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It is said that Hazraths Abu Bakr and Umar (PBUT) were, at the time of the prophet`s death, in `Saqeefah` and hence, could not attend his funeral. What is Saqeefah? Is this narration, that these Khalifas were away, true? If not, why is this being promulgated by a certain sect of Muslims?

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Answer:

Abu bakr and umar saqeefa

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: It is said that Hazraths Abu Bakr and Umar (PBUT) were, at the time of the prophet`s death, in `Saqeefah` and hence, could not attend his funeral. Is this narration, that these Khalifas were away, true?

According to accepted history and tradition, the Prophet (saws) died on Monday morning and was buried on Tuesday evening. Due to the constraints of space in the small Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, not one, but several funeral prayers were prayed by the believers. The truth is that all the companions who were in Medina at the time of the Prophet’s death, attended his ‘janaaza’ (funeral). It is absolutely inconceivable to think that the noble companions, who loved their leader and their Prophet all their lives would all become renegades immediately at his death! The noble companions loved Allah and His Messenger (saws) to such an extent, that on one command, they were willing to sacrifice their lives and their possessions.

To think that any of the noble companions who were in Madinah did not attend the Prophet’s funeral is absurd! Each and every companion and believer who was present in Medina at the time, attended the Prophet’s funeral! To allude that companions like Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.), Hadrat Uthman (r.a.), etc. did not attend the funeral is not only absurd, it is a manifest and malicious lie! Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar (r.a.) were the father-in-laws of the Prophet, and Hadrat Uthman (r.a.) was the former son-in-law (two of the Prophet’s daughters were married to Hadrat Umar, and both of them died during the life of the Prophet (saws)); thus they were part of the family. And Prophet Mohamed (saws), incidentally died in the house of Hadrat Aisha bint Abu Bakr, and was subsequently buried in her house. Thus it is nothing but a manifest and malicious lie to even allude that these noble companions did not attend the funeral of the Prophet (saws)!

There are some ignorant people who lay accusations and propagate the lie that companions of the stature of Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.), Hadrat Uthmaan (r.a.), etc. did not attend the funeral prayers of the Messenger of Allah (saws)!

We must remember that the noble companions whom these ignorant people slander, are the same whom Allah Subhanah has Himself honored collectively in the Glorious Quran!

Allah says Himself in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verse 8, in appreciation of the early companions of the Holy Prophet who migrated for Islam,:

They (the companions who migrated from Makkah to Medina) seek Allah’s bounty and His goodwill, and are ever ready to succor Allah and His Messenger. They indeed are the truthful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 100:

Allah was well pleased with those Muhajirs and Ansaar who were the first to respond to the invitation of the Faith, and with those also, who followed them in their righteous conduct, and they too, were well pleased with Allah. Allah has got ready for them Gardens, underneath which, canals flow, and they will abide therein for ever. This is the Greatest Success.

The companions whom these ignorant people so easily revile and slander, are the same ones whom Allah calls the Truthful. Allah is pleased with them, but it is obvious that some people are dis-pleased with them almost 1400 years after their deaths! It indeed matters very little if these ignorant people are not happy with them, because Allah has got ready for them Gardens, underneath which canals flow, and He has promised that they will abide therein for ever!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6167 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Do not revile my Companions, do not revile my Companions! By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as (Mount) Uhud it would not amount to as much as one mudd (a handful) on behalf of one of them or (even) half of it!’

Your Question: What is Saqeefah?

When the leaders of the Ansars (the resident believers of Madinah) heard that the Prophet (saws) had died, they called an urgent and impromtu meeting in a place called ‘Saqeefa Bani Saada’, where leaders of the Ansars (incl. their chief Hadrat Saad bin Ubaidah (r.a.)) sat to discuss the issue of succession. The Prophet (saws) during his own life, had so trained the companions about leadership, whereby even if two or three people went somewhere, he exhorted them to choose an ‘ameer’ between them.

Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.) and Hadrat Abu-Ubaidah ibn Jarraah (r.a.) went to this meeting. The Ansars of Medina were saying that the next leader should be from the Ansars, as they had helped the Prophet (saws) and his mission and had made many sacrifices for Islam.

The Muhajirs from Makkah, Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.), and Hadrat Abu-Ubaidah (r.a.), argued that the Muhajirs were the first to accept Islam and were from the ‘Sabeeqoon Awwaloon’, whose praise Allah has done in the Holy Quran itself. They gave untold sacrifices in the first 13 years of Makkah, and then left all their family and wealth and migrated to Medina for Islam without anything. Thus the successor or Khalifah of the Prophet (saws) should be from amongst the Muhajirs brothers.

Then Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) gave a talk and nominated Hadrat Umar (r.a.) to take over the leadership. Hadrat Umar (r.a.) immediately declined his nomination to the leadership and said that none deserved to be the ‘Ameer’ or leader of the believers except Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), as he was amongst the first to accept Islam , was the closest friend of the Prophet (saws), and had the honor of traveling with the Prophet (saws) during the all-important journey or Hijrah from Makkah to Medina. After nominating Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.) immediately took hold of Abu Bakr’s hand and gave him allegiance.

The rest of the muslims, who obviously respected Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar (r.a.) immensely, and were absolutely convinced with the nomination of Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) followed Hadrat Umar (r.a.) and also gave their allegiance to Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), and that is how he was elected the ‘Ameer-ul-Mumineen’ (leader of the faithful) and the ‘Khalifatil-Rasool’ (Khalifah of the Prophet).

The deen of Islam was completed, the Quran revealed, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was established at the time of the death of the Prophet (saws). Whatever happened after the death of the Prophet (saws) is the History of the Muslims, and this is in the knowledge of Allah Alone. Allah will not hold us accountable for the deeds of those people who passed away, nor ask us about them on the Day of Judgment. We will be asked about our deeds and what did we do for the cause of Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134:

They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Your Question: If not, why is this being promulgated by a certain sect of Muslims?

Beloved brother, the sect which propagates these malicious lies and constantly revile most of the noblest companions and the chaste wives of the Prophet (saws) have their own political agenda….for they claim that Hadrat Ali (r.a.), who was only 29-30 years of age at the time (as compared to Hadrat Abu-Bakr (r.a.) who was 63) was appointed the successor and ‘Ameer’ by the Prophet (saws) himself before his death….and Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.), etc. took away Hadrat Ali’s (r.a.) rightful office by deception!

Little do they realize that unlike the leaders of today, these pious companions so feared Allah, that the absolute last thing they wished for themselves was the responsibility of being the ‘Ameer’, and thus being accountable to the Lord Most High for that office! Never ever did Hadrat Ali (r.a.) claim that he was appointed the ‘Ameer’ by the Prophet (saws), but he was amongst the closest advisors during the tenure of the ‘Khalifahs’ who came before him.

Many years after the death of Hadrat Ali (r.a.), some people who had political aspirations rallied their campaign around the names of Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and his descendants, invented lies against the noble companions of the Prophet (saws), and reviled and rebuked them in order to propel their chosen candidate to the fore.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan