Was İt Prophet Muhammad’S Will To Make Hazrat Abu Bakr The First Caliph Of İslam?

**Prof. Dr. Sinsi** · 10-11-2012

After discussing this problem, at-Taftazani says: “Salaf (companions and tabiin) agreed on Othman’s superiority over Ali and accepts their order of caliphate as it is

(19) Then he explains how each of them was promoted to caliphate one by one

In his opinion, the caliphate of the four caliphs was the result of consensus of Islamic scholars

Conflicts and wars which happened related to the caliphate of Hazrat Ali were not because of disagreement over his caliphate indeed, but because of the fault in deduction (of judgment; ijtihad)

” (20)

As it is seen, Taftazani considers wars during the time of Hazrat Ali as the result of deduction and faults in deduction, like other ahl-i Sunnah scholars

It is not meant to criticize and oppose to the companion here; conversely, it is meant to exalt him

Taftazani blames them with hypocrisy and heedlessness

He states that Hazrat Ali was right on his judgment and Muawiya was faulty in his judgment

Muawiya, who was faulty in his judgment, is not criticized or blamed with straying and hypocrisy but commemorated nicely as a mujtahid, because mujtahids will earn sawabs even though they are faulty in their judgments

A mujtahid who made a mistake in his judgment cannot be blamed with straying or hypocrisy

(21)

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi says that some Quranic verses point out to the four caliphs to come after the death of the Messenger of Allah, together with their order, and hints who they are by telling their most known features:

“Muhammad is the Prophet of God, and those who are with him are strong against unbelievers, [but] compassionate among each other

You will see them bow and prostrate themselves

” (surah-al-Fath)
Through telling of the elevated qualities and characteristics which were the reason for the
Companions being the most elevated of human kind after the prophets, the start of this verse describes through its explicit meaning the excellent qualities which would mark the class of the Companions

And through its implied meaning, the verse alludes to the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, who would succeed to the office of the Prophet (PBUH) after his death through the institution of the Caliphate, and gives news of the fine attributes which were what most distinguished each of them and marked them out

It is as follows:

“And those who are with him” alludes to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, who was distinguished and famous for being among the Prophet’s special followers and party to his conversation, and again for entering among his special followers by being the first to die

“While are strong against the unbelievers” points to Umar, who in the future would cause the countries of the globe to tremble at his conquests, and with his justice would descend on tyrants like a thunderbolt

“And compassionate among each other” gives news of Uthman, who, in the future when the most serious dissension was being fomented, would sacrifice his own life and spirit out of perfect kindness and compassion so that the blood of Muslims should not be spilt, preferring to be martyred wrongfully while reading the Qur’an

And so too, “You will see them bow and prostrate themselves [in prayer], seeking grace from God and [His] good pleasure” tells that with his complete worthiness to undertake the Caliphate and government, and his heroism, and his choosing perfect asceticism, worship, poverty, and frugality, and whose bowing and prostrating in prayer was corroborated by everyone, Ali (May God be pleased with him) was not responsible for his position in the future and the wars and strife in which he was involved, and that his intention and wish was for Divine favour

The phrase, “This is their similitude in the Torah” makes predictions concerning the Unseen in two respects: It gives news of the qualities of the Companions mentioned in the Torah, which was as though the Unseen for an unlettered person like the Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace)

The sentence, “and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, [filling] the sowers with wonder and delight

As a result, it fills the unbelievers with rage at them”, gives news of the Unseen in two respects:
The First is the prediction concerning the Companions in the Gospel, which was like the Unseen for the unlettered Prophet (PBUH)

At the start the Companions would appear to be few and weak, nevertheless they would burgeon like seeds, grow, thicken, and find strength

When they were about to be overwhelmed and smothered by the rage that this would cause the unbelievers, they would subjugate mankind with their swords and prove that the Prophet (PBUH), their leader, was the Ruler of the World

The verses express exactly the meaning of the above verses of Sura al-Fath

Second Aspect: These sentences predict the following: the Companions certainly accepted the Pact of Hudaybiya out of their weakness and small number, but within a short time they so grew and acquired such strength and loftiness that, planted by the Hand of Power in the field of the face of the earth, they multiplied in most elevated, powerful, fruitful, and plentiful fashion

Especially in relation to the shoots of mankind at that time, which were short, weak, defective, and scant due to neglect and heedlessness

They would grow strong and cause glorious states to rage at them in envy, jealousy, and anger

Yes, the future verified this prediction in most brilliant fashion

There is in this prediction the further following slight hint: it indicates through the word forgiveness that, although while praising the Companions’ excellent qualities they should have been promised the greatest rewards, in the future serious faults would arise among the Companions, due to strife

