Chapter Seven

The Chapter Concerning the Importance that the Sahabah ~~~ Attached to Unity This chapter highlights how the Sahabah ~.i,i,~ attached great imp~::>rtance to unity in word and in deed and how they abstained from dissension and disput~ in matters that had ramifications on dawah to AlIaah and His Rasool ~ and matters of Jihaad. Statements of the Sahabah ~~~ Concerning the Evil of Dissension The Statement of Hadhrat Abu Bakr ®)J.1~ Concerning Dissension Ibn Is'haaq reports the historic sermon that Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~@)i§ delivered in the orchard of the Banu Saa'idah. Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~ said, "It is not permissible for the Muslim to have two leagers. As soon as this happens, dissension springs up in all their affairs and all the commands issued. Their unity is then fragmented and they start to fight amongst themselves.

At this point, the Sunnah is forsaken, Bid'ah rears is ugly head and anarchy intensifies. No one can then set matters right." (1) The Statement of Hadhrat Umar ~~~ Concerning Dissension In the narration discussing the scenario before the pledge of allegiance was "taken at the hand of Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~, Hadhrat Saalim bin Ubayd states that someone from the Ansaar said, "(Who do we not appoint) A leader from amongst us (Ansaar) and another from amongst you (Muhaajireen)." Hadhrat Umar ~.~ responded to this by saying, "Two swords in one sheath!? They will never fit." (2) (1) Bayhaqi (Vo1.8 Pg.145). (2) Bayhaqi (Vol.8 THE UVES OF THE SAHABAH ~ (Vol-2) The Sermon of Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood ~~ in which he Warned about the Dangers of Dissension Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood ~ once said, "0 people! You should hold fast to obedience to your leader and preserving your unity because unity is the rope of Allaah that Allaah has commanded you to hold fast to.

What you dislike in staying united is much better than what you like in being divided, In everything that Allaah has created, He has also predetermined its end. Islaam is thriving right now and the time will soon come when it will also draw near to its end. It will then flourish and weaken until the Day of Qiyaamah. The sign of this is extreme poverty. Poverty will be so great that a poor man will not find anyone to give him anything and even a rich man will not regard what he has to be sufficient for him.

In fact, a person will place his need before his blood brother and cousin, but none will give him anything. The situation will be so bad that a beggar will beg from Friday to Friday without anyone putting anything in his hand. When matters reach this ebb, a splitting sound will emerge from the earth, which will lead the people of every area to think that it is coming from the ground beneath them. There will then be silence for as long as Allaah wills, after which the earth will stir and start to vomit out all her prized possessions." When someone asked Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood !itI)1~ what the prized possessions of the earth are, he replied, "Pillars of gold and silver. From that day onwards, none shall benefit form gold and silver until the Day of Qiyaamah." (1.) Another narration states that Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood !itI~~ said, "Family ties will be severed to the extent that the rich will only fear poverty and the poor will have none to show compassion towards him.

In fact, even if a person has to place his need before his own brother or cousin, none would show a bit of sympathy to give him a thing." (2) The Statement of Hadhrat Abu Dharr ~~ Concerning Dissension A man related that they once took some things for Hadhrat Abu Dharr ~~. However, when they reached Rabdha (the place where he lived) and asked for him, he was not available. Someone told them that Hadhrat Abu Dharr !itI,~ had requested (the Ameerul Mu'mineen) to perform Hajj and had received permission. The men then left for Mina (where they found him). They were once sitting in his company when someone informed him that (the Ameerul Mu'mineen) Hadhrat uthmaan !itI)1~ had performed four Rakaahs salaah (in Mina) (3).

