Ali's allegiance to the first three caliphs in Sunni and Shia books
27/12/2012 18:33
Ali rendered his allegiance to Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman. He not only rendered his allegiance, but he also acted as their advisor, and deputy over Madinah in their absense. His sons were soldiers in the Caliphate's army and he advised the caliphs in their battles. His loyal companions according to the Shias acted as governors for the caliphs as well. Ali's allegiance to the first three caliphs is mentioned in many books of Sunnis and Shias. Some of the books in which this allegiance is mentioned are mentioned below.
Sunni Books
It is mentioned in the book 'al aitqad' by Imam Baihaqi
وحدثنا أبو عبد الله الحافظ وأبو محمد عبد الرحمن بن أبي حامد المقرئ قراءة عليه قالا حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن يعقوب ثنا جعفر بن محمد بن شاكر ثنا عفان بن مسلم ثنا وهيب ثنا داود بن أبي هند ثنا أبو نضرة عن أبي سعيد الخدري قال لما توفي رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قام خطباء الأنصار فجعل الرجل منهم يقول يا معشر المهاجرين إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كان إذا استعمل رجلا منكم قرن معه رجلا منا فنرى أن يلي هذا الأمر رجلان أحدهما منكم والآخر منا قال فتتابعت خطباء الأنصار على ذلك فقام زيد بن ثابت فقال إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كان من المهاجرين وإن الإمام يكون من المهاجرين ونحن أنصاره كما كنا أنصار رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فقام أبو بكر فقال جزاكم الله خيرا يا معشر الأنصار وثبت قائلكم ثم قال أما لو فعلتم غير ذلك لما صافحناكم ثم أخذ زيد بن ثابت بيد أبي بكر فقال هذا صاحبكم فبايعوه ثم انطلقوا فلما قعد أبو بكر على المنبر نظر في وجوه القوم فلم ير عليا فسأل عنه فقام ناس من الأنصار فأتوا به فقال أبو بكر ابن عم رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم وختنه أردت أن تشق عصا المسلمين فقال لا تثريب يا خليفة رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فبايعه ثم لم ير الزبير بن العوام فسأل عنه حتى جاؤوا به قال ابن عمة رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم وحواريه أردت أن تشق عصا المسلمين فقال مثل قوله لا تثريب يا خليفة رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فبايعه
Abu Sa’eed al Khudri may Allah be pleased with him said: When the Prophet’s PBUH soul passed away and when the people gathered at the place of Sa’ad bin Ubadah and amongst them were Abu bakr and Umar, a Khatib from the Ansar(Supporters) spoke: “You know that the Prophet of Allah PBUH was from the Mouhajirun(immigrants) and his Caliph must also be from the Mouhajirun, we were the Ansar of the Prophet PBUH and we will be the Ansar of his Caliph just as we were his Ansar”. then Umar bin al Khattab stood up and said “This Man from amongst the Ansar speaks truth and if it were anything other than this then we would not give you a baya’ah(Pledge of allegiance)” then he grabbed the hand of Abu bakr and said: “this is your Close companion so give him Baya’ah” then Umar and the Mouhajirun and the Ansar all gave him Baya’ah. Abu bakr stood on the Mimbar and he looked at the faces of all the people there but he never saw al Zubair so he called for him and and he came so he told him: “O son of the Prophet’s PBUH aunt and his disciple would you want to split the cause of the Muslims?” Zubair said: “Not at all O Caliph of the Prophet of Allah” then he stood and gave him Baya’ah, Then he looked at the faces of the people but did not spot Ali so he called for Ali bin abi Talib and he came to him so he said: “O cousin of the prophet of Allah and the husband of his daughter would you want to split the cause of the Muslims?” So Ali replied: “Not at all O Caliph of the Prophet of Allah” then he stood and gave him Baya’ah.
al Aitqad p. 177-178
Tarikh Ibn Asakir, Vol. 30, p. 277
Mustadrak al Hakim, Vol. 10, p. 249
Sirah al halabiya, Vol. 3, p. 485-486
Kinzul Ummal, Vol. 5, p. 613
Sunan al Kubra, Vol. 8, p. 143
عن قيس بن عبادة ، قال : قال لي علي بن أبي طالب : " إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مرض ليالي وأياما ينادي بالصلاة ، فيقول : مروا أبا بكر يصلي بالناس ".فلما قبض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، نظرت فإذا الصلاة علم الإسلام وقوام الدين ، فرضينا لدنيانا من رضي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لديننا ، فبايعنا أبا بكر
It has been narrated from Qais ibn Qatadah that he said : Ali said to me that Prophet (s) was ill in his last days and he would say that Abu Bakr should lead the prayer for people. So when he died then I thought that prayer is the sign of Islam. So we selected the person for our worldly affairs when the Prophet (s) had selected for our religious affairs. So we rendered allegiance to him.
