Chapter 49:

Fatima's Protest Against Abu Bakr's Actions

Fatima (A.S.) felt grieved by Abu Bakr's actions, and was so displeased with him that when she knew of his attempt to seize Fadak, she accompanied a group of women to the mosque. There she sat down and delivered the following speech:

'Praise be to Allah for that

which He bestowed (upon us);

And thanks be to Him for all that

which He inspired; and

commended in His Name for

that which He Provided:

Form prevalent favors which

He created,

And abundant benefactions

which He offered and perfect

grants which He presented;

(such benefactions) that

their number is much too

plentiful to compute;

Bounties too vast to

measure;

Their limit was too distant

to realize;

He recommended to them (His

creatures) to gain more (of

His benefaction) by being

grateful for their continuity;

He ordained Himself praiseworthy

by giving generously to His

creatures;

I bear witness that there

is no God but Allah Who is

One without partner, a

statement which sincere

devotion is made to be its

interpretation;

hearts guarantee its con-

tinuation, and illuminated

in the minds is its sensibility.

He Who can not be perceived

with vision; neither be

described with tongues; nor can

imagination surround His state.

He originated things but not

from anything that existed be-

fore them, and created them with-

out examples to follow. Rather,

He created them with His might

and dispersed them according to

His will; not for a need did He

create them; nor for a benefit

(for Him) did He shape them,

But to establish His wisdom,

Bring attention to His obedi-

ence, manifest His might, lead

His creatures to humbly vene-

rate Him, and to exalt His

decrees. He then made the

reward for His obedience,

and punishment for his dis-

obedience, so as to protect

His creatures from His

Wrath and amass them into His

Paradise.

I too bear witness that my

Father, Muhammad, is His

Slave and Messenger, Whom

He chose prior to sending

him, named him before

sending him; when creatures

were still concealed in that

which was transcendental,

guarded from that which was

appalling, and associated with the

termination and nonexistence.

For Allah the Exalted knew that

which was to follow, comprehended

that which will come to pass,

And realized the place of every

event.

Allah has sent him (Muhammad)

as perfection for

His commands, a resolution to

accomplish His rule, and an

implementation of the decrees

of His Mercy. So he found the

nations to vary in their faiths;

Obsessed by their fires,

Worshipping their idols,

And denying Allah despite

their knowledge of Him.

Therefore, Allah illuminated

their darkness with my

Father, Muhammad,

uncovered obscurity from their

hearts, and cleared the clouds

from their insights. He

revealed guidance among the people;

So he delivered them from

being led astray, led them

away from misguidance, guided

them to the proper religion, and

called them to the straight

path.

Allah then chose to recall him

back in mercy, love and pre-

ference. So, Muhammad

is in comfort from the burden of

this world, he is surrounded with

devoted angels, the satisfaction

of the Merciful Lord, and the

nearness of the powerful King.

So may the praise of Allah be

upon my Father, His Prophet,

Trusted one, the chosen one

from among His creatures,

and His sincere friend, and

may peace and blessings of

Allah be upon him.'

Fatima (A.S.) then turned to the crowd and said:

"Surely you are Allah's slaves

at His command Prohibition;

You are the bearers of His

religion and revelation;

You are Allah's trusted ones

with yourselves;

and His messengers to the

nations.

Amongst you does He have

righteous authority;

A covenant He brought unto

you, and an heir He left to

guard you; That is

The eloquent book of Allah;

The truthful Quran;

The brilliant light;

The shining beam;

Its insights are indis-

putable; Its secrets are

revealed; Its indications

are manifest; and its fol-

lowers are blessed by it.

(The Quran) leads its

adherents to goodwill; and

Hearing it leads to salvation;

with it are the bright divine

authorities achieved, His

manifest determination

acquired,

His prohibited decrees

avoided; His manifest evidence

recognized; His satisfying proofs

made apparent, His permissions

granted, and His laws written.

So Allah made belief to be

purification for you from poly-

theism.

He made Prayer,

An exaltation for you

from conceit.