This upset Hadhrat Abu Dharr ~ greatly and he had strong words to say. He also said, "When I performed salaah behind Rasulullaah ~ (in (I) TabraanL Haythami (Vol. 7 Pg.328) has commented on the chain of narrators, (2) Abu Nu'aym in his Hilya (Vo1.9 Pg.249). (3) Hadhrat Uthmaan ~ had married in Makkah and had intended to stay a few Jays in Makkah, because of which he was not a Musaafir THE LWES OF THE SAHABAH ifEJ~~ (Vol-2J Mina) , he performed only two Rakaahs salaah. I then performed salaah behind Abu Bakr ~~ and Vmar ~ (both of whom also performed two Rakaahs)." (Despite saying this) Hadhrat Abu Dharr ~ then stood up (when the salaah was performed) and performed four Rakaahs salaah (behind Hadhrat Uthmaan ~~~). Someone said to him, ''You have just criticised the Ameerul Mu'mineen but you now do the same thing he did?" Hadhrat Abu Dharr ~)1.1~ replied, "Causing dissension (by opposing the Ameerul Mu'mineen) is even worse.

I have heard Rasulullaah ~ say, 'There shall be kings after me. Never disgrace them because whoever ventures to do so will have taken off the rope of Islaam from his neck and cast it away. The repentance of such a person will never be accepted until he fills the void he has created (by repairing the damage he has done to the Deen) , which he will be unable to do and he then returns to the ranks of those who honour the king.' Rasulullaah ~~ has commanded us not to allow the kings to overpower us with regards to three factors (although we should honour them, this should not prevent us from three things): (1) that we enjoin people to do good, (2) that we prevent them from evil and (3) that we teach them the Sunnah.,,(l) The Statement of Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood ~~~ Hadhrat Qataadah narrates that Rasulullaah ~~, Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ and Hadhrat Umar ~~~ all performed two Rakaahs (Fardh) salaah in Makkah and in Mina. Hadhnit Uthmaan ~~ also used to do this during the initial years of his Khilaafah. However, he then started performing four Rakaahs.

When this news reached Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood ~, he recited "Innaa Lillaahi wa Innaa Ilayhi Raaji'oon" but (when the salaah was performed), he then stood up and performed four Rakaahs salaah (behind Hadhrat Uthmaan ~). Someone said to him, "You have just recited 'Innaa Lillaahi wa Innaa Ilayhi Raaji'oon' but you have performed four Rakaahs salaah?" Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood ~~ replied, "Causing dissension (by opposing the Ameerul Mu'mineen) is even worse." (2) The Statement of Hadhrat Ali ~.u.1~ Concerning Dissension, Bid' ah, Unity and Disunity Hadhrat Ali ~)1.1~ once said (to the people), "Continue doing as you have been doing (during the terms of the previous Khalifahs) because I hate disunity. Either people remain an undivided nation or I die (without seeing any disunity) as my companions (Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~)1.1~, Hadhrat Umar ~.~ and Hadhrat uthmaan ~.~) had passed away." For this reason Hadhrat Ibn Seereen was of the opinion that most of the narrations that some people of extreme viewpoints narrated from Hadhrat Ali ~ were false (they (I) Ahmad, Haythami (Vo1.5 Pg.216) has commented on the chain of narrators. (2) Abdur Razzaaq, as quoted in Kanzul Ummaal (VolA Pg.242). THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH ~~ (Vol-2) fabricated narrations to cause more disunity).

(1) Hadhrat Saleem bin Qais Aamiri narrates that IbnuI Kawwaa once asked Hadhrat Ali ~~ about the Sunnah, Bid'ah, unity and disunity. HadhratAli .~ replied, "0 IbnuI Kawwaa! Just as you have memorised the question, so too should you remember the reply. By Allaah, the Sunnaah is the way of Rasulullaah ~ while Bid'ah is everything that contradicts it. By Allaah, unity is the consensus of the people of truth even though they may be fewwhile disunity is the consensus of the people of falsehood even though they may be many." (2) The Standpoint of the Sahabah ~~~ Concerning the Khilaafah after the demise of Rasulullaah ~ The Sahabah ~u.1~ Unanimously Accept Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ as Khalifah The Demise of Rasulullaah ~ and the Sermon of .Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ Hadhrat Urwa bin Zubayr ~ says that (after hearing about the demise of Rasulullaah ~) Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ came on his animal from the Sunh district of Madinah.

