard from the Holy Prophet, ' This source of living is till my life. After me, it should be distributed among the Muslims.
Baladhuri's Futuhul Buldan page 48

A few questions arise here.

1. After the Holy Prophet, will the economic necessities of Aale Muhammad also come to an end?
2. Did Allah excluded Aale Muhammad from the rule of inheritance.
3. Is there any verse in the Holy Quran from which it may be established that if Abu Bakr dies his issues should inherit him and when Muhammad bin Abdullah dies, his issues should not inherit him.

You must also note that testimonies of Mawla Ali (AS) and Umme Aiman were rejected on account of the fact that there was one female witness short but on another occasion, Abu bakr gave Jabir an amount of money based on his own and only testimony.

Narrated Jabir:  Allah's Apostle said (to me), "If the property of Bahrain had come to us, I would have given you so much and so much." But the Bahrain property did not come till the Prophet had died. When the Bahrain property came. Abu Bakr ordered somebody to announce, "Any person who has money claim on Allah's Apostle or whom Allah's Apostle had promised something, should come to us." So, I went to him and said, "Allah's Apostle had promised to give me so much an so much." Abu Bakr scooped up money with both hands thrice for me." ...... Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Hadith 365

Continuing with the fact that the Fai' property of Fadak was gifted to Hz Fatima (AS),

A narration attributed to Abu-Sa'id al-Khudri and `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas reports: when the verse relating to giving rights to kindred was revealed, the Prophet called Fatima Zahra (as) and gifted the land of Fadak to her Dur al-Manthur Vol. 4, page 177

Jibrael (as) came to Prophet Muhammad (s) and told him that Allah (swt) had ordered that he give the "Dhul Qurba" (close relatives) their rights. Rasulullah (s) asked who was meant from "Dhul Qurba" and what is meant from "Right".  Jibrael (as) replied that "Dhul Qurba" refers to Fatima Zahra (r), and from right it is meant the property of "Fadak". The Prophet (s) called Fatima and presented Fadak to her giving her a written paper about it. This is the same written paper which was presented to Abu Bakr after the death of Rasool Allah  by Fatima Zahra (as) and she said that it was the same written paper which the Prophet (s) wrote for her, Hasan and Husayn Ruzatul Safa as quoted in Tashdheed-ul-Mathaeen page 102
Ma'arij-ul-Nabuwwah, part 4, chapter 10, page 228
Habib al-Siyar vol 1, Dhikr of Ghazwa-e-Khayber

It were the same papers which were presented to and torn by Umar. We read in Ahl'ul Sunnah's esteemed work,

"Umar was angry with Abu Bakr and said, "If you give Fadak back to Fatima, where the expenses for army and defence will come from for at present all the Arabs are fighting against you. He then took the papers of Fadak from Fatima (as), and tore them into shreds".
 Insanul Ayun fi Seerah al Halbeeya, Chapter "The death of the Prophet" Vol. 3, Page 487-8

Whatever be the evidences, whatever do the witnesses say, one fact is for sure. Hz Fatima (AS) was angry at Abu Bakr and Umar and she stopped talking to them for as long as she lived. She even stopped them from attending her funeral.

...... So Abu Bakr refused to hand over anything from it to Fatima who got angry with Abu Bakr for this reason. She forsook him and did not talk to him until the end of her life. She lived for six months after the death of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). When she died, her husband. 'Ali b. Abu Talib, buried her at night. He did not inform Abu Bakr about her death and offered the funeral prayer over her himself. ..... Sahih Muslim, Book 19, Hadith 4352

Must not forget to mention the fact that;

Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama: Allah's Apostle said, "Fatima is a part of me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Hadith 61

Not going into the arguements regarding who this hadith was told and what were the circumstances etc, this hadith is self-explanatory. Thus the Shias who love the Prophet and his Family, are disgusted at this event in history where the Prophet's daughter was deprived of her right and was furious at Abu Bakr as well as Umar. The shias therefore do not think well of the latter with respect to what they did to the daughter of Allah's apostle.

Shah Abdul Aziz, a 18th century Sunni Deobandi Islamic scholar agrees on this (that Fadak was a gift to Hz Fatima (AS). He further wrote that it's a sin to deny Fatimah's rights in Fadak. Fatawa Azizi, page 165

What is a sin and what is not is not my issue. Who will go to paradise and who not is not my issue. Who was right and who was wrong is not my issue. I only know one thing, who angers Fatima (AS) has angered the Prophet himself and who angers the Prophet (SAW) angers Allah.