For forgiveness indicates the existence of faults

And at that time the thing most demanded by the Companions, the greatest bounty, would be forgiveness

(22)

The Hint about the Four Caliphs

In addition to this last verse of surah al-Fath which hints the caliphs to come after the Messenger of Allah, the verse “All who obey God and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of God, - of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! What a beautiful fellowship!” (al-Nisa, 69) also indicates the same truth

This verse describes the people of the Straight Path and the groups of the Prophets, the caravan of the Veracious, the community of the Martyrs, the class of the Righteous, and those who follow them, who are those among mankind who truly receive the Divine bounties, and furthermore, explicitly pointing out the most perfect of those five groups in the World of Islam, it then indicates the leaders and chiefs of those five groups through mentioning their well-known attributes

In addition, with a flash of miraculousness giving news of the Unseen, it specifies in one respect those chiefs’ positions in the future

Yes, of the Prophets looks explicitly to the Prophet Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace), and the phrase the Veracious looks to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (the Veracious)

It also indicates that he would be second after the Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace), and first to succeed to his place, and be known with the special title of ‘Siddiq,’ and be seen at the head of all the veracious

Then the Witnesses [or Martyrs] mentions Umar, Uthman, and Ali (May God be pleased with all of them) together

It indicates indirectly that the three of them would succeed to the Caliphate of the Prophet after ‘al-Siddiq,’ that the three of them would be martyred, and the merits of martyrdom added to their other virtues

The Righteous alludes to distinguished persons like the Companions of the Bench, and of Badr and Ridwan

While the explicit meaning of “And how goodly a company are these!” encourages others to follow them, and its implicit meaning, through showing the generation that succeeded them to be honoured and illustrious, alludes to Hasan (May God be pleased with him), who as the fifth Caliph affirmed the Hadith “After me the Caliphate will last thirty years” (23) -in order to show its great value despite its brief duration

(24)

And the word “goodly” in the Quranic verse which is translated as “And how goodly a company are these!” is “hasune” in Arabic text

And in Arabic writing, Hassan and Hasune are written in the same way

As it is seen, there are many sings and hints pointing out to the Unseen, stated either explicitly or implicitly in Quranic verses

