One of the most significant events after the Prophet’s martyrdom was the usurpation of the succession of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
The central question raised is, did Amir al-Muminin ever pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr?
The sources provide different accounts. Some narrations state that the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), under duress, pledged allegiance. Others hold that he refrained until after the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her). Still others insist that he never pledged allegiance at all.
If any form of allegiance occurred, it was not voluntary but compelled by force and threats. Reports indicate that he and his companions were menaced with death. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) is reported to have said,
“By God, he did not pledge allegiance until he saw smoke entering his house.”
In the book Ithbat al Wasiyya, it is mentioned that Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) and his followers remained in their homes until they were attacked. The door of his house was set ablaze, he (peace be upon him) was dragged out against his will, and Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) was brutally crushed behind the door, leading to the intentional miscarriage of her son Muhsin caused by violence. They demanded his allegiance, but he refused, declaring, “I will not do it.” They threatened him with death, to which he replied, “If you kill me, I am the servant of God and the brother of His Messenger.” When they attempted to seize his hand, he clenched his fist; unable to open it, they forcibly touched his closed hand in a coerced semblance of allegiance.
Ibn Qutayba mentions that Umar, accompanied by others, brought Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr. When the Imam (peace be upon him) asked,
“What if I refuse?” They swore, “By God, we shall strike your neck.”
In the History of al-Tabari book, in the words of Ibn Khizrana, Zayd ibn Aslam recounts,
“I was among those who went with Umar carrying wood to the house of Fatimah (peace be upon her) when Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) and his followers refused allegiance.”
Amir al-Muminin’s Compulsion
When Imam Ali (peace be upon him) perceived that he and his companions would be killed and that their deaths would bring no benefit to Islam, he reluctantly pledged allegiance. It is narrated that as he passed by the grave of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), he said,
“O son of my mother, these people forced me, weakened me, and nearly killed me.” He also lamented, “O Jafar, today I have no Jafar; O Hamza, today I have no Hamza.”
Shia belief maintains that Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) certainly had the power to defeat his opponents and reclaim his rightful leadership. Yet, out of profound concern for the survival of Islam, he refrained. He knew that open conflict would drive the majority into hostility and apostasy, leaving only a small remnant of believers, which would lead to the collapse of Islam itself.
Ibrahim al-Karkhi reports:
A man once asked Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him), “May God bless you, but was Amir al-Muminin not strong in the religion of God?”
The Imam replied, “Indeed, he was.”
He asked, “Then why did his opponents overcome him, and why did he not resist?”
The Imam answered, “A verse in the Quran restrained him.”
When asked which verse, he recited, “If it had not been for the believing men and women whom you could not identify, you might have trampled over them, thus incurring guilt unknowingly.”
The Imam al-Hussain explained:
“God had placed deposits of future believers within the loins of the disbelievers and hypocrites. For this reason, Imam Ali did not strike down their fathers and forefathers until these hidden trusts were brought forth. When they had emerged, Amir al-Muminin prevailed over those who opposed him and defeated them.”
