shia question

[Hasan Askari]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Dear imam a shia asked me the following question.could you help with the reply.

If Hazrat Ali alayhis 'salam had no differences with the first three Khalifa’s why did he not participate in any battles that took place during their reigns, particularly when Jihad against the Kuffar is deemed a major duty upon the Muslim? If he did not view it as necessary at that time, then why did he during his own Khilafath whilst in his fifties unsheathe his sword and participate in the battles of Jamal, Sifeen and Naharwan?


jazakAllah

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam

Thank you for this question in relation to the fourth khalifah, Hadrat Syedina 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu, which the 'Shi'ah' has posed to you. I am very sorry in the delay it has taken in answering this question.

Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu did not have any differences with the first three khalifahs, which you have claimed. This is merely based on assumption by yourself. If it can be proven from any of the hadith books, books of tafsir, sirah books, and any other Islamic literature that hadrat 'Ali ever had differences with the first three khalifahs, then we are ready to verify that, and discuss it. However, as far as the majority of the Muslim ummah is concerned, there had never been any differences with any of the 'khulafa'-e-thalathah' (the three khalifahs), but it is just an assumption on your behalf.

It is recorded in the books of sirah, that when Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu was offered the 'khilafat' after the martyrdom of Syedina Uthman Dhun-Nur-'Ayn Radi Allahu anhu, he actually declined, and thought that how is it possible for someone like myself to take up such a great responsibility as this one. Nevertheless, when the requests of the ansar, and the muhajirin became greater and greater, he decided to accept the responsibility.

The reason why Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu drew his own sword after he had gained khilafat was because that era was an era full of mischief. This is regardless to say that there were mischiefs during the times of not only the 'khulafa-e-thalatha' Radi Allahu anhum ajma'in, but also in the time of the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. There was no era in which there was total peace amongst the community, and total tranquility and harmony. In every era, there was some sort of mischief.

In the time of the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, there was the mischief of the false prophets, and the jews, the kuffar of the Quraysh, and Makkah. In the time of Syedina Abu Bakr, there was the mischief of the 'deniers of the zakat', which is a fundamental pillar in Islam. In the time of Syedian 'Umar Radi Allahu anhu there was the mischief of the munafiqin which was evident, and at the time of Hadrat Uthman Dhun Nur 'Ayn there was the mischief of the rebels.

Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu was also faced with difficulty during his time. To the extent that the wisal of Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu was caused by Ibn-e-Muljim, otherwise known as Abdur Rahman. Needless to say, it was not only during his own khilafat that he withdrew his sword but had also drew his sword in the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, Bani Qurayzah and Hunayn.

With reference to the questioners theory, it is sufficient to say that his question is valid due to the fact that after the wisal of the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu was in anticipation of the khilafat. This was natural for him due to the fact that he Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu did have a distinguished and special relationship with the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. Neverthelss the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam had already selected Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq Radi Allahu anhu, and who are we to contest the decision made by the Mercy of all the worlds Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam.

Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu did face a little dejected, but that dejection did not last long and was overcome. Such a dejection should not be a means to raise doubt to the khilafat of Syedina Abu Bakr Siddiq Radi Allahu anhu, especially when the decision was already made. Such issues are left best to deal with, who are involved, as they were greater than us in knowledge of the surrounding circumstances, piety, religion, faith, sincerity, godwariness, obedience, and trust.

Regardless of what has been said, Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu had become a member of the majlis-e-shura, of the first two khalifahs. To the extent that Hadrat Umar Radi Allahu anhu had full trust in the advice given by Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu. Hadrat 'Ali Radi Allahu anhu benefitted the Islamic nation greatly, with his advice, as far as it possibly could be. He also fully supported Hadrat Uthman Dhun Nur 'Ayn as much as he could.

Jazak'allah for your question.





Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi