Ali replied...

Ali replied, "I am not afraid of these threats, and so long as the last breath of life remains in me I will go on urging my rights". In short, a good many altercations took place on that day between Ali and the companions of the Prophet. In the end, Ali came back without having made the BAI'A to ABU BAKR, in fact to none of the first three Caliphs.

The Sunni differ on this point; some say that he made the BAI'A after forty days, and the majority of them say that he did not make the BAI'A to ABU BAKR so long as FATIMA lived.

The fact of UMAR'S collecting firewood the intention of setting fire to the house of FATIMA is mentioned by almost all historians, as also FATIMA'S plaintive cry, which brings to mind, by way of contrast, the joyful exclamation of gratitude of A'ISHA, daughter of ABU BAKR, when presented by UMAR with jewels and money over and above her share of the GHANIMA.

On one such occasion she exclaimed, "How deeply I am under a debt of gratitude to UMAR, who has done so many kind things for me since the death of the Prophet (P). The explanation for these extra favors given by UMAR was that they were due to her on account of the fact that the Prophet (P) loved her more than any other wife. But the Prophet's love proved of no avail to his daughter FATIMA whom, according to A'ISHA herself, the Prophet (P) had loved more than anyone else.

But logic and consistency is conspicuous by its absence in the conduct of actors of this coup. UMAR tried to obtain the BAI'A from SA'D IBN IBADA, but he sternly refused. BASHIR IBN SA'D, who had contributed so much to the success of ABU BAKR on the day of the SAQIFA, advised UMAR and ABU BAKR not to insist on taking the BAI'A from SA'D IBN IBADA after his refusal, as his children and the whole tribe of KHAZRAJ would fight on his side, and much bloodshed would ensue.

They therefore left him alone; but things were made hot for him, and he went to Syria. The tribes of BANU OMAYYA, and BANU ZUHRA refused to pay homage and gathered with their leaders, UTHMAN and SA'D IBN ABI WAQQAS, in the mosque. UMAR came with a party, demanding to know why they were sitting there, and asking them to make the BAI'A to ABU BAKR. Unable to resist force, they did as they were asked. But BANU HASHIM all went away without making the BAI'A.

It might be said by some on their behalf that ht use of force was unfortunate but unavoidable, as no ruler or government can tolerate opposition and is therefore justified in using force to put it down.