Know—and may Allah enable you to drink from the cup of wisdom—that my Lord has given me detailed knowledge about Khilafah, and I have arrived at the truth in the manner of a meticulous researcher. My Lord has made it clear to me that as-Siddiq [Abu Bakr], al-Faruq [‘Umar], and ‘Uthman were righteous and faithful, and that they were among those chosen by Allah and favoured with His bounties. Many of those endowed with spiritual insight had attested to their virtues. They left their homes for the sake of Allah and entered the battlefield in every campaign, paying no heed to the scorching heat of summer or the cold of winter nights. They rushed eagerly for the sake of the Faith like one in the prime of youth. They inclined neither towards relatives nor non-relatives and left them for the sake of Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Their deeds carry a sweet scent and their actions are fragrant. All this points to the verdant orchards of their high spiritual state and the blooming gardens of their good deeds. From the scent of this breeze we can understand their true character, and in its luminescence is reflected the light of their beings. Therefore, try to recognise their essence from the pleasant fragrance they have left behind. Do not hastily follow mere conjecture and rely on some limited narratives, for they are full of venom and exaggeration and cannot be trusted. Many of these tales are like a strong gust of wind or a flash of lightning that blinds the eye. Fear Allah and do not follow these narratives. Do not be like those who love and cherish the world and forsake and deny the Hereafter. Do not abandon the path of piety and compassion. Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge and be not of the transgressors. Know that the Hour is nigh and the Master is watching. His measure will be set up for you and you shall reap what you have sown. Do not wrong yourself, and be of the righteous.
I will not debate with you today about the traditions as they are like a bottomless vast ocean; only those who are gifted with insight can seek out precious pearls from them. People often debate historical issues, yet very few noble souls benefit from them. I convey to you what I have learned from my Lord, hoping that He will guide you to the hidden truth. I have been informed that the rightly guided Khulafa’ were of the righteous and that whoever offends them offends Allah and is counted among the transgressors; that whoever insults them and utters obscenities in a furious rage, and does not refrain from cursing and defaming them, and instead ascribes to them all manner of atrocity, cruelty and hostility, is only harming himself and wars against his Lord. The Companions (ra) remain unblemished by their aspersions. Do not, therefore, dare to tread these paths for they lead to ruin. Everyone who has cursed them should repent of his sins and be fearful of Allah and the Day of Reckoning. They should dread the hour that will overtake the sinners and expose the transgressors. By Allah, He has made the two Sheikhs, and the third who is known as Dhun-Nurain [the Possessor of Two Lights; i.e. ‘Uthman], the gates of Islam and the foremost amongst the army of Khairul-Anam [the Best of Mankind]. Whosoever rejects their status, and disregards the proof of their greatness, and attempts to disgrace them instead of honouring them, and insults and curses them, I fear for him a tragic end and the loss of his faith.
Those who insult and curse the Khulafa’ and utter calumnies against them grow hard-hearted and become the target of Divine wrath. I have seen this happen on numerous occasions and I declare openly that bearing hatred towards these Chiefs [of faith] is a sure way of depriving oneself of divine blessings. Whoever harbours animosity towards them shuts upon himself the gates of mercy and forgiveness. The doors of knowledge and Divine realisation will not be open to him. Allah will leave him abandoned in the temptations of the world and its carnal passions. He will fall into the whims of the self and its pitfalls and Allah will include him among the outcast and the rejected. Indeed, they [the rightly guided Khulafa’] were persecuted in the same way as the Prophets were, and insulted in the same way as the Messengers, and thus they truly became the heirs of the Prophets. They deserve the reward of being the Imams of all Muslims on the Day of Judgement. This is because if a true believer is cursed and denounced as if he were a disbeliever, for no fault of his own, and is subjected to unjustified abuse and insult, he takes on the likeness of the Prophets and the elects of God. He is rewarded as the Prophets were rewarded and receives compensation as the Messengers did. There is no doubt that they [the Khulafa’] were the foremost in following Khairul-Anbiya’ [the Best of Prophets]. Allah, the Almighty, the High, has praised them as the ‘Exalted Nation’. He aided them with the Holy Spirit as He aids all His chosen ones. The sign of their truthfulness and purity shone like the brightest of lights. It is abundantly clear that they were among the truthful. Allah was pleased with them and they were pleased with Him. He gave them what He did not give to any other. Were they then hypocrites? Certainly not. Their good deeds were clear for all to see and they were pure. Try as one might to search for any wrongdoing on their part, no blemish can be found to stain them, for he who attempts to find a fault or failing in them will be unsuccessful.
By Allah, they were among those forgiven by the Almighty. The Quran praises and lauds them, guaranteeing them the glad tidings of gardens beneath which streams flow. It declares that they are ‘those on the right hand’, ‘the foremost’, ‘the chosen ones’, and ‘the righteous’. It invokes peace and blessings on them and bears witness that they were accepted by Allah. They were undoubtedly the people who abandoned their loved ones for the sake of Islam and courted the hostility of their people for the sake of the Best of Mankind. They rushed into danger to please their Lord, the All-Knowing. The Quran bears witness that they gave precedence to their Protector and cherished His Holy Book with the highest reverence. They spent their nights worshipping their Lord, prostrating and standing. So what decisive proof do you possess in opposition to the Quran? O ye who doubt! Doubt cannot be equal to certainty. Do you stand by what has been refuted by the Holy Quran? Provide us with proof if you have any and do not follow the suspicions of those who harbour doubts.
By Allah! They were men who courted the paths of death to help the Best of all Creatures. For the sake of Allah, they abandoned their parents and progeny, and even fought them with the sword. They engaged in combat with their loved ones and cut off their heads. They surrendered their lives and properties to Allah. Despite these tremendous sacrifices, they wept and regretted that their deeds were not enough. They never knew deep or restful sleep. For the sake of necessity, they would rest with only their eyes closed for a short while. They never enjoyed the luxuries of life. How, then, is it possible to maintain that they perpetrated oppression, coercion and injustice? The fact is that they entirely forsook this mundane worldly existence and surrendered themselves to God. They were the ones who effaced themselves in the love of Allah.
O enemies! How dare you insult them! What is this conceited line of thinking which bares not even an iota of modesty? Fear Allah and seek clemency and forbearance from Him. You shall surely be questioned regarding that which you have accused them of without knowledge and without proof. Look not at whether my words are eloquent nor the bitterness of my tone, rather look at the proofs that I have presented before you and examine them thoroughly for yourselves. You have followed the conjectures of those who entertained ill will and abandoned the Book that grants truth and certainty. Surely, when one disregards the truth, one falls into manifest error. How is it possible to attribute to the Companions of the Prophet (sas) things which contradict piety and its ways, and contravene purity and its paths, while the Quran bears witness to the fact that Allah had endeared the Faith to them and had made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience hateful to them. The Quran did not brand a single one of them a disbeliever, not even when they were embroiled in disputes and conflicts. Rather, it called each party of them Muslims and stated:
وَاِنۡ طَآئِفَتٰنِ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ اقۡتَتَلُوۡا فَاَصۡلِحُوۡا بَیۡنَہُمَا ۚ فَاِنۡۢ بَغَتۡ اِحۡدٰٮہُمَا عَلَی الۡاُخۡرٰی فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِیۡ تَبۡغِیۡ حَتّٰی تَفِیۡٓءَ اِلٰۤی اَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ ۚ فَاِنۡ فَآءَتۡ فَاَصۡلِحُوۡا بَیۡنَہُمَا بِالۡعَدۡلِ وَاَقۡسِطُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ الۡمُقۡسِطِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾ اِنَّمَا الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ اِخۡوَۃٌ فَاَصۡلِحُوۡا بَیۡنَ اَخَوَیۡکُمۡ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۱﴾ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا یَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٌ مِّنۡ قَوۡمٍ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنُوۡا خَیۡرًا مِّنۡہُمۡ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّنۡ نِّسَآءٍ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُنَّ خَیۡرًا مِّنۡہُنَّ ۚ وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوۡا بِالۡاَلۡقَابِ ؕ بِئۡسَ الِاسۡمُ الۡفُسُوۡقُ بَعۡدَ الۡاِیۡمَانِ ۚ وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ یَتُبۡ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اجۡتَنِبُوۡا کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ ۫ اِنَّ بَعۡضَ الظَّنِّ اِثۡمٌ وَّلَا تَجَسَّسُوۡا وَلَا یَغۡتَبۡ بَّعۡضُکُمۡ بَعۡضًا ؕ اَیُحِبُّ اَحَدُکُمۡ اَنۡ یَّاۡکُلَ لَحۡمَ اَخِیۡہِ مَیۡتًا فَکَرِہۡتُمُوۡہُ ؕ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۳﴾ 1
Heed, therefore, the Word of Allah; He is indeed the Most Truthful. You issue the edict of apostasy against the believers because you have some differences with them, whereas Allah has declared both parties to be believers even when they disputed and fought one another, and He called them brethren even when one of them transgressed against the other. He did not regard any of the parties as disbelievers. Contrarily, He expresses His displeasure towards those who badmouth and defame one another and do not cover each other’s weaknesses as friends do. They ridicule, backbite, entertain evil thoughts, and pry on one another.
Allah calls the one who indulges in these vices as having an ‘evil reputation after the profession of belief’, and such a one incurs the wrath of Allah in the same way as a transgressor. Allah is not pleased with those of His servants who vilify Muslim believers. Although in these verses He labels one party of the believers as transgressors and oppressors and the other as oppressed, neither of them are called apostates. This guidance is sufficient for you if you are God-fearing. Therefore, do not behave in a manner that incurs Divine wrath implied in these Quranic verses. Do not rush towards ruin and do not keep company with the transgressors. On another occasion, Allah says in praise of the believers:
وَاَلۡزَمَہُمۡ کَلِمَۃَ التَّقۡوٰی وَکَانُوۡۤا اَحَقَّ بِہَا وَاَہۡلَہَا2
Hearken to the words of the Lord of all the worlds. Would you now call a people disobedient when they have been proclaimed righteous by Allah?
Then, in praise of the Companions of the Seal of the Prophets, Allah, the Lord of Glory and Majesty, says:
مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَالَّذِیۡنَ مَعَہٗۤ اَشِدَّآءُ عَلَی الۡکُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَیۡنَہُمۡ تَرٰٮہُمۡ رُکَّعًا سُجَّدًا یَّبۡتَغُوۡنَ فَضۡلًا مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَرِضۡوَانًا ۫ سِیۡمَاہُمۡ فِیۡ وُجُوۡہِہِمۡ مِّنۡ اَثَرِ السُّجُوۡدِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ مَثَلُہُمۡ فِی التَّوۡرٰٮۃِ ۚۖۛ وَمَثَلُہُمۡ فِی الۡاِنۡجِیۡلِ ۚ۟ۛ کَزَرۡعٍ اَخۡرَجَ شَطۡـَٔہٗ فَاٰزَرَہٗ فَاسۡتَغۡلَظَ فَاسۡتَوٰی عَلٰی سُوۡقِہٖ یُعۡجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِیَغِیۡظَ بِہِمُ الۡکُفَّارَ ؕ 3
Observe how Allah denounces as disbelievers all those who harbour animosity towards a believer, and how His wrath falls upon them. Fear Allah who, for the sake of the Companions, causes the disbelievers to burn with rage. Ponder over these and other related verses; perchance, Allah will enable you to become among those who are rightly guided.
The Shiites who think that as-Siddiq [Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)] and al-Faruq [Hazrat ‘Umar (ra)] violated the rights of al-Murtada [Hazrat ‘Ali (ra)] and Az-Zahra [Hazrat Fatimah (ra)] and oppressed them, have in fact renounced fairness and embraced injustice and taken the approach of the wrongdoers; for, these were the people who left their homes, friends, wealth, and properties for the sake of Allah and His Messenger. They were persecuted by the disbelievers and driven out by the evildoers but remained steadfast in the manner of the most virtuous and righteous of men. When they became Khulafa’, they did not fill their homes with wealth and treasures and their sons and daughters did not inherit gold and silver. Instead, they returned everything they acquired to the Public Treasury. They did not appoint their sons as their successors, as is the way of the worldly and of those who go astray. They lived in this world in the raiment of poverty and want and did not incline towards lives of luxury like kings and lords. Is it then believable that they usurped people’s property through wrongdoing and that they were in any way inclined towards usurping, looting and robbing? Was this the effect that the company of the Messenger of Allah, the Best of the Universe, had upon them? Could this be true when Allah, the Lord of all Creation, has praised and commended them! Certainly not! Allah had indeed purified their souls, cleansed their hearts, and illumined their beings. He made them models of righteousness for all pious people to come. We cannot find even the slightest hint of ill intention on their part, or the least indication of any evil act. Surely, no injustice can be attributed to them.
By Allah! They were men who acted justly. Had they been presented with a valley full of riches acquired by unfair means, they would not have cared the least for it. They would never be allured by wealth like those who follow their base desires, even if it was a mountain of gold. When they obtained money earned in a righteous way, they only spent it in the way of Allah, the Glorious, and for the obligations of the Faith. How then can it be imagined that they angered Az-Zahra [Hazrat Fatimah (ra)] for the sake of a few trees and distressed the daughter of the Holy Prophet (sas) like the mischief-makers? The fact is that noble people are pure in their intentions, firmly adhering to what is right, and the blessings of Allah descend upon them. Allah surely knows what is in the hearts of God-fearing people. If such deeds are considered as hurtful, then even the Lion of Allah [Hazrat ‘Ali (ra)] cannot be free from such blame, for he betrothed the daughter of Abu Jahl and thus distressed Az-Zahra. Beware, and do not transgress. Do not adopt the filth of those who deviated from the straight path and turned away from the truth after having seen the light of argument, and persisted in falsehood. I am guiding you to the path that will remove all doubts. Think carefully and do not rely upon ignorant notions. I hope and pray to God that you will turn to the truth. I do not mind if some of you reproach me. No one can be guided unless Allah chooses to guide him. None can be satiated but those who drink from His hand. God sees what is in my heart and what is in yours, and He sees your conduct and my conduct. He surely knows what is in the hearts of all people.
Dear people, know that some Shiite scholars say that the Khilafah of the three Companions [Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat ‘Umar and Hazrat ‘Uthman] is not supported by the Quran and Sunnah, while the Khilafah of al-Murtada, the most pious one and the Lion of Allah, is established in all respects and with categorical proofs. Therefore, they say, the three Khulafa’ are usurpers, oppressors and unjust, and that their Khilafah was not according to the will of the Seal of the Prophets and the Best of Messengers.
The Reply: All fair-minded, discerning and pious servants of Allah should be aware that the claim that Khilafah should have first been given to al-Murtada is pure arrogance and bears not an iota of truth. There is no reference to it in the Holy Quran and the Shiites have no clear evidence to substantiate their claim. Such a claim is undoubtedly without proof—it is like a destitute beggar whose poverty is all too evident—even if ‘Ali was a sea of light and beyond all praise and eulogy. Do not, therefore, argue unjustly, nor come to us strutting with your false articulateness, and do not follow the path of the unjust. By Allah! I have reflected deeply upon the Quran and pondered over its verses. I have thoroughly studied the subject of Khilafah and done everything required for proper scrutiny. I have searched every nook and cranny but I have not come across anything as decisive as the verse of Istikhlaf.4 I realized that this is one of the most significant verses of the Holy Quran. It contains clear proof and is a decisive argument from the Lord of the Universe for anyone who wishes to discern the truth like a fair judge. I am certain that one who is of pure nature and is unprejudiced will gratefully accept it and offer thanks to Allah for guiding him and saving him from error.
Verses of the Holy Quran are definite and their commandments are final, whereas oral traditions and historical evidence are not beyond question. Even where the narrators are trustworthy and discerning, any edicts based on such evidence remain dubious. Do not be deceived by their pleasant outward appearance, for most of these narrations are shrouded in darkness as they have not been protected from the meddling of the unjust. Trying to discern the truth from them is as hard as extracting honey from a beehive, and yet people seem to take it so lightly. This is true of most ahadith, as everyone is aware. What then, after rejecting Allah’s Book and His Signs, will you believe? Where will you go when the truth comes to light? If you discard the truth, what will you be left with except for error? O Muslims! Save yourselves from going astray!
I said earlier that the Traditions do not necessarily provide certainty. They are rather a collection of conjectures, doubts, assumptions, and concoctions. Anyone who abandons the Quran and relies solely on them will fall into the abyss of destruction and will be ruined. The Traditions are like a trembling old man in a worn-out garb; they cannot stand up except by leaning on the firm support of the Quran. How can one expect to attain the treasures of knowledge and wisdom from the Traditions without this great Imam [the Quran]? The Holy Quran provides support to feeble Traditions, purifies those that contain some element of error and clarifies their intent with clear and categorical arguments. The Quran is indeed the embodiment of certainty and it brings comfort to the hearts. It is the most powerful in expression and most expansive in its breadth and scope. Those who turn away from it and attach themselves to anything else transgress the bounds of faith and honesty, like the arrow that arrogantly leaves the bow. Whoever abandons the Quran and looks down upon it and instead follows the Traditions, for whose veracity he has no clear proof, such a one surely goes astray. He shall soon be overcome by the blazing fire of regret and Allah will show him that he was in manifest error.
In summary, true peace and security rests in following the Quran, while ruin and destruction come from abandoning it. In the eyes of those blessed with insight, there is no misfortune like the misfortune of turning away from the Book of Allah. Always remember the enormity of this tribulation, no matter how great the calamity of al-Husain may be in your eyes. Become seekers of truth, O heedless ones!
Let us now discuss the verses of the Holy Quran that provide magnificent arguments in support of the Khilafah of Abu Bakr, the Truthful One. I will prove it categorically, leaving no shadow of a doubt, as the path of doubt only leads to ruin. Arguments cannot be resolved except by pursuing certainties. Therefore, pay heed to my words and do not turn away from me. I pray to Allah that He bestows clear vision upon you. Allah, the Honourable and Glorious One, says in His Holy Book:
وَعَدَ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مِنۡکُمۡ وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَیَسۡتَخۡلِفَنَّہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کَمَا اسۡتَخۡلَفَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ۪ وَلَیُمَکِّنَنَّ لَہُمۡ دِیۡنَہُمُ الَّذِی ارۡتَضٰی لَہُمۡ وَلَیُبَدِّلَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِہِمۡ اَمۡنًا ؕ یَعۡبُدُوۡنَنِیۡ لَا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ بِیۡ شَیۡئًا ؕ وَمَنۡ کَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذٰلِکَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾ وَاَقِیۡمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتُوا الزَّکٰوۃَ وَاَطِیۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾ لَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مُعۡجِزِیۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ وَمَاۡوٰٮہُمُ النَّارُ ؕ وَلَبِئۡسَ الۡمَصِیۡرُ ﴿۵۸﴾ 5
These are the glad tidings that our Lord has bestowed on the believers, and these are the signs that He has given us to recognise the Khulafa’. Therefore, anyone who approaches Allah seeking His forgiveness, without adopting the ways of insolence or covering the truth with deceit, must accept this evidence, abandon unreasonable excuses and hearsay, and adopt the paths of the righteous. The full breadth of its meaning will be made clear to you through convincing arguments.
O people of understanding! Know that in these verses Allah has promised Muslim men and women that some of the believers from among them will be made Khulafa’ by His grace, and that He will remove the sense of fear in their hearts and replace it with security and peace. This promise was only perfectly fulfilled in the Khilafah of as-Siddiq. Every scholar knows that his time of Khilafah was a time of fear and tribulation. Upon the demise of the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, countless calamities befell Islam. Many hypocrites turned apostate and grew in their hostility towards Islam. Some impostors claimed prophethood and many Bedouin joined them. Things came to such a pass that about one hundred thousand ignorant and wicked people started following Musailamah. Seditions and tribulations arose and the believers were severely shaken. Everyone was tested, and terrible situations emerged. The believers were distressed as if embers were burning their hearts or they were being cut to pieces with knives. At times, they shed tears over being parted from Khairul-Bariyyah [i.e. the Best of Creation—the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas)], and at times they wept for the mischief that had become an all-consuming fire. The absence of peace was conspicuous. The mischief-makers grew in numbers like weeds growing out of the filth. The hearts of the believers were filled with terror and anguish. At this time, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was appointed ruler and the Khalifah of Khatamun-Nabiyyin [the Seal of the Prophets]. He was overwhelmed by grief and sorrow when he saw the conduct of the hypocrites, the disbelievers, and the apostates. Tears gushed from his eyes like heavy rainfall and he implored Allah to save Islam and the Muslims.
Hazrat ‘Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, relates: When my father was appointed Khalifah and Allah entrusted to him the leadership of the Muslims, he faced a storm of ordeals from all sides. He encountered the evil of the false prophets and the treachery of the apostates and hypocrites. The calamities that descended on him were such that if the like of them had descended on mountains, they would have broken asunder. However, he was given the patience of the Prophets until the help of Allah came and the false prophets were killed and the apostates destroyed. It was then that disorder disappeared and tribulations vanished. All obstacles crumbled into dust. The matter had been decreed and Khilafah was established. Allah saved the believers from afflictions and changed their state of fear into a state of peace and security. He established for them their Religion, made a whole world stand firm on the truth, and disgraced those who had made mischief. Allah fulfilled His promise, supported His servant as-Siddiq, and destroyed the transgressors and the evil-doers. He struck terror into the hearts of the disbelievers. They were defeated and, therefore, retreated and repented. Such was the promise of Allah, the Most Supreme. He is indeed the Most Truthful.
Observe how the promise of Khilafah with all its requirements and signs was fulfilled in as-Siddiq. I pray to Allah that He opens your bosom to this fact. Ponder the situation the Muslims found themselves in at the time when he became the Khalifah and how Islam was almost overwhelmed by calamities, but then Allah made it supreme again and saved it from the pit of annihilation. The false claimants of prophethood met a humiliating and painful end, the apostates were destroyed like beasts, and Allah gave the Muslims security in place of the fear that had left them almost like the dead. The Muslims rejoiced after this calamity was averted. They congratulated as-Siddiq and joyously welcomed him. They honoured him and prayed for him. His love took deep root in their hearts. They followed him in all matters and offered him their gratitude. They prepared their spears and sharpened their swords for him. Their love for him continued to grow and they obeyed him with sincerity. They looked up to him as one who enjoyed Divine support like the Prophets. This was all achieved due to the truthfulness of as-Siddiq and his deep faith in Allah. By Allah, he was the Second Adam of Islam and the first manifestation of the radiance of the Best of Creations. He was not a Prophet but had been endowed with the faculties of Prophets. It was because of his truth and sincerity that Islam’s garden flourished once again and its glory was restored after it had been stung by the arrows of misfortune. Its multitude of flowers blossomed once more and its boughs regained their freshness. Previously, Islam was like a corpse being wailed over or like a thirsty man who had lost his way in the desert. It was bleeding from the blows of misfortune. It was like a dead man whose body had been mutilated, or a weary person moaning with pain, or one scorched by the sun. However, Allah came to its rescue and saved it from all these tribulations and delivered it from all calamities.
Allah helped Islam with His miraculous help, so much so, that it attained supremacy and authority over other nations after it had almost disintegrated and been pummelled to dust. The tongues of the hypocrites were silenced and the faces of the believers were radiant like the moon. Every soul was filled with the praise of Allah and with a sincere sense of gratitude to as-Siddiq. They gravitated towards him and offered their wholehearted allegiance to him, except for the heretics and the rebellious ones. All this was a reward for the true servant of Allah whom He had chosen and purified, with whom He was pleased, and whom He had taken under His shelter. Surely, Allah does not deprive those who do good of their rewards.
In short, all the verses refer to the Khilafah of Abu Bakr and not to anyone else. Ponder deeply over this matter, fear Allah, and be not of the prejudiced. Also, consider that these verses referred to future events so that the faith of the believers would increase when they witnessed their fulfilment and recognized that these were the promises Allah had made to them. In these verses, Allah foretold about the times of tribulation and hardship that would descend on Islam after the demise of the Best of Creation. Further, He promised that He would make some among the believers Khulafa’ and would grant them peace after their state of fear, establish His religion which would be in a perilous state, and put an end to those who make mischief. There is no doubt, therefore, that this prophecy was fulfilled in Abu Bakr. Desist, then, from denying something that has become so evidently clear.
He [Abu Bakr] found Islam like a wall that was on the verge of collapse due to the onslaught of saboteurs, but through his hand Allah made it into an impregnable fortress built of iron walls and guarded by a dutiful army. Do you find any element of doubt in this? Can you point to anyone else to whom this prophecy could apply?
I know that some Shiites argue with the Sunnis regarding this matter and that this dispute has been going on for a very long time. At times, this argument goes beyond verbal altercation and ends up in physical fighting and even in court cases. I am surprised at the lack of understanding demonstrated by the Shiites and their giving in to conjecture. Many signs have been made manifest for them and conclusive evidence has been brought to light, but they turn away and flee and do not reflect in a fair and unprejudiced manner.
Let me now call them to a method which will open their eyes; a method which is fair to us and to them. Let us all assemble in an open space and supplicate before our Supreme Lord and invoke His curse upon the liars.
If the effect of my prayer is not evident within a year, I shall accept for myself every penalty and shall admit that they are the truthful ones. Apart from this, I shall also give them 5000 rupees in cash. If I fail in this, may the curse of Allah descend on me till the Day of Judgement. If the other party so prefers, I can deposit in advance the stipulated sum in the British Government Treasury or entrust it to some trustworthy person.
