An Exposition of Some Criticisms Against Khilafat-e-Rashida — Page 25
AN EXPOSITION OF SOME CRITICI SMS AG AINST KHILAFAT - E - RASHIDA 25 the consorts of the Holy Prophet and about whom he had exhorted his followers to learn half of the tenets of Islam, is said to have related as follows: “The Holy Prophet said that he had intended to call in Abu Bakr and hand him a writing for his Khilafat, so that after the death of the Holy Prophet, other claimants to the office might not arise, but then the Prophet did not pursue the idea believing that God would not accept the election of any other person besides Abu Bakr as Khalifa, nor would the believers agree otherwise” (Bukhari, Kitabul Ