Six-Member Council: Difference between revisions

The '''Six-Member Council''' refers to the council [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] (d. [[23]]/[[644 CE|644]]) assigned for selecting the next [[caliph]], which led to [['Uthman b. 'Affan]] being elected as the third caliph of Muslims. 'Umar had obliged all the people to conform to the final agreement of the council and commanded to cut off any opponents' head. [[Imam Ali (a)]] had anticipated the council would select 'Uthman, since the appointed members all had the same bias.

But good Heavens! What had I to do with this “council”? Where was any doubt about me with regard to the first of them that I was now considered akin to these ones? But I remained low when they were low and flew high when they flew high.

[['Umar b. al-Khattab]] was killed in [[23]]/[[644 CE|644]] by someone by the name of Firuz or [[Abu Lu'lu']], the slave of [[Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba|Mughira b. Shu'ba]]. According to some sources, he was injured in [[Dhu l-Hijja 26]], [[23]]/[[November 3]], [[644 CE|644]] and died after three days.<ref>Masʿūdī, ''Murūj al dhahab'', vol. 2, p. 320-321; Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 159-160.</ref> While he was in bed because of his injury, 'Umar b. al-Khattab began to think about his successor. He believed if [[Mu'adh b. Jabal]], [[Abu 'Ubayda al-Jarrah]], and [[Salim Mawla Hudhayfa]] had been alive, he would have handed the caliphate to them.<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 42.</ref> Yet none of the mentioned people were present at that time, therefore he devised a new plan for selecting the next caliph.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 3, p. 344.</ref>

After the Holy Prophet's (s) demise, some of the Prophet's [[companions]] gathered together in a place called [[Saqifa]] and selected [[Abu Bakr]] as the caliph of Muslims ([[incident of Saqifa]]), disregarding the [[Event of Ghadir]] in which the [[Prophet (s)]] had introduced [[Imam Ali (a)]] to the Muslims as the caliph. The companions made people pledge allegiance ([[bay'a]]) to Abu Bakr through different ways. They reasoned that the selection of the caliph must be assigned to people. It is people who choose their Imam. However, Abu Bakr reversed his opinion at the end of his lifetime by selecting Umar as his successor.

Based on Umar's opinion, more number of votes for a person results in his caliphate. If there was a disagreement between the two groups of three on a candidate, the opinion of 'Abd al-Rahman group is preferred. Umar also commanded to cut off the head of any member opposing the idea of the majority. If there was a dispute between the two groups, the group who were opposed to 'Abd al-Rahman's vote must be castigated by cutting off their heads. Another command of him was to cut the head of all the members if they were unable to select the caliphate after three days.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 160; Bilādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 2, p. 261.</ref> Fifty people from [[Ansar]] were responsible to monitor conformation to 'Umar's will.<ref>Suyūṭī, ''Tārīkh al-khulafāʾ'', p. 129-137.</ref>

Some say it was predictable that 'Uthman would be elected by the council. As [[Imam Ali (a)]] had anticipated, Sa'd would not disagree with his cousin 'Abd al-Rahman. On the other hand, 'Abd al-Rahman, who was 'Uthman's brother-in-law{{enote|'Abd al-Rahman was husband of Uthman's sister}} would vote for him. Concerning these factors, even if both Talha and Zubayr were Imam Ali (a)'s advocates, it would be useless; since 'Abd al-Rahman was supporter of 'Uthman.<ref>Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 1, p. 188.</ref>

Sa'd stated he had the same vote with 'Abd al-Rahman, whatever he decides. Zubayr gave up nominating for caliphate in favor of Imam Ali (a). 'Abd al-Rahman announced he was not seeking caliphate. Talha, who was [[Abu Bakr]]'s cousin and Imam Ali (a)'s opponent, gave up nominating in favor of 'Uthman. Therefore, the only candidates were Imam Ali (a) and 'Uthman,<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-'umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 3, p. 296; Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 1, p. 188.</ref> meaning 'Abd al-Rahman's vote became very important and notable.

[['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf]] consulted with people especially with the elite and rulers. Ultimately, he declared his decision. He asked [[Imam Ali (a)]] if he could act according to the [[Holy Qur'an]], the Prophet's (s) tradition ([[sunna]]), and Abu Bakr's and 'Umar's approach in caliphate. Imam Ali (a) responded: "I hope I will act according to Qur'an and the Prophet's (s) tradition as much as my knowledge, my power, and my effort are" (means I will not go on the approach of previous caliphs). Then, 'Abd al-Rahman stated his conditions for 'Uthman and he immediately accepted. As the result, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Awf pledged allegiance to 'Uthman.<ref>Ibn al-Athīr, ''Al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh'', 1385 AH, vol. 3, p, 66 ; Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 162; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-'umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 4, pp. 230-233, 302.</ref>

Some references have stated that Imam Ali (a) believed 'Abd al-Rahman's condition (acting as the previous caliphs) was a deception. He told 'Abd al-Rahman: "You selected 'Uthman so that to regain caliphate. This is not the first time you get united against us ([[Ahl al-bayt (a)]]) and deprive us of our right. This has become a custom against us"<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 162; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-'umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 3, p. 296, 302; Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 1, p. 194.</ref>