Yaqut al Hamawi...

Yaqut al Hamawi, the famous historian and geographer, following the event of Fadak said: Then, when Umar ibn al Khattab became the caliph and gained victories and the Muslims had secured abundanr wealth (i.e the public treasury satisifed the caliphate's needs), he made his judgement contrary to that of his predecessor, and that was to give it (Fadak) back to the Prophet's heirs. At that time Ali ibn Abi Talib and Abbas ibn Abd al Muttalib disputed Fadak.

📌Ali said that the Holy Prophet (PBH&HF) had bestowed it on Fatima (as) during his life time. Abbas denied and used to say, 'This was in the possesion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF), and I am sharing with his heirs.' They were disputing this with among each other and asked Umar to settle the case: 'Both of you are more conscious and aware to your problem; but I only give it to you.' [See note for this para] Sunni references: Mujam al Buldan, vol 4 p 238-9 Wafa al Wafa, vol 3 p 999 Tadhib al Tadhib, vol 10 p 124 Lisan al Arab, vol 10 p 473 Taj al Arus, vol 7 p 166 [ Note: The last part of the historic event has been inserted after wards to demonstrate the matter of inheritance by the brother of the deceased or the paternal uncle of the deceased when he has no sons.

This problem is a matter of dispute between Islamic Sects. The judicial and the jursipridencial discussion is seperate from our goal. We are only discussing the matter historicaly. Abbas had no claim in this case because he had not shown that he had a share in this property, nor did his descendants consider it to be among their assests even when they had become caliphs and were reigning.

They owed this estate either in their position as Caliphs, or they used to return it to the descendants of Fatima (as) when they had decided to be just governors. ] When Uthman ibn Affan became the caliph after the death fo Umar he granted Fadak to Marwan ibn al Hakam, his cousin, and this was one of the causes of the vindictive feelings among the Muslims towards Uthman, which ended in the revolt against him and his murder.

Sunni references: as Sunan al Kubra, vol 6 p 301 Wafa al Wafa, vol 3 p 1000 Sharah, ibn Al Hadid, vol 1 p 198 al Maarif, al Qutaybah, p 195 al Iqd al Farid, vol 4 p 283, 485 at Tarikh, Abul Fida, vol 1 p 168 Ibn al Wardi, vol 1 p 204 In this way Fadak fell into the possesion of Marwan; he used to sell crops and products for at least ten thousand dinars per year, and if in some years its income decreased, this drop was not very pronounced.

✦ ✦ ✦