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Six-Member Council: Difference between revisions
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{{Six-member council}} | {{Six-member council}} | ||
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' | 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' heads. [[Imam Ali (a)]] had anticipated the council would select 'Uthman since the appointed members all had the same bias. | ||
== The Story of the Council == | == The Story of the Council == | ||
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|quote = [[Imam Ali (a)]]: | |quote = [[Imam Ali (a)]]: | ||
But good Heavens! What had I to do with this | But good Heavens! What had I to do with this "council"? There was no 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. | ||
|source = [[Nahj al-balagha]], [[Al-Shiqshiqiyya Sermon]] | |source = [[Nahj al-balagha]], [[Al-Shiqshiqiyya Sermon]] | ||
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|align = right | |align = right | ||
}} | }} | ||
[['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]] 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> | ||
== Establishment of the Council == | == Establishment of the Council == | ||
{{Timeline of Imam 'Ali's (a) life}} | {{Timeline of Imam 'Ali's (a) life}} | ||
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 in different ways. They reasoned that the selection of the caliph must be assigned to people. | 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 in different ways. They reasoned that the selection of the caliph must be assigned to people. Therefore, it is people who choose their Imam. However, Abu Bakr reversed his opinion by selecting Umar as his successor at the end of his lifetime. | ||
Umar chose a new method, confessing that selecting Abu Bakr had not been Muslims' option. He declared Muslims must participate in choosing their own caliph from now on.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 3, p. 344.</ref> Consequently, he established a council comprising of six people who would select one of themselves as the caliph by consulting with each other. The followings are the members of the council: [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]], [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], [[Talha b. 'Ubayd Allah]], [[Zubayr b. 'Awam]], [[Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas]], and [['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf]].<ref>Suyūṭī, ''Tārīkh al-khulafāʾ'', p. 129.</ref> | Umar chose a new method, confessing that selecting Abu Bakr had not been Muslims' option. He declared that Muslims must participate in choosing their own caliph from now on.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 3, p. 344.</ref> Consequently, he established a council comprising of six people who would select one of themselves as the caliph by consulting with each other. The followings are the members of the council: [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]], [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], [[Talha b. 'Ubayd Allah]], [[Zubayr b. 'Awam]], [[Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas]], and [['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf]].<ref>Suyūṭī, ''Tārīkh al-khulafāʾ'', p. 129.</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 opposed to Abd al-Rahman's vote must be castigated by cutting off their heads. Another command was to cut all the members' heads if they were unable to select the caliphate after three days.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 160; Balādhurī, ''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> | 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 opposed to Abd al-Rahman's vote must be castigated by cutting off their heads. Another command was to cut all the members' heads if they were unable to select the caliphate after three days.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 160; Balādhurī, ''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> | ||
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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> | 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> | ||
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 | Sa'd stated he had the same vote with Abd al-Rahman, whatever he decides. Zubayr gave up nominating for the caliphate in favor of Imam Ali (a). Abd al-Rahman announced he was not seeking a 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 crucial and notable. | ||
=== Abd al-Rahman's Decision === | === Abd al-Rahman's Decision === | ||
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*Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. ''Tārīkh al-ʾumam wa l-mulūk''. Beirut: Dār al-Turāth, 1387 AH. | *Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. ''Tārīkh al-ʾumam wa l-mulūk''. Beirut: Dār al-Turāth, 1387 AH. | ||
*Yaʿqūbī, Aḥmad b. Abī Yaʿqūb al-. ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī''. Beirut: Dār al-Ṣādir, [n.d]. | *Yaʿqūbī, Aḥmad b. Abī Yaʿqūb al-. ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī''. Beirut: Dār al-Ṣādir, [n.d]. | ||
{{end}} | {{end}} | ||
{{Important Events of Early Islamic History}} | {{Important Events of Early Islamic History}} | ||