Fadak: Difference between revisions

Some Shiite and Sunni exegetes believe that following the [[revelation]] of the verse 26 of [[Sura al-Isra']] (17){{enote|{{ia|وَآتِ ذَا القُربىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالمِسكينَ وَابنَ السَّبيلِ وَلا تُبَذِّر تَبذيرًا}}: Give the relatives their [due] right, and the needy and the traveler [as well], but do not squander wastefully. (Qur'an 17:26)}}, Prophet Muhammad (s) gave Fadak to Lady Fatima (a).

{{Main|Usurpation of Fadak}}

The fame of Fadak among Shi'a is due to an event which took place after the [[demise of the Prophet (s)]]. In this event, [[Abu Bakr]] took Fadak from [[Lady Fatima (a)]] and confiscated it for the [[caliphate]]. Abu Bakr argued that the [[Prophets]] do not leave [[inheritance]] as he had heard it from the Prophet (s). But, Lady Fatima (a) mentioned that Abu Bakr's argument was against the Qur'an and took [[Imam Ali (a)]] and [[Umm Ayman]] as [[witnesse]]s that the Prophet (s) had gifted Fadak to her before his demise (and Fadak was not an inheritance). Abu Bakr accepted that and wrote a handwriting that no one should encroaches on it. When Lady Fatima (a) exited the meeting, [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] saw her, took the handwriting and torn it. As Imam Ali's (a) petition was rejected, Lady Fatima (a) went to the [[mosque]] and gave [[al-Fadakiyya sermon]].

When al-Ma'mun (ruled 198/813-14 – 218/833) decided to return Fadak to descendants of Lady Fatima (a), many oppositions arose. Thus, he invited 200 of prominent scholars of his time and asked them to mention their opinions about Fadak's ownership. After the presentation of ideas, the conclusion of the meeting was that Fadak belonged to [[Lady Fatima (a)]] and needed to return to its original inheritors. The insistence of objectors made al-Ma'mun hold another meeting with more scholars from around the Islamic world. The result of this session was similar to the result of the first meeting. Therefore, in [[210]]/825-26, he wrote to the governor of [[Medina]], Qutham b. Ja'far, to return Fadak to children of Lady Fatima (a).

Fadak is today located in Ha'it province of [[Saudi Arabia]]. According to a report (in 2008), the region of Fadak is known as "Wadi Fatima" and its palm gardens are known as "Bustan Fatima". Also, there are a [[mosque]] and wells in this area which are called "Masjid Fatima" and "'Uyun Fatima". Houses and towers of this area are turned to ruins and most palm trees have died.