Chapter One: The Story of al-Saqifa

Encyclopedia of Imam Ali (AS), written by Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri, abridged by Mahdi Gholamali, translated by Zaid Alsalami and Safyullah Khan, edited by Hamid Reza Salarkia and published by NORPUB.

138. الطبقات الكبرى عن عائشة:

138. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, narrating from A’ishah, who said:

لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ، 

“When the Messenger of Allah (SA) died,

استَأذَنَ عُمَرُ وَالمُغيرَةُ بنُ شُعبَةَ ،

`Umar and al-Mughira ibn Shu`ba asked permission

فَدَخَلا عَلَيهِ

and entered unto him.

فَكَشَفَا الثَّوبَ عَن وَجهِهِ فَقالَ عُمَرُ :

They uncovered his face, and `Umar said:

واغَشيا ! ما أشَدَّ غَشيَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله .

 “How deep the unconsciousness of the Messenger of Allah is.”

ثُمَّ قاما ،

Then they left,

فَلَمَّا انتَهَيا إلَى البابِ قالَ المُغيرَةُ :

and at the door al-Mughira said:

يا عُمَرُ ماتَ وَاللّهِ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله !

 “O `Umar, by Allah, the Messenger of Allah (SA) is dead!”

فَقالَ عُمَرُ : كَذَبتَ !

`Umar said: “You are lying!

ما ماتَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

The Messenger of Allah (SA) did not die,

ولكِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ تَحوشُكَ فِتنَةٌ ،

but you are a man who desires to create dissension.

ولَن يَموتَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله حَتّى يُفنِيَ المُنافِقينَ .

He will not die until he puts to ruin all the hypocrites.”

 ثُمَّ جاءَ أبو بَكرٍ وعُمَرُ يَخطُبُ النّاسَ فَقالَ لَهُ أبو بَكرٍ : اُسكُت !

Then Abu Bakr came while `Umar was addressing the people and said to him: “Keep silent.”

فَسَكَتَ ،

He kept silent,

فَصَعِدَ أبو بَكرٍ ،

and Abu Bakr stood upon the pulpit,

فَحَمِدَ اللّهَ وأثنى عَلَيهِ ،

praised Allah and lauded Him,

ثُمَّ قَرَأَ :  «إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَ إِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ» ، الزمر : 30 .

and then recited: “You will indeed die, and they [too] will indeed die.” Qur’an, 39:30

ثُمَّ قَرَأَ :  «وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِيْن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَـبِكُمْ» ، آل عمران : 144 .

He then recited “Muhammad is but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. So, if he dies or is slain, will you turn back on your heels?” Qur’an, 3:144

حَتّى فَرَغَ مِنَ الآيَةِ ، ثُمَّ قالَ :

He finished the verse and then said:

مَن كانَ يَعبُدُ مُحَمَّدا فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدا قَد ماتَ ،

“He who would worship Muhammad, Muhammad has died,

ومَن كانَ يَعبُدُ اللّهَ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ حَيٌّ لا يَموتُ !

and he who would worship Allah, Allah is alive and He never dies.”

 قالَ : فَقالَ عُمَرُ : هذا في كِتابِ اللّهِ ؟

`Umar asked: “Is that in the Book of Allah?”

قالَ : نَعَم !

He said: “Yes.”

فَقالَ : أيُّهَا النّاسُ !

Then `Umar said: “O people,

هذا أبو بَكرٍ وذو شَيبَةِ المُسلِمينَ فَبايِعوهُ !

here is Abu Bakr, the elder among the Muslims, so give your pledge of allegiance to him.”

فَبايَعَهُ النّاسُ .

The people gave their pledge of allegiance to him.”

الطبقات الكبرى : ج 2 ص 267 .

Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 2, p. 267.

139. صحيح البخاري عن ابن عبّاس عن عمرـ

139. Sahih al-Bukhari, narrating from Ibn `Abbas, from `Umar,

مِن خُطبَتِهِ فِي أواخِرِ عُمُرِهِ ـ:

who said in a sermon:

بَلَغَني أنَّ قائِلاً مِنكُم يَقولُ :

“I was informed that one of you is saying:

وَاللّهِ لَو قَد ماتَ عُمَرُ بايَعتُ فُلاناً فَلا يَغتَرَّنَّ امرُؤٌ أن يَقولَ :

“By Allah, if `Umar dies, I will give my allegiance to so and so. Let none of you be deluded and say:

إنَّما كانَت بَيعَةُ أبي بَكرٍ فَلتَةً وتَمَّت .

“Indeed, the allegiance of Abu Bakr was a slip, but it was accomplished.”

ألا وإنَّها قَد كانَت كَذلِكَ ، ولكِنَّ اللّهَ وقى شَرَّها ،

Yes, it was so; but Allah protected us from its evil.

ولَيسَ فيكُم مَن تُقطَعُ الأعناقُ إلَيهِ مِثلُ أبي بَكرٍ .

None of you has the prestige Abu Bakr has.

 مَن بايَعَ رَجُلاً عَن غَيرِ مَشورَةٍ مِنَ المُسلِمينَ فَلا يُتابَعُ هُوَ ولَا الَّذي تابَعَهُ تَغِرَّةٌ أن يُقتَلا

He who gives allegiance to a man without consulting the Muslims should not be followed.

وإِنَّه قَد كانَ مِن خَبَرِنا حينَ تَوفّى اللّهُ نَبِيَّهُ صلى الله عليه و آله

We know that when Allah took the Prophet (SA) to Him,

أنَّ الأَنصارَ خالَفونا ،

the Ansar opposed us

واجتَمَعوا بِأَسْرِهِم في سَقيفَةِ بَني ساعِدَةَ ،

and assembled at the Saqifa of Bani Sa`idah.

وخالَفَ عَنّا عَليٌّ والزُّبَيرُ ومَن مَعَهُما ،

Ali and al-Zubayr opposed us, along with those who were with them.