Istiab Vol. 2, p. 242
عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر قال : أتاني علي بن أبي طالب عائدا ، فقال : توفي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فبايع الناس أبا بكر فبايعت ورضيت ، ثم توفي عمر فجعلها شورى ، فبايعوا عثمان فبايعت ورضيت
It has been narrated from Abdur Rahman ibn abi Bakrah that he said : Ali visited me (during illness), and said : The Prophet (s) died and the people rendered allegiance to Abu Bakr and we agreed with it. Then Abu Bakr died and Umar became Caliph, I also rendered allegiance to him and was agreed with it. When Umar died, he had formed a council. The people rendered allegiance to Uthman, I also rendered allegiance to him and was agreed with it.
Fadhail Abi Bakr. ,p 5
عن قيس بن عباد ، قال : قال علي بن أبي طالب : والذي فلق الحبة وبرأ النسمة ، لو عهد إلي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عهدا لجاهدت عليه ، ولم أترك ابن أبي قحافة يرقى درجة واحدة من منبره
It has been narrated from Qais that Ali said : By the one who opened the grain and created the plant from it, if the Prophet (s) had promised me (about caliphate) then I would have stood firmly on it and I would not have let Abu Bakr climb a single step on the pulpit of the Prophet (s).
Kinzul ummal Vol. 3, p. 141
عن سيار أبي الحكم أن أبا بكر لما ثقل أطلع رأسه إلى الناس من كوة فقال : يا أيها الناس إني قد عهدت عهدا ، أفترضون به ؟ فقام الناس فقالوا : قد رضينا ، فقام علي فقال : لا نرضى إلا أن يكون عمر بن الخطاب
It has been narrated from Yassar that he said : When the last time of Abubakr arrived, he appeared from the window and addressing the people, said : I have made a promise, do you agree with it? The people said : O caliph of the Messenger of Allah, we agree with it. Ali said : We will not agree with anyone except Umar.
Usudul Ghaba Vol. 4, p. 70
عن سلمة بن أبي سلمة بن عبد الرحمن ، عن أبيه ، قال : " أول من بايع لعثمان عبد الرحمن ثم علي بن أبي طالب
It has been narrated from Salma that he said : The first one to render allegiance to Uthman was Abdur Rahman ibn Awf and after him, Ali ibn abi talib.
Tabaqat ibn Saad Vol. 3, p. 42
أخبرنا محمد بن عمر ، قال : حدثني عمر بن عميرة بن هني مولى عمر بن الخطاب ، عن أبيه ، عن جده ، قال : " أنا رأيت عليا " بايع عثمان أول الناس " ، ثم تتابع الناس فبايعوا
Umar ibn Umairah, the slave of Umar ibn Khattab, narrated from his father and he from his grandfather that I saw that the first one to render allegiance to Uthman was Ali amongst the people, then the people followed him and rendered allegiance (to Uthman).
Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 525
Shia Books
It is mentioned in the Shia book 'al Kafi'
عن زرارة، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال ... كتم علي (عليه السلام) أمره وبايع مكرها حيث لم يجد أعوانا
Zurarah narrated from Imam Baqir that he said : Ali had hidden his 'amr' and rendered allegiance with disliking when he didn't find supporters.
Furu Kafi Vol. 3, p. 139
لما وردت الكتب على اسامة انصرف بمن معه حتى دخل المدينة، فلما رأى اجتماع الخلق على ابى بكر انطلق إلى علي بن ابي طالب عليه السلام فقال له: ماهذا ؟ قال له علي: هذا ما ترى. قال له اسامة: فهل بايعته ؟ فقال: نعم يا اسامة.
When the letter reached Usama, he returned with his supporters to Medinah, and when he saw that the people have united on AbuBakr, he went to Ali and asked : What is it? He replied :This is what you are observing. Usama asked : Have you also rendered allegiance to him? Ali said : Yes O Usamah!
Ihtijaj al-tibrisi p. 50
Shustri says:
حضرت امیر و سائر بنی ھاشم از روئے اکراہ با ابی بکر بظاھر بیعت کردند و دست بر دست اوزدند
Ali and the complete bani hashim rendered allegiance to Abu Bakr with dislike, and laid their hands on his hand.
Majalis al Momineen, tadhkira Khalid ibn saeed
فبايعت أبا بكر كما بايعتموه، وكرهت أن أشق عصا المسلمين، وأن أفرق بين جماعتهم، ثم أن أبا بكر جعلها لعمر من بعده، وأنتم تعلمون أني أولى الناس برسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) وبالناس من بعده، فبايعت عمر كما بايعتموه، فوفيت له ببيعته حتى لما قتل جعلني سادس ستة، فدخلت حيث أدخلني، وكرهت أن أفرق جماعة المسلمين وأشق عصاهم، فبايعتم عثمان فبايعته
Ali said : I rendered allegiance to Abu Bakr just like you people rendered allegiance to him, and disliked to break the power of Muslims and disunite their jamaat, then when AbuBakr appointed Umar as Caliph after him, and you knew that I had more right after the Messenger of Allah (s), I still rendered allegiance to Umar as you rendered allegiance to him, till when he was killed and made me the member of six member council, I joined them and disliked to disunite the jamaat of the Muslims and break their power. Then you rendered allegiance to Uthman, I also rendered allegiance to him.
Amali by Tusi Vol. 2, p. 121