He then dismounted at the door of the Masjid. He was filled with heartache and grief as he sought permission to enter the room of Vis daughter Hadhrat Aa'isha ~. When she gave permission, he entered the room where Rasulullaah ~ had passed away on the bed. Sitting around Rasulullaah ~ were his wives who veiled their faces and concealed themselves from Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~. Of course, there was no need for Hadhrat Aa'isha ~ to do so.

Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~ opened the face of Rasulullaah ~ and then knelt on his knees to kiss Rasulullaah ~. He wept as he said, "What the son of Khattaab says is not true(3). I swear by the Being Who controls my life that Rasulullaah ~ has certainly passed away. May Allaah's mercy be showered on you, 0 Rasulullaah ~! You are so pure in life and in death!" Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ then covered the face of Rasulullaah ~ and hastened to the Masjid, skipping over the shoulders of people sitting there until he reached the pulpit.

When he saw Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~ approach, even Hadhrat Umar ~.~ sat down. Standing at the side of the pUlpit, Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~called the people and they all sat down and kept silent. He recited the Shahaadah as he knew it and said, "Allaah@~~had given the news of the demise of His Nabi ~ when he was still alive amongst you. He has also given (I) al-Bukhari, Abu ubayd in Kitaabuf Amwaal and Isfahaani in Hujjah, as quoted in Muntakhab (Vot5 Pg.50). (2) Askari. as quoted in Kanzul Ummaal (Vol.!

Pg.96). . (3) Hadhrat Umar bin Khattaab ~ had been telling people that Rasulullaah _ had not passed away but his soul had merely been transported away to the heavens and would soon return. THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH ~~~ (Vol-2J you the news of your own deaths. Death is a reality and there will come a time when none but Allaah 0,~4)1;Z will be alive. Allaah has declared: )$ ~I ~ J\ ~l! ~w 1 J::~I ~ ~ ~U;':J j~J ~J~ ~J) .

" (lu ~h,:)1p JI) (OJ 'Muhammad ~ is but a Rasool (of Allaah). Indeed many Rusul have passed before him . .Jf he passes away or is martyred, would you (Muslims) then turn back on your heels (and forsake Islaam)? He who turns back on his heels can never harm Allaah in the least (because he will be harming only himself). Allaah shall soon reward the grateful ones (so be firm and strive for His Deen).'" (1) Hadhrat Umar ~~ exclaimed, "Is this verse in the Qur'aan? By Allaah, to this day, I .had never known that it was ever revealed (1 had completely forgotten about it)!" HadhJ:at Abu Bakr ~ continued, "Allaah has also mentioned the following about Muhammad ~: - J{ fA ' > ... ~::; , "r:.::; ,,'" ,::;) (,. ~I.rj) '\ Q i:J~ ~~ ~..:..li~ 'Indeed, you (0 RasuluJ/aah ~) shall certai;ly die, and they shall all die as welL' (2) 'Allaah has also mentioned: , " ..

(M ~I ~) (OJ ,,~,;J ~~;.GJI ~ 1 tP.J ~~~G ~~ jf) 'Everything shall perish but His countenance. All decisions rest with Him and to Him shall you all be returned (after death).' (3) Allaah also says: ('r"l ~T ~j) (OJ .A1j~1j ~\J~ .i.ej ~J ~~ OJ i:JU ~c:; JS') '" ",til' t# 'Everything on earth shall perish (on the Day of Qiyaamah if not sooner). (When this happens,) Only the countenance of your Rabb the Possessor of majesty and benevolence shall remain (forever, without ever perishing).' (4) Allaah says in another verse: (1M ~T "Ip Jh (1 ~ ~'!~il':'y. ;S-j;.\ ,,~j3 ~~ 1 ~j.jl ~ ~ JS') 'Every soul shall taste death and it is only on the Day of Qiyaamah that you will be given your rewards in full (although partial rewards are received in this world and in the grave}.'" (5) Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ continued; "Allaah had given a lifetime to Rasu1ullaah ~ and kept him alive until he established the Deen of Allaah, made the (1) Surah Aai Imraan, verse 144. (2) Surah Zumar, verse 30. (3) surah Qasas, verse 88.