واجتَمَعَ المُهاجِرونَ إلى أبي بَكرٍ ،

The Muhajirin rallied around Abu Bakr,

فَقُلتُ لأَبي بَكرٍ :

and I said to him:

يا أبا بَكرِ اِنطَلِق بِنا إلى إخوانِنا هؤلاءِ مِنَ الأنصارِ ،

 “O Abu Bakr, let us go to those brothers of ours, the Ansar.”

فَانطَلَقنا نُريدُهُم ،

We went to them,

فَلمّا دَنَونا مِنهُم لَقيَنا مِنهُم رَجُلانِ صالِحانِ ،

and when we drew near their place, two righteous men from them met us.

فَذَكَرا ما تَمالأَ عَلَيهِ القَومُ ،

They informed us of what the people were planning.

فَقالا : أينَ تُريدونَ يامَعشَرَ المُهاجِرينَ ؟

They said: “O Muhajirin, where are you heading?”

فَقُلنا : نُريدُ إخوانَنا هؤلاءِ مِنَ الأنصارِ .

We said: “We are going to our brothers the Ansar.”

فَقالا : لا عَلَيكُم أن لا تَقرَبوهُم ، اقضوا أمرَكُم .

They said: “Do not worry. Go ahead and settle your matter.”

فَقُلتُ : وَاللّهِ لَنَأتينَّهُم .

Then I said: “By Allah, we will go to them.”

 فَانطَلَقنا حَتّى أتَيناهُم في سَقيفَةِ بَني ساعِدَةَ ،

We went on to them at the Saqifa of Bani Sa`idah.

فإِذا رَجُلٌ مُزَمَّلٌ بَينَ ظَهرانيهم ،

There was a covered man among them.

فَقُلتُ : مَن هذَا ؟

I enquired: “Who is that?”

فَقالوا : هذَا سَعدُ بن عِبادَةَ .

They said: “He is Sa`d ibn `Ubadah.”

فَقُلتُ : ما لَهُ ؟

I said: “What is wrong with him?”

قالوا : يُوعَكُ ،

They said: “He is ill.”

فَلَمّا جَلَسنا قَليلاً تَشَهَّدَ خَطيبَهُم ، فَأَثنى عَلَى اللّهِ بِما هو أهلُهُ

We sat for a while, then their speaker started to praise Allah with what He is worthy of,

ثُمَّ قالَ :

and then said:

 أمّا بَعدُ ، فَنَحنُ أنصارُ اللّهِ وكَتيبَةُ الإِسلامِ ،

“Now, we are the partisans of Allah and the party of Islam

وأنتُم مَعشَرَ المُهاجِرينَ رَهطٌ ،

and you the Muhajirin are but a band.

وقَد دَفَّت دافّةٌ مِن قَومِكُم ،

A group of you want to eliminate us,

فإِذا هُم يُريدونَ أن يَختَزِلونا مِن أصلِنا ،

cut us off,

وأن يَحضِنونا مِنَ الأمرِ .

and keep us away from the issue.

 فَلَمّا سَكَتَ أردتُ أن أتَكَلَّمُ ،

When he finished,

وكُنتُ قَد زَوّرتُ مَقالَةً أعجَبَتني أرَدتُ أن اُقَدِّمَها بَينَ يَدَي أبي بَكرٍ ،

I wanted to speak.

وكُنتُ اُداري مِنهُ بَعضَ الحَدِّ ،

I had already prepared speech to deliver in front of Abu Bakr.

فَلَمّا أرَدتُ أن أتَكَلَّمُ قالَ أبو بَكرٍ : عَلى رَسلِكَ ،

When I was about to speak, Abu Bakr said: “Wait a while.”

فَكَرَهتُ أن اُغضِبَهُ ،

I did not want to make him angry.

فَتَكَلَّمَ أبو بَكر ،

Then Abu Bakr spoke.

فَكانَ هو أحلَمُ مِنِّي وأوقَرُ ،

He was more forbearing and more dignified than I am.

وَاللّهِ ما تَرَكَ مِن كَلِمَةٍ أعجَبَتني في تَزويري إلّا قالَ في بَديهَتِهِ مِثلها أو أفضَلَ ،

By Allah, he left nothing I liked and prepared to say without spontaneously saying it or better.”

حَتّى سَكَتَ فَقالَ :

He stopped, and then went on to say [to the Ansar]:

ما ذَكَرتُم فيكُم مِن خَيرٍ

“Whatever good you mentioned about yourselves,

فأَنتُم لَهُ أهلٌ ،

you are worthy of it.

ولَن يُعرَفُ هذَا الأمرُ إلّا لِهذا الحَيِّ مِن قُرَيشِ ،

This matter [of Caliphate] will not be settled except for Quraish.

هُم أوسَطُ العَرَبِ نَسَباً وداراً ،

They are the choise of the Arabs in place and in lineage;

وقَد رَضيتُ لَكُم أحَدَ هذَينِ الرَّجُلينِ ،

I recommend for you to select one of these two men,

فَبايِعوا أيُّهُما شِئتُم ،

so pledge allegiance to either of them.”

فأَخَذَ بِيَدي وبِيَدِ أبي عُبيدةَ بن الجرّاح وهو جالِسٌ بَينَنا ،

He [Abu Bakr] then took my hand and the hand of Abu `Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah.

فَلَم أكرَه مِمّا قالَ غَيرَها ،

I disliked nothing of what he had said except that part,

كانَ وَاللّهِ أن اُقَدَّمَ فَتُضرَبُ عُنُقي ،

for, by Allah, I would rather have myself decapitated

لا يَقرِبُني ذلِكَ مِن إثمٍ أحَبَّ إليَّ مِن أن أتَأَمَّرُ عَلى قَومٍ فيهِم أبو بَكر ،

than to be a ruler of a nation, one of whose members is Abu Bakr.”

اللّهُمّ إلّا أن تُسَوِّلَ لي نَفسي عِندَ المَوتِ شَيئا لا أجِدَهُ الآنَ ،

 

فَقالَ قائِلٌ مِنَ الأنصارِ : أنا جُذَيلُها المُحَكّكُ ، وعُذَيقُها المُرَجّبُ ،

One of the Ansar said: “I am the one worthy if it.