Bear in mind, however, that I do not here address the laity. I only address those who can produce a work like this one. I have chosen this criterion to be certain that whoever challenges me is a man of knowledge and wisdom and not an uneducated person who has no knowledge of Arabic. Anyone who is at par with the unlettered is not worthy of being prioritised for the reward. One who is as graceless as a camel does not deserve a place in the assembly of the charming. Whoever comes forth in response to a challenge must be comparable to his opponent. Similarly, I do not address this challenge to anyone who is not as able an author as I am. By the grace of Allah, I have reached the highest level in this field, and as such, I desire to face someone who is equal to me. I do not wish to challenge all and sundry, as this would offend my dignity and status. I shall not enter a discussion with an uneducated person and shall turn away from those who are unqualified. I have been vouchsafed knowledge that as-Siddiq was the greatest in rank and the highest in station among all the Companions. There is no doubt that he is the first Khalifah and it is to him that the Quranic verse regarding Khilafah applies. O adversaries of civility! If you think otherwise and claim that the promise of Khilafah referred to some other person who came later, then you must provide clear evidence for this if you are indeed truthful. If you fail to produce such evidence—as you most certainly shall—then do not become adversaries of the righteous. Instead, put an end to this vicious argumentation. It behoves not a believer to incline towards extremism and not to enter the door to the truth when it has been thrown wide open. How can you curse one whose truthfulness Allah has Himself established? He was the one who, when he sought Allah’s help, was granted signs in his support and the mischievous plans of the wicked were foiled. Hazrat Abu Bakr saved Islam from great calamities and adversities. He got rid of those who were like serpents. He restored peace and tranquillity and, by the grace of Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, brought every mischief-maker to nought.
As-Siddiq had innumerable virtues and blessings. All Muslims are indebted to him, and none can deny this but the transgressors. Allah enabled him to establish peace in the hearts of the believers and to extinguish the fire ignited by the heretics and apostates. He also made him the first champion and custodian of the Holy Quran. He was the first to compile the Quran after researching its true order as specified by the Holy Prophet (sas). Tears would flow from his eyes out of concern for the welfare of Islam. This is an established fact, but prejudice undermines the reasoning of the critics. If you wish to reach the truth, then rise above bigotry lest it cover your eyes, and avoid the paths of injustice, for justice is the key to all blessings. The light of impartiality and fairness alone can free the heart from the darkness. Indeed, the status of true knowledge and wisdom is as high as the Throne of the Almighty, and honesty is the ladder by which one can reach this spiritual elevation. Therefore, let he who hopes to solve his troubles and to reach the essence of truth, do good deeds and abstain from fanaticism and intolerance and steer clear of the path of injustice.
One of the special attributes and noble qualities of as-Siddiq was that he was chosen to accompany the Holy Prophet in his migration [from Makkah to Madinah]. He was appointed as the travelling companion of the Best of Creation and was his devoted friend right from the start of all the tribulations. This proves how close he was to the Beloved of Allah. This was because Allah knew that, of all the Companions, as-Siddiq was the bravest, most pious, and most beloved of the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He was courageous and had effaced himself in his love for the Chief of the Universe, supporting and serving him from the very beginning. Through him, Allah comforted His Prophet (sas) at times of sorrow and hardship. He was given the title as-Siddiq [the Truthful], he enjoyed the nearness of the Holy Prophet, and Allah bestowed upon him the title of ‘one of the two’, thus counting him among the chosen ones.
As-Siddiq was also a man of vast experience and deep insight. He had been through many hardships and tribulations. He had seen battles and their manoeuvres. He had traversed barren deserts and mountains and ventured fearlessly into perilous situations. Many were the crooked paths that he made straight, many the battles he fought, many the subversions that he overcame, and many the journeys he undertook, all of which enriched his experience and knowledge. He remained steadfast during the time of trials and submitted himself to the will of Allah. Hence, Allah chose him as the Companion who would fulfil His Signs. Allah praised his truthfulness and steadfastness and spoke of him as the one dearest to the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Virtue and fidelity were intrinsic in his nature, and it was for this reason that he was called upon at critical moments of fear and danger. Allah is All-Knowing, the Wise. He puts things in their appropriate places and causes the water to flow from its fountain. In accordance with His wisdom, His choice fell upon the son of Abu Quhafah and He graciously granted him a unique status. Allah, who is the Most Truthful, said of him:
اِلَّا تَنۡصُرُوۡہُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَہُ اللّٰہُ اِذۡ اَخۡرَجَہُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ثَانِیَ اثۡنَیۡنِ اِذۡ ہُمَا فِی الۡغَارِ اِذۡ یَقُوۡلُ لِصَاحِبِہٖ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَنَا ۚ فَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ سَکِیۡنَتَہٗ عَلَیۡہِ وَاَیَّدَہٗ بِجُنُوۡدٍ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡہَا وَجَعَلَ کَلِمَۃَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوا السُّفۡلٰی ؕ وَکَلِمَۃُ اللّٰہِ ہِیَ الۡعُلۡیَا ؕ وَاللّٰہُ عَزِیۡزٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۴۰﴾6
Ponder over these verses until you have properly understood them. Do not turn away from them deliberately and knowingly. Consider what the Lord of the worlds has said.
Do not be led into peril by your rancorous behaviour towards the righteous ones who have been chosen by Allah. Indeed, it is only by treading the path of virtue and keeping away from the path of ruin that one is drawn closer to Allah. Additionally, the best means of gaining refuge with Allah is to hold one’s tongue and to refrain from abuse and backbiting, an evil that is likened to ‘eating the flesh of a dead brother’. Reflect on the aforementioned verse. Does it praise as-Siddiq or subject him to rebuke and reproach? Do you know of any other Companion who has been so specifically and highly praised? Can you point towards any other who has been designated as ‘one of the two’, has been named a close companion of the Holy Prophet (sas), and has been made a recipient of the blessings enshrined in the words ‘Allah is with us’? Can you name anyone else who has received Divine support in such a manner? Do you know of anyone who has been so praised in the Holy Quran, whose character has been secured against all doubts and suspicions, or of whom it has clearly been stated that he was among those accepted by God? By Allah, I cannot find anyone other than as-Siddiq who has received such special and clear mention in the Scripture of the Lord of the Ka‘bah. Therefore, if you are in doubt concerning that which I have said, or if you think that I have deviated from the truth, then, if you are indeed truthful, cite just one other individual who has been spoken of by the Holy Quran in such terms.
I swear in the name of Allah that as-Siddiq was the man whom Allah had blessed with many mantles of distinction. Allah Himself is witness to the fact that he was one of His chosen ones. He praised him and said that he was a man who could tolerate separation from his nearest ones but would not bear to be parted from the Chosen One of God. Hazrat Abu Bakr gave precedence to his Master and came hastening towards him. Allah safeguarded his soul against evil desires. When the Messenger asked him to accompany him on his migration, he did not hesitate for a second. When the Makkans resolved to drive the Holy Prophet out of his home, he came to Abu Bakr and said, ‘I have been commanded to migrate with you as my companion. We should leave this place together.’ Hearing this, as-Siddiq rendered thanks to Allah for choosing him as the companion of the Holy Prophet in this time of great danger. In fact, he had been waiting for the opportunity to be of service to the Prophet, and the moment had finally come. He stood by his Master, bearing every hardship and fearing not the murderous plot of the assassins. His superiority is a fact established by clear judgements and manifest verses. Indeed, all evidence points to his excellence. As to his truthfulness, it is as apparent as daylight. He earnestly sought the blessings of the Hereafter and forsook the pleasures of this world. None after him can hope to match his excellent qualities.
If you wonder why Allah chose him to start the chain of Khilafah and what the Divine wisdom was behind this, you should keep in mind that Allah saw how as-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, had believed in the Messenger of Allah (sas) with a sincere heart at a time when no one else amongst his people had accepted Islam. He saw how he stood by the Prophet of Allah when he was all alone facing a deluge of persecution. After accepting Islam, as-Siddiq faced all kinds of abuse and persecution at the hands of his own nation, family, tribe, and friends. He was persecuted in the cause of Allah and was driven out of his home just as the Holy Prophet had been. He not only faced great persecution at the hands of his enemies but also bore insult and abuse from those dearest to him. Nonetheless, he strived with his life and possessions in the cause of Allah and chose a life of austerity even though he had been accustomed to one of ease and comfort. He was driven out and persecuted in the cause of Allah. He sacrificed his property in His cause and traded his wealth for a life of adversity and poverty. Allah, therefore, desired to reward him for all the suffering he had endured during those days, to bestow upon him something far better than what he had readily given up, and to recompense him for his endeavours in seeking the pleasure of Allah. Indeed, Allah never suffers the reward of the righteous to be lost. Thus, his Lord bestowed the mantle of Khilafah on him and exalted his name. His Lord took away his distress, elevated his status through His blessings and grace, and made him the Commander of the Believers.
May Allah have mercy on you! You should know that the Companions were like the limbs of the Messenger of Allah, the Pride of Mankind (sas). Some of them were like the eyes of the Messenger of the Gracious God, some like his ears, some like his hands, and some like his legs. In whatever they did, they sought only the pleasure of the Lord of the worlds. Anyone who says that the three Companions [Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat ‘Umar and Hazrat ‘Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them], were disbelievers, hypocrites or usurpers, such a person practically paints all the Companions with the same brush, because they had all sworn allegiance to Abu Bakr, then to ‘Umar, and then to ‘Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them. Under their command, they participated in wars and campaigns and spread Islam and conquered the territories of the disbelievers. In my opinion, none would be more ignorant than one who claims that all the Muslims became apostates after the demise of the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Such a person denies all the Divine promises made by Allah, the All-Knowing, in the Holy Quran. Holy is our Lord, the Protector of this faith and religion. Yet, this is what most Shiites allege. They cross all limits in uttering calumnies and close their eyes to the truth. How can we reconcile with them? How can there be love among us when we stand on opposite ends? Allah knows that we are among the truthful.