(4) Surah Rahmaan, verses 26,27. (5) Surah Aai Imran, verse 185. mE LIVES OF mE SAHABAH ~~ (Vol-2J commands of Allaah explicit, passed on the message of Allaah and exerted himself in the path of Allaah. In this condition, Allaah then took him away after he had left you on a path. Now whoever dies will die after being exposed to the clear proofs (of Imaan) and the great cure (to kufr, which is the Qur'aan). Therefore, whoever took Allaah as his Rabb should know that Allaah is Alive and shall never die.

On the other hand, whoever worshipped Muhammad ~ and took him as a god should know that their god is no more. Fear Allaah, 0 people! Hold fast to your Deen and rely on your Rabb because the Deen ofAllaah has been established and the word of Allaah is complete. Allaah will assist whoever assists the Deen of Allaah and it is Allaah Who will strengthen His Deen. Indeed, the Book of Allaah that is amongst you is a light and a source of healing.

It is through this Book that Allaah had guided Muhammad ~ and it contains the details of the things that Allaah has made Halaal and what He has made Haraam. By Allaah! We have no concern for any of Allaah's creation that wishes to attack us because the swords of Allaah are drawn and we shall never put them down. We shall continue fighting those who oppose us just as we did with Rasulullaah ~. Whoever now seeks to oppress shall be oppressing only himself." The Muhaajireen then left together with Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ to (tend to the burial of) Rasulullaah~.

(I) The Sermon of Hadhrat Umar ~U5~ when Most of the Sahabah ~U5~ pledge their allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~U5~ Hadhrat Anas ~~ reports that he heard the closing sermon of Hadhrat Umar ~~ as he sat on the pulpit the day after Rasulullaah ~ passed away. Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~,~ sat in silence without saying a word. Hadhrat Umar ~~ said, "I wished that Rasulullaah ~ would remain alive until we had all passed away, so that he would be the last of us alive. (HOwever, we have nothing to fear because) Even though Muhammad ~ has passed away, Allaah has left in our midst a light (the Qur'aan) by which we are guided and which has also guided Muhammad ~. Abu Bakr ~~ is the close companion of Rasulullaah ~.

He was 'the second of the two' (in the cave with Rasulullaah ~ during the Hijrah(2)) and he is the most worthy of administering the affairs of the MUslirns. You should therefore stand up and pledge your allegiance to him." Although a large group had already pledged their allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~.in the orchard of the Banu Saa'idah, the general pledge of all the Muslims took place in the Masjid. (3) Imaam Zuhri narrates from Hadhrat Anas ~ that (1) Bayhaqi,as quoted in Ai BMaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.5 Pg.243). (2) This refers to verse 40 of surah Taubah in which Allaah says, "If you do not assist him (Rasulullaah ~), then indeed Allaah had assisted him when the Kuffaar drove him out (of Makkah). He was the second of the two (the other being his bosom friend Abu Bakr ~) when they were (hiding from the Kuffaar) in the cave (outside Makkah) and he (Rasulullaah told his companion (Abu Bakr~) (when the KUffaar were on the verge of capturing them), "Do not grieve (do not fear for my safety).

Verily Allaah is with us (and He will protect us from the Kuffaar)." (3) al-Bukhari. THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH ~ (Vol-2) on that day Hadhrat Umar ~~ kept insisting that Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~.~ mount the pulpit until he was forced to do so. The general public then pledged their allegiance to him. The Sahabah ~~ pledge their allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ in the Orchard Imaam Zuhri narrates from Hadhrat Anas ®~ that the day after the Sahabah ~~~ had pledged their allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ®.~ in the orchard, Hadhrat Abu Bakr ®~ sat on the pulpit (in the Masjid) as Hadhrat Umar ~~ stood by. Speaking before Hadhrat Abu B,9-kr ~, Hadhrat Umar ~ duly praised Allaah and then said, "0 peoplel What I told you yesterday (that Rasulullaah ~ had not passed away) was incorrect.

Neither have I found this in the Book of Allaah nor has Rasulullaah ~ instructed me to say it. However, I always thought that Rasulullaah ~~ would be the last of us (and found it difficult to accept that he had left the world before us). Nevertheless, Allaah has left with you His Book by which he guided Rasulullaah ~. If you hold fast to it, Allaah shall guide you to that which He has guided Rasulullaah ~. Allaahhas also united you under the leadership of the best amongst you, namely the close companion of Rasulullaah ~ who was 'the second of the two when they were in the cave'.

So stand up and pledge your allegiance to Abu BaKr ®~." The general public then pledged their allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ®~ after some had already pledged their allegiance in the orchard. Hadhrat Abu Bakr ®.~ then addressed the people. After duly praising Allaah, he said, "0 people! Although I have been appointed as your leader, I am by no means the best of you (2). Should I do what is right, do assist me and should I do wrong, do correct me.

To be truthful is a great trust while lying is a terrible misappropriation of trust. The weak amongst you are powerful in my eyes and I shall see that I remove the causes for his complaint. On the other hand, the powerful ones amongst you are weak in my eyes and I shall endeavour to take from them the dues (they owe to others), Inshaa Allaah. Whenever a nation forsakes Jihaad, Allaah humiliates them and whenever immoral behaviour becomes widespread amongst them, Allaah surrounds them with calamities. Obey me as long as I obey Allaah and His Rasool ~.

However, should I ever disobey Allaah and His Rasool ~, you are not obliged to obey me at all. You may now stand up for your salaah. May Allaah shower His mercies on you all." (I) The Khilaafah of Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ and the Lecture that Hadhrat Umar ®u.1~ delivered Concerning what Happened in the Orchard of the Banu Saa'idah Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas ®~ says that he used to teach the Qur'aan to (1) Hadhtat Abu Bakr ~ said this because of his humility. Otherwise, the Ulema of the Ummah unanimously agree that he is the best of all the Sahabah~. (2J Ibn !s'haaq, as quoted in AI Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vol.

S Pg.247J. THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH ~,u.1~ (Vol-2J Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf ~,~~and he was waiting for Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf ~.~ one day in Mina during the final Hajj that Hadhrat Vmar bin Khattaab ~~ performed. When Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf ~)J.,~ returned to the place where they were staying, he informed Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas ~ that a man had approached Hadhrat Vmar ~~ and told him about someone else who had said, "When Vmar ~.~~ passes away, I shall pledge my allegiance to a certain man (Hadhrat Talha bin VbayduIlaah ~~) because the pledge of allegiance taken to Abu Bakr ~~ was a very sudden thing and came to a completion (l shall a}so do so all of a sudden and he will automatically become the Khalifah)." Hadhrat Vmar ~ said, "Inshaa Allaah I shall deliver a lecture to the people tonight to warn them about this group that wishes to snatch away the Khilaafah." However, Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf ~~ said, "Do not do that, 0 Ameerul Mu'mineen because Hajj brings together even the riff-raff and people of low understanding. When you stand up to address the people. it is these types of people who will dominate the gathering and when you speak. they will exaggerate your words without understanding them and give them interpretations they were never intended to mean. wait until you reach Madinah because it is the place of Hijrah and the Sunnah. There you should gather the learned scholars and prominent people and address them at ease.

They will understand you and interpret your words as you intend them." Hadhrat Vmar ~~ then said, "If I reach Madinah, I shall definitely address the people about this at the first opportunity." Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas ~ relates further, "When we returned to Madinah on a Friday during the end of Dhul Hijjah, I hastened to the Masjid at midday without bothering about the intense heat. There I saw that Sa'eed bin Zaid ~,~ had preceded me and was sitting on the right hand side of the pulpit. I satin front of him with my knees touching his. It was not long before Vmar ~ arrived. I said, 'This afternoon he will say suc~ things on this pulpit that were never said before.' Sa'eed bin zaid ~ refuted what I said by saying, 'It is unlikely that he will say anything that no other has mentioned before.' Vmar ~~ sat down and after the Mu'adhin had finished, he stood up.