مِنّا أميرٌ ومِنكُم أميرٌ . يامَعشَرَ قُرَيشَ !

O Quraish, there should be a leader from us and a leader from you!”

فَكَثَرَ اللّغَطُ وارتَفَعَتِ الأصواتُ ،

There was much commotion, and voices rose,

حَتّى فَرقَت مِنَ الاختِلافُ ،

and I was afraid of dissension.

فَقُلتُ : ابسُط يَدَكَ يا أبا بَكرٍ ،

Then I said: “Abu Bakr, stretch out your hand.”

فَبَسَطَ يَدَهُ فَبايَعتُهُ

He opened his hand and I gave him my pledge of allegiance,

وبايَعَهُ المُهاجِرونَ ثُمَّ بايَعَتهُ الأنصارُ ،

the Muhajirin gave him allegiance, and the Ansar too.

ونَزَونا عَلى سعدِ بن عِبادَةَ

Then we proceeded to Sa`d ibn `Ubadah [whom the Ansar desired to make a ruler].

فَقالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم : قَتَلتُم سَعدَ بن عِبادَةَ !

So one of them said: “You have killed Sa`d ibn `Ubadah.”

فَقُلتُ : قَتَلَ اللّهُ سَعدَ بنَ عِبادَةَ .

I said: “Allah has killed Sa`d ibn `Ubadah.”

قالَ عُمَرُ : وإِنّا وَاللّهِ ما وَجَدنا فيما حَضَرنا مِن أمرٍ أقوى مِن مُبايَعَةِ أبي بَكرٍ

`Umar said: “By Allah, we have found no greater problem than the allegiance pledged to Abu Bakr.

خَشَينا إن فارَقنا القَومَ ولَم تَكُن بَيعَةٌ أن يُبايِعوا رَجُلاً مِنهُم بَعدَنا ،

We feared that if we left the people, they might pledge allegiance after us to one of their men.

فَإِمّا بايَعناهُم عَلَى ما لا نَرضى ،

Then, either we will pledge allegiance to them for that which is against our real wish,

وإِمّا نُخالِفَهُم فَيَكونُ فَسادٌ .

or be in disagreement with them and cause great trouble.

فَمَن بايَعَ رَجُلاً عَلى غَيرِ مَشوَرَةٍ مِنَ المُسلِمينَ فَلا يُتابَعُ هو

Any person who gives his pledge of allegiance to somebody without consulting other Muslims, then the one elected should not be complied with,

ولَا الَّذي بايَعَهُ تَغِرَّةَ أن يُقتَلا .

nor the one who pledged the allegiance, lest both of them should be killed.”

صحيح البخاري : ج6 ص2505 ح6442 .

Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 2505, h. 6442

140. تاريخ اليعقوبي :

140. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi:

تَخَلَّفَ عَن بَيعَةِ أبي بَكرٍ قَومٌ مِنَ المُهاجِرينَ وَالأَنصارِ ،

“Some of the Muhajirin and Ansar refused to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr

ومالوا مَعَ عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ ،

and were inclined towards Ali ibn Abi Talib.

مِنهُمُ : العَبّاسُ بنُ عَبدِ المُطَّلِبِ ، وَالفَضلُ بنُ العَبّاسِ ، وَالزُّبَيرُ بنُ العَوّامِ بنِ العاصِ ، وخالِدُ بنُ سَعيدٍ ، وَالمِقدادُ بنُ عَمرٍو ، وسَلمانُ الفارِسِيُّ ، وأبو ذَرٍّ الغِفارِيُّ ، وعَمّارُ بنُ ياسِرٍ ، وَالبَراءُ بنُ عازِبٍ ، واُبَيُّ بنُ كَعبٍ .

Among them were: al-`Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, al-Fazl ibn al-`Abbas, al-Zubayr ibn al-`Awwam ibn al-As, Khalid ibn Sa`id, al-Miqdad ibn `Amr, Salman al-Farsi, Abu Dharr al Ghifari, `Ammar ibn Yasir, al Bara’ ibn Azib, and Ubay ibn Ka`b.

 فَأَرسَلَ أبو بَكرٍ إلى عُمَرَ بنِ الخَطّابِ ، وأبي عُبَيدَةَ بنِ الجَرّاحِ ، وَالمُغيرَةَ بنِ شُعبَةَ ،

Abu Bakr sent for `Umar ibn al-Khattab, Abu `Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah and al-Mughira ibn Shu`ba

فَقالَ : مَا الرَّأيُ ؟

and said: “What is your opinion?”

قالوا : الرَّأيُ أن تَلقَى العَبّاسَ بنَ عَبدِ المُطَّلِبِ ،

They said: “Our opinion is to send for al-`Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib

فَتَجعَلَ لَهُ في هذَا الأَمرِ نَصيبا يَكونُ لَهُ ولِعَقِبِهِ مِن بَعدِهِ ،

and grant him a share in this matter [of Caliphate].

فَتَقطَعونَ بِهِ ناحِيَةَ عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ

By this, you will keep away Ali ibn Abi Talib.

حُجَّةً لَكُم عَلى عَلِيٍّ إذا مالَ مَعَكُم .

If he [al-`Abbas] sides with you, it will be an argument for you against Ali.”

تاريخ اليعقوبي: ج2 ص124 .

Tarikh al Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 124.

