If there was any fear of harm to the community at large from...

If there was any fear of harm to the community at large from the conclave of the Ansar, then informing to the other important persons too was [1] Al-Kāmil fit-Tārīkh, Vol 2, Page 222 very essential. Were `Abbas, `Ali (a.s), al-Zubayr and other persons from Banū-Hashim not important enough to be taken into confidence.

Instead of surreptitiously sending a message to Abū-Bakr, `Umar could have himself entered the chambers of the Prophet (a.s) and informed the persons there about the gravity of the situation. But his maintaining secrecy about the matter creates doubts about the intentions of the two comrades. When these three persons arrived panting at the Saqifah, the Ansar were completely surprised. With the revelation of their secret conclave, they thought that their plans had gone awry.

The Aws too got a chance to join hands with the Muhajirūn to defeat the plans of the Khazraj. As soon as `Umar arrived there, he viewed the gathering and asked, “Who is the person draped in the quilt?” He was informed that it was Sa`d ibn `Abadah who was presiding over the conclave and was the candidate for the Caliphate. `Umar knit his brows and wanted to say something to the gathering. Abū-Bakr knew his vitriolic temper and stopped him from uttering anything that might harm their own interest.

`Umar sat down saying: “I shall not disobey the dictates of the Caliph of the Prophet (a.s) in a day or two!”[1] Abū-Bakr rose and addressed the gathering: “Allah sent the Prophet (a.s) at a time when idol worship was rampant. He stood up to stop people from worshipping the idols and start worshipping the one and only Allah. But the Arabs did not agree to forsake their ancestral faith.

Allah selected the initial Muhajirūn, who are from the same clan as the Prophet (a.s), to bear witness to his Faith. They bore with patience the hardships inflicted on them by the men of their own clan. At that time, all the people were against this handful of the supporters of the Prophet (a.s). They remained steadfast in their Faith and were the first to worship Allah. These people are the true friends of the Prophet (a.s) and are from his clan.

Who could be more deserving of the Caliphate than they could? Those who dispute with them in this matter will be termed rebellious! O Group of Ansar! Your felicity in the Faith and the precedence in accepting Islam too cannot be denied! Allah made you the supporters of the Prophet of Islam and gave you [1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 2, Page 444 elevated status!