Fatima's (SA) 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!!!
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Taken from : Fatima (SA) The Gracious by Abu Muhammad Ordoni