141. الإرشاد :

141. Al-Irshad:

لَمّا تَمَّ ، لِأَبي بَكرٍ ما تَمَّ ، وبايَعَهُ مَن بايَعَ ،

“When the matter [of Caliphate] was accomplished for Abu Bakr and he received the allegiance from all those who gave it,

جاءَ رَجُلٌ إلى أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام وهُوَ يُسَوّي قَبرَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله بِمِسحاةٍ في يَدِهِ فَقالَ لَهُ:

a man came to the Commander of the Faithful (AS) who had a spade in his hand and was levelling the grave of the Messenger of Allah (SA), and said to him:

إنَّ القَومَ قَد بايَعوا أبا بَكرٍ،

“The people have pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr,

ووَقَعَتِ الخَذلَةُ فِي الأَنصارِ لِاختِلافِهِم ،

and the Ansar were defeated because of their disputes,

وبَدَرَ الطُّلَقاءُ بِالعَقدِ لِلرَّجُلِ خَوفا مِن إدراكِكُمُ الأَمرَ .

and the freedmen (al-tulaqa’) took the initiative to assert the authority to the person out of fear, that you might secure the matter.”

فَوَضَعَ طَرَفَ المِسحاةِ فِي الأَرضِ ويَدُهُ عَلَيها ثُمَّ قالَ :  

He (AS) put a side of the spade on the ground and put his hand on it reciting His words:

«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ*

“In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, All-merciful.

الم *

Alif Lam Mim.

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُواْ أَن يَقُولُواْ ءَامَنَّا وَ هُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ *

Do the people suppose that they will be let off because they say, ‘We have faith’, and they will not be tested?

وَ لَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَ لَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَـذِبِينَ *

Certainly We tested those who were before them. So Allah shall surely ascertain the liars.

أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّـئاتِ أَن يَسْبِقُونَا سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ»  . العنكبوت : 1 ـ 4 .

Do those who commit misdeeds suppose that they can outrun Us? Evil is the judgment that they make.” Qur’an, 29:1-4

الإرشاد : ج 1 ص 189 .

Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 189.

142. أنساب الأشراف عن سليمان التيمي وعن ابن عَون :

142. Ansab al Ashraf, narrating from Sulaiman al Taymi and Ibn `Awn, who said:

إنَّ أبا بَكرٍ أرسَلَ إلى عَلِيٍّ يُريدُ البَيعَةَ ، فَلَم يُبايِع .

“Abu Bakr sent for Ali to allegiance, but he refused.

فَجاءَ عُمَرُ ، وَمَعَهُ قَبَسٌ ، فَتَلَقَّتهُ فاطِمَةُ عَلَى البابِ ،

Then `Umar came holding a firebrand and was met by Fatimah at the door.

فَقالَت فاطِمَةُ : يَابنَ الخَطّابِ ! ! أ تُراكَ مُحَرِّقا عَلَيَّ بابي ؟ !

Fatimah said:” O Ibn al-Khattab, are you going to set fire at my door?”

قالَ : نَعَم ! ! ، وذلِكَ أقوى فيما جاءَ بِهِ أبوكِ .

He said: “Yes!” This is stronger than what your father has brought.”

أنساب الأشراف : ج2 ص268 .

Ansab al Ashraf, vol. 2, p. 268.

143. تاريخ الطبري عن زياد بن كُلَيب :

143. Tarikh al-Tabari, narrating from Ziyad ibn Kulayb, who said:

أتى عُمَرُ بنُ الخَطّابِ مَنزِلَ عَلِيٍّ وَفيهِ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ ورِجالٌ مِنَ المُهاجِرينَ ، فَقالَ :

“`Umar ibn al-Khattab came to the house of Ali, where there were Talha, al-Zubayr and men of the Muhajirun, and he said to them:

وَاللّهِ لَاُحرِقَنَّ عَلَيكُم أَو لَتَخرُجُنَّ إلَى البَيعَةِ .

“By Allah, I am going to set you on fire, or come out and pledge allegiance.”

فَخَرَجَ عَلَيهِ الزُّبَيرُ مُصلِتا بِالسَّيفِ ،

Al-Zubayr came out brandishing his sword.

فَعَثَرَ فَسَقَطَ السَّيفُ مِن يَدِهِ ،

He stumbled, and the sword fell out of his hand,

فَوَثَبوا عَلَيهِ فَأَخَذوهُ .

so they attacked him and took it.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج3 ص202 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 3, p. 202.

144. الردّة :

144. Al-Ridda:

أرسَلَ أبو بَكرٍ إلى عَلِيٍّ فَدَعاهُ ،

“Abu Bakr sent for Ali and invited him,

فَأَقبَلَ وَالنّاسُ حُضورٌ ،

so he came where there were many people.

فَسَلَّمَ وجَلَسَ ،

He greeted and sat down,

ثُمَّ أقبَلَ عَلَى النّاسِ ،

and then he faced the people

فَقالَ : لِمَ دَعَوتَني ؟

and said: “Why did you call me?”

فَقالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ : دَعَوناكَ لِلبَيعَةِ الَّتي قَدِ اجتَمَعَ عَلَيهَا المُسلِمونَ ،

`Umar said: “We called you to pledge allegiance, on which all the Muslims agreed.”

فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ : يا هؤُلاءِ ، إنَّما أخَذتُم هذَا الأَمرَ مِنَ الأَنصارِ بِالحُجَّةِ عَلَيهِم وَالقَرابَةِ لِأَبي بَكرٍ ؛

Ali said: “O people, you have only taken this matter away from the Ansar by holding the argument against them and by your kinship to Abu Bakr,

لِأَنَّكُم زَعَمتُم أنَّ مُحَمَّدا صلى الله عليه و آله مِنكُم ،

claiming that Muhammad (SA) is one of you.

فَأَعطَوكُمُ المَقادَةَ ،

This is why they gave you the leadership

وَسَلَّموا إلَيكُمُ الأَمرَ ،

and submitted the authonty to you.

وأنَا أحتَجُّ عَلَيكُم بِالَّذِي احتَجَجتُم بِهِ عَلَى الأَنصارِ ،

For your information, we are entitled to Muhammad (SA) more than you are,

نَحنُ أولى بِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه و آله حَيّا ومَيِّتا ؛

whether he is alive or dead,

لِأَنّا أهلُ بَيتِهِ ، وأقرَبُ الخَلقِ إلَيهِ ،

because we are his household and the closest of all people to him.