Alms -A purification for the

soul and a (cause of) growth

in subsistence.

Fasting an implantation of

devotion.

Pilgrimage -A construction

of religion.

Justice -A harmony of the hearts;

obeying us (Ahlul-Bayt)-

Management of the nation.

Our leadership (Ahlul-Bayt),

Safeguard from disunity.

Jihad (struggle)-

a strengthening of Islam.

Patience -A helping course

for deserving (divine) reward.

Ordering goodness (Amr Bil Maruf)-

Public welfare.

Kindness to the parents-

A safeguard from wrath.

Maintaining close relations with

one's kin -A cause for a longer life and

multiplying the number of descend-

ants.

Retaliation (Qesas)-For

sparing blood (souls).

Fulfillment of vows-subjecting

oneself to mercy.

Completion of weights and

measures -A cause for preventing

the neglect of others' rights.

Forbiddance of drinking wines

an exaltation from atrocity.

Avoiding slander -A veil from curse.

Abandoning theft-a reason

for deserving chastity.

Allah has also prohibited polytheism

so that one can devote himself to

His Lordship.

Therefore;

Fear Allah as He should be

feared, and die not except in a

state of Islam;

Obey Allah in that which He

has commanded you to do and

that which He has forbidden,

for surely those truly fear

among His servants, who have knowledge.'

Lady Fatima Zahra (A.S.) then added:

'O People!

Be informed that I am Fatima,

and my father is Muhammad

I say that repeatedly and initiate

it continually; I say not what

I say mistakenly, nor do I do

what I do aimlessly.

Now hath come unto you an

Apostle from amongst yourselves;

It grieves him that you should

perish;

Ardently anxious is he over you;

To the believers he is most

kind and merciful.

Thus, if you identify and recog-

nize him, you shall realize

that he is my father and not

the father of any of your women;

the brother of my cousin (Ali

(A.S.)) rather than any of your men.

What an excellent identity he was,

may the peace and blessings of

Allah be upon him and his descendants.

Thus, he propagated the Message,

by coming out openly with the

warning, and while inclined away

from the path of the polytheists,

(whom he) struck their strength and

seized their throats, while he

invited (all) to the way of his

Lord with wisdom and beautiful

preaching

He destroyed idols, and

defeated heroes, until their

group fled and turned their

backs.

So night revealed its dawn;

righteousness uncovered its

genuineness; the voice of the

religious authority spoke out

loud; the evil discords were

silenced; The crown of hypo-

crisy was diminished; the

tightening of infidelity

and desertion were untied,

So you spoke the statement

of devotion amongst a band

of starved ones; and you were

on the edge of a hole of fire;

(you were) the drink of the

thirsty one; the opportunity

of the desiring one; the fire

brand of him who passes in haste;

the step for feet; you used to

drink from the water gathered

on roads; eat jerked meat.

(Lady Fatima (A.S.) was stating their lowly situation

before Islam)

You were despised outcasts

always in fear of abduction

from those around you.

Yet, Allah rescued you through

my father, Muhammad

after much ado, and after he

was confronted by mighty men,

the Arab beasts, and the demons

of the people of the Book

Who, whenever they ignited the

fire of war, Allah extinguished it;

and whenever the thorn of the

devil appeared, or a mouth of

the polytheists opened wide in

defiance, he would

strike its discords with his

brother (Ali, (A.S.)), who comes

not back until he treads its

wing with the sole of his feet,

and extinguishes its flames

with his sword.

(Ali is) diligent in Allah's

affair, near to the Messenger

of Allah, A master among Allah's

worshippers, setting to work

briskly, sincere in his advice,

earnest and exerting himself

(in service to Islam);

While you were calm, gay, and

feeling safe in your comfort-

able lives, waiting for us to

meet disasters, awaiting the

spread of news, you fell back

during every battle, and took

to your heels at times of

fighting. Yet, When Allah

chose His Prophet from the

dwell of His prophets, and

the abode of His sincere

(servants); The thorns of

hypocrisy appeared on you,

the garment of faith became

worn out, The misguided

ignorant(P.B.U.H.) spoke out,

the sluggish ignorant came

to the front and brayed.

The he camel of the vain

wiggled his tail in your

courtyards and the your

courtyards and the Devil

stuck his head from its

place of hiding and called

upon you, he found you respon-

sive to his invitation,

and observing his deceits.

He then aroused you and

found you quick (to answer

him), and invited you to wrath, therefore; you branded

other than your camels and

proceeded to other than your

drinking places. Then while

the era of the Prophet was

still near, the gash was still

wide, the scar had not yet healed,

and the Messenger was not yet

buried.

A (quick) undertaking as you

claimed, aimed at preventing

discord (trial),

Surely, they have fallen into

trial already! And indeed Hell

surrounds the unbelievers.

How preposterous! What an idea!

What a falsehood!

For Allah's Book is still

amongst you, its affairs

are apparent; its rules

are manifest; its signs

are dazzling; its restrictions

are visible, and its commands

are evident. Yet, indeed you have

casted it behind your backs!

What!

Do you detest it?

Or according to something

else you wish to rule?

Evil would be the exchange for

the wrongdoers! And if anyone

desires a religion other than

Islam (submission to Allah), it

never will it be accepted from him;

And in the hereafter, he will be in

the ranks of those who have lost.

Surely you have not waited until

its stampede seized, and it became

obedient. You then started

arousing its flames,

instigating its coal,

complying with the call of

the misled devil, quenching

the light of the manifest reli-

gion, and extinguished the

light of the sincere Prophet.

You concealed sips on froth and

proceeded towards his (the Prophet)

kin and children in swamps and

forests (meaning you plot against

them in deceitful ways), but we

are patient with you as if we are

being notched with knives and

stung by spearheads in our

abdomens, Yet-now you claim-

that there is not inheritance

for us!

What!

"Do they then seek after a

judgment of (the Days of)

ignorance?

But How, for a people whose

faith is assured, can give

better judgment than Allah?

Don't you know?

Yes, indeed it is obvious to

you that I am his daughter.

O Muslims!

Will my inheritance be usurped?

O son of Abu Quhafa!

Where is it in the Book of

Allah that you inherit your

father and I do not inherit

mine?

Surely you have come up with

an unprecedented thing.

Do you intentionally abandon

the Book of Allah and cast it

behind your back? Do you not

read where it says:

And Sulaiman inherited Dawood'?

And when it narrates the story of

Zakariya and says:

'So give me an heir as from

thyself (One that) will inherit

me, and inherit the posterity of

Yaqoob'

And:

'But kindred by hood have prior

rights against each other in the

Book of Allah'

And:

Allah (thus) directs you as

regards your children's (inheritance)

to the male, a portion equal to

that of two females'

And,

If he leaves any goods, that

he make a bequest to parents

and next of kin, according to

reasonable usage; this is due

from the pious ones.'

You claim that I have no

share! And that I do not

inherit my father! What!

Did Allah reveal a (Quranic)

verse regarding you,

from which He excluded my father?

Or do you say:

'These (Fatima and her

father) are the people of two

faiths, they do not inherit

each other?!' Are we not, me

and my father, a people

adhering to one faith?

Or is it that you have more

knowledge about the specifi-

cations and generalizations

of the Quran than my father

and my cousin (Imam Ali)?

So, here you are! Take it!

(Ready with) its nose rope

and saddled! But if shall

encounter you on the Day of

Gathering;(thus) what a wonder-

ful judge is Allah, a claimant

is Muhammad, and a day is the

Day of Rising.

At the time of the Hour shall

the wrongdoers lose; and

it shall not benefit you to

regret (your actions) then!

For every Message, there is

a time limit; and soon shall

ye know who will be inflicted

with torture that will humiliate

him, and who will be confronted

by an everlasting punishment.

(Fatima then turned towards the Ansars and said:)

O you people of intellect!

The strong supporters of the

nation! And those who embraced

Islam; What is this short-coming

in defending my right? And

what is this slumber (while you

see) injustice (being done

toward me)?

