Six-Member Council: Difference between revisions

'''<span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 150%"> Members of {{br}}the Six-Member Council</span>'''<br />

 

 

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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 council's final agreement 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 concerning 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>

Based on Umar's opinion, more 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 all the members' head 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 the council would elect Uthman. 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 the 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 a supporter of Uthman.<ref>Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 1, p. 188.</ref>

[[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>

*Bilādhurī, Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-. ''Ansāb al-ashrāf''. Edited by Suhayl Zakār wa Riyāḍ Ziriklī. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1417 AH.

*Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. ''Tārīkh al-'umam wa l-mulūk''. Beirut: Dār al-Turāth, 1387 AH.