As the Sunnis accept that Bibi Fatima did not allow her...

As the Sunnis accept that Bibi Fatima did not allow her husband to give allegiance to Abu Bakr, it naturally means that she herself did not accept Abu Bakr. Not only that; they agree that she died angry with Abu Bakr and Umar; and told 'Ali (a.s.) not to allow them to attend her funeral. Now, the question arises Was her rejection of Abu Bakr right or wrong? It could not be wrong, because Fatima (a.s.) couid not do any wrong.

So, it was right; and that is why 'Ali (a.s.) too could not give allegiance to Abu Bakr. Now, if 'Ali (a.s.) changed his stand after six months as the Sunnis claim, then the question arises: Which of his stands was correct? If, as explained above, his attitude during first six months was correct, then changing it would be wrong, an error and a sin. But 'Ali (a.s.) was free from all errors and sins. Two other events show what attitude 'Ali had towards these persons.

First: During the Shura, when 'Abdur Rahman ibn 'Awf offered Khilafat to 'Ali (a.s.) on the condition that 'Ali (a.s.) would follow (1) the Book of Allah, (2) the tradition of the Prophet and (3) the system of the two shaykhs (i.e., Abu Bakr and 'Umar), 'Ali (a.s.) refused to accept the 3rd condition (i.e., following the system of Abu Bakr and 'Umar). The same condition was put before 'Uthman, who at once agreed and was declared as the 3 rd Khalifah.

Had 'Ali (a.s.) agreed to that condition, it would have been tantamount to confirming their legitimacy. For 'Ali (a.s.) leaving his own chance of Khilafat was easier than showing that they were legal Khalifas. Second: When Ibn Ziyad (Yazid's governor of Kufa) appointed 'Umar ibn Sa'd as commander of the army which was being sent to Karbala, he said to 'Umar ibn Sa'd to fight and kill Imam Husayn (a.s.) unless the Imam gives his allegiance to Yazid.

To this, 'Umar ibn Sa'd replied: "Husayn will not give that allegiance because the heart (nafs) of his father is inside his chest." What does it mean? It means that at least upto the year 61 A.H., friends and foes alike knew that Ali (a.s.) had not given allegiance to those Khalfas. Otherwise, Ibn Ziyad would not have remained silent. Q.34: THE PRESENT IMAM Who is the Imam these days? A. The Imam these days is the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (a.s.). Q. 35: SOME MORE ABOUT THE PRESENT IMAM.

Tell me some more about him. A. Imam Mahdi (a.s.), the twelfth Imam, is alive, but is hidden from our eyes by order of Allah.