After duly praising Allaah,. he said, '0 people! What I wish to say today has been predestined for me to say for I know not whether death may be lurking before me, Therefore, whoever understands what I say and remembers it should take it as far as his conveyance can carry him. However, I do not give permission for anyone who does not understand it well to go and lie about me.''' Hadhrat Vmar ~ continued, ",Allaah had sent Muhammad ~ with the truth and revealed a Book to him. Amongst the verses revealed to him were the verses of Rajm (stoning to death of a married person found guilty of ad'ultery). We read the verse, memorised it and understood it.

Rasulullaah ~ therefore had people stoned and we did so after him. I fear that as lengthy periods of time pass by you, people would begin to say, We do not find the verse of Rajm in the Qur'aan.' They will therefore go astray by forsaking a compulsory injunction THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH ~~~ (Vol-2) that Allaah has detailed. Rajm is therefore established in the Book of Allaah to be enforced on' married males and females when either proven guilty beyond doubt, when pregnancy takes place or when the person confesses. Take note that we also used to read, 'Do not turn away from your forefathers (by associating yourselves with others) because turning away from them is extreme ingratitude.' Gust as it was with the verse of Rajm, the words of this verse were abrogated without the injunction being cancelled). Listen well!

Verily Rasulullaah _ said, 'Never be excessive in praising me as people were excessive in praising Isa the son of Maryam ~. I am only a servant of Allaah, so refer to me as Allaah's servant and His Rasool _.' The news has also reached me that one of you has said, 'When Umar ~~ passes away, I shall pledge my allegiance to so-and-so.' No person should ever be fooled into saying that the pledge of allegiance taken to Abu Bakr ~l::.7~ was a very sudden thing and came to a completion. Although it did happen very quickly, Allaah had saved the entire Ummah from any evil (that would have been the result of it being delayed). In addition to this, you have no one today of the calibre of Abu Bakr ~~ for whom people would sacrifice their very lives. What happened on the day that Rasulullaah ~ passed away was that Ali ~, Zubayr ~)J.,~ and those with them stayed behind in the house of Faatima ~ the daughter of Rasulullaah~.

On the other hand, every one of the Ansaar stayed behind in the orchard of the Banu Saa'idah while the Muhaajireen gathered around Abu Bakr ~. I said, 'O.Abu Bakr ~r Let us go to our Ansaar brothers.' As we walked towards them, we met two righteous men (Hadhrat Uwaym Ansaari ~ and Hadhrat Ma'ri .~) who informed us about what the Ansaar were doing. They asked, 'Where are you off to, 0 assembly of Muhaajireen?' 'We are off to see our brothers from iPe Ansaar,' we replied. 'Nor' they said, 'There is no need for you to do that. ~hy don't you Muhaajireeh rather discuss your own affairs.' I said, 'By Allaah! We shall definitely go to them.' We then went to the orchard of the' Banu Saa'idah where we found the Ansaar gathered together.' In their midst we saw someone wrapped in a blanket.

'Who is that?' I asked. 'Sa'd bin Ubaadah,' they replied. I asked further, 'What is wrong with him?' 'He is ill: came the reply. After we were seated, one of the Ansaar stood up to give a lecture. After duly praising Allaah, he said, 'We are the Ansaar (helpers) of Allaah's Oeen and the army of Islaam.

You, 0 assembly of Muhaajireen, are the group of our Nabi ~ and one of you has mentioned things that give us the impression that you wish to snub us and keep the Khilaafah away' from us.' When he was silent, I intended to say something that I had prepared. It was an impressive speech that I intended saying before Abu Bakr ~.~ in which (my usual) harshness was well concealed. However, Abu Bakr ~ bade me to be quiet and I did not wish to oppose him since he was more knowledgeable and more composed than me (SO I remained seated). By. Allaahr (When he Spoke) Abu Bakr ~~ did not omit to say anything that impressed me from what I had prepared.

