Fadak: Difference between revisions

'''Fadak''' a village in [[Hijaz]], [[Saudi Arabia]], had lush gardens with date palms which was located near [[Khaybar]]. [[Abu Bakr]] and [[Lady Fatima]] (s) had disagreement on the ownership of Fadak. According to historical reports, after Muslims conquered [[Khaybar]] castles, based on the peace treaty, half of the gardens and farming fields were given to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] by the Jews. As Fadak was conquered in peace, according to [[the Holy Quran]] it was especially owned by Prophet Muhammad (s). As ordered by Prophet (s), the income achieved from Fadak was given to the poor especially the needy of [[Banu Hashim]]. According to historical reports, after some time Prophet Muhammad (s) gave Fadak to [[Lady Fatima (s)]] as a gift. After Prophet (s) passed away, Abu Bakr confiscated Fadak. The [[Sermon of Fadakiyya]] was delivered by Lady Fatima (s) in order to complain about this incident, although Abu Bakr refused to give it back to Lady Fatima (s). Through centuries the garden of Fadak was frequently given back to and retaken from the descendants of Lady Fatima (s). Today Fadak is located in a city called al-Ha'it.

Fadak is located in [[Hijaz]], 160 Km from [[Medina]]. Although it is situated in the neighborhood of al-Harra dry lands, it is covered with date palms and it had gardens and farming lands. In the early Islamic period, Jews were living there. The Shamrukh castle was located near Fadak, which was strategically regarded as the main military base of Jews. According to sources, Jewish people were living there until the time of [[Umar b. Khattab]], the second caliph, who ordered them to evacuate the region of Fadak.

Today Fadak is located in the city of al-Ha'it, which included 21 villages by 1975. According to reports in 2010, about 14000 people are living there.

In the time of the emergence of [[Islam]], Fadak contained gardens and date palms because of its fertile soil and rich water sources. As a result, Fadak was a productive and fruitful land with profitable income. It is said date palms of Fadak worth the same as date palms of [[Kufa]]; it is well-known for its extensive cultivation of date palms in the world. When Umar b. Khattab decided to expel the Jews, he paid them 50 thousand Dirhams (old currency of Hijaz) for the remaining half of Fadak, which was owned by the Jews.

Fadak was undeniably a fertile land, but its annual income is unknown. According to a number of sources Fadak produced an annual income of 24 to 70 thousand Dinars at the time of Prophet Muhammad (s). As estimated by researchers the income achieved from Fadak could easily cover the expenses of [[Banu Hashim]], so that they would not need financial support from the government or caliphate.

After conspiracy of Jews against Muslims in [[the battle of Trench]] in which Muslims defeated their opponents, Prophet Muhammad (s) ordered to attack Khaybar and defeat the Jews.

After the conquest of [[Khaybar]], Jews surrendered to Muslims. When Jewish people of Fadak were informed about the defeat of Jews to Muslims they were afraid of a probable attack to Fadak; therefore, they sent their representative to Prophet Muhammad (s) in order to negotiate and make peace with Muslims.

According to their peace treaty Jews were supposed to give half of their gardens and fields of Fadak to [[Prophet (s)]] while they would get the permission to continue their life in Fadak. Also the rest of their properties and lands were supposed to be safe and secured.

As Muslims did not attend the conquest of Fadak, according to the order of [[the Holy Quran]], Fadak was especially owned by Prophet Muhammad (s). As Quran says the properties achieved for Muslims, in which they did not fight for, are owned only by Prophet (s):"What Allah has bestowed upon His Prophet, and take away, from them for this ye made no expedition with either cavalry nor camel; but Allah gives power to His Prophets over any He pleases: and Allah has power over all things." Such properties are called [[Fay']] which belong to Prophet Muhammad (s).

The income achieved from Fadak was the source of financial support for [[Banu Hashim]] and the poor such as travelers in need. According to narrations, Prophet Muhammad (s) gave Fadak to Lady Fatima (s) after some time.

Several [[Hadith]] scholars such as [[Al-Shaykh al-Tusi]], [[Tabarsi]], [[Huskani]] and [[Al-Suyuti]] have interpreted the verse: "And render to the kindred their due rights as (also) to those in want and to the wayfarer: but squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift" Sura [[Al-Isra']], 26. They believed as this verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s), he gave Fadak to Lady Fatima (s) as a gift.

However according to a hadith from [[Imam Sadiq (a)]] in the book ''[[Al-Kafi (book)|al-Kafi]]'' , Fadak is regarded as [[Anfal]] (The spoils of war), not Fay'. As Prophet Muhammad (s) and [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] were the only persons who attended the conquest of Fadak, thus Prophet (s) was allowed to give Fadak to his daughter, Lady Fatima (s), as a gift.

After the event of [[Saqifa]], Abu Bakr took over the caliphate and seized Fadak as he regarded it as a state property. Then [[Lady Fatima (s)]] reacted to this event and they had a discussion about Fadak which is narrated in historical sources in different fashion. As it is narrated, Lady Fatima (s) claimed Fadak her own property, as it was a gift given by her father Prophet Muhammad (s). [[Abu Bakr]] claimed: "I have heard Prophet Muhammad (s) saying that, we, prophets, do not leave any inheritance behind and what is left is charity." Then Lady Fatima (s) responded: "Fadak was given to me as a gift by my father, Prophet (s)." So Abu Bakr asked her to prove it. According to several narrations Ali b. Abi Talib (a) and Umm Ayman approved Lady Fatima (s) was right. As a result Abu Bakr accepted their claim and documented Fadak as property of Lady Fatima (s). However, it is said after [[Umar b. Khattab]] found out about the document, he tore it to pieces.