فَإِن كُنتُم تَخافونَ اللّهَ فَأَنصِفونا ،

So, if you fear Allah, then do us justice

وَاعرِفوا لَنا في هذَا الأَمرِ ما عَرَفَتهُ لَكُمُ الأَنصارُ .

and recognise our right as the Ansar recognised your right.”

 فَقالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ : إنَّكَ أيُّهَا الرَّجُلُ لَستَ بِمَتروكٍ أو تُبايِعُ كَما بايَعَ غَيرُكَ .

Then `Umar said to him: “O man, you will not be left alone unless you pledge allegiance, as others have pledged.”

فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ رضى الله عنه : إذا لا أقبَلُ مِنكَ وَلا اُبايِعُ مَن أنَا أحَقُّ بِالبَيعَةِ مِنهُ .

Ali (AS) said: “Then, I shall not accept from you, nor shall I pledge allegiance to a person than whom I am more entitled of allegiance.”

فَقالَ لَهُ أبو عُبَيدَةَ بنُ الجَرّاحِ :

Abu `Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah then said:

وَاللّهِ يا أبَا الحَسَنِ ،

“By Allah, O Abu al-Hasan,

إنَّكَ لَحَقيقٌ لِهذَا الأَمرِ لِفَضلِكَ وسابِقَتِكَ وقَرابَتِكَ ،

you are more worthy of this matter, because of your prestige, your precedence and your kinship,

غَيرَ أنَّ النّاسَ قَد بايَعوا ورَضوا بِهذَا الشَّيخِ ،

but people have pledged their allegiance to this old man and have accepted him,

فَارضَ بِما رَضِيَ بِهِ المُسلِمونَ .

so accept what the Muslims have accepted.”

 فَقالَ لَهُ عليّ كَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَجهَهُ :

Ali said:

يا أبا عُبَيدَةَ ، أنتَ أمينُ هذِهِ الاُمَّةِ ! !

 “O Abu `Ubaidah, you are the trusted man of this nation,

فَاتَّقِ اللّهَ في نَفسِكَ ؛

so fear Allah in yourself.

فَإِنَّ هذَا اليَومَ لَهُ ما بَعدَهُ مِنَ الأَيّامِ ، ولَيسَ يَنبَغي لَكُم أن تُخرِجوا سُلطانَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه و آله مِن دارِهِ وقَعرِ بَيتِهِ إلى دورِكُم وقُعورِ بُيوتِكُم ؛

It is not proper for you all to remove the authority of Muhammad (SA) from his household to your households.

فَفي بُيوتِنا نَزَلَ القُرآنُ ،

It is in our houses that the Qur’an was revealed,

ونَحنُ مَعدِنُ العِلمِ وَالفِقهِ وَالدّينِ وَالسُّنَّةِ وَالفَرائِضِ ،

and we are the source of knowledge, jurisprudence, religion, traditions and precepts.

ونَحنُ أعلَمُ بِاُمورِ الخَلقِ مِنكُم ؛

We are better informed about the matters of the world than you are.

فَلا تَتَّبِعُوا الهَوى فَيَكونَ نَصيبُكُمُ الأَخَسَّ .

Do not follow your desire or you will be inflicted with the worst.”

 فَتَكَلَّمَ بَشيرُ بنُ سَعدٍ الأَنصارِيُّ فَقالَ :

Bashir ibn Sa`d al-Ansari then spoke and said:

يا أبَا الحَسَنِ ،

“O Abu al-Hasan,

أما وَاللّهِ لَو أنَّ هذَا الكَلامَ سَمِعَهُ النّاسُ مِنكَ

by Allah, if people had heard this speech from you

قَبلَ البَيعَةِ لَمَا اختَلَفَ عَلَيكَ رَجُلانِ ،

before pledging their allegiance, no two men would have differed about you

وَلَبايَعَكَ النّاسُ كُلُّهُم ،

and all people would have pledged allegiance to you.

غَيرَ أنَّكَ جَلَستَ في مَنزِلِكَ وَلَم تَشهَد هذَا الأَمرَ ،

However, you stayed at house and did not attend to this matter.

فَظَنَّ النّاسُ أن لا حاجَةَ لَكَ فيهِ ، وَالآنَ فَقَد سَبَقَتِ البَيعَةُ لِهذَا الشَّيخِ ، وَأنتَ عَلى رَأسِ أمرِكَ .

People thought you had no interest in it.

 فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ : وَيحَكَ يا بَشيرُ !

Ali said to him: “Woe unto you, Bashir.

أ فَكانَ يَجِبُ أن أترُكَ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله في بَيتِهِ فَلَم أجِبهُ إلى حُفرَتِهِ ،

Should I have left the Messenger of Allah (SA) dying in his house

وأخرُجَ اُنازِعُ النّاسَ بِالخِلافَةِ ؟ !

and come out to contest with people about the Caliphate?”

الردّة : ص 46 .

Al-Ridda, p. 46.

145. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام

145. Imam Ali (AS) said,

ـ في خُطبَةٍ تَشتَمِلُ عَلَى الشَّكوى مِن أمرِ الخِلافَةِ ـ:

–in a sermon about the affair of the Caliphate–:

أما وَاللّهِ لَقَد تَقَمَّصَها فُلانٌ

“By Allah, so and so took on its clothes [the Caliphate],

وإنَّهُ لَيَعلَمُ أنَّ مَحَلّي مِنها مَحَلُّ القُطبِ مِنَ الرَّحا ،

and he well knows that my position with regard to it was like the position of the axle of a mill.

يَنحَدِرُ عَنِّي السَّيلُ ولا يَرقى إلَيَّ الطَّيرُ ،

The stream of knowledge flows down from me and the birds cannot fly up to me.

فَسَدَلتُ دونَها ثَوبا ،

I put a curtain against the caliphate

وطَوَيتُ عَنها كَشحا ،

and kept myself detached from it.