Until he had S6 TIfE LIVES OF TIfE SAHABAH ~):i.~ (Vol-2) completed, he either said exactly what I wanted to say or better than that He said, 'You (Ansaar) are most worthy of whatever good you have already mentioned. However, the Arabs associate leadership only with the Quraysh tribe because their lineage and their city is the best. I have selected two persons for you. You may pledge your allegiance to whichever one of them you choose: Abu Bakr ~~ then took hold of my hand and the hand of Abu Ubaydah bin Jarraah Besides this, there was nothing of his speech that I disliked. By Allaah!

I would prefer being led to be executed for committing no crime rather than being the leader of a community that includes Abu Bakr @~. This is what I felt at that time and I do not know whether this opinion would change at the time of my death. Someone from the Ansaar then said, " have the perfect solution and the best medicine for this. 0 assembly of Quraysh! Let there be an Ameer from amongst us and another from amongst you.' Order was then lost and voices started being raised. This reached such a point that we feared serious dissension.

I then said, 'Stretch out your hand, 0 Abu Bakr!' When he stretched out his hand, I pledged my allegiance to him and all the Muhaajireen followed suit. The Ansaar then also pledged their allegiance to him. (In the furore) We happened to bump Sa'd bin Ubaadah ®~~ over. When someone said, 'You have killed SaId,' I replied, 'Allaah has killed Sa'd.' By Allaah! From all matters that we have jointly participated in, there was no matter more timeously done than the pledge of allegiance taken at the hand of Abu Bakr @):i.1~.

(We acted quickly because) We feared that if we left the Ansaar without any pledge of allegiance being taken, they would take the pledge of allegiance by themselves (at the hands of someone else). We would then either be forced to pledge our allegiance as they had done against our wishes or we would have to oppose them, the obvious result of which would have been anarchy and disorder. (The crux is that) Whoever pledges his allegiance to another without consulting the Muslims has not pledged any allegiance and neither has the other person any authority (as a leader). In fact, it is feared that they would both be killed. A narration of zuhri from Hadhrat Urwa·~ states that the two men who met Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ and Hadhrat Umar @,~ were Hadhrat Uwaym bin Saa'idah @~ and Hadhrat Ma'n bin Adi ®.~.

A narration of Sa'eed bin Musayyib clarifies that the Sahabi ~ who said, "I have the perfect solution and the best medicine for this" was Hadhrat Hubaab bin Mundhir ®):i.1~. (1) The Narration of Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas ~~~ Concerning the Talk of Khilaafah that took Place in the Orchard of the Banu Saa'idah Hadhrat Vmar @):i.1~ narrates that what actually happened after Rasulullaah ~ passed away was that someone came and informed them that the Ansaar (1) Ahmad, Maalik and many others, as quoted in A1 Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (VoI.5Pg.245). al-Bukhari, Abu Ubayd in his Gharaa'ib (Vol. Pg.). Bc:yhaqi and Ibn Abi Shayba have also reported the narration, as quoted in Kanzul Ummaal (Vo1.3 Pg.138, 139). THE UVES OF THE SAHABAH ~~~ (Vol-2) had gathered with Hadhrat Sa'd bin Ubaadah ~ in the orchard of the Banu Saa'idah where they intended taking the pledge of allegiance.

Hadhrat Umar ~~, Hadhrat Abu Bakr .~~ and Hadhrat Abu ubaydah bin Jamiah ~!Z~ stood up in alarm and hastened towards the Ansaar fearing that they may introduce something strange into Islaam. En route they happened to meet two truthful men; Hadhrat Uwaym bin Saa'idah ~~~ and Hadhrat Ma'n bin Adi ~~. When the two men asked where the others were off to, the others replied, 'We are off to see your people (the Ansaar) concerning what we have heard about their activities." The two men said, "You may return because you can never be opposed and nothing can be done without your approval." Hadhrat Umar ~~ says, 'We refused to listen to them and continued. In the meantime, I was preparing a speech to say to them. When we eventually reached them, we found them all around Sa'd bin Ubaadah who was lying on a bed due to illness." When the Muhaajireen arrived, the Ansaar addressed them saying, "0 assembly of the Quraysh!

