Relations of Umar ibn Khattab with the Family of Revelation (a.s.)

A complete claim exists in this field: “The policy of Hazrat Umar in relation to Ahle Bayt was composed of love and reverence.”![1] [1] Muhammad Barfi: Seemai Ali Az Manzar Ahle Sunnat (Portrait of Ali from the Sunni point of view), [1st Edition 1380], Pg. 110

“Umar’s look to Ali was full of love, concomitant with respect and honor.”![1] We must go back to the conduct and behavior of Umar towards the family of the Prophet. This will enable us to scrutinize the foregone claims. His looking to Ali with love accompanied by greatness and honor and the scale of his affection, reverence and his own humility towards the House of the Prophet can be epitomized within a few historical documents to see whether there is any veracity in it or this too is full of mendacity: A glance at historical documents “Balazari writes in his book Al-Ansaab Al-Ashraaf: Umar went towards Fatima’s house holding a burning torch. Fatima came behind the door (of her house) and said: O, son of Khattab! Is it you? Do you want to set the door of the house on fire over me? Umar replied: Yes, this act will strengthen what your father has brought. In Tarikh Tabari it is mentioned: Umar said: I swear by God! I shall burn the house upon you; or you should come out of the house to pay allegiance to the Caliph. Ibne Abde Rabb narrates in Al-Iqd Al-Fareed: …Umar holding the burning torch proceeded towards Fatima’s house with an intention to set it on fire. Fatima asked: O, son of Khattab! Have you brought fire to burn my house? Umar answered: Yes. You too should join that which the Ummah has entered into (paying allegiance to Abu Bakr)…”[2] Historical documents to prove Umar’s rough behavior and harsh attitude towards the House of Divine Revelation to obtain Ali’s allegiance to Abu Bakr’s Caliphate can be found in these three books: Attack on Fatima’s house, The Burning of Fatima’s house, Clear proof on Zahra’s martyrdom. Details mentioned in these books are all from Sunni sources of repute, which can well establish for you whether these claims are true or false. You can judge how far   [1] Ibid. Seemai Ali Az Manzar Ahle Sunnat (Portrait of Ali from the Sunni point of view), [1st Edition 1380], Pg. 87 [2] Engineer Jawad Husaini Tabatabai: Dar Pasukh-e-Afsana-e-Shahadat, Pgs. 109-110

these words are correct. For instance, “Umar always used to call Ali, light of the eyes.”![1] Similarly we have seen claims that: “Companions of Saqifah, Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman and their supporters formed the government. Ali also cooperated with them to the end. Although he had difference of opinion with them, but he did not entertain enmity with them.”![2] “Inspite of his thinking that it was his right usurped as it is obvious in his speech known by the title of Shiqshiqya, he took shelter in fortitude. His fortitude was not just a show. He sincerely did not launch on enmity with companions of Prophet.”![3] “The relations of those great men (Caliphs) were brotherly and Islamic towards preserving the worth and regard of Islam. They were never at enmity.”![4] “Does this meaningful silence not reflect that His Eminence (a.s.) did not want such a thing to be repeated?[5] And that the fire of enmity should keep burning forever between him and the Caliphs. Especially during the reign of Second Caliph which was that of battles; that it should be overshadowed by personal feelings?”![6] Great many efforts are exerted to sketch the behavior of Ali with Caliphs under the friendly strokes of brush to paint a rosy picture of friendship and love. But a bird’s view on the events immediately after passing away of Prophet proves that there existed deep rancor and animosity between the Caliphs and Ahle Bayt. Let us get acquainted with the behavior of Ali with Umar through these historical confessions of Umar himself. The first example is a tradition mentioned in Sahih Muslim and History of Medina by Ibne Shubbeh: [1] Farooq Safizaada: Article quoted in Kayhan Farhangi, Issue 170, Azar 79, Pg. 81 [2] Muhammad Jawad Hujjati Kermani: Interview in Nida-e-Islam Magazine, Issue No. 4, Summer 79, Pg. 62 [3] Ibid. Jam-e-Jam Daily, Issue No. 12, Bahman 1379 [4] Ibid. Ittelaat Daily, Issue No. 30, Bahman 1379 [5] [It is the events that unfolded after the passing away of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)] [6] Ibid. Aftaab-e-Yazd Daily, Issue No. 9, Khordad 1381

