Shi'a view of Abu Bakr
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This article is about the Shia view of Abu Bakr, the first Sunni Caliph.
Introduction
Shia have a very unfavorable view of Abu Bakr. They believe he and Umar conspired to take over power over the Muslim nation after the death of Muhammad – a coup d'état against Ali.Hijra — 620
Shi'a do not view Abu Bakr's being with Muhammad in the cave as a meritorious act. They argue that being there did not constitute a merit in itself, as any merit should be derived from his action and behavior there. Then, they quote Sunni sources:
- ''Narrated Abu Bakr: I was with the Prophet in the Cave. When I raised my head, I saw the feet of the people. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! If some of them should look down, they will see us." The Prophet said, "O Abu Bakr, be quiet! (For we are) two and Allah is the Third of us." Sahih Bukhari [58.259]
Some Sunnis say that the fact that Abu Bakr was referred to as the "Companion" (Sahib) of the Prophet in the Cave, in the Qur'an, shows his high status. However, Shi'a claim that this word does not represent a high status at all. In the Qur'an, Yusuf (Joseph) talks to two disbelievers in prison who are referred to as his "Companions" for the sole reason that they are in close physical proximity to him, clearly showing that the word "Companion" in the Qur'an does not represent a high status, but just may describe the physical proximity of someone to another person.
Abu Bakr returned to Medinah after the news of Muhammad's death reached him. At that point, Umar stopped threatening people with death if they spread the news of Muhammad's death. While Abu Bakr was in the house wear Muhammad's body was kept, accompanied with the rest of Banu Hashim, Umar informed him of the meeting of Saqifah.
Shi'a believe that Abu Bakr leaving the house without informing anyone of the meeting, proves that he went there in bad faith.
Abu Bakr and Fatimah
Shi'a criticize the Sunnis for refusing taking part in the dispute between Muhammad's only then living child, Fatimah and Abu Bakr, a dispute that ended with Fatimah becoming angry with Abu Bakr and refusing to talk with him for the rest of her life, six months, according to the most reliable Sunni sources including Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and her being buried in a secret location, still unknown, instead of with her father.
Caliphar — Persecution of Shi'a
They believe the armies Abu Bakr sent against the Muslims that did not want to give him Zakat was in line with his Coup d'état. There where many Muslims that refused to give allegiance to Abu Bakr, yet alone give him taxes, but they did not deny the need to pay Zakat, nor any other Muslim principle.As soon as Abu Bakr came into power, he sent against them the former champlion general of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, Muhammads former arch enemy: Khalid ibn Walid.
Shi'a refer to several hadith that mention three conditions where a Muslims blood may be shed, and not paying Zakat is not one of them.
Khalid ibn Walid killed several people, including Malik ibn Nuwaira. Sunni believe that he "married" his wife that same night. However, Shi'a dismiss that as nonsense, stating it was rape, since it is impossible to marry before the end of the iddah period. Khalid was criticized by Umar for that action, but Abu Bakr sided with him and protected him. Shi'a conclude that when Umar became Caliph, and noticed that Khalid engaged in the same behavior, Umar fired him from his position.
Thus, Shi'a have an extremely dim view of Abu Bakr during this period, viewing him as a persecutor of Shi'as, employing the former arch-enemies of Islam as his highest generals, and protecting him when they committed murder and rape.
End of life — 634
At the time of his death, Shia quote Abu Bakr saying:
- '' "This is a testament of Abu Bakr, the successor of the Prophet of God, to the believers and the Muslims... I have appointed as ruler over you 'Umar b. al-Khattab, so listen to him and obey him. I have not made him your ruler except for [your] good." The Origins and Early Development of Shi`a Islam [p.58-079]
Legacy
Shi'a believe that the entire history of Abu Bakr's life was Whitewashed by Umayyad propaganda machine, fabricating hadith where possible and giving black propaganda spins to the parts that where regarded as established history. But Shi'a concluded that even through their endeavour to obscure the truth, it remains evident in the main events that are recoqnized as authentic by both Shi'a and Sunnis:- Fatimah completely broke her relations with Abu Bakr the same week Muhammad died.
- Rather than being buried with her father, Fatimah was buried in a still secret location.
- Ali refused to give alligance to Abu Bakr at least as long as Muhammads only child lived.
- Ali did not support Abu Bakr in the attack of Muslim, who were declared appostates on the sole issue of not paying taxes to a man they did not regard as their Caliph.
See also
References
External links
- http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_151_200/are_shias_kaafirs.htm
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