ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books An Introduction To the Political Upheaval At Medina Introduction There was a great upheaval, a veritable revolution at Medina on the death of the Pro- phet. Muhammad had not left the community in any doubt as to the person who was to suc- ceed him in the spiritual and temporal headship of Islam.

He had often, notably at Ghadir Khumm on the occasion of his return journey from the last hajj, declared in unequivocable terms that `Ali would succeed him, and on this occasion, he formally announced his appoint- ment as his successor. But there was a party among his companions who were determined to seize power and place their own man on the throne.

How they achieved their object is fully described in this book: "The Political Upheaval at Medina on the Death of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam." by Aqa Muhammad Sultan Mirza, District and Sessions Judge, (Retd.). The Book is concerned chiefly with analysing and criticising the theory on the basis of which the so-called election was arranged at Saqifah.

This theory is the dogmatic assertion, supported nei- ther by facts nor by logic, that the Prophet of Islam did not designate anyone as his successor. From this they wanted the people to conclude that their meeting at Saqifah to select a successor of the Prophet was not only quite justified but was also absolutely necessary.

All the rewards and allurements that a ruling fiction can offer and all the threats and punishments that are in its power were employed to weave this idea into the warp and woof of the very existence of the Islamic Nation. To give it greater security and immunity from criticism, it has been taken into the fold of religion. But after all, the fact remains that this is purely a question of history. and must be treated as such.

It is the first con- cern of the historians of Islam to describe the constitution of the Islamic State founded by Muhammad; and how the head of a State is to be appointed, is the chief question relating to the constitution of that State. It has been proved in this treatise that the arrangement by which the head of the State was appointed at Saqifah was neither open election nor honest selection.