The Saqifa Incident
Can you explain the Saqifa incident?
The Saqifa Bani Sa'ida incident occurred after the Prophet's (PBUH) passing regarding his succession. A group of Muhajirun (immigrants) and Ansar (helpers) gathered in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida in the absence of Imam Ali (AS) and prominent companions, and after extensive debates, selected Abu Bakr as caliph. They immediately secured allegiance from others through various methods and established Abu Bakr's caliphate.
Location and Function of Saqifa
Saqifa Bani Sa'ida was located in the northwest of the Prophet's Mosque. This shelter could accommodate fewer than a hundred people. It was a gathering place for the Ansar (people of Medina including Aws and Khazraj tribes).[1] Linguistically, Saqifa means a roofed portico (covered shelter).[2]
The Gathering for Prophet's (PBUH) Succession at Saqifa
After the Prophet's (PBUH) passing, while Imam Ali (AS) and Banu Hashim were occupied with the Prophet's (PBUH) funeral preparations, a group of Ansar and some Muhajirun gathered at Saqifa Bani Sa'ida to determine the successor. Those present at Saqifa each considered their group more worthy than the other. The Ansar cited their faith and support of the Prophet (PBUH) as evidence of their priority in succession. The Muhajirun, referencing their precedence in accepting Islam and kinship with the Prophet (PBUH), claimed precedence in succession. After hearing the Muhajirun's arguments, the Ansar proposed having two leaders - one from each group; however, Abu Bakr rejected this proposal, citing a hadith from the Prophet about Quraysh's right to leadership.[3]
The Ansar, who had supported Sa'd ibn Ubada's leadership, were defeated, and ultimately agreed with Umar's proposal for Abu Bakr's caliphate, immediately pledging allegiance to him, with most attendees following suit. Some believe that the long-standing rivalry between Aws and Khazraj tribes also helped advance the Muhajirun's position.[4]
Taking Allegiance from the People
After leaving Saqifa, they secured allegiance from others through various methods, and the efforts of Imam Ali (AS), Lady Fatima (SA), and some companions of the Prophet (PBUH) against them were unsuccessful, leading to the establishment of Abu Bakr's government.
Some were compelled to pledge allegiance under the pretext that one should not oppose the Muslim community, and the usurpers obtained the majority's allegiance in a short time through fallacious arguments, preaching, enticement, threats, murder, assassination, and fabrication of hadith. Some pledged allegiance willingly while others did so reluctantly and under compulsion.[5]
Imam Ali (AS), the Banu Hashim family, and some prominent figures from the Muhajirun and Ansar, including Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (the Prophet's uncle), Salman, Miqdad, Ammar, Abu Dharr, and others were absent from this selection.
Lady Fatima (SA), angered by the deviation of the caliphate, told the women of Quraysh:
- "I am weary of your world and happy to part from you, as you did not preserve my right, and the covenant and testament of the Prophet (PBUH) were not observed, and his will was not accepted..."
Some believe that with the usurpation of the caliphate by Abu Bakr and Umar, people became more distant from the Prophet's (PBUH) household, and its adverse effects became apparent; however, the positions and teachings of Ali (AS) and the pure Imams (AS) prevented Islam from complete deviation.[6]
Refrences
- ↑ Ḥasanī, ‘Alī Akbar, Tārīkh-e Taḥlīlī wa Sīyāsī-ye Islām az Jāhiliyyat tā ‘Aṣr-e Umavī, Nashr-e Farhang, awwal, 1373 sh, ṣ 319.
- ↑ Shahīdī, Sayyid Ja‘far, Tārīkh-e Taḥlīlī-ye Islām, Tehrān, Markaz-e Nashr-e Dānishgāhī, chāp-e dovvom, 63, ṣ 91.
- ↑ Shahīdī, Sayyid Ja‘far, Tārīkh-e Taḥlīlī-ye Islām, Tehrān, Markaz-e Nashr-e Dānishgāhī, chāp-e dovvom, 63, ṣ 92.
- ↑ Shahīdī, Sayyid Ja‘far, Tārīkh-e Taḥlīlī-ye Islām, Tehrān, Markaz-e Nashr-e Dānishgāhī, chāp-e dovvom, 63, ṣ 92.
- ↑ Rashād, ‘Alī Akbar, Dāneshnāma-ye Imām ‘Alī (‘a), Tehrān, Farhang wa Andīsha-ye Islāmī, 1380, j 8, ṣṣ 405 wa 455.
- ↑ Ḥasanī, ‘Alī Akbar, Tārīkh-e Taḥlīlī-ye Sīyāsī-ye Islām, Nashr-e Farhang, awwal, 1373 sh, ṣ 321.