ভূমিকা

Fatima-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, as also Fadak, which having

been acquired without the use of force, the Prophet had given her for

her maintenance, in accordance with the commands of Allah. [1]

Yet, Fadak became an arena for political games when Abu Bakr

refused to transfer it to Fatima. It is appropriate here to speak about

Fadak before clarifying the corresponding events which occurred in its

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 conquered

Khaibar, the Jews decided to yield to the Messenger of Allah without

he expelled its inhabitants to Syria. Umar took possession of the

Since the reason that motivated the inhabitants of Fadak to transfer its

possession to Allah's Messenger was fear of the Muslims after they

had conquered Khaibar, this property became the sole possession of

the Prophet. This conforms to Allah's decree in the Holy Quran: "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

There was no dispute between the Muslims that Fadak belonged to

the Prophet (S); rather, the disagreement was related to how much

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

property of Allah's Messenger (S), it is appropriate to inquire as to

what he did with it? But the answer is clear. He granted it to Fatima (A)