ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims The Unwritten Testament of the Messenger of God Islam was the whole raison d’être of Muhammad Mustafa, the blessed Messenger of God. He was sent into this world to promulgate Islam. To spread the message of Islam, he had to fight against impossible odds but he overcame them. He made Islam viable by dint of the supreme sacrifices which he made for it.

Islam's framework and its value-system were to him like a garden which he had nurtured with the blood of his own loved ones. What can be more logical than to assume that Muhammad would wish to take steps which would guarantee the security and survival of Islam for all time? What could be more natural for him than to wish to see Islam become invulnerable?.

He, therefore, thought of safeguarding the future interests of Islam, as far as it was in his power to do so, by writing his will and testament. Can a Muslim imagine that Muhammad Mustafa could neglect such an important duty as writing a will for his umma ? A will, a testament of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, stating with clarity, precision and finality, his orders regarding the transfer of sovereignty to his successor, was the absolute sine qua non of the consolidation of Islam.

Therefore, just before his death, he ordered those companions who were around him to bring pen, paper and ink to him so that he might dictate a manifesto for the umma which would protect it from going astray, and would prevent it from splintering. It was a most reasonable request of a man who was on his deathbed, and who could die any moment. But he met defiance! There was a group of his companions which did not want him to write his will.

Imam Bukhari writes in Volume I of his Sahih: Umar said, 'The Messenger of God is overcome by pain. We do not need any testament. We already have the Book of God, and that is enough for us.'(page 25) Bukhari has recorded the same incident in Volume II of the Sahih in the following words: “The Messenger of God said: 'Bring a piece of paper. I will write something on it for you which will prevent you from going astray.' But the people who were present, began to argue among themselves.

Some of them said that the Messenger of God was talking in delirium.” (p. 121) Here Bukhari has made an attempt to conceal Umar's identity behind the screen of the words some of them.