They also hint in which order the four caliphs will be promoted to the caliphate

10-11-2012	#3
Prof. Dr. Sinsi	Was İt Prophet Muhammad’S Will To Make Hazrat Abu Bakr The First Caliph Of İslam? After discussing this problem, at-Taftazani says: “Salaf (companions and tabiin) agreed on Othman’s superiority over Ali and accepts their order of caliphate as it is (19) Then he explains how each of them was promoted to caliphate one by one In his opinion, the caliphate of the four caliphs was the result of consensus of Islamic scholars Conflicts and wars which happened related to the caliphate of Hazrat Ali were not because of disagreement over his caliphate indeed, but because of the fault in deduction (of judgment; ijtihad)” (20) As it is seen, Taftazani considers wars during the time of Hazrat Ali as the result of deduction and faults in deduction, like other ahl-i Sunnah scholars It is not meant to criticize and oppose to the companion here; conversely, it is meant to exalt him Taftazani blames them with hypocrisy and heedlessness He states that Hazrat Ali was right on his judgment and Muawiya was faulty in his judgment Muawiya, who was faulty in his judgment, is not criticized or blamed with straying and hypocrisy but commemorated nicely as a mujtahid, because mujtahids will earn sawabs even though they are faulty in their judgments A mujtahid who made a mistake in his judgment cannot be blamed with straying or hypocrisy (21) Bediuzzaman Said Nursi says that some Quranic verses point out to the four caliphs to come after the death of the Messenger of Allah, together with their order, and hints who they are by telling their most known features: “Muhammad is the Prophet of God, and those who are with him are strong against unbelievers, [but] compassionate among each other You will see them bow and prostrate themselves” (surah-al-Fath) Through telling of the elevated qualities and characteristics which were the reason for the Companions being the most elevated of human kind after the prophets, the start of this verse describes through its explicit meaning the excellent qualities which would mark the class of the Companions And through its implied meaning, the verse alludes to the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, who would succeed to the office of the Prophet (PBUH) after his death through the institution of the Caliphate, and gives news of the fine attributes which were what most distinguished each of them and marked them out It is as follows: “And those who are with him” alludes to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, who was distinguished and famous for being among the Prophet’s special followers and party to his conversation, and again for entering among his special followers by being the first to die “While are strong against the unbelievers” points to Umar, who in the future would cause the countries of the globe to tremble at his conquests, and with his justice would descend on tyrants like a thunderbolt “And compassionate among each other” gives news of Uthman, who, in the future when the most serious dissension was being fomented, would sacrifice his own life and spirit out of perfect kindness and compassion so that the blood of Muslims should not be spilt, preferring to be martyred wrongfully while reading the Qur’an And so too, “You will see them bow and prostrate themselves [in prayer], seeking grace from God and [His] good pleasure” tells that with his complete worthiness to undertake the Caliphate and government, and his heroism, and his choosing perfect asceticism, worship, poverty, and frugality, and whose bowing and prostrating in prayer was corroborated by everyone, Ali (May God be pleased with him) was not responsible for his position in the future and the wars and strife in which he was involved, and that his intention and wish was for Divine favour The phrase, “This is their similitude in the Torah” makes predictions concerning the Unseen in two respects: It gives news of the qualities of the Companions mentioned in the Torah, which was as though the Unseen for an unlettered person like the Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace) The sentence, “and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, [filling] the sowers with wonder and delight As a result, it fills the unbelievers with rage at them”, gives news of the Unseen in two respects: The First is the prediction concerning the Companions in the Gospel, which was like the Unseen for the unlettered Prophet (PBUH) At the start the Companions would appear to be few and weak, nevertheless they would burgeon like seeds, grow, thicken, and find strength When they were about to be overwhelmed and smothered by the rage that this would cause the unbelievers, they would subjugate mankind with their swords and prove that the Prophet (PBUH), their leader, was the Ruler of the World The verses express exactly the meaning of the above verses of Sura al-Fath Second Aspect: These sentences predict the following: the Companions certainly accepted the Pact of Hudaybiya out of their weakness and small number, but within a short time they so grew and acquired such strength and loftiness that, planted by the Hand of Power in the field of the face of the earth, they multiplied in most elevated, powerful, fruitful, and plentiful fashion Especially in relation to the shoots of mankind at that time, which were short, weak, defective, and scant due to neglect and heedlessness They would grow strong and cause glorious states to rage at them in envy, jealousy, and anger Yes, the future verified this prediction in most brilliant fashion There is in this prediction the further following slight hint: it indicates through the word forgiveness that, although while praising the Companions’ excellent qualities they should have been promised the greatest rewards, in the future serious faults would arise among the Companions, due to strife For forgiveness indicates the existence of faults And at that time the thing most demanded by the Companions, the greatest bounty, would be forgiveness (22) The Hint about the Four Caliphs In addition to this last verse of surah al-Fath which hints the caliphs to come after the Messenger of Allah, the verse “All who obey God and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of God, - of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! What a beautiful fellowship!” (al-Nisa, 69) also indicates the same truth This verse describes the people of the Straight Path and the groups of the Prophets, the caravan of the Veracious, the community of the Martyrs, the class of the Righteous, and those who follow them, who are those among mankind who truly receive the Divine bounties, and furthermore, explicitly pointing out the most perfect of those five groups in the World of Islam, it then indicates the leaders and chiefs of those five groups through mentioning their well-known attributes In addition, with a flash of miraculousness giving news of the Unseen, it specifies in one respect those chiefs’ positions in the future Yes, of the Prophets looks explicitly to the Prophet Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace), and the phrase the Veracious looks to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (the Veracious) It also indicates that he would be second after the Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace), and first to succeed to his place, and be known with the special title of ‘Siddiq,’ and be seen at the head of all the veracious Then the Witnesses [or Martyrs] mentions Umar, Uthman, and Ali (May God be pleased with all of them) together It indicates indirectly that the three of them would succeed to the Caliphate of the Prophet after ‘al-Siddiq,’ that the three of them would be martyred, and the merits of martyrdom added to their other virtues The Righteous alludes to distinguished persons like the Companions of the Bench, and of Badr and Ridwan While the explicit meaning of “And how goodly a company are these!” encourages others to follow them, and its implicit meaning, through showing the generation that succeeded them to be honoured and illustrious, alludes to Hasan (May God be pleased with him), who as the fifth Caliph affirmed the Hadith “After me the Caliphate will last thirty years” (23) -in order to show its great value despite its brief duration (24) And the word “goodly” in the Quranic verse which is translated as “And how goodly a company are these!” is “hasune” in Arabic text And in Arabic writing, Hassan and Hasune are written in the same way As it is seen, there are many sings and hints pointing out to the Unseen, stated either explicitly or implicitly in Quranic verses They also hint in which order the four caliphs will be promoted to the caliphate