What is the story of Fadak?

Answer:
Narrations have reached us through both Shia and Sunni scholars about this issue indicating that following the revelation of the following verse from the holy Qur’an:
“So give the rights of your family, the poor, and the wayfarer...” [1]
The Prophet called his daughter and assigned the land of Fadak which was partly of the better pieces of land gained through the battle of Khaybar and partly from the Jews. He left the land to her and on the orders of Allah it became her personal property as it was gifted to her.
Following the demise of the Prophet the Caliph usurped this land and removed Hazrate Zahra’s (sa) administrator from the land. She defended her right and opposed this usurpation and oppression in the best manner and asked for it to be handed back but the Caliph refused her of her right and disregarded the proof that she presented. She explained her right to it through the laws of inheritance and with logical reasoning but the Caliph still refused to give Fadak back to her.
Summarisers Note: The main reason for Hazrate Zahra’s (sa) anger was because the right of leadership was taken away from Amir Al-Mo’mineen (as), which was then followed by the usurpation of the ownership of the land of Fadak from her which made her weak financially.
The reason for this was because she was the strongest opposition of the ruler at that time, and we know that after the meeting at Saghifeh and the revelation of the verse of Ghorba to the Prophet (saw), his daughter Hazrate Fatemah (sa) was denied her ownership of Fadak, then she demanded Fadak using the rules of inheritance, because not only is defending one’s rights against the unjust ruler in accordance with the religious rules but is also in accordance with ethical rules and is even compulsory. Similarly, it is compulsory for a tyrant to return the rights of others.
 

[1] Qur’an: (30:38) 

In this verse, Allah (swt) tells the Prophet (saw) to give the right of his next of kin to them, so we must see who his next of kin is and what their right is?
It is clear that the meaning of the next of kin in this kind of verse is referring in particular to: Ali (as), Fatemah (sa), Hassan (as) and Hussain (as); so on this note the clear message of the Holy Quran is this: Oh Prophet, the rights of these respectful figures who are your next of kin, should be given. It has also been mentioned regarding this matter that with the revelation of this verse the Prophet left Fadak to Fatemah (sa) so that she may make use of and benefit from it as she wishes.
 

As we have narrations from Imam Baqir (as) and Imam Sadiq (as) regarding this matter, the truth and reality relating to this issue is quite well known amongst the great Shia scholars.
 

In addition to the Shia scholars, plenty of Sunni historians have narrated regarding this issue in main sections of their work and have certified them as the truth, for example:
1. In Kanzul Ammaal and its summary which has been printed in the borders of ‘Musnad ibn Ahmad Hanbal’ under the topic of ‘Keeping relations with one’s blood relatives’ in the book titled Akhlaq, it has been narrated from Khadri that: with the revelation of the verse the Prophet told his wise daughter: “Dear Fatemah, Fadak from now on belongs to you.”
2. Hakem in his book History and Suyooti in Al-Dar al Manshoor have narrated that: following the revelation of the verse the Prophet called his daughter Hazrate Fatemah (sa) and gifted Fadak to her upon the orders of God. Al-Dar Al-Manshoor, vol 4, p177.
3. Ibn Abi Al-Hadeed in his commentary on Nahjul Balagha has mentioned that it has been narrated in several places that when the verse was revealed the Prophet called his daughter Hazrate Fatemah (sa) and gifted Fadak to her.

Vastness of FADAK

As Yagoot Hamavi mentions in Ma’jam Al-Baldaan, Fadak was a village on the land of Hejaz whose distance was as some believe 2-3 days travel from Madinah.
 

This village was close to Khaybar and still exists today and is well known to the people of Madinah although now regretfully given away.

In some narrations, the real coverage of this land was from Ta’aden and Samarkand on one side reaching Africa and Sayf Al-Bahr on the other side. This narration gives a clear indication to us that, that which was usurped from the Ahlulbayt (as) was neither an orchard nor a village but rather it is mentioned as the areas of governance crucial to leadership of knowledge, spirituality, manners and ruling over the Muslims and Islamic nation. According to these narrations, every land and every age should be treated the same as Fadak, and anyone who truthfully believes the previous narrations and wants to whole heartedly remove the oppression and unlawful governance from Fadak and return it to its rightful owners should search and return every unlawful land to its rightful owner fully as if it were Fadak, because only when it is fully returned will the unjust usurpation fail to exist.

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