Alas, prejudice has blinded their eyes. They cannot abstain from fabricating lies. Their attitude astonishes me and I cannot comprehend what kind of faith they hold. They call the three Companions disbelievers and deem them hypocrites and apostates, even though the Quran reached them through these Companions. If what they say is true, then they must also believe that the Quran that we have with us today is not the true Word of God, rather it is the creation of some fabricators. After all, they claim that all the Companions were treacherous usurpers and that not a single one of them was honest or faithful. If this is the case, then what do they rely on for their religious guidance? What Book of Allah do they have in their hands to instruct them? This shows that they are a people deprived of everything. They have no religion and no Divine scripture. For, if they believe that the Companions turned infidels and hypocrites and became apostates, and were engrossed in idolatry and were blemished with the stain of disbelief, and did not purify themselves, then they must also maintain that the Quran is inauthentic and interpolated. They must maintain that words were added and removed from the Quran, that it is no longer in its original form, and that it has lost its pristine purity. They cannot avoid this conclusion after having insisted with such impudence that those who made the Quran available to the righteous believers were themselves a group of disbelievers, traitors and apostates. If they believe that the Quran is lost to us and that whoever collated it was a cursed disbeliever, then they must undoubtedly have lost faith in the Word that was revealed to Abul-Qasim, Khatamun-Nabiyyin [the Seal of the Prophets] and the doors of knowledge must have been closed upon them. Further, it becomes incumbent upon them to deny all Divine scriptures since they can no longer testify to the truth of the Prophets or believe in their Books. Let us for a moment assume that all the Companions apostatised after the departure of the Seal of the Prophets and only ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and a few others alongside him adhered to the illuminating Shariah; and that even those few people, despite their faith, were inclined to hide the truth and their faith for fear of the enemy or for the sake of this transitory world and its comforts. If this were true, it would be the greatest calamity to befall Islam and the religion of the Best of Mankind. How can you say that Allah broke His promises and failed to show His support? How can you believe that, after the demise of the Holy Prophet, Allah let His faith fall into the hands of the worst of the community and let the traitors conspire against His religion?
We call all people to witness that we are against all such beliefs. In our eyes, such notions lead to heresy and apostasy. They are against the nature of the righteous. How is it possible that the Companions renounced Islam after they had dedicated themselves to its cause and sacrificed their lives and belongings for the Best of Mankind until their hair grew grey and the time of death drew near? How could foul beliefs have found their way in their minds after they had abandoned them? How could the water gushing from the fountain of their faith have dried out? Woe unto those who are unmindful of the Day of Reckoning and do not fear the Lord of all masters, and who persist in insulting and cursing the righteous ones!
The strange thing is that the Shiites admit that Abu Bakr as-Siddiq accepted the Holy Prophet at a time when he had many enemies and that he accompanied the Chosen One of God amidst grave tribulations. If the Messenger of Allah (sas) went to battle, Abu Bakr accompanied him with full loyalty and integrity and bore every hardship for his sake. He left behind everything, including his kith and kin, forsook his whole clan, and chose the Benevolent God. He took part in every battle, fought the disbelievers and helped the Holy Prophet. Then he was appointed Khalifah at a critical time when a group of hypocrites had become apostates and many impostors claimed prophethood. He fought them until the mischief-makers came to naught and security and peace were re-established in the land.
Then, when he died, he was buried next to the grave of the Chief of the Prophets and the Leader of the Holy. Thus, in death as in life, he was never separated from the Beloved of Allah and His Messenger. After a short time of separation, he went to join him with greetings of love. It is a matter of great astonishment that, in the eyes of these slanderers, Allah allowed ‘disbelievers, usurpers, and traitors’ to be buried next to Khatamun-Nabiyyin [the Seal of the Prophets] and did not safeguard him from such unholy company. Instead, Allah permitted them to be his harmful companions in life and in death and did not distance him from the wicked. Holy is our Lord, far above that which they allege. The fact is that Allah had joined the two righteous ones with the Leader of the Righteous. Surely, in this are Signs for those with insight.
O you who have been gifted with understanding! Reflect and do not exchange certainty for illusions. Do not act with effrontery against the Imam of the Pious (sas). You know that the tomb of our Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is a great garden among the gardens of Paradise. It reaches the height of grace and magnificence, encompassing all ranks of reverence and pride. How then could it have anything to do with the denizens of Hell? Think deeply and do not choose the ways of the losers. O you who possess sight and perception. It is an act of disrespect to the Messenger of Allah to say that his grave lies between the graves of two ‘apostates and usurpers’. Do not lose your faith for the sake of al-Murtada or al-Husain, as they are not in need of your praise. Hold your tongue and strive to be of the righteous. Would you be pleased to be buried among disbelievers and flanked on either side by traitors and usurpers? How can you allow what you would not desire for yourself to happen to the Chief of the Righteous? You are surely attracting the wrath of the Mighty, the Supreme. How can you place Khairur-Rusul [the Best of Messengers] in a position which you cannot accept for yourself ? Did you not even bring to mind the fact of his infallibility? Where have your morals, reasoning, and understanding gone? Were they abducted by the jinn of your illusion that has left you bewitched? In fact, as you abuse as-Siddiq, the most righteous one, you equally insult ‘Ali al-Murtada, because you made him out to be—God forbid—a hypocrite: sitting, as it were, at the doorstep of ‘the disbelievers’ in order to regain his lost status. No doubt, such despicable conduct is contrary to piety and is the hallmark of hypocrites.
If the prejudiced Shiites are asked who the first adult was who parted from the disbelievers and accepted Islam, they are obliged to say that it was Abu Bakr. Again, if they are asked who migrated with the Seal of Prophets, leaving behind all those dear to him and following the Holy Prophet wherever he went, they have to admit that it was Abu Bakr. If they are asked who the first Khalifah was, even though he was a usurper in their eyes, they acknowledge that it was Abu Bakr. If they are asked who collated the Quran so that it could be spread to all nations, they must say it was Abu Bakr. If they are asked who were the people buried next to the Best of Messengers and the Chief of the Pious, they cannot but say that they were Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. It is astonishing that every honour was accorded to those whom the Shiites label as ‘hypocrites and disbelievers’. Moreover, the superiority of Islam was established at the very hands of these ‘enemies’. Is it possible for a true believer to think that the foundation stone of Islam was laid by an infidel, and that the first to migrate with the Pride of the Messengers was an unbeliever and an apostate, and that while every excellence was granted to these ‘disbelievers’, including the proximity to the grave of the Chief of the Pious, ‘Ali was deprived of all these blessings and Allah did not pay any attention to him? It was as if He did not know him or recognize him and did not stand by his side. This is nothing but manifest falsehood.
The truth is that as-Siddiq and al-Faruq were eminent Companions. They never usurped anyone’s rights. Piety was their rule and justice was their intent. They would scrutinize all matters, manifest and hidden, with a critical eye. They had no worldly ambitions and had devoted themselves to the service of Allah. I have seen no one equal to these two in their magnanimity and in their support for the religion of the Prophet of the two Realms. They were swifter than the moon in following the Sun of all mankind. They were completely engrossed in his love. They bore every hardship for the truth and happily accepted every humiliation for the matchless Prophet. They emerged like lions to face the armies of the unbelievers until Islam became victorious, the opposing armies were defeated, idolatry regressed, and the sun of faith and religion shone forth once more. Having thus rendered great services to Islam and having placed the Muslims under a debt of gratitude, they came to rest in the proximity of the Holy Prophet. This is the grace of Allah from whose vision the righteous are not hidden; indeed, all blessings are in the Hands of Allah and He bestows them on whomsoever He pleases. One who seeks God with all his heart is never lost even if the whole world turns against him. A seeker of God never experiences loss or lack. Allah never leaves the truthful unaided.
