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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Al-hasan Al-mujtaba The Consultative Committee When Umar was hopeless of life and sure of the decreed moment of death, he thought for a long time and reflected on one who would undertake the affairs of the government after him. He remembered the leading personalities of his party, who took part in paving the way to Abu Bakr and keeping away the Prophet’s Household (from authority).

As a result, severe pain encompassed him, for all of them had died. He showed impatience and sorry in respect of them, saying: “If Abu Ubayda was alive, I would appoint him as a caliph, for he was entrusted by this community! If Salim, Abu Hudhayfa’s retainer, was alive, I would appoint him as a caliph, for he loved Allah, the Most High, very much!” Umar was sorry for the death of ‘Abu Ubayda and Salim. If they had been alive, he would have appointed them as caliphs.

Had they the precedence of jihad in Islam? Did Allah’s Apostle (a.s) preferred them to others, that they might deserve such an important office?

Umar looked for those worthy of the caliphate in the records of the dead, but he forgot Imam Ali (a.s) who was the same self of the Prophet (a.s), the Gate of the City of his Knowledge, Gate of the House of his Wisdom, the most knowledgeable of his community in giving legal decisions, father of his two grandsons, and his supporter at all battles and attitudes! He fully forgot him and did not remember him at all!

Anyhow, Umar thought that he had to appoint a consultative committee and to command it to elect an Imam from among its members. This committee was a dangerous plot made against Imam Ali (a.s)! Imam Kashif al-Ghita’, may Allah have mercy on him, has said: “The Consultative Committee, in its essence and reality, was a real plot and just formal. It was an excellent skill to impose Uthman as a caliph over the Muslims in spite of them.

However, (it was carried out) with a skillful management that brought about to Muslims evil that none could repel!” Umar summoned the members of the Consultative Committee. When they were present before him, he said to them: “Are you all crave after the succession after me?” They fell silent, so he repeated his statement. Al-Zubayr opposed him, saying: “What make us far from it (the caliphate)?