“In these traditions the Second Caliph blames Ali and Abbas for calling the first and second Caliphs liars, sinners, pact-breakers, tricksters or tyrants and transgressors.”[1] In the narration of Sahih Muslim it reads: The Second Caliph addressed Ali and Abbas and said: …When the Prophet passed away from the world, Abu Bakr said: After the Prophet I am the guardian of Muslims; you two (pointing to Ali and Abbas) came and demanded your inheritance. You (Abbas) for the heritage from the son of your brother and this Ali for the heritage of his wife from her father. Then Abu Bakr said: The Prophet had said: We are not inherited, what we leave is a charity, but you regarded him a liar, a sinner, a pact breaker, a betrayer and a cheater…”[2] This is the text of Umar’s words regarding Ali’s view about Abu Bakr and himself: “You both looked upon him as a liar, a sinner, usurper and a betrayer…and I…am associate of Abu Bakr. You two consider me a liar, a sinner, usurper and a betrayer…” Similarly Ibne Shubbeh in his History of Medina, instead of liar, sinner, betrayer and cheat; has mentioned: oppressor and transgressor.”[3] The actual text in his book is as follows: “In this you considered Abu Bakr an oppressor a transgressor … and you two considered me an oppressor a transgressor…” In summary it can be concluded: “In this current discussion, there is one evidence, which cannot be irrecusable. Umar bin Khattab openly says that Ali bin Abi Talib and Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet, regardless of their being Hashimi were considered prominent companions, regard Abu Bakr and Umar tyrants and cheats? Then how is it possible for one to claim that between Ahle Bayt (a.s.) and the Caliphs there existed love and friendship? On the other hand the enemy himself acknowledges that the Ahle Bayt had such a negative view of them. [1] Reza Salmani: Rawabit Mutaqabil Kholafa Ba Khandaan-e-Payambar, Pg. 42 [2] Ibid. Pg. 41, quoting from: Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, Kitabul Jihad was Sayr, Bab Hukmul Fee, Pg. 27, Tr. 49 (3302), Mausisa-e-Izuddin [3] Ibid. Pgs. 41-42; quoting from: Tarikhul Madina, Vol. 1, Pgs. 202-204, Daar al-Fikr

These texts clearly show that Ali bin Abi Talib and Abbas considered Abu Bakr and Umar to be tyrants, betrayers, liars, sinners and usurpers. So how can there be friendship and love between Ahle Bayt (a.s.) and the Caliphs after the passing away of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.)? Thus if under the excuse of some fabricated narrations and those reported by other than Ahle Bayt (a.s.) someone is spreading love of enemies of Ahle Bayt among the weak people, it should be known that the correctness of these traditions is lacking credibility. With these texts please pay attention…a brief translation of these reports is that Ali bin Abi Talib and Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib during the reign of Umar demanded the property of the Prophet pertaining to Khaiber and Fadak. Umar replies: You claimed these properties from Abu Bakr too while you regarded him a liar, a sinner, a tyrant and a betrayer. Now I am the Caliph. You are making the same demand from me. Regarding me too, you have the same opinion – a liar, a sinner, a tyrant, a betrayer. This statement, which contains a confession of the Caliph, is irrecusable because it is present in two most reputed Sunni books and their credibility cannot be doubted.[1] So it is unlikely that one who is remote from bigotry and partiality would accept what the view of Bani Hashim and Ahle Bayt was regarding the Caliphs.”[2] Even though they claim: “His Eminence (a.s.) himself never insulted the Caliphs. On the contrary, on many occasions he has praised them.”[3] But there is another historical document which says: “In the incident of Umar’s travel to Syria he asked the Imam to accompany him in the journey but Imam (a.s.) did not accept. Umar went to Ibne Abbas and complained: I have a complaint against your cousin, Ali. I asked him to come with me to Syria but he did not agree. I always see him unhappy. Why is he so? Ibne Abbas replied: It is evident. You also know that. Umar said: Yes, it is because he could not get Caliphate. [1] Sahih Muslim, No. 3302 [2] Husain Ghaib Gholami: Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) wa Rumuz-e-Hadith-e-Fadak, Pgs. 52-59 [3] Muhammad Jawad Hujjati Kermani: Ittelaat Daily, Issue No. 29, Khordad 1379