Did not the Messenger of Allah,

my father, used to

say:

A man is upheld (remembered)

by his children'?

O how quick have you violated

(his orders)?!

How soon have you plotted

against us? But you still

are capable (of helping me in)

my attempt, and powerful (to help

me) in that which I request and

(in) my pursuit (of it).

Or do you say:

"Muhammad has perished;"

Surely this is a great calamity;

Its damage is excessive

its injury is great,

Its wound (is much too deep)

to heal.

The Earth became darkened

with his departure; the stars

eclipsed for his calamity;

hopes were seized;

mountains submitted;

sanctity was violated, and

holiness was encroached upon

after his death. Therefore,

this, by Allah, is the great

affliction, and the grand

calamity; there is not an

affliction-which is the like

of it; nor will there be a

sudden misfortune (as surprising

as this).

The Book of Allah-excellent in

praising him-announced in the

courtyards (of your houses) in

the place where you spend your

evenings and mornings;

A call,

A cry,

A recitation, and (verses)

in order:

It had previously came upon

His (Allah's) Prophets

and Messengers; (for it is)

A decree final, and a pre-

destination fulfilled:

"Muhammad is not but an Apostle:

Many were the apostles that passed

away before him. If he

died or was slain, will ye

then turn back on your heels?

If any did turn back on his

heels, not the least harm will

he do to Allah; but Allah (on

the other hand) will swiftly

reward those who (serve Him)

with gratitude."

O you people of reflection;

will I be usurped the inheritance

of my father while you hear and

see me?! (And while) You are sitting

and gathered around me? You hear

my call, and are included in the

(news of the) affair?

(But) You are numerous and well

equipped! (You have) the means and the

power, and the weapons and

the shields. Yet, the call

reaches you but you do not answer;

the cry comes to you

but you do not come to help?

(This) While you are characterized

y struggle, known for goodness

and welfare, the selected group

(which was chosen), and the

best ones chosen by the Messenger

for us, Ahlul-Bayt.

You fought the Arabs,

bore with pain and exhaustion,

struggled against the nations, and

resisted their heroes.

We were still, so were you in

ordering you, and you in obeying

us. So that Islam became triumphant,

the accomplishment of the days

came near, the fort of polytheism

was subjected, the outburst of

was subjected, the outburst

of infidelity calmed down, and the

system of religion was well-ordered.

Thus, (why have you) become con-

fused after clearness? Conceal

matters after announcing them?

Turned on your heels after daring?

Associated (others with Allah) after

believing?

Will you not fight people who

violated their oaths? Plotted

to expel the Apostle and became

aggressive by being the first (to

assault) you?

Do ye fear them?

Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should

more justly fear, if you believe!

Nevertheless,

I see that you are inclined

to easy living; dismissed he

who is more worthy of guardianship

(Ali (A.S.)); You secluded yourselves

with meekness and dismissed that

which you accepted. Yet, if you show

ingratitude, ye and all on earth

together, yet, Allah free of all

wants, worthy of all praise.

Surely I have said all that I

have said with full knowledge

that you intent to forsake me,

and knowing the betrayal that

your hearts sensed. But

it is the state of soul,

the effusion of fury,

the dissemination of (what is)

the chest and the presentation

of the proof. Hence,

Here it is!

Bag it (leadership and) put

it on the back of an ill she- camel, which has a thin hump,

with everlasting grace, marked

with the wrath of Allah, and the

blame of ever (which leads to)

the Fire of (the wrath of Allah

kindled (to a blaze), that which

doth mount (right) to the hearts;

For,

Allah witnesses what you do,

and soon will the unjust assailants

know what vicissitudes their affairs

will take! And I am the daughter

of a warner (the Prophet)

to you against a severe punish-

ment. So, act and so will we,

and wait, and we shall wait.'

(The end of Lady Fatima's speech.)