Allah is the Greatest! How sublime was their sincerity and loyalty that they were buried alongside the Holy Prophet. Had Moses and Jesus been alive, they would have envied such a great honour. This high status does not come by mere longing or desire; it is an eternal blessing from the Lord of Glory, and it is only destined for those who are eternally under Divine grace. I cannot fathom how these people can give preference to ‘Ali over as-Siddiq and not pay attention to these facts. They keep praising al-Murtada without looking at the status of as-Siddiq who was the most righteous. Those who ascribe infidelity to as-Siddiq and curse him should beware that the wrongdoers will soon come to know their place of return. As-Siddiq and al-Faruq were indeed the leaders of the caravan that surmounted high peaks for the sake of Allah. They called the people of cities and villages to the truth until the message reached far and wide. The fruits of Islam blossomed during their Khilafah, the atmosphere was filled with their fragrance, and Islam achieved great victories. During the era of as-Siddiq, Islam underwent a period of great hardship and was the target of mighty onslaughts. Allah came to its rescue through Abu Bakr and revealed its lost and buried treasure. Islam thus moved from a vulnerable state to one of strength. If we are to be fair, we should be grateful to this guardian of faith and pay no heed to his opponents. Do not turn your back on the one who supported your Lord and Master and saved your religion and home, and who looked after your welfare for the sake of Allah without expecting any reward. It is amazing how anyone can deny his eminence. The truth is that his radiant attributes shine brilliantly like the sun! Every believer reaps from the harvest that was sown by him and benefits from the knowledge taught by him. He preserved our faith by giving us the Holy Quran and bringing peace and security to our world. He who denies this is a liar and will end up ruined, with Satan as his company. Those who are confused about his true status are guilty of a deliberate error, as they see a drought in the place of abundant water. In their rage, they have insulted the most honourable one.
The personality of as-Siddiq was a combination of hope and fear, trepidation and longing, sympathy and love. His nature was perfect in sincerity and loyalty and was completely drawn towards the Almighty. He was empty of ego and all carnal desires. He was dedicated to God to the highest degree. Whatever he did was for the sake of the reformation and welfare of the believers. He was innocent of the charge of causing harm or grief, which some attribute to him.
Do not dwell on the internal conflicts, therefore, and look at them in a positive light. Reflect that this man, seeking Allah’s pleasure, gave no precedence to his own sons and daughters to make them rich, nor did he assign to them high offices. He sought from this world only his basic needs. How can you think that such a person would oppress the family of the Messenger of Allah? Allah had conferred upon him superiority over all of them and granted him His help because of the sincerity of his intentions. Not every dispute is based upon ill intentions, as some ignorant ones claim, since some disagreements stem from differences of opinion. The most appropriate and correct approach is to say that the differences among some Companions of the Best of the Universe were mere differences of perspective and were not born out of enmity or injustice. Those who sincerely hold an opinion, even though they might be in error, are to be forgiven. Sometimes righteous men, even the most honourable saints and holy men, have mutual disputes which may lead to envy and rancour. There is a divine purpose in all of this.
Therefore, all that was said between the Companions must be overlooked and not propagated. Their affairs should be left to Allah, for He alone is the Protector of the righteous. It is the way of Allah that He, in His Own determination, adjudicates between the pious in a way that is different from that of the transgressors, for the former are His beloved and are accepted by Him. It is for this reason that our Lord has informed us about the result of their dispute. He said, and He is indeed the Most Truthful:
وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِہِمۡ مِّنۡ غِلٍّ اِخۡوَانًا عَلٰی سُرُرٍ مُّتَقٰبِلِیۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾7
This is the truth, but common people do not examine these matters as do those who are gifted with insight. Instead, they blindly believe in tales, and then one of them adds something to it and relates it to another, and he believes it and, in turn, adds something to it from himself and relates it to yet another, and so on, until the truth becomes completely obscured and is replaced by a new ‘truth’ that has nothing to do with the facts. Thus are nations destroyed by the dishonesty of the narrators.
So many truths have been lost, so many accounts obscured, so many stories changed, and so many narratives fabricated that no one knows what actually happened. If the early Companions and members of the household of the Prophet and his relatives were restored to life and were shown these stories, they would be astonished by the fabrications and lies of the people who exaggerated those events due to the whisperings of Satan, turned a drop of water into an ocean, made a mountain out of a molehill, and lied in order to deceive the undiscerning.
In fact, these tribulations festered in the middle ages and soon became like a fierce, roaring wind. Many false and fabricated reports were accepted as if they had been conveyed by truthful people. Use your reason, therefore, and do not act in haste. If you reflect over what has been vouchsafed to me, you cannot help but accept what I am saying and will not turn away from it. It is now up to you to believe it or reject it. However, those whose enmity towards the two Sheikhs is the essence of their life and part of their nature and habit will not at all accept what I am saying until Allah’s decree comes to be. They will not believe even if I present before them thousands of clear proofs. Let them wait until the time when Allah exposes what they harbour in their hearts.
O people! Do not entertain evil thoughts concerning the Companions and do not cast yourselves into ruin with your suspicions. The Companions have passed away and you do not know what transpired between them. How could they have been misguided when Allah had illuminated their eyes? Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge, and fear Allah, if you are humble. Undoubtedly, the Companions of the Holy Prophet and the members of his household were spiritual and virtuous people. They had completely devoted themselves to Allah. I can, therefore, never accept the accusation that they quarrelled for worldly gains or bore such rancour for one another that it resulted in fighting, estrangement, and all-out animosity. If we assume that the most truthful person [Abu Bakr] was one of those who prioritised the pleasures of this world and its temptations or that he was a usurper, then we are forced to admit that ‘Ali, the Lion of Allah, was also a hypocrite and not the ascetic whom we believe him to be, and that he was beguiled by the world, running after its ornaments and desiring its charms, and that this is why he did not turn away from the ‘apostates and disbelievers’ but cajoled them and chose to hide his faith for approximately thirty years. If as-Siddiq was a usurper and disbeliever in the eyes of ‘Ali al-Murtada, may Allah be pleased with him, why did he agree to swear allegiance to him? Why did he not migrate from the land of oppression, tribulation and apostasy? Was not Allah’s earth vast enough for him to emigrate, as has been the practice of many righteous ones? Look at the example of Ibrahim [Abraham], who fulfilled the commandments. How strong and powerful he was in bearing witness to the truth, and how when he saw that his father had erred and had gone astray and his people worshipped idols instead of the Supreme Lord, he turned away from them. He was not afraid and did not care for the consequences. He was thrown into the fire and subjected to suffering at the hands of the wrongdoers, but he did not choose to conceal his faith out of fear. This is the way of the righteous. They do not fear swords or blades. They consider the hiding of their faith to be one of the great sins and a matter of shame and transgression. Even if they commit a minor mistake, they return to Allah seeking forgiveness.
We are amazed at how ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, swore allegiance to as-Siddiq and al-Faruq despite knowing that they had renounced Islam and had usurped the rights of others. Moreover, he lived among them a whole lifetime and followed them sincerely and devotedly. He did not tire or become weary, nor did he show any resentment, although he was supposedly aware of their corruption, disbelief and apostasy. He was free to go to the Arab tribes as the door was open for him and he was not a prisoner. Indeed, it was incumbent upon him to migrate to some other Arab lands to the east or the west to urge people to come out for battle. He should have aroused them with his eloquent words and led them against the ‘rebellious apostates’.
About one hundred thousand bedouin joined Musailamah the Impostor. ‘Ali was more deserving of their support than anyone else. On what basis, then, did he follow ‘the disbelievers’ and stay loyal to them? Why did he sit idly by like the indolent and not stand up in the manner of those who strive in the cause of Allah? What prevented him from rebelling against them when he possessed all the signs of being the chosen one of Allah and being honoured by Him? Why did he not go to war in support of the truth and summon people to it? Was he not the most eloquent among the people, the most articulate in delivering sermons, and one who could breathe life through his words? Surely, he could have gathered people around him within an hour or less by the strength of his rhetoric and oratory, which would have affected the listeners and motivated them with great zeal. If ‘the imposter’ could gather people around him, how is it that the Lion of Allah could not do the same while he was supported by Allah and was the beloved of the Lord of the worlds?
Stranger still, ‘Ali did not only swear allegiance to the two Sheikhs but observed every prayer behind them, never missing a single one or turning away like those who have misgivings. Moreover, he participated with them in mutual consultation and believed in their claims. He helped them in every matter with all his power and capacity and was not of those who remained behind. Is this how an oppressed one behaves? Look at how he followed the ‘liars’ despite his knowledge of their lies and slander, as if truth and falsehood were alike for him. Did he not know that those who trust in the Almighty never choose the way of cajolery even if they are coerced into it? Indeed, they do not leave the truth even if it brings ruin upon them.
