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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Victim Lost in Saqifah 1-4 Discourse Threelack of Public Satisfaction From Abu Bakr’s Caliphate Historical Documents Ibne Abil Hadeed Motazalli (d. 656) narrates from Abu Bakr Jauhari (d.

323): “When the refusal of Ali to do Bay’at with Abu Bakr became a topic of public discussion and Abu Bakr and Umar became harsher on Ali (a.s.) Umme Mossattah bin Athatha came out to the grave of the Prophet and recited the following verses: Unpleasant, dreadful things have occurred; Had you witnessed, little you would have uttered.

We miss you as the earth is of rain deprived, See your Ummah in confusion, alas, if you had lived.” [1] Amirul Momineen (a.s.), in order to prove the lack of people’s approval for Abu Bakr’s Caliphate and their lack of satisfaction from that rule says as follows: “If you have taken their (people’s) affairs in hand on the basis of consultation, then how it is that the very consultants themselves are absent.”[2] The norm of general popularity is that the approval of people should precede the takeover of affairs.

But even though in Saqifah, only a few had accepted. [3] the government was announced formally and took on legitimacy. After that others were forced to give Bay’at . When one is at power, to get Bay’at from people or any particular person becomes easier. The conditions of Bay’at are freedom, liberty and choice. If these elements are absent the Bay’at is worthless. Bay’at must be the right of masses – to accord.

Bay’at is not the right of rulership to be obtained from the [1] Ibne Abil Hadeed: Sharh Nahjul Balagha, Vol. 2, Pg. 50 & Vol. 6, Pg. 43 [2] Sayyid Razi: Nahjul Balagha, Saying No. 190 [3] Mawardi (died 450) has explained it to be equal to the number of fingers in a hand and he writes: “The Bayyat of Abu Bakr was effected through the unanimity of five persons.” (Mawardi: Al-Ahkaam as-Sulataniyah, Pg. 6) people by force.

“The fundamental discussions regarding Saqifah are about identification of opponents of Abu Bakr. The most important result of it is that the claim of consensus disappears and loses its worth. Names of opponents are not recorded in history. Generally, names of reputed personalities are paid attention to. Prominent personalities come to mind. The common ones glide into oblivion. Those personalities have a following to whom opinion of their role models is acceptable.

Some have been mentioned in groups. For instance, in the early stage Bani Hashim refrained from Bay’at.