Let there be an Ameer from amongst us and another from amongst you." Hadhrat Hubaab bin Mundhir ~ added, "I have the perfect solution and the best medicine for this. By Allaah! If you agree, we could make this as pleasant as a young camel." "Take it easy," said Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~. As he started talking, he first bade Hadhrat Umar ~~ to be silent. Thereafter, he praised Allaah and said, "0 assembly of Ansaar!

I swear by Allaah that we do not deny your virtues. We neither deny the high status that you have reached in Islaam nor the rights that we owe you. However, even you acknowledge that no other tribe enjoys the status that the Quraysh enjoys amongst all the Arabs. You also know. well that the Arabs will unite only under the leadership of one of them. While we (from the Quraysh) shall be the leaders, you (Ansaar) shall be our ministers.

Fear Allaah! Do not cause divisions in Islaam and do not be the first to introduce something strange into Islaam. I have selected two men (referring to Hadhrat Umar ~~ and Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah bin Jarraah ~). Whichever of them you chQose to pledge YOL\r allegiance, you may be rest assured that he is dependable." . . Hadhrat Umar ~says, "By Allaah!

There was nothing that I wanted said which Abu Bakr ~.tJ.1~ did not say except this part (where he named me as a potential candidate). I swear by Allaah that I would prefer being killed, then brought back to life and then being killed again for no crime on my part rather than being appointed leader of a community that includes Abu Bakr ~.~." Hadhrat Umar ~~~ then addressed the gathering saying, "0 assembly of Ansaar! 0 assembly of MUslims! Indeed the person most worthy of leadership after Rasulullaah~ is 'the second of the two when they were in the cave'. He is Abu Bakr ~ who was clearly the very first (to enter Islaam)." Hadhrat Umar ~.~ then grabbed the hand of Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~ but before he could pledge his allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~~, an Ansaari beat him to it. All the other people followed suit and no attention was given to Hadhrat Sa'd bin Ubaadah~.

(1) (1) Ibn Abi Shayba, as quoted in KanzuJ UmmaaJ(Vo1.3 Pg.139l. 5.8 .mE liVES OF mE SAHABAH ~ (Vol-2J The Narration of Hadhrat Ibn Seereen Concerning what Happened in the Hall of the Banu Saa'idah Hadhrat Ibn 5eereen ~aul~ narrates from a man from the Banu Zurayq tribe that on that fateful day (when Rasulullaah~ passed away), Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ and Hadhrat Umar ~ went to the Ansaar. Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~~ said, "0 assembly of Ansaar! We certainly do not deny the rights owed to you. In . fact, no Mu'min can deny these rights. By Allaah!

You have always shared in any good that came to us. However, the Arabs will never accept and shall never be happy with any leader that does not belong to the Quraysh. This is because from all Arabs the Quraysh are the most eloquent of people, have the best lineage, have the best city and feed the most people. 50 come to Umar and pledge your allegiance to him." "No!" replied the Ansaar. "Why not?" asked Hadhrat Umar ~~. The Ansaar replied, "Because we fear t~at he will give others preference over us." Hadhrat Umar ~ said, "Never!

I shall never do this as long as I live. Rather pledge your allegiance to Abu Bakr ~)1..~."Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~ said to Hadhrat Umar ~,~, ''You are stronger than me." "But you are more virtuous than me," responded Hadhrat Umar ~~. Hadhrat Umar ~ repeated this three times. On the third time, Hadhrat Umar ~~ added, "Together with your . virtue, you shall have my strength with you)' Addressing the people, he then said, "Pledge your allegiance to Abu Bakr ~." As people were pledging their allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr ~, some people approached Hadhrat Abu