Incident of Saqifa: Difference between revisions

According to some historians, the Helpers gathered in the Saqifa only to appoint a leader for [[Medina]], but when some of the [[Immigrants]] entered the sessions, the conversations were shifted to deciding who would succeed the Prophet (s) as the leader of all Muslims, and eventually Abu Bakr was chosen for the position. Apart from Abu Bakr, who was the representative of the Immigrants, [[Umar b. al-Khattab]] and [[Abu Ubayda al-Jarrah]], two other Immigrants, were also present in the event.

The historians report that the election of Abu Bakr was not initially accepted by all. After the Saqifa, [[Imam Ali (a)]], [[Fatima (a)]], and others like [[Fadl b. al-'Abbas|Fadl]] and [['Abd Allah b. al-'Abbas|Abd Allah]], the sons of the Prophet's uncle [[Al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib|Abbas]], [[Salman al-Farsi]], [[Abu Dharr al-Ghifari]], [[Miqdad b. Amr]], and [[Zubayr b. Awamm]] were among those who objected to Abu Bakr's caliphate. The [[Shi'a]] maintain that the Event of the Saqifa and its result were against the instructions of the Prophet (s) regarding the succession, according to which Imam Ali (a) was to succeed the Prophet (s).  

Western scholars of Islamic Studies and some orientalists such as Lammens, Caetani, and Madelung have studied the Event of the Saqifa in detail.

====Sa'd b. 'Ubada====

He spoke mainly in the beginning of the session and prior to the coming of Abu Bakr and his companions. Because he was sick, his speech was delivered to the audience with the help of his son. The main themes of his speech were the following: the virtues and excellence of the [[Helpers]], their superiority over the other Muslims, their service to Islam and to the [[Prophet (s)]], and the fact that the Prophet (s) was pleased with them when he passed away. With these points, he stated that the Helpers should choose a leader from themselves. Against the suggestion of choosing one leader from the Helpers and one from the [[Immigrants]], he said that the suggestion was a failure and a retreat.  

====Abu Bakr====

Abu Bakr's sayings in this gathering determined the direction toward which it moved. He talked several times, and the main themes of his speeches were the following: the advantages of the Immigrants over the Helpers—including being the vanguard in accepting the Prophet's call, [[faith]] and [[worshipping God]], their kinship with the Prophet (s)—which made them more deserving of the succession to the Prophet (s) than the Helpers, and the virtues of the Helpers and their being better fitted to be viziers, not caliphs.  

====Habab b. Mundhir====

He spoke in the Saqifa two or three times, and his speech each time contained instigation and threat against the Immigrants, and especially against Abu Bakr and Umar. He also repeated the suggestion of choosing one ruler from each tribe.  

====Umar b. al-Khattab====

Umar mostly reinforced Abu Bakr's statements by mentioning some points, including the claim that the Arabs would not disagree with the succession of the Prophet's relatives and the impossibility of choosing two rulers, because two swords do not fit in one sheath.  

====Abu Ubayda al-Jarrah====

In his speech, he warned the Helpers against changing the religion and ruining the unity of the Muslims.  

====Bushayr b. Sa'd====

He was one of the Helpers from the tribe of Khazraj. He spoke several times and affirmed the arguments of Abu Bakr and his companions. Urging the Helpers to fear God and respect Muslims' rights, he warned them against disagreeing with the Immigrants.  

====Abd al-Rahman b. Awf====

He spoke about the place and virtues of such figures as Abu Bakr, Umar, and Ali (a), and reminded the Helpers that they did not have such personalities among them.  

====Mundhir b. Arqam====

He was one of the Helpers. In the Saqifa and against the arguments of Abu Bakr and [[Abd al-Rahman b. Awf]], he introduced Ali (a) as the one who had all the mentioned virtues. He stated that if Ali (a) is ready to accept the position, no one would oppose him. Mundhir's saying was affirmed by a group of the Helpers who proclaimed that they would only pledge their allegiance to Ali (a).   