Following is an excerpt for the letter, sent by Mawla Ali (AS) to Uthman ibn Hunayf;

Verily, under the sky we had only Fadak as our personal property but we were deprived of it, it tempted them, they took it by force and we had to bear the wrench patiently and cheerfully, the best judge is the Lord Almighty. What was I going to do with Fadak or with any other worldly possession? Peak of Eloquence, Letter 45, Letter sent by Ali (AS) to Governor of Basra

To conclude the article, i would love to present the sermon delivered by Hz Fatima (AS) in the court. We read in Ahl'ul Sunnah's authority work;

When Sayyida Fatima found out that Abu Bakr had an intention to confiscate Fadak, She wrapped a cloth around her head, gathered some women from her tribe and went to Abu Bakr. At that time the Muhajireen and Ansar were summoned, a Pardah was made between Fatima and the Sahaba. The daughter of the Prophet sad in a distressed manner, Praise be to Allah, I am thankful to Him for the capabilities that He has given me. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah who is without a parallel and no one is His partner. This is a call, the essence of which is love and purity. That Allah who cannot be seen with our eyes; our tongue is unable to state His praise. He created all without any earlier precedent. I bear witness that my father, Messenger of Allah was the slave of Allah and His messenger. He was chosen before he was sent. He was awarded this position before his coming into being.
'O servants of Allah, you are responsible to His "Orders and Prohibitions". His religion and His Revelation. You are, the representative of Allah! and a preacher from His side! And the protector of Allah's right is in your midst [Ali] He who protected the one who brought the testament of Allah to you. Whatever I am telling, its beginning and its end is the same. I do not indulge into contradictory talk. Whatever, I am telling is stark truth. I do not practice any wrong. When Allah chose from the dwell of messengers His Messenger (saww), He selected for him the honored place of chosen ones. No sooner than it was done, the discord and envy that was in the hearts, manifested amongst you. The veil of religion was turned up. Those who have lost the correct path, started opening their mouths. Unknown persons started to show off. Slogans in the interest of falsity were raised, and a conspiracy spread in the society. The Devil came out of his hole and called you to his side, because he found you waiting for his call and be fooled. He invited you to stay and ignited the fire of anger, the reflection of which became apparent on your face. This was the reason that you marked somebody's camel apart from your own, and you entered into somebody's river side. You started searching for what was not yours. Finally you started usurping the Government when not many days had passed since the demise of the Prophet (saww). Our woes and wounds were still bleeding, and even the Prophet (saww) was not buried, that you advanced an excuse saying that "A mischief has been averted".
Can there be any greater mischief than the one that has overtaken you. Yes of course hell has taken them in its folds. This action was not expected from you, What are you doing? Where are you going? When the book of Allah is present in your midst everything in that is glittering and all its signs are fully clear as a Crystal. Its prohibition are apparent and clear, and all orders graphically clear, but you have put them behind your back. Have you turned your face from them? Or you are aiming at something else? Alas! it's to be highly regretted that tyrants have adopted dirty ways, instead of taking up a Qur'anic path. You have suddenly flared up the fire of mischief, and fanned its flames. You have assented to the talk of the Satan, who was misleading you. You have started to extinguish the light of the Religion of Allah and started obliterating the traditions of the Prophet (saww), and in the pretext of the froth of fermenting milk, you have silently sipped it all. You were bent on confining the family and progeny of the Prophet (saww) in a corner. We preferred to observe patience, but with sword hanging on our neck and a spear waiting to make a thrust in our chest.
How wonderful it is that you think that the Almighty Allah has not granted us the right of inheritance, and that we will not get the inheritance of the Prophet (saww). Are you following the rules of the Age of illiteracy. For believers, no decision is better than the decision of Allah. Are you ignorant of these problems? Yes, you are fully aware of them. The fact is clear as a sun. You know that I am the daughter of the Prophet (saww).
O' Muslim brethren! Is my inheritance going to be snatched by force? O' son of Qahafa answer me, does Qur'an say that you get your fathers' inheritance and I should not get my fathers' inheritance. Have you purposely disowned the Book of Allah; and have cast it behind your back. Whereas Qur'an says: Sulaiman got his father's (inheritance); Dawood got his fathers'. Regarding Yahya bin Zakariyya He said, "O' Allah: grant me a son, who could be my Successor and of the progeny of Yaqoob." Have you formed an idea that I will not get my parents inheritance? Did Allah, reveal a special verse for you, striking out my father from its purview, or you say two persons professing the same religion did not have the right to inherit each other's (property). Is mine and my father's religion not one? Or do you treat an average follower of Qur'an better than my father and cousin. If it is that case, take my inheritance like a saddled camel waiting to be taken advantage of. Ride it. BUT bear in mind that I will meet you on the day of rising and will put up my demand.  What an excellent day it would be when Allah will adorn the seat of Justice and Mohammed Mustafa (saww) would be a plaintiff. Sharh ibn al Hadeed, Volume 4 page 108, printed Beirut

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