Truth is like water for the friends of Allah and one of the qualities of the purified ones, and yet al-Murtada supposedly left these traits and chose for himself the disgraceful path of taqiyyah. He attended the gatherings of the ‘disbelievers’ morning and evening and was among those who praised them! Why did he not follow the example of the Prophet of both Realms, or display the courage of al-Husain instead of taking the path of the imposters? I ask you in the name of Allah, are these the qualities of those whose hearts are immune to the abomination of cowardliness and adulation, whose faith gives them heavenly power, who are free from all manner of hypocrisy and cajolery, and who fear none but God? Certainly not. Such attributes exist in people who give preference to their own desires over the Lord of Honour and give precedence to this world over the Hereafter. They do not give Allah the honour that is due to Him. They do not receive light from the Holy Prophet (sas) and are not among the honest. I have met people of all levels of society and from all walks of life, yet I have never heard about taqiyyah or the concealment of the truth, except from those who do not care about their relationship with the Lord of Honour. By Allah, even if I was cut to pieces with a knife, I could not compromise my faith for a split second. All those whom Allah has guided through His grace and mercy, and who possess sincerity, do not accept hypocrisy or the way of the hypocrites. Has not the story of those people reached you who chose death over a life of false praise and did not for even a moment follow the practice of taqiyyah? Instead, they kept praying:
رَبَّنَاۤ اَفۡرِغۡ عَلَیۡنَا صَبۡرًا وَّتَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۷﴾8
Alas, for the Shiites! They dare to vilify al-Murtada because of their enmity to as-Siddiq, the pious one. They have lost their minds due to their blind prejudice. They choose to remain blind even with the presence of light, and they do not reflect. I see that their words are a collection of conjecture and their sayings are based on suppositions. They do not even come close in rationale to a true researcher.
O you who read this book with full deliberation! If you love the truth and the right way, the verse of Istikhlaf should be sufficient for you to be guided, for it contains a strong proof for those who are just. Do not equate good people with corrupt ones, do not join Hud with ‘Ad, and just think for a moment like a researcher. You do know that news of the future that is given by Allah is binding on the people of truth and their opponents alike. They are like soldiers of Allah, set to conquer the land of transgression and tyranny and to transform hardship into ease.
These prophecies contain clear proofs that are like sharp spears vanquishing every challenger. They can lead every suspicious person to certainty and counter the opponents’ objections. Such also is the status of the verse of Istikhlaf which can drive away every critic and compel him to stop his criticism and attack. It manifests the truth to the enemies even if they hate to see it. This verse gives people the glad tidings of security and safety after a period of fear from the unjust oppressors. It is only the Khilafah of Hazrat Abu Bakr that completely fits this description. This is known to every scholar, for the Khilafah of ‘Ali al-Murtada did not fulfil these prophecies of elevation, distinction and extraordinary success. His Khilafah, in fact, teetered on the brink due to the attacks by the enemies of Islam. It was so weak that they caused it to fall into a bottomless pit without considering the rights of brotherhood. They had weakened his Khilafah to the extent that it became weaker than a spider’s web and left its followers devastated.
Undoubtedly, ‘Ali was the best example of magnanimity and generosity. He was divine proof for the people and the best exemplar of the time. Allah had illuminated him so that he would spread light in the world. However, the era of his Khilafah was not the time of security and peace but a time of tribulation and conflict. People were in dispute about his Khilafah and that of [Mu‘awiyah] the son of Abu Sufyan. They were so confused about which one was right that some considered both to be like binary stars or like two arms carrying a pot together. The truth, however, was on the side of al-Murtada, and whoever fought against him was among the rebellious and the transgressors. Still, his Khilafah did not fulfil the conditions of peace and harmony that had been promised by Allah, the Gracious. In fact, al-Murtada suffered at the hands of his adversaries and his Khilafah was subject to all kinds of trials and tribulations. Allah’s grace upon him was great, but he lived a disconsolate and painful life because he was unable to spread the Faith as much or drive away Satanic forces as forcefully as the Khulafa’ before him had done. Far from it, he could not even extricate himself from people’s objections and condemnations and was deprived of achieving everything to which he had aspired. Rather than come together to support him, they were united in trying to undermine him. They did not desist from hurting him and actively opposing him. They placed obstacles in his path, but he was among the patient and the righteous. Nevertheless, it is not possible for us to say that his Khilafah fulfils the prophecy contained in the verse of Istikhlaf because it was marked by turmoil, rebellion and loss, and peace was conspicuously absent. Peace had been replaced with fear and mischief and continuous trials and tribulations. There appeared cracks in the discipline and differences started to appear among the followers of the Holy Prophet. The doors of rebellion, hatred and rancour were thrown open. Each day brought with it a fresh conflict. Disputes multiplied and the birds of peace flew away. Conditions grew more and more tumultuous and it all culminated in Husain, the leader of the oppressed, being martyred.
Those who believe that Khilafah was a spiritual gift of God and that al-Murtada was the first and foremost manifestation of it, but that he was too shy to stand up against unjust usurpers, such people should know that this is a vile excuse that only an insolent person can utter. The undeniable truth is that the fulfilment of the prophecy of Khilafah was manifested in the one who completely embodied all its conditions. He was the one about whom it has been proven that he opened the doors of peace and piety for the Muslims, saved them from rebellion and tribulation, broke the back of every assailant in defence of Islam, and worked tirelessly until he had brought things back to normality. It was through him that Allah restored the peace and harmony and dominance that had been lost. Thus did people regain their peace after a time of fear.
Once we have witnessed the literal fulfilment of prophecies pertaining to future events, it is sheer injustice and transgression to give them any other meaning. Their fulfilment grants peace of mind and certainty and softens even those hearts that have become hardened like rocks. It is a part of human nature to give precedence to the observable over mere suppositions. This is the criterion used to discern the truth by those who possess insight. Just consider, who was it that removed the obstacles from the paths of Islam, returned it to its former glory, overcame its adversities, and destroyed the wicked and the apostates? Who was it who called those who had run away back to the faith of Allah and showed them the light of truth so that the Mosques became filled with the penitent? Who was it that quickened the earth after its death by the command of the Lord of the worlds? Who was it that healed the fever of the people, wiped away their sweat, and cleansed the dirt of transgression and pride with pure and fresh water?
May Allah have mercy on as-Siddiq as he revived Islam and put an end to the infidels. We are indebted to him till the Day of Judgement. He was inclined to shed tears frequently and was of the virtuous. He would supplicate and pray and prostrate before Allah, crying and humbling himself on His doorstep. He never left Allah’s door and was ever eager to offer prayers in prostration. He would weep while reciting the Quran. He was undoubtedly the pride of Islam and the Messengers. His nature closely resembled the nature of the Best of Creation. He was among the first to partake of the fragrance of prophethood and to witness the great revival of the dead brought by the Holy Prophet that was akin to the Day of Resurrection. He was among the foremost to shed the dirty garbs of society and replace them with clean and pure ones. Many of his qualities were like those of the Prophets.
He [Hazrat Abu Bakr] is the only Companion who is clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran. Any allusion to others is a matter of conjecture, which avails nothing against the truth, nor does it satisfy those who seek the truth. Whoever holds a grudge against him creates a barrier between himself and the truth, and it will not be removed until he returns to the Leader of the Truthful. This is why we do not find any of the Shiites being among the Auliya’ [friends of Allah] or among the righteous. The deeds they practice are surely displeasing to God, and all this is only because they harbour hostility towards the righteous ones.
He [Abu Bakr], may Allah be pleased with him, enjoyed the fullness of knowledge. He was meek and compassionate in nature. He lived a life clothed in the mantle of humility and modesty. Forgiveness, kindness and compassion were his hallmarks. He was recognized by his luminous forehead. He was deeply attached to the Holy Prophet and his soul was united with the soul of the Best of Creation. He was surrounded by the same light that had been bestowed upon his Master, the beloved of the Lord. He was enveloped by the light of the Holy Prophet and his great bounties. He was distinguished from all other people in his understanding of the Quran and in his love for the Chief of the Messengers and the Pride of Mankind. When the life of the Hereafter and the subtleties of the Divine were made manifest to him, he forsook all worldly and physical attachments and acquired the complexion of his Beloved, giving up all objectives for the sake of the One sought after. He discarded all worldly impurities, took on the colour of the One True Lord, and surrendered completely to the will of the Lord of the worlds. When the love of God saturated his body and soul and its impact and light began to manifest itself in his words, deeds and actions, he was named as-Siddiq. He was invested with fresh and deep knowledge by the Best of Bestowers. Truthfulness became his well-established nature and characteristic, and its effects made themselves manifest in his action and word, movement and rest, body and soul. He was among those upon whom the Lord of the heavens and the earth had bestowed His favours. There is no doubt that he was a comprehensive model of the teachings of the Holy Prophet. He was a leader of those who are the recipients of grace and perfection and had partaken of the characteristics of the Prophets.
Do not consider any of these statements as exaggerations, or think that I say them because I am being partial, or that I am ignoring some faults, or that I say them as an outpouring of love. The fact is that these words are based on the truth that the Lord of Honour has disclosed to me. It was inherent in his nature, [of Abu Bakr,] may Allah be pleased with him, that he placed all his trust in his Lord and cared not about the physical means and resources. He was like the shadow of our Prophet and Master, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in every matter. He had a long relationship with the Best of Mankind; hence, through the munificence of the Holy Prophet, he was able to attain that which others could not attain even in so many years.
