Lady Fatimah’s demand for the restitution of Fadak was not merely a claim to property. It was a firm and principled declaration of opposition to the illegitimate seizure of authority and the invalid foundations of rule established at Saqifah.
The confiscation of Fadak thus marked the beginning of Lady Fatimah’s noble movement in defense of the Imamate and the rightful succession of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him).
The Claim of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) Before Abu Bakr
Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and many of the scholars of the general public narrate from Aishah:
“Fatimah sent someone to Abu Bakr to demand her inheritance from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family)—from what God had bestowed upon His Prophet in Madinah, from Fadak, and from the remaining fifth of Khaybar. Abu Bakr replied, ‘The Messenger of God said, “We, the community of prophets, do not leave inheritance; whatever we leave behind is charity.”’
Thus, Abu Bakr gave her nothing from those possessions. Lady Fatimah became angry with Abu Bakr and remained displeased with him. She spoke not to him until she departed from this world. When she passed away, her husband, Ali (peace be upon him), buried her at night and did not inform Abu Bakr so that he might attend her funeral or lead the prayer over her. He himself offered the funeral prayer.”
The Displeasure of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her)
Al-Bukhari, in his Sahih, records under Kitab al-Khums:
“Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger of God, was angered by Abu Bakr and turned away from him. Her displeasure continued until the end of her life.”
And in Kitab al-Faraid, under the chapter “The Saying of the Prophet: We do not leave inheritance; what we leave is charity,” it is recorded:
“Fatimah turned away from Abu Bakr and spoke not to him until she passed away.”
Allamah Sayed Murtada Firuzabadi writes:
“Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi narrated concerning the daughter of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) that she said to Abu Bakr and Umar:
‘By God, I shall never speak to you again.’ And she did not speak to them until her passing.”
Allamah Sayed Muhammad al-Musawi al-Hindi states:
“Lady Fatimah’s refusal to converse with Abu Bakr until the end of her blessed life, and her continued avoidance of him, clearly demonstrate the persistence of her displeasure. Her separation from him is in itself an implicit declaration that negates his claim to faith, let alone his claim to the caliphate. For in Sahih al-Bukhari it is recorded that it is not permissible for a Muslim to sever relations with another Muslim for more than three nights. Hence, had she regarded Abu Bakr as a true believer, how could she have distanced herself from him until death?”
Abu Bakr’s Argument in the Usurpation of Fadak
Abu Bakr’s reliance on the fabricated report:
“We, the company of prophets, do not leave inheritance; whatever we leave is charity”—is refuted by numerous verses of the Noble Quran, which clearly affirm that the prophets did indeed leave inheritance, and that their heirs lawfully inherited from them after their demise.
The divine scripture itself provides multiple examples of prophetic inheritance, invalidating any claim to the contrary.
The Decisive Response of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her)
Among the eloquent arguments presented by Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) in refutation of Abu Bakr’s claim was her statement:
“Have you deliberately set aside the Book of God and cast it behind your backs? Has not the Almighty said:
‘And Solomon inherited David’ (Quran),
and also,
‘Grant me, from Yourself, a successor who shall inherit from me and inherit from the family of Jacob (Quran)?”
When the usurpers of authority found themselves unable to respond to her irrefutable reasoning, they resorted to sophistry and insult. Thereupon, the noble lady addressed Abu Bakr, declaring:
“God is the best of judges; Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) shall be the claimant; and the Day of Resurrection is the appointed time. Then shall you see who is the loser. Repentance shall not avail you, and soon you shall know upon whom the humiliating punishment shall descend and who shall suffer the everlasting torment.”
This profound episode stands as a timeless testimony to Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’s unwavering defense of truth and justice. It also reflects her steadfast allegiance to divine authority and her righteous indignation against the usurpation of her father’s legacy. It highlights the violation of the rights of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