Thus Imam (a.s.) displayed to others his objection and anger for usurpation of Caliphate till the Caliph and the people became aware of it.”[1] The exact words of Umar’s statement about Ali’s attitude towards him are these: “I always find him angry towards me. What in your view is the cause of his anger?” In view of these two reliable documents taken from Sunni source of repute and mentioned in a prestigious Sunni book, we leave the reader to himself judge the creditability of the claim. Such claims are in rife. But their creditability cannot stand before historical grounds that reflect a contradictory picture to us. For instance, a few more we quote here: “Behavior and talk of Ali, according to contents of reliable books of both sects show that there never existed enmity etc. between him and Caliphs.”![2] “I challenge and even prove that Ali was not an enemy of the three Caliphs.”![3] “He had a mild behavior with this Caliph too. He kept behind his claim against this new Caliph.”![4] “So doubt vanished from both sides. The distance was reduced between the two. Trust came in with a new title in a new stage.”![5] “In the era of Caliphs, Ahle Bayt of Prophet did what they could for the expansion of Islam and strength of Islamic government. They sacrificed money and life. This itself is proof and indication of their satisfaction and love.”![6] [1] Ali Muhammad Meer Jalili: Imam Ali (a.s.) wa Zamaamdaaraan (Imam Ali and the Rulers), Pgs. 227; quoting from Sharh Nahjul Balagha of Ibne Abil Hadeed, Vol. 12, Pgs. 78-79 [2] Muhammad Jawad Hujjati Kermani: Aftaab-e-Yazd Daily, Issue No. 9, Khordad 1381 [3] Ibid. Aftaab-e-Yazd Daily, Issue No. 9, Khordad 1381 [4] Ibrahim Baizoon (Translated by Ali Asghar Muhammadi Seejaani): Rafataar Shinashi Imam Ali (a.s.) Dar Aaina-e-Tareekh (Understanding the stand of Imam Ali in the Mirror of History) (1st Edition), 1379], Pg. 40 [5] Ibid. Rafataar Shinashi Imam Ali (a.s.) Dar Aaina-e-Tareekh (Understanding the stand of Imam Ali in the Mirror of History) (1st Edition), 1379], Pg. 42 [6] Abdul Hameed Ismail Zahi: Appeal quoted in Nida-e-Islam Magazine, Issue No. 9, Spring 81, Pg. 71

“When Hazrat Umar died, his body was laid under a shroud. I was present there. Imam Ali (a.s.) came. He removed the shroud from his body. He said: Abu Hafs! May God immerse you in His Mercy. I swear by God, after the Prophet of God, there is no one except you that I was friend of. How I wish that the scroll of your deeds were mine. I could have met God with the scroll of your deeds.”![1] “Ali behaved mildly and politely with Caliphs’ government.”![2] “On the basis of this those who think that since they follow Ali they must declare immunity from Caliphs should prove whether he also did Tabarra with them, so that we must also do so.”![3] At the end of this chapter we draw your attention to another historical document: “When Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) returned home after [from six-member Shura committee] he told the family of Abdul Muttalib: “O family of Abdul Muttalib! Your relatives are at animosity with you after passing away of Prophet like their enmity with the Prophet in his life. If your people attain power they will never take you into consultation. By God, they will not turn to the Truth but by sword.” The narrator says: Abdullah Ibne Umar was also present there and he heard all what His Eminence said as he was entering. Then he entered and said: “O Abal Hasan, do you want to create enmity between your relatives and them? Ali said: “Woe be on you! Keep Quiet! By God, if your father had not been there and he had not behaved with me in this manner all his life, the son of Affan (Uthman) and son of Auf (Abdur Rahman) would never have challenged me. At that moment Abdullah bin Umar got up and went away.”[4] [1] Abdullah Futuhi: Article in Nida-e-Islam Magazine, Issue No. 10, Summer 81, Pg. 78 [2] Muhammad Jawad Hujjati Kermani: Aftaab-e-Yazd Daily, Issue No. 8, Khordad 1381 [3] Ibid. Aftaab-e-Yazd Daily, Issue No. 9, Khordad 1381 [4] Ibne Abil Hadeed: Sharh Nahjul Balagha, Vol. 9, Pg. 54

Conclusion It is an established fact of history and an acknowledged reality that relations between Ali and Umar were so dark and clouded that it became a useful element to create false narrations within its folds to deviate from reality and pervert the trend to irrigate the farm of their benefits and harvest the crop to their advantage. For instance: Dishonest historians, pretending to be in pursuit of truth, have fabricated various narrations concerning the second Bay’at of Ali to Abu Bakr. They have tried to instill in the minds of readers a false concept that Ali paid allegiance to Abu Bakr with utmost willingness and desire after the death of his wife, Zahra.[1] Great Sunni scholars like Muhammad bin Ismail Bukhari has acknowledged the hatred and disdain that existed between Ali and Umar. He narrates that Ali sent a message to Abu Bakr telling him: “Come to me but another person should not come with you - Umar too tried to evade meeting Ali…”[2] [1] Refer: A Victim Lost in Saqifah, Vol. 4, Section 1 [2] Muhammad Ismail Bukhari: Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Pg. 253, Kitabul Maghazi, Chap. 155, Ghazwa-e-Khaiber, Tradition no. 704 (3913)

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