Do realize that Allah’s munificence descends on people for a reason. This is the eternal practice of Allah. If Allah has not given a person any kind of affinity with His friends and chosen ones, then such a person is most unfortunate in His eyes. Fortunate was the one who absorbed all the traits of the Beloved of Allah to the degree that he reflected them in his words and deeds and manners. The unfortunate ones, on the other hand, cannot even fathom their perfection, just as the blind cannot conceive of colours or shapes. They see nothing but the manifestations of God’s wrath and grandeur, for they are by nature unable to witness the signs of His grace and mercy. They can’t smell the fragrance of love or sincerity or affection or affability or delight since they are filled with darkness. How then can they receive the light of blessings? Such a person’s soul is rocking like waves in a storm and his passions prevent him from seeing the truth; hence, he does not try to seek knowledge as the fortunate ones do.
As for as-Siddiq, he was always seeking the munificence of Allah and looking towards God’s Messenger. Therefore, he was the most deserving of the qualities of Prophethood and most eligible to be the successor to the Best of Mankind. He was one with his leader and always in accord with him. He was the manifestation of his master in all his higher morals and in his conduct and in forsaking of the associations and the desires of the ego, so much so, that he did not waver even when attacked by swords and spears. He never faltered in the face of any calamity, intimidation, blame, or vilification. The essence of his soul was honesty, purity, steadfastness, and righteousness, such that even if the whole world turned apostate, he would not care or turn back, but would continue to march forward. For this reason, Allah has mentioned the Truthful immediately after mentioning the Prophets, as He said:
فَاُولٰٓئِکَ مَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنَ النَّبِیّٖنَ وَالصِّدِّیۡقِیۡنَ وَالشُّہَدَآءِ وَالصّٰلِحِیۡنَ9
In this verse, there is a reference to as-Siddiq and his excellence over others, because the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not call any other Companion ‘the Truthful’ except Abu Bakr, and he did so in order to highlight his lofty status. Reflect on this, like those are wont to reflect. In this verse, seekers of the truth can find a principle regarding the stations of spiritual excellence and the people who belong to them. When I reflected on this verse, I realized that it is the greatest testimony to the perfection of as-Siddiq. In this verse, a deep secret has been revealed to every seeker of truth: Abu Bakr was named ‘as-Siddiq’ [the Truthful] by the Messenger of Allah, and in this verse, the Quran has linked the Truthful to the Prophets, as is obvious to the discerning. We cannot find any other Companion who has been granted this title or addressed in a similar way. This proves the excellence of as-Siddiq as this title is mentioned immediately after the Prophets.
I urge you, therefore, to remove the veil of suspicion from your eyes and examine this matter by turning to God. Hidden secrets lie in the subtle hints of the Holy Quran, and whoever recites the Holy Quran will receive some share of these verities even though he may not be able to penetrate their full depth. However, these secrets are revealed unequivocally to the people of knowledge, for they fall prostrate in the presence of the Lord of Glory and their soul acquires subtleties of knowledge that no one else in the entire world can acquire. Their words are the true words and whatever contradicts them is no more than conjecture. Their expressions are so subtle and sublime that they are beyond the comprehension of the common beholder, and the ignorant one accuses them of imposture for lack of understanding. They are a distinct people; they are like no one else, and no one is like them. They worship only the One True God and do not pay any heed to those engrossed in frivolities. Allah becomes their Guardian like someone who has an orphan in his care: he first entrusts him to a nurse until he is weaned, then raises and educates him, and then makes him his own inheritor and bestows on him great favours. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Benefactors!
‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was a righteous man and was among those most beloved of the Gracious One. He was a chosen one among his people and a leader of his time. He was the Lion of Allah and the Champion of Allah, the Compassionate. He was generous and pure-hearted. He was unique in his bravery and could stand his ground on battle even if he was attacked by a horde of the enemy. He spent his life in austerity and attained the highest levels of piety and purity. He was foremost in giving of his wealth, consoling and helping the afflicted, and looking after the poor and the orphan and the neighbour. He showed great bravery in the battlefield and there are amazing stories about his feats with sword and spear.
At the same time, he was also very eloquent and soft-spoken. His words penetrated the hearts of the listeners and polished their rusty minds so that their faces would radiate with the light of truth. He was skilled at all manner of discourse and anyone who competed with him in this field would end up apologizing like the vanquished. He was perfect in all good traits as well as in speech and eloquence. Whoever denies his perfection would have to be shameless indeed. He would urge people to take care of the helpless and the needy and the feeding of the one who asked as well as the one who didn’t. He was among the servants of Allah and had been granted His nearness.
Along with all this, he was also foremost in drinking from the fountain of the Quran. He had been gifted with a deep understanding of the subtleties of the Word of God. I have seen him in a waking vision, not in a dream, wherein he bestowed upon me the commentary of the Book of Allah, the All-Knowing, and said: ‘This is my commentary and it is now given to you. Rejoice over what has been given to you.’ I extended my hand and took the commentary and thanked the Almighty, the Bestower. I found Hazrat ‘Ali of upright character, possessing high moral excellence, courteous, humble, and enlightened. I affirm on oath that he met me with great affection and kindness. It was conveyed to me that he knew me and was aware of my doctrine and my stand in opposition to that of the Shiites but he did not express any kind of displeasure nor turn away from me. Instead, he showed me great affection like a true and intimate friend. He was accompanied by al-Hasan, al-Husain and by Sayyidur-Rusul [the Chief of the Messengers], Khatamun-Nabiyyin [the Seal of the Prophets], and by a handsome young, righteous woman of high status. She was good-natured and dignified. Her face shone with spiritual light. I found her filled with some sorrow that she was trying to suppress. It was conveyed to me that she was Fatimah Az-Zahra. She approached me while I was lying down and sat down next to me and placed my head upon her thigh and was very affectionate. I noticed that she was sorrowful and anxious on account of my troubles, as mothers are anxious on account of the tribulations of their children. It was then conveyed to me that my relationship with her was like that of a spiritual son and it dawned on me that her sorrow was an indication of the persecution that I was to undergo at the hands of my people, my countrymen, and my opponents. Then, al-Hasan and al-Husain approached me and showed me brotherly affection and comforted me. I experienced this vision while I was in a wakeful state and it happened many years ago.
I have a subtle affinity with ‘Ali and al-Husain, the truth of which is only known to the Lord of the East and the West. In fact, I cherish a deep love for ‘Ali and his sons. I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy, but at the same time, I am not of the unjust and the prejudiced. It is not possible for me to turn away from that which Allah has revealed to me, and I am not of the transgressors. If you do not accept this, then for me are my deeds and for you are your deeds. Allah will judge between you and me; verily He is the Wisest of Judges.
1 And if two parties of believers fight against each other, make peace between them; then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them with equity, and act justly. Verily, Allah loves the just. Surely all believers are brothers. So make peace between brothers, and fear Allah that mercy may be shown to you. O you who believe! Let not one people deride another people, who may be better than they, nor let women deride other women, who may be better than they. Do not slander your own people, nor taunt each other with nicknames. It is bad indeed to earn foul reputation after professing the faith; and those who repent not are the wrongdoers. O you who believe! Avoid too frequent indulgence in suspicion; for suspicions are certainly sin. And spy not, nor back-bite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother who is dead? Certainly you would loathe it. And fear Allah, surely, Allah is Oft-Returning with compassion and is Merciful (Surah al-Hujurat, 49:10–13). [Publisher]
2 And made them cleave to the word of righteousness, and they were better entitled to it and more worthy of it (Surah al-Fat’h, 48:27). [Publisher]
3 Muhammad (sas) is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are firm against the non-believers, tender among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating themselves in Prayer, seeking grace from Allah and His pleasure. Their mark is upon their faces, being the traces of prostrations. This is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is like unto a seed-produce that sends forth its sprout, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and stands firm on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may cause the disbelievers to burn with rage at the sight of them (Surah al-Fat’h, 48:30). [Publisher]
4 Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious (Surah an-Nur, 24:56). [Publisher]
5 Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious. And observe Prayer and give the Zakat and obey the Messenger, that you may be shown mercy. Think not that those who disbelieve can frustrate Our plan in the earth; their abode is Hell; and it is indeed an evil resort (Surah an-Nur, 24:56–58). [Publisher]
6 If you help him not, then know that Allah helped him even when the disbelievers drove him forth while he was one of the two when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion, ‘Grieve not, for Allah is with us.’ Then Allah sent down His peace on him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and humbled the word of those who disbelieved, and it is the word of Allah alone which is supreme. And Allah is Mighty, Wise (Surah at-Taubah, 9:40). [Publisher]
7 And We shall remove whatever of rancour may be in their breasts so that they will become as brothers reclining on couches, facing one another (Surah al-Hijr, 15:48). [Publisher]
8 Our Lord, pour forth upon us steadfastness and cause us to die resigned to You (Surah al-A‘raf, 7:127). [Publisher]
9 They shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely, the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous (Surah an-Nisa’, 4:70). [Publisher]