Attempt to Conceal Fatimiyya Out of Love For Sahaba

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There is much debate and denial on the controversial role of certain companions (Sahaba) immediately after the martyrdom of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Right from the assault on house of Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.) to the forced pledge taken from Ali (a.s.) to the dispute of Fadak, there is an attempt to gloss over or conceal the role of Sahaba in these events. In fact, some events like the assault on Lady Fatima and forced pledge from Ali (a.s.) are rejected outright as unconfirmed or Shiite fabrications.

On digging deeper in the books of the Ahle Tasannun, the real reason for concealing events like Fatimiyya in early Islamic history, can be attributed to one factor, as acknowledged by reputed Ahle Tasannun scholars.

The famous Ahle Tasannun scholar, Zahabi in his Seyar Aalaam al-Nobala reveals why such events and role of early Sahaba in shaping them should not be discussed.

He says:
The speech of contemporaries, when it becomes evident to us that it is driven by bias and partisanship, should not be given attention. Rather, it should be dismissed and ignored. This is similar to the established practice of refraining from delving into much of what occurred among the Sahaba / Companions concerning their disputes and conflicts. Such matters continue to appear in chronicles, books, and collections, but most of it is either disconnected, weak, or outright fabricated.

What remains in our hands and among our scholars should be concealed and hidden—indeed, eradicated—so that hearts may remain pure, focused on loving the Sahaba (no matter what), showing reverence to them, and praying for their forgiveness. Concealing such matters is obligatory, whether from the general public or individual scholars. However, a concession may be made for a fair-minded scholar, free from bias, to study such issues in private, provided they seek forgiveness for them, as Allah, the Exalted, has taught us.

• Seyar Aalaam al-Nobala v 10 p 90

Clearly, Fatimiyyah and related contentious decisions from early period Islam are often overlooked and swept under the rug only for one reason – love of Sahaba.

But even Zahabi realized that these events could never really be ignored so he left the window open for ‘fair-minded scholar, free from bias, to study such issues in private, provided they seek forgiveness for the Sahaba’.

And even if the Sahaba are exposed by ‘fair-minded scholars’, there is a way out to safeguard the Sahaba from defamation.

The reputed Ahle Tasannun scholar, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, defends the Sahaba from all controversies and crimes like Fatimiyya:

 

The consensus of the Ahle Sunnah regarding ALL the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is that they were just. None opposes this view except the most deviated of innovators.

• Al-Isabah p 17

So in the Ahle Tasannun there is a two-pronged defence strategy for the Sahaba:

1. Controversies and crimes from early Islamic history should be concealed and hidden—indeed, eradicated—so that hearts may remain pure, focused on loving the Sahaba, no matter what those crimes and controversies may be.
2. Whitewash ALL the Sahaba with fake theory of Justice of Sahaba (Adalat-e-Sahaba), meaning Sahaba could not have committed any crime, even if history says otherwise.

In this way, the Ahle Tasannun defend the Sahaba from all crimes like Fatimiyya by first prohibiting any discussion and research on it and then claiming that the Sahaba were Adil (Just) so even if history exposes the Sahaba for crimes like Fatimiyya, they can deny the truth conveniently.