In the Fadak dispute, arguments of Fatima Zahra (s.a.) from the Holy Quran were rejected and her witnesses viz. Ali (a.s.), Hasanain (a.s.), Umm Ayman, the lady assured of Paradise, were dismissed. The rulers usurped Fadak based on a bogus report that was not witnessed by anyone save themselves.
Even before we analyse all arguments in the matter of Fadak from both parties – what is the verdict of the intellect on the topic? Who is more qualified to judge about Fadak with a better understanding of the laws?
- Ahle Bait (a.s.) worthier of judging over disputes
Disputing with the Ahle Bait (a.s.) on a legal matter amounts to disputing with divine revelation as these two reports indicate:
a. Narrator says:
I heard Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) say while there were some people of Kufa (Iraq) with him:
I am amazed at the people that they think they have taken all the knowledge from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), act upon it and are guided. They also think that we Ahle Bait (a.s.) have not taken his (s.a.w.a.) knowledge while we are his family members and his progeny. In our houses revelation descended and from us emanated the knowledge to them (i.e. the people). Yet they think they know and they are guided while we are unaware and deviated?! Surely, this is impossible!͟
- Basair al-Darajaat v 1 p 12
- Al-Kafi v 1 p 398
b. When a man disputed with him (a.s.) about a religious ruling, Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) said to him:
Listen! If you come with me to my house, I will show you the traces of Jibrail on our furniture. Can there be anyone more knowledgeable about the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) Sunnah than us?!
- Nuzhat al-Naazir p 94
- A‘laam al-Deen p 300
Clearly, the Ahle Bait (a.s.) were better informed of all laws including laws of inheritance which were hotly disputed in the Fadak debate. The wives and companions were no match for Ahle Bait in this topic or any other topic for that matter.
- Prophet (s.a.w.a.) made Ali (a.s.) best of judges
The leading lights of the Ahle Tasannun – Ahmed Ibn Hanbal and Nesai document this report.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) narrates:
Once, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) sent me to Yemen (as judge) while I was very young.
I said: O Messenger of Allah, you are sending me to a group among whom there are a lot of disagreements and troubles (to be settled) and I am a very young man!
He (s.a.w.a.) placed his hand on my chest and supplicated –
Surely, Allah will guide your heart and make firm your tongue.
After that, I never doubted while judging between two persons.
- Musnad of Ahmed Ibn Hanbal part 1, p 88-111 (Ahle Tasannun)
- Khasais trad no. 35, also see 36, 37 (Ahle Tasannun)
- Also see Fazail al-Sahabah v 2 p 580 (Ahle Tasannun)
However, when it came to Fadak, Ameerul Momineen’s (a.s.) infallible judgement was ignored by the rulers.
Leave alone judgement, even his testimony was rejected, while testimonies of others was deemed more authentic.
How the nation has blundered when they had the best judge in their midst!
- 1,000 doors of knowledge
Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) –
While suffering from illness that claimed his life, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) ordered Ayesha and Hafsah – Call for my dear one. The two of them called for their fathers. When they arrived, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) looked at them and then turned away and repeated – call for my dear one. The two wives sent for Ali (a.s.). Ali (a.s.) arrived and after that they (a.s.) remained in deep conversation. When Ali (a.s.) left the house the two men met him (a.s.) and asked him – what did your dear one tell you?
Ali (a.s.) – He informed me about a thousand doors of knowledge and each door opened another thousand doors of knowledge.
- Basaer al-Darajat v 1 p 314-315
- Behar al-Anwar v 40 p 216
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) was informed about everything by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but according to the Muslims, he was not informed about basic laws of inheritance involving his own wife Fatima Zahra (s.a.), who is also Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) daughter? But the ‘caliphs’ and wives who did not inherit any knowledge from Prophet (s.a.w.a.) were more qualified regarding the Fadak dispute?
- If only the nation had selected Ahle Bait (a.s.) for leadership
Abu Zar (r.a.) is reported to have said:
O nation in perplexity after their Prophet! Had you not selected for your leadership those whom Allah has rejected, and not rejected those whom Allah has selected and accepted the divinely commissioned leadership of the Household of your Prophet (s.a.w.a.), you would surely have been sustained from above you and from beneath your feet, no shortage would have occurred in the shares of inheritance, and no two individuals would have ever disagreed about any of the laws of Allah. Rather you would have found the knowledge of all these present with the Ahle Bait just as they are found in the Book of Allah and the traditions of the Prophet. Nevertheless, after you had done what you had done, taste then the ill-effects of your own conduct.
- Tarikh al-Yaqoobi v 2 p 171
- Tafseer al-Furaat (r.a.) p 659
Clearly, only the Ahle Bait (a.s.) are qualified to resolve disputes and if the nation had selected them for leadership, no two persons would have disputed over inheritance and other issues.
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