وطَفِقتُ أرتَئي بَينَ أن أصولَ بِيَدٍ جَذّاءَ ،

Then I began to think whether I should attempt to attack

أو أصبِرَ عَلى طَخيَةٍ  عَمياءَ ،

or endure calmly the blind darkness of tribulations

يَهرَمُ فيهَا الكَبيرُ ،

wherein the grown ups are made feeble

وَيَشيبُ فيهَا الصَّغِيرُ ،

and the young grow old

ويَكدَحُ فيها مُؤمِنٌ حتّى يَلقى رَبَّهُ !

and the true believer would act under strain till he meets Allah [on his death].

فَرَأَيتُ أنَّ الصَّبرَ عَلى هاتا أحجى ،

I found that endurance thereon was more appropriate.

فَصَبَرتُ وفِي العَينِ قَذىً ،

So I endured although there was a mote in my eye

وفِي الحَلقِ شَجا ،

and suffocation [of mortification] in my throat,

أرى تُراثي نَهبا .

seeing my inheritance plundered.”

نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 3 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 3.

 146. كتاب سليم بن قيس :قالَ سَلمانُ :

146. Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays: “Salman said:

فَلَمّا أن كانَ اللَّيلُ حَمَلَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام فاطِمَةَ عليهاالسلامعَلى حِمارٍ ،

“When night came, Ali (AS) took Fatimah (AS) on a donkey,

وأخَذَ بِيَدَيِ ابنَيهِ الحَسَنِ والحُسَينِ عليهماالسلام ،

holding the hands of his two sons Hasan and Husain (AS),

فَلَم يَدَع أحَدا مِن أهلِ بَدرٍ مِنَ المُهاجِرينَ ولا مِنَ الأَنصارِ إلّا أتاهُ في مَنزِلِهِ ،

and went to the houses of the folk of Badr and the houses of the Muhajirin and the Ansar,

فَذَكَّرَهُم حَقَّهُ ،

reminding them of his rights

ودَعاهُم إلى نُصرَتِهِ ،

and asking them to support him.

فَمَا استَجابَ لَهُ مِنهُم إلّا أربَعَةٌ وأربَعون رَجُلاً .

However, only forty-four of them responded to him,

فَأَمَرَهُم أن يُصبِحوا بُكرَةً مُحَلِّقينَ رُؤوسَهُم مَعَهُم سِلاحُهُم

whom he ordered to come the next morning with their heads shaven and with their weapons,

لِيُبايِعوا عَلَى المَوتِ ،

to pledge allegiance to him until death.

فَأَصبَحوا ، فَلَم يُوافِ مِنهُم أحَدٌ إلّا أربَعَةٌ .

In the morning, only four of them arrived.”

 فَقُلتُ لِسَلمانَ : مَنِ الأَربَعَةُ ؟

So, I asked Salman: “Who were these four?”

فَقالَ : أنَا وأبو ذَرٍّ وَالمِقدادُ وَالزُّبَيرُ بنُ العَوّامِ .

He said: “I, Abu Dharr, al-Miqdad, and al-Zubayr ibn al-`Awwam.”

 ثُمَّ أتاهُم عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام مِنَ اللَّيلَةِ المُقبِلَةِ ،

The next night, Ali (AS) came again

فَناشَدَهُم ،

and asked them earnestly.

فَقالوا : نُصبِحُكَ بُكرَةً ،

They said: “We will come to you in the morning.”

فَما مِنهُم أحَدٌ أتاهُ غَيرُنا .

Again, no one came except us.

 ثُمَّ أتاهُمُ اللَّيلَةَ الثّالِثَةَ فَما أتاهُ غَيُرنا .

Then he went to them the third night, but no one came to him except us.

 فَلَمّا رَأى غَدرَهُم وقِلَّةَ وَفائِهم لَهُ لَزِمَ بَيتَهُ ،

When he saw their treachery and lack of loyalty, he stayed at home,

وأقبَلَ عَلَى القُرآنِ يُؤَلِّفُهُ ويَجمَعُهُ ،

and set out to collect the Qur’an,

فَلَم يَخرُج مِن بَيتِهِ حَتّى جَمَعَهُ .

refusing to leave his house until he finished collecting it.”

كتاب سليم بن قيس : ج2 ص580 ح4 .

Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays, vol. 2, p. 580, h. 4.

147. تاريخ اليعقوبي :

147. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi:

اِجتَمَعَ جَماعَةٌ إلى عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ يَدعونَهُ إلَى البَيعَةِ لَهُ ،

“A group of men gathered around Ali ibn Abi Talib to pledge allegiance to him.

فَقالَ لَهُم : اُغدوا عَلى هذا مُحَلِّقينَ الرُّؤوسَ .

He told them: “Come tomorrow with shaven heads.”

فَلَم يَغدُ عَلَيهِ إلّا ثَلاثَةُ نَفَرٍ .

The next day no one came, except for three men.”

تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج2 ص126 .

Tarikh al Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 126.

148. أنساب الأشراف عن الحسين عن أبيه:

148. Ansab al-Ashraf, narrating from al-Husain, from his father,

 إنَّ أبا سُفيانَ جاءَ إلى عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ،

who said: “Abu Sufyan came to Ali (AS) and said:

فَقالَ : يا عَلِيُّ ، بايَعتُم رَجُلاً مِن أذَلِّ قَبيلَةٍ مِن قُرَيشٍ !

 “O Ali, you pledge allegiance to a man from the lowest tribe of Quraish!

أما وَاللّهِ لَئِن شِئتَ لَاُضرِمَنَّها عَلَيهِ مِن أقطارِها ،

By Allah, if you wish I will set fire to him from every side

ولَأَملَأَنَّها عَلَيهِ خَيلاً ورِجالاً ! !

and will overwhelm him with horses and men.”

 فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ : إنَّكَ طالَما ما غَشَشتَ اللّهَ ورَسولَهُ وَالإِسلامَ ،

Ali said to him: “You have for long cheated Allah, his Messenger, and Islam,

فَلَم يَنقُصهُ ذلِكَ شَيئا .

but it was of no avail.”

