Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a): Difference between revisions

After the demise of the Prophet (s), while Ali (a) and [[Banu Hashim]] were busy with the burial rituals and ceremony, the [[Helpers]] (Ansar) gathered in the [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida]] to choose a successor for the Prophet (s) from themselves. They were afraid that the Quraysh might seek to revenge for their casualties and knew that the Prophet's (s) command regarding his successor would not be accepted. When Abu Bakr and Umar were informed of this gathering, they headed toward Saqifa together with [[Abu Ubayda al-Jarrah]], [[Abd al-Rahman b. Awf]], and [[Uthman b. Affan]]. After heated debates, those who had gathered at the Saqifa chose Abu Bakr as the caliph and successor of the Prophet (s), with no regard for the Prophet's commands regarding the succession.  

The lifetime of Imam Ali (a) was replete with extremely sensitive and influential events, especially during his caliphate which witnessed vast conflicts in the Muslim community. According to Abd al-Rahim Qanawat, the origin of many conflicts in the time of the Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a) was tribal rivalries among the members of the Quraysh and the descendants of [[Abd Manaf]]. Considering the disagreement between the children of Abd Manaf over who should hold the high social positions in Mecca, Qanawat mentions the declining status of Banu Hashim against Banu Umayya after [[Abd al-Mutallib]] and states that the opposition of Mu'awiyah to Imam Ali's (a) marked the peak of the enmity of the [[Umayyads]] towards Banu Hashim. The Umayyads even questioned [[Abu Talib]]'s faith and accused him of polytheism.  

Moreover, during the Battle of Badr Imam Ali (a) inflicted substantial casualties on the Meccan army: 27 men according to al-Waqidi, 35 according to [[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]], and 36 according to [[al-Mufid]], thirteen of whom are said to have been prominent figures of the Quraysh, such as [[Abu Jahl]]. This great loss significantly tarnished the reputation of the Qurayshite polytheists and made them hold grudges against the Imam (a), which persisted even after they converted to Islam, leading them to encourage the people to break their allegiance to Ali (a) and oppose him.  

In addition, the envy of some fellow-Muslims towards him because of his braveries and other merits and because of the Prophet's (s) love for him also contributed to the intensification of disfavor for the Imam (a).  

On the day of Saqifa, Ali (a) did not pledge his allegiance to Abu Bakr, and there is disagreement among the scholars as to whether and when the Imam (a) pledged allegiance. It is reported that Imam Ali (a) had a calm but lengthy and straightforward debate with Abu Bakr, in which he denounced the latter for his misdeed in the Event of the Saqifa and for neglecting the right of the family of the Prophet (s). According to this report, the sayings of the Imam (a) affected Abu Bakr such that he was about to pay his allegiance to Ali (a), but he changed his mind when he consulted with some of his companions.  

On different occasions, Ali (a) objected to the decision at the Saqifa and reminded the people of his right to caliphate. [[Al-Shiqshiqiyya Sermon]] is one of the most well-known sermons in which the Imam (a) refers to that event.  

Moreover, it is reported that after the Event of Saqifa, Ali (a) and his wife Fatima (a) would go to the houses and gatherings of the Helpers, reminding them of Ali's (a) right to caliphate. In response, the Helpers would say, "O Daughter of the Prophet! We have pledged our allegiance to Abu Bakr. Had Ali asked us for allegiance, we would not have rejected him." And the Imam (a) would respond, "Did you expect me to compete for caliphate before burying the Prophet?!"

Another important occasion on which Imam Ali (a) emphasized his right to succeed the Prophet (s) was when the Imam (a) asked the Companions in a gathering to testify and relate what they had heard from the Prophet (s) regarding succession. According to [[Allama Amini]], many Shiite and Sunni sources report that this event took place in [[Yawm al-Ruhba|Ruhba]] in [[35]]/[[655 CE|655]]—that is, in the beginning of the Imam's (a) caliphate. Shiite sources report another such request from the Imam (a) in the [[six-member council]] that was appointed by Umar to choose his successor. The Imam (a) reportedly mentioned a list of events in which his right to succession was proclaimed by the Prophet (s) and then asked the members of the council whether they remembered the Prophet's (s) sayings in those events, and the members answered in the positive.