It appears from recorded historical events, that Lady Fatima (A.S.) was successful at the beginning in persuading Abu Bakr to hand back Fadak to her; listen to part of a speech he (according to some historians) delivered after hearing Fatima's speech. He said:

"O daughter of the Messenger of Allah... Surely the
Prophet is your father, not anyone else's, the brother
of your husband, not any other man's; he surely preferred
him over all his friends and (Ali) supported him in every important matter, no one loves you save the lucky and no one hates you save the wretched. You are the blessed progeny of Allah's Messenger, the chosen ones, our guides to goodness our path to Paradise, and you-the best of women-and the daughter of the best of prophets, truthful is your sayings, excelling in reason. You shall not be driven back from your right... But I surely heard your father saying: 'We the, group of prophets do not inherit, nor are we inherited.'

Yet, this is my situation and property, it is yours (if you wish); it shall not be concealed from you, nor will it be stored away from you. You are the Mistress of your father's nation, and the blessed tree of your descendants. Your property shall not be usurped against your will nor can your name be defamed. Your judgment shall be executed in all that which I possess. This, do you think that I violate your father's (will)?"

Fatima then refuted Abu Bakr's claim that the Prophet had stated that prophets cannot be inherited, and said:

"Glory be to Allah!! Surely Allah's Messenger did not abandon Allah's Book nor did he violate His commands. Rather, he followed its decrees and adhered to its chapters. So do you unite with treachery justifying your acts with fabrications? Indeed this-after his departure-is similar to the disasters which were plotted against him during his lifetime. But behold! This is Allah's Book, a just judge and a decisive speaker, saying:

'One that will (truly) inherit Me, and inherit the posterity of Yaqub,' (19:6)

and

'And Sulaiman inherited Dawood.' (27: 16)

Thus, He (Glory be to Him) made clear that which He made share of all heirs, decreed from the amounts of inheritance, allowed for males and females, and eradicated all doubts and ambiguities (pertaining to this issue which existed with the) bygones.

Nay!

But your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, but (for me) patience is most fitting against that which ye assert; it is Allah (alone) whose help can be sought."

It is apparent that Abu Bakr chanced the mode with which he addressed Lady Fatima (A.S.) after delivering her speech. Listen to

his following speech; which is his reply to Fatima's just reported speech.

Abu Bakr said:

"Surely Allah and His Apostle are truthful, and so has his (the Prophet's) daughter told the truth. Surely you are the source of wisdom, the element of faith, and the sole authority. May Allah not refute your righteous argument, nor invalidate your decisive speech. But these are the Muslims between us-who have entrusted me with leadership, and it was according to their satisfaction that 1 received what 1 have. I am not being arrogant, autocratic, or selfish, and they are my witnesses."

Upon hearing Abu Bakr speak of the people's support for him, Lady Fatima Zahra (A.S.)

turned towards them and said:

"O people, who rush towards uttering falsehood and are indifferent to disgraceful and losing actions!

Do you not earnestly seek to reflect upon the Quran, or are your hearts isolated with locks? But on your hearts is the stain of the evil, which you committed; it has seized your hearing and your sight, evil is that which you justified cursed is that which you reckoned, and wicked is what you have taken for an exchange! You shall, by Allah, find bearing it (to be a great) burden, and its consequence disastrous. (That is) on the day when the cover is removed and appears to you what is behind it of wrath. When you will be confronted by Allah with that which you could never have expected, there will perish, there and then, those who stood on falsehoods." (the end).

Although parts of Abu Bakr's speeches cannot be verified with authentic evidence, and despite the fact that we have already mentioned part of the actual speech, which Abu Bakr delivered after Lady Fatima's arguments, it appears certain that Abu Bakr

was finally persuaded to submit Fadak to her.

Nevertheless, when Fatima was leaving Abu Bakr's house, Umar suddenly appeared and exclaimed:

"What is it that you hold in your hand?"

Abu Bakr replied: 'A decree I have written for Fatima in which I assigned Fadak and her father's inheritance to her."

Umar then said: "With what will you spend on the Muslims if the Arabs decide to fight you?!"

Umar then seized the decree and tore it up!!!