Should we abandon the Saqalain for Muslim unity?

Reply

We seek refuge in Allah the Almighty from ascribing falsehood to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and belittling his efforts in the compilation and arrangement of the Holy Quran and tirelessly advancing argument after argument to prove his superior claim to caliphate on the basis of the compiled Quran.

We will see how by abandoning Ameerul Momineen’s (a.s.) Imamat, the Muslims are deprived of not just the Ahle Bait (a.s.) but also of the Book of Allah.

The following report is a comprehensive reply to the false claims of the pseudo unity-seekers.

Sulaim b. Qais relates the episode of Saqifah from Salman (r.a.):
‘…when Imam Ali (a.s.) saw the excuses, deceit and disloyalty of the people, he returned home and started compiling and arranging the verses of the Quran and did not step out of his house until he had completed this work because previously the Quran was written upon papers, planks, bones of sheep, sheets and cloth. When Imam Ali (a.s.) was arranging the Quran and had written down its tanzil (revelation) and taweel (interpretation) and marked the abrogated and abrogating verses,
Abu Bakr sent him a message to come out of his house and pay allegiance at his hands.

Imam Ali (a.s.) replied – I am busy arranging the Quran and have sworn that I will not cast the cloak over my shoulders, except for prayers, until I compile and arrange it.

Abu Bakr and his associates gave him respite for some days and when Imam Ali (a.s.) completed the arrangement, he put it (the Holy Quran) in a cloth (bag) and affixed his seal upon it.

In another narration it is stated that Imam Ali (a.s.) took the Holy Quran (which he had compiled) and came to the grave of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.). He placed the Holy Quran down, recited two units of prayers and conferred salutations upon the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.). When the people gathered in the mosque around Abu Bakr, Imam Ali (a.s.) addressed them in a loud voice, “O people! From the time that the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.) passed away, I have been engrossed in many actions – first in the burial of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), and thereafter in compiling the Quran. I arranged the entire Quran which now lies in this bag. I have recorded each and every verse which descended upon the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). There is no verse in the Quran, except that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) read it to me, and I in turn wrote it down. He also related its concealed interpretations to me.”

He continued, “This declaration is addressed to those who tomorrow cannot say that they were not aware of this (compilation by Ali) and on the Day of Resurrection you should not say that I did not invite you to assist me or remind you about my rights, nor did I invite you towards the Book of Allah from the beginning until the end.”

Hearing this Umar said, “The presence of Quran with us makes us needless of the Quran compiled by you.” In another narration it is related that he said, “Leave the Quran and go to your own task.”

Imam Ali (a.s.) then said, “The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.) told you that, ‘I leave amongyou two weighty things, the Book of Allah (the Quran) and my progeny (my Ahle Bait). These two things will not part from one another until they meet me at the Pond (of Kausar). Then if you accept the Quran, you should also accept me along with it so that I can judge among you by what Allah has revealed in the Quran, for I am more aware than you regarding the entire Quran and what it contains with regards to abrogating and abrogated verses, its interpretation, the clear and allegorical verses, the lawful and the unlawful.’”

Hearing this Umar replied, “Take away this Quran! That which will neither part from you nor will you part from it. We neither need this compiled Quran of yours, nor do we need you!”

Imam Ali (a.s.) took the Quran and returned home and he sat in his place of worship, opened the Quran and placed it on his lap and read verses from it while tears flowed from his eyes.

It is evident from this and many other reports that:

• Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) tirelessly aimed at rallying the Muslims around the Quran – both the one compiled by him as also the one in the midst of the Muslims.
• The Muslims were neither interested in taking guidance from the compiled Quran nor from the Quran in their midst.
• It is impossible to pick only the Quran from the Saqalain. If the Muslims choose the Quran they must necessarily accept the Ahle Bait (a.s.).
• Only the infallible Imam (a.s.) can judge what Allah has revealed in the Quran based on his superior and exclusive knowledge about the tanzeel, taaweel, abrogating and abrogated and clear and allegorical verses.
• By choosing just the Quran, Muslims are only deceiving themselves into believing that they are on the path of guidance. The Holy Quran can never be chosen separately from the Imam (a.s.). Allah has not given the option to choose one of the Saqalain.
• By choosing just the Holy Quran, the Muslims have in fact abandoned both Quran and the Ahle Bait (a.s.).
• Umar’s response clearly shows that he and his companions were not interested in guidance because that would involve taking Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) as the caliph. For them, Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) was a hindrance in their ambition to usurp caliphate.
• Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) was upset with the state of affairs as is evident from his arguments and the fact that he was moved to tears. He did not withdraw the Quran for the sake of unity. He withdrew it because the people did not show any inclination towards it. The people must approach the Quran and its teacher; the latter will not approach the people.
• Unity with the Muslims means that like them we should also abandon the Quran and the Ahle Bait (a.s.). Are we prepared to do that?