أنساب الأشراف : ج2 ص271 .

Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 2, p. 271.

149. الكامل في التاريخ عن الزُّهري:

149. Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, narrating from al Zuhri, who said:

بَقِيَ عَلِيٌّ وبَنو هاشِمٍ وَالزُّبَيرُ سِتَّةَ أشهُرٍ لَم يُبايِعوا أبا بَكرٍ ،

 “Ali, Bani Hashim and al-Zubayr remained for six months without pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr,

حَتّى ماتَت فاطِمَةُ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنها ،

until Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, died.

فَبايَعوهُ .

Then they pledged allegiance to him.”

الكامل في التاريخ : ج 2 ص 14 .

Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 14.

150. صحيح البخاري عن عائشة:

150. Sahih al-Bukhari, narrating from A’ishah, who said:

 إنَّ فاطِمَةَ عليهاالسلام بِنتَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله أرسَلَت إلى أبي بَكرٍ تَسأَلُهُ ميراثَها مِن رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ؛

“Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet (SA), sent for Abu Bakr asking for her share of inheritance from that which the Messenger of Allah (SA) had left by way of spoils,

مِمّا أفاءَ اللّهُ عَلَيهِ بِالمَدينَةِ ،

which Allah had given to him in Medina,

وفَدَكَ ، وما بَقِيَ مِن خُمُسِ خَيبَرَ ...

along with Fadak and Khaibar.....

فَأَبى أبو بَكرٍ أن يَدفَعَ إلى فاطِمَةَ مِنها شَيئا ،

However, Abu Bakr refused to give Fatimah any of it.

فَوَجَدَت فاطِمَةُ عَلى أبي بَكرٍ في ذلِكَ ،

So, she [A’ishah] saw Fatimah very angry at Abu Bakr,

فَهَجَرَتهُ ؛

so she deserted him

فَلَم تُكَلِّمهُ حَتّى تُوُفِّيَت ،

and refused to speak to him until she died.

وعاشَت بَعدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله سِتَّةَ أشهُرٍ .

She lived for six months after the Prophet (SA) passed away.

 فَلَمّا تُوُفِّيَت دَفَنَها زَوجُها عَلِيٌّ لَيلاً ،

When she died, her husband Ali buried her at night.

ولَم يُؤذِن بِها أبا بَكرٍ ،

He did not inform Abu Bakr of her death

وصَلّى عَلَيها .

and prayed over her body.

وكانَ لِعَلِيٍّ مِنَ النّاسِ وجهٌ حَياةَ فاطِمَةَ ،

During the life of Fatima, Ali would enjoy attention from the people,

فَلَمّا تُوُفِّيَتِ استَنكَرَ عَلِيٌّ وُجوهَ النّاسِ ،

but when she died, Ali did not know their faces, [Editor’s note: It means that they ceased to respect him‚ rather they ignored him instead. This about-face caused their faces change to those of strangers and thus could not be known by Imam ‘Ali.]

فَالتَمَسَ مُصالَحَةَ أبي بَكرٍ ومُبايَعَتَهُ ،

so he sought reconciliation with Abu Bakr and pledged allegiance to him,

ولَم يَكُن يُبايِع تِلكَ الأَشهُرَ .

after he had refused to pledge allegiance for those (six) months.”

صحيح البخاري : ج 4 ص 1549 ح 3998 .

Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 1549, h. 3998.

151. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ مِن خُطبَتِهِ قَبلَ حَربِ الجَمَلِ ـ:

151. Imam Ali (AS) said, –in a sermon he delivered before the Battle of the Camel-:

إنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه و آله حينَ قُبِضَ كُنّا نَحنُ أهلَ بَيتِهِ ،

“When the Prophet (SA) passed away, we were his family,

وعُصبَتَهُ ، ووَرَثَتَهُ ، وأولِياءَهُ ،

his clan, his heirs, his supporters,

وأحَقَّ خَلقِ اللّهِ بِهِ ،

even as we had a better right to him than Allah’s servants.

لا نُنازَعُ في ذلِكَ . . .

No one shall contest us in that....

فَانتَزَعوا سُلطانَ نَبِيِّنا مِنّا ، ووَلَّوهُ غَيرَنا ،

They stripped the authority of our prophet from us and gave it to others.

وَايمُ اللّهِ فَلَولا مَخافَةُ الفُرقَة بَينَ المُسلِمينَ أن يَعودوا إلَى الكُفرِ

By Allah, had it not been for fearing the disunity of the Muslims and their return to disbelief,

لَكُنّا غَيَّرنا ذلِكَ مَا استَطَعنا !

we would have changed that as much as we could.”

الجمل : ص437 .

Al-Jamal, p. 437.

152. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام:

152. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:

 إنَّ النّاسَ لَمّا صَنَعوا ما صَنَعوا إذ بايَعوا أبا بَكرٍ ،

“When people did what they did and pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr,

لم يَمنَع أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام مِن أن يَدعُوَ إلى نَفسِهِ إلّا نَظَرا لِلنّاسِ ،

nothing prevented the Commander of the Faithful (AS) from calling for himself, except consideration for the people

وتَخَوُّفا عَلَيهِم أن يَرتَدّوا عَنِ الإِسلامِ ؛

and fear that they might apostatise from Islam.

فَيَعبُدُوا الأَوثانَ ،

Then they would return back to idol worshipping

ولا يَشهَدوا أن لا إلهَ إلَا اللّهُ ،

and fail to bear witness that there is no god but Allah

وأنَّ مُحَمَّدا رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله . . .

and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (SA)......

وبايَعَ مُكرَها ؛

So he pledged his allegiance compelled,

حَيثُ لَم يَجِد أعوانا .

when he did not have any supporters.”

الكافي : ج8 ص295 ح454 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 295, h. 454.

