ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Saqifa Ali With the Caliphs It remains an irreffragable fact that Ali did not know about the meeting of Ansaar at their veranda (SAQIFA). Abubaker, Omar among the Muhajareen went stealthy to the meeting concluded was also a secret to Ali.

He only knew when the gathering ended and came to the mosque and the first one in the lead was Omar holding a cane of date waving it to either sides calling the people to acknowledge the authority of Abubaker and a clamor of ALLAHO AKBAR (God is greater) had filled the air. He was occupied with the burial of the Prophet's body. He did not come out into open that day.

At the very first sight it appears that they, those who knew the secret, were in the station of animosity with Ali' Therefore, they did not inform him. Abubaker was in the Prophet's house when Omar intimated him the news. They both kept quiet and did not tell Ali. They told only Abu Ubaida and Abu Ubaida also did not tell Ali. The news circulated among these three. What harm was there had Omar informed Ali too? If Omar overlooked to do so, why Abubaker too did the same?

Both ignored; why the third? He followed Omar and Abubaker to the gathering but did not occur to him to inform Ali. The meeting was that of Muslims and the first gathering immediately after the death of the Prophet. Such a meeting at such a serious juncture did require the presence of Ali because of his status among the Muslims and his position with the Prophet. Had he been present there he would have handled the situation what could have been quite a different one.

The strange thing is that he was not even consulted. We do not see any reason in that gathering of Muslims under the banner of Islam and eschewing Ali, the confederate of the Prophet and the first among Muslims except a conspiracy against Ali himself and a plot to serve their own interests not that of Islam. The outcome of the gathering at SAQIFA proves this obvious fact. The course was correct as chosen by them. They kept no trucks with him till every thing was finished and accomplished.

By way of showing goodwill they should have invited him or consulted him. He would have accepted or rejected. They settled the matter among themselves and invited the people collectively and separately to acknowledge the succession of Abubaker to the Prophet. They knew it was a compaign fraught with dread and risk with those who supported Mi.