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Incident of Saqifa: Difference between revisions
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'''Event of Saqīfa Banī Sāʿida''' (Arabic: {{ia|وَقعَة سَقیفَة بَني ساعِدَة}}) refers to the [[allegiance]] pledged by some Muslims to [[Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa|Abu Bakr]] as the [[caliph]] after the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] | '''Event of Saqīfa Banī Sāʿida''' (Arabic: {{ia|وَقعَة سَقیفَة بَني ساعِدَة}}) refers to the [[allegiance]] pledged by some Muslims to [[Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa|Abu Bakr]] as the [[caliph]] after the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)|Prophet Muhammad's (s)]] demise. No one from [[Banu Hashim]] and [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] was present in the event, and [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] who was already announced by the Prophet (s) as his successor was taking care of the Prophet's (s) corpse when the event of Saqifa was taking place. Some [[Muhajirun]] (Muslims who had migrated from [[Mecca]] to [[Medina]]) gathered in order to announce Abu Bakr as the caliph and some [[Ansar]] gathered there in order to announce [[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]] as the caliph. | ||
The event took place in [[11]]/632 in [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida]]. The allegiance to Abu Bakr remained subject to controversies and disputes in Medina for a while; it was refused by some [[Sahaba]]. The Shiites (followers) of [[Imam Ali (a)]] considered Abu Bakr's [[caliphate]] to be against the Prophet (s) | The event took place in [[11]]/632 in [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida]]. The allegiance to Abu Bakr remained subject to controversies and disputes in Medina for a while; it was refused by some [[Sahaba]]. The Shiites (followers) of [[Imam Ali (a)]] considered Abu Bakr's [[caliphate]] to be against the Prophet's (s) commands and will in [[Ghadir al-Khumm]]; thus they took it to be a usurpation of Imam Ali's (a) right to the position of caliphate. According to Shiites, the allegiance to Abu Bakr is a deviation from the right path of [[Islam]]. | ||
==Location== | ==Location== | ||
[[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida]] was a place owned by the Banu Sa'ida b. Ka'b b. Khazraj clan, and it was located near [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]. The place had a historical prominence among Arabs. Saqifa was located on the west side of the Prophet (s) | [[Saqifa Bani Sa'ida]] was a place owned by the Banu Sa'ida b. Ka'b b. Khazraj clan, and it was located near [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]. The place had a historical prominence among Arabs. Saqifa was located on the west side of the Prophet's (s) Mosque near the Bida'a well. Sa'd b. 'Ubada who was Ansar's candidate for caliphate lived near Saqifa. | ||
==The story== | ==The story== | ||
According to Sunni sources, the [[Prophet (s)]] | According to Sunni sources, the [[Prophet (s)]] passed away on Monday [[Rabi' I 12]]/[[June 10]], 632, and according to Shiite sources, he (s) passed on Monday, [[Safar 28]], [[11 ]]([[May 28]], 632). The news about the Prophet's (s) demise was soon circulated around the then small city of [[Medina]], and some people immediately started campaigns to introduce a successor or caliph for the Prophet (s), while [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]], [[Fadl b. 'Abbas]] and some others were engaged in the ritual washing of the Prophet's (s) corpse. | ||
==Ansar's Assembly in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida== | ==Ansar's Assembly in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida== | ||
{{Shi'a-Vertical}} | {{Shi'a-Vertical}} | ||
[[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]]—the leader of [[Khazraj]]—who was sick and had a fever, gave a speech among some people of Ansar ([[Aws]] and [[Khazraj]]) in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida about the virtues of Ansar and their advantages over [[Muhajirun]]. It is said that such speeches in those conditions were supposed to be against activities by some Muhajirun, rather than against the Prophet (s) | [[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]]—the leader of [[Khazraj]]—who was sick and had a fever, gave a speech among some people of Ansar ([[Aws]] and [[Khazraj]]) in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida about the virtues of Ansar and their advantages over [[Muhajirun]]. It is said that such speeches in those conditions were supposed to be against activities by some Muhajirun, rather than against the Prophet's (s) will (such as [[Hadith Yawm al-Dar]], [[Hadith al-Manzila]], and [[Ghadir al-Khumm]]). Ansar assembled in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida in order to protect their own position, but they instead led to the greatest sedition throughout the history of Islam that gave rise to a lot of chaos in the Islamic community. | ||
=='Umar b. al-Khattab's Plot== | =='Umar b. al-Khattab's Plot== | ||
There are different accounts of where [[Abu Bakr]] was when the Prophet (s) | There are different accounts of where [[Abu Bakr]] was when the Prophet (s) passed away, but on the most widely accepted view, he was in Sanh, where [[Salim b. 'Ubayd]] gave him the news of the Prophet's (s) demise. | ||
On this account, when Abu Bakr arrived in the Mosque, [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] was standing among people, and was angry at people who were talking about the Prophet (s) | On this account, when Abu Bakr arrived in the Mosque, [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] was standing among people, and was angry at people who were talking about the Prophet's (s) death, calling them hypocrites and threatening them to death. When Abu Bakr went to the Prophet's (s) house, he removed the cloth that was on his face, kissed the point between his two eyes, and then went to the Mosque, asking 'Umar to calm down. He then appealed to a verse of the [[Qur'an]] and confirmed the news about the Prophet's (s) demise. | ||