153. الكافي عن سدير :

153. Al-Kafi, narrating from Sadir, who said:

كُنّا عِندَ أبي جَعفرٍ عليه السلام ، فَذَكَرنا ما أحدَثَ النّاسُ بَعدَ نَبِيِّهِم صلى الله عليه و آله ، وَاستِذلالَهُم أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ،

 “We were with Abu Ja`far [al-Baqir] (AS) discussing what people innovated after their Prophet (SA), and their abandonment of the Commander of the Faithful (AS).

فَقالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ القَومِ : أصلَحَكَ اللّهُ ،

 

فَأَينَ كانَ عِزُّ بَني هاشِمٍ وما كانوا فيهِ مِنَ العَدَدِ ؟ !

One of the people said: “May Allah set you right, so where was the might of Bani Hashim and their number?”

 فَقالَ أبو جَعفَرٍ عليه السلام : ومَن كانَ بَقِيَ مِن بَني هاشِمٍ؟!

Abu Ja`far (AS) said: “But who was left of Bani Hashim?

إنَّما كانَ جَعفَرٌ وحَمزَةُ ، فَمَضَيا ،

There were Ja`far and Hamza, and they died.

وبَقِيَ مَعَهُ رَجُلانِ ضَعيفانِ ذَليلانِ ، حَديثا عَهدٍ بِالإِسلامِ ؛ عَبّاسٌ وعَقيلٌ ،

Two weak and humiliated men were left; `Abbas and `Aqil.

وكانا مِنَ الطُّلَقاءِ ،

They were not long accustomed to Islam from among the freedmen in the conquest of Mecca (tulaqa’).

أما وَاللّهِ لَو أنَّ حَمزَةَ وجَعفرا كانا بِحَضرَتِهِما ما وصَلا إلى ما وَصَلا إلَيهِ ،

By Allah, if Hamza and Ja`far were present, these people would never have gained access to it.

ولَو كانا شاهِدَيهِما لَأَتلَفا نَفسَيهِما .

If they had witnessed them, they would have sacrificed themselves.”

الكافي : ج8 ص189 ح216 .

Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 189, h. 216.

154. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :

154. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:

وَاللّهِ ما بايَعَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام حَتّى رَأَى الدُّخانَ قَد دَخَلَ عَلَيهِ بَيتَهُ .

 “By Allah, Ali (AS) refused to pledge allegiance until he saw smoke entering his house.”

الشافي : ج3 ص241 .

Al-Shafi, vol. 3, p. 241.

155. نثر الدرّ عن ابن عبّاس :

155. Nathr al-Durr, narrating from Ibn `Abbas, who said:

وقَعَ بَينَ عَلِيٍّ وعُثمانَ كَلامٌ ، فَقالَ عُثمانُ :

“There was an exchange of words between Ali and `Uthman, when ‘Uthman said:

ما أصنَعُ بِكُم إن كانَت قُرَيشٌ لا تُحِبُّكُم !

“What can I do for you, when Quraish does not love you?

وقَد قَتَلتُم مِنهُم يَومَ بَدرٍ سَبعينَ ،

You have killed seventy one of their people on the day of Badr,

كَأَنَّ وُجوهَهُم شُنوفُ الذَّهَبِ ،

whose faces were like golden earrings

تَشرَبُ آنُفُهُم قَبلَ شِفاهِهِم !

and whose noses drank before their lips [A metaphor for haughtiness and pride].”

نثر الدرّ : ج2 ص68 .

Nathr al-Durr, vol. 2, p. 68.

156. الأمالي للمفيد عن أبي الهَيثَم بن التَّيِّهان

156. Al-Amali, by al Mufid, narrating from Abu al-Haytham ibn al-Taihan,

ـ قَبلَ حَربِ الجَمَلِ ـ:

who said before the Battle of Camel:

يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ،

“O Commander of the Faithful,

إنَّ حَسَدَ قُرَيشٍ إيّاكَ عَلى وَجهَينِ :

the envy of Quraish towards you lies in two things:

أمّا خِيارُهُم فَحَسَدوكَ مُنافَسَةً فِي الفَضلِ ،

the good ones among them envy you for fear of their virtue

وَارتِفاعا فِي الدَّرَجَةِ .

and high status.

وأمّا أشرارُهُم فَحَسَدوكَ حَسَدا ،

As for the wicked ones among them, they envy you such that

أحبَطَ اللّهُ بِهِ أعمالَهُم ،

Allah has made their deed futile

وأثقَلَ بِهِ أوزارَهُم .

and their sins heavy.

وما رَضوا أن يُساووكَ

They were not content to be equal to you,

حَتّى أرادوا أن يَتَقَدَّموكَ ،

but they desire to get ahead of you.

فَبَعُدَت عَلَيهِمُ الغايَةُ ، وأسقَطَهُمُ المِضمارُ ،

But they were defeated by the arena.

وكُنتَ أحَقَّ قُرَيشٍ بِقُرَيشٍ ،

You have had a better right to Quraish than they have.

نَصَرتَ نَبِيَّهُم حَيّا ،

You have supported their prophet during his lifetime

وقَضَيتَ عَنهُ الحُقوقَ مَيِّتا ،

and fulfilled his right when he died.

وَاللّهِ ما بَغيُهُم إلّا عَلى أنفُسِهِم ،

By Allah, their injustice is but against themselves.

ونَحنُ أنصارُكَ وأعوانُكَ ،

We are your followers and your supporters.

فَمُرنا بِأَمرِكَ .

Command us as you wish.”

الأمالي للمفيد : ص155 ح6 .

Al-Amali, by al-Mufid, p. 155, h. 6.

157. تاريخ اليعقوبي عن عمر بن الخطّاب :

157. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, narrating from `Umar ibn al-Khattab:

كانَت بَيعَةُ أبي بَكرٍ فَلتَةً ،

“The allegiance of Abu Bakr was an unexpected event

وَقَى اللّهُ شَرَّها ،

whose evil Allah prevented;

فَمَن عادَ لِمِثلِها فَاقتُلوهُ .

so whoever redoes it, kill him.”

تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج2 ص158 .

Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 158.