The most well-known Helpers present at the Saqifa were [[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]], his son [[Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Ubada|Qays]], [[Bashir b. Sa'd]], [[Usayd b. Hudayr]], Thabit b. Qays, Mundhir b. Arqam, [[Bara' b. 'Azib]], and [[Habab b. Mundhir]].  

According to some scholars, the gathering of the Helpers at the Saqifa was caused by their concern for their future after the demise of the Prophet (s). They were especially worried that after the [[conquest of Mecca]], the formation of a united Quraysh would throw the balance of power out of kilter.

*The Helpers were afraid that the Quraysh would try to take revenge on them, as their prominent figures were killed by the Helpers during the battles at the time of the Prophet (s). This worry may have been reinforced by the fact that the Prophet (s) had informed them of the oppression of the rulers after him against them and had instructed the Helpers to remain patient.  

*According to some scholars, the Helpers felt that the Quraysh would not accept the sayings of the Prophet (s) regarding Ali's (a) succession to him. According to some others, Abu Bakr announced in the [[mosque of the Prophet (s)]] that the [[Apostle of God (s)]] had died. So a group of the Medinans gathered around him and pledged their [[allegiance]] to him as the successor of the Prophet (s). This created a misunderstanding in the minds of a group of the Helpers that it was permissible to appoint a caliph other than Imam Ali (a), which led to the gathering at the Saqifa.

Ali (a) and [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], together with some of the Immigrants and Helpers—such as [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]], [[Fadl b. Abbas]], [[Zubayr b. al-'Awwam]], [[Khalid b. Sa'id]], [[Miqdad b. 'Amr]], [[Salman al-Farsi]], [[Abu Dharr al-Ghifari]], [[Ammar b. Yasir]], [[Baraʾ b. 'Azib]], and [[Ubayy b. Ka'b]]—opposed the election of Abu Bakr as the caliph.

*Abu Dharr was not in Medina on the day of the Event of the Saqifa and was informed of what had happened when he arrived in the city. It is reported that he spoke about the right of Ahl al-Bayt (s) to the caliphate as soon as he was informed of the event, and once more during the caliphate of [['Uthman]]. He said that the caliphate of Ahl al-Bayt (a) would bring about abundant blessings and good.

====Leone Caetani====

The Italian orientalist Leone Caetani talks about a deep rift between Abu Bakr and [[Banu Hashim]], and considers Abu Bakr's claim to succession in the Event of the Saqifa surprising. He indirectly accepts the seriousness of Ali's claim to the succession. Later, Caetani affirmed Lammens' theory of the triumvirate of Abu Bakr, Umar and Abu Ubayda.

====Wilferd Madelung====

In his book The Succession to Muhammad, Madelung has thoroughly explores the topic of the succession to the Prophet (s). Unlike most historians, he believes that the gathering at the Saqifa was not initially intended to choose a successor for the Prophet (s). The [[Helpers]] simply thought that after the [[demise of the Prophet (s)]], the allegiance to him had expired and the integrity of the society was in danger. So they decided to choose a ruler from themselves for their own city, Medina. This is why they gathered without informing the Immigrants, whom they thought would return to [[Mecca]]. And those who did not want to return, the Helpers thought, would have no problem with the rule of a Helper over [[Medina]].  

Madelung maintains that it was only Abu Bakr and Umar who believed that the successor of the Prophet (s) should rule over all the Arabs, and the [[Qurashites]] are the only ones deserving of the succession. He holds that prior to the demise of the Prophet (s), Abu Bakr had the plan to become the successor of the Prophet (s) and to surpass his rivals, the most important of whom were Ahl al-Bayt (a). The gathering at the Saqifa provided an opportunity for Abu Bakr to reach his goal. In that gathering, he first suggested that Umar and Abu Ubayda, who did not have any chance, should succeed the Prophet (s). It is clear that this suggestion was not serious and was intended only to create arguments among the participants and lead to the conclusion of the session in his favor.