Some scholars believe that 'Umar knew about the Prophet's (s) death, but he denied it so that no person other than the one he had in mind (that is, Abu Bakr) becomes the caliph. What supports this hypothesis is that 'Umar withdrew his denial when Abu Bakr confirmed the news. | Some scholars believe that 'Umar knew about the Prophet's (s) death, but he denied it so that no person other than the one he had in mind (that is, Abu Bakr) becomes the caliph. What supports this hypothesis is that 'Umar withdrew his denial when Abu Bakr confirmed the news. | ||
On some accounts, it is probable that Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and [[Abu 'Ubayda al-Jarrah]] consulted about the selection of the Prophet (s) | On some accounts, it is probable that Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and [[Abu 'Ubayda al-Jarrah]] consulted about the selection of the Prophet's (s) successor in Abu 'Ubayda's house before they learned about, and joined, Ansar's assembly in Saqifa. | ||
The news about what happened in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida, and verbal exchanges between Muhajirun and Ansar is well known. According to sources, Abu Bakr's selection happened amongst a lot of quarrels and disputes such that [[Habab b. Mundhir]], from Ansar, drew his sword against Muhajirun, and Sa'd b. 'Ubada was nearly trampled by disputing people. 'Umar b. al-Khattab reported the quarrels in the event in a speech he delivered during his caliphate in Medina, and [['Abd Allah b. 'Abbas]], who was present in his speech, confirmed 'Umar's report. This historical document is reported by [[Ibn Hisham]], [[al-Tabari]], [[Ibn Hibban]] and others. According to this speech and other sources, the tensions were assuaged by Abu Bakr's intervention and by taking the sick Sa'd b. 'Ubada out from Saqifa. | The news about what happened in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida, and verbal exchanges between Muhajirun and Ansar is well known. According to sources, Abu Bakr's selection happened amongst a lot of quarrels and disputes such that [[Habab b. Mundhir]], from Ansar, drew his sword against Muhajirun, and Sa'd b. 'Ubada was nearly trampled by disputing people. 'Umar b. al-Khattab reported the quarrels in the event in a speech he delivered during his caliphate in Medina, and [['Abd Allah b. 'Abbas]], who was present in his speech, confirmed 'Umar's report. This historical document is reported by [[Ibn Hisham]], [[al-Tabari]], [[Ibn Hibban]] and others. According to this speech and other sources, the tensions were assuaged by Abu Bakr's intervention and by taking the sick Sa'd b. 'Ubada out from Saqifa. | ||
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* The old hostility between [[Aws]] and [[Khazraj]] and their tribal competitions made it more difficult for a person from Ansar to be elected as the caliph and thus the path was paved for Abu Bakr's caliphate. | * The old hostility between [[Aws]] and [[Khazraj]] and their tribal competitions made it more difficult for a person from Ansar to be elected as the caliph and thus the path was paved for Abu Bakr's caliphate. | ||
* The engagement of [[Imam Ali (a)]], [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] and other seniors of Banu Hashim with the washing and shrouding rituals of the Prophet (s) | * The engagement of [[Imam Ali (a)]], [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] and other seniors of Banu Hashim with the washing and shrouding rituals of the Prophet's (s) corpse, and hence their absence in the meeting for the election of the caliph, made it easier for Abu Bakr to win the position of caliphate. | ||
* [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] summarized the reasons for Abu Bakr's victory as follows: the engagement of Imam 'Ali (a) with rituals of the Prophet (s) | * [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] summarized the reasons for Abu Bakr's victory as follows: the engagement of Imam 'Ali (a) with rituals of the Prophet's (s) corpse, absence of Banu Hashim in the meeting, and disputes among people of Ansar themselves. | ||
==People's Allegiance throughout Medina== | ==People's Allegiance throughout Medina== | ||
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[[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] cited [[Abu Mikhnaf]]'s report to the effect that Banu Aslam went to Medina at that time in order to provide some groceries for themselves. They were promised to be provided with groceries if they helped Abu Bakr's proponents. Thus they helped reinforce the allegiance to Abu Bakr by forcing people to pledge their allegiance to him, even by beating them. | [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] cited [[Abu Mikhnaf]]'s report to the effect that Banu Aslam went to Medina at that time in order to provide some groceries for themselves. They were promised to be provided with groceries if they helped Abu Bakr's proponents. Thus they helped reinforce the allegiance to Abu Bakr by forcing people to pledge their allegiance to him, even by beating them. | ||
==Reasons for Imam 'Ali (a) | ==Reasons for Imam 'Ali's (a) Refusal to Oppose Abu Bakr's Caliphate== | ||
At the time when the event of Saqifa was taking place, [[Imam Ali (a)]], [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] and some Muhajirun were busy with the washing and shrouding rituals of the Prophet's (s) corpse. According to ''[[Sahih al-Bukhari]]'' and ''[[Sahih Muslim]]'', Imam 'Ali (a) did not pledge his allegiance to Abu Bakr so long as his wife, [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] was still alive, that is, 6 months after the Prophet's (s) demise. According to 'Abd al-Razzaq, [[al-Bukhari]]'s teacher, in his book, ''al-Musannaf'', in addition to Ali (a), no person from [[Banu Hashim]] pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr during those six months. | At the time when the event of Saqifa was taking place, [[Imam Ali (a)]], [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] and some Muhajirun were busy with the washing and shrouding rituals of the Prophet's (s) corpse. According to ''[[Sahih al-Bukhari]]'' and ''[[Sahih Muslim]]'', Imam 'Ali (a) did not pledge his allegiance to Abu Bakr so long as his wife, [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] was still alive, that is, 6 months after the Prophet's (s) demise. According to 'Abd al-Razzaq, [[al-Bukhari]]'s teacher, in his book, ''al-Musannaf'', in addition to Ali (a), no person from [[Banu Hashim]] pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr during those six months. | ||