ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fatima The Gracious Abu Bakr Versus Fatima az-Zahra (sa) Fatima az-Zahra (sa), the only surviving child of the Prophet, his most beloved, claimed inheritance of the property which could be apportioned to her in the lands of Medina and in Khaibar, also known as Fadak, which having been acquired without the use of force, the Prophet (S) had given her for her maintenance, in accordance with the commands of Allah (SwT).

[^1] Yet, Fadak became an arena for political games when Abu Bakr refused to transfer it to Fatima az-Zahra (sa). It is appropriate here to speak about Fadak before clarifying the corresponding events which occurred in its regard: Fadak was a village located at a two-day walking distance from Medina.

Apparently, it was inhabited by Jews who refused to submit to Islam at the beginning, but when the later realized the might of the Muslims, especially after they, led by ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib (as) conquered Khaibar, the Jews decided to yield to the Messenger of Allah (S) without fighting. So, he took possession of the village. The village was valued at 100,000 dirhams by Umar's appraisers when he expelled its inhabitants to Syria.

Umar took possession of the village and paid half of the price to the Jews. Fadak Becomes the Prophet's (as) Personal Property Since the reason that motivated the inhabitants of Fadak to transfer its possession to Allah's Messenger (as) was fear of the Muslims after they had conquered Khaibar, this property became the sole possession of the Prophet (S).

This conforms to Allah's decree in the Holy Qur’an: "What Allah has bestowed on His Apostle (and taken away) from them for this (which) ye made no expedition with either calvary or camelry: But Allah gives power to His Apostles over any He pleases: and Allah Has power over all things." (59: 6) There was no dispute between the Muslims that Fadak belonged to the Prophet (S); rather, the disagreement was related to how much Fadak had the Jews granted him as part of the peace settlement.

Thus, it is strange to hear Abu Bakr narrate a tradition from the Prophet saying: "We the group of Prophets do not inherit, nor are we inherited; what we leave is for alms!!" Because, had the Prophet actually said so (which is doubted), how did Abu Bakr understand from this saying that Fadak did not belong to him. There is clear contradiction in Abu Bakr's arguments.