wikishia:Featured articles/2024/47
The Usurpation of Fadak is an event in Islamic history in which Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa usurped Fadak from Fatima al-Zahra (a), after the demise of the Prophet (s). Abu Bakr appealed to a hadith from the Prophet (s)—allegedly transmitted only by Abu Bakr—according to which prophets do not bequeath anything, but Fatima (a) replied that the Prophet (s) had given Fadak to her before his demise, appealing to Imam 'Ali (a) and Umm Ayman as her witnesses. According to Shi'a sources and some Sunni scholars, the Prophet (s) gave Fadak to Fatima (a) after the revelation of the Dhawi l-Qurba Verse in which the Prophet (s) was ordered to give the Dhawi l-Qurba their [due] right.
According to a report, Abu Bakr was convinced and, thus, confirmed the ownership of Fatima (a) via a paper, but 'Umar b. al-Khattab took the paper from Fatima (a) and tore it up. Another report imply that Abu Bakr did not accept the witnesses. When she found that all her efforts were fruitless, she went to the Mosque of the Prophet (s) and delivered a sermon. In this sermon, which is known as al-Fadakiyya Sermon, she spoke about the usurpation of the caliphate, quoting Abu Bakr's own remark (according to which prophets do not bequeath anything) is in contrary to verses of the Qur'an. She deferred her dispute with Abu Bakr to the divine court on Dooms Day and questioned the companions for their silence over such an injustice.
The Fadak village was owned by the Prophet (s) during a compromise with the Jews in the Battle of Khaybar. The Prophet (s) transferred his ownership of Fadak to Fatima (a), but after the demise of the Prophet (s), it was seized by the caliphs and was handed to the next Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs. However, 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz the Umayyad caliph and al-Ma'mun the Abbasid caliph, gave back the Fadak or its incomes to the progeny of Fatima (a)......
Other featured articles: Hadith Madinat al-Ilm – Tawhid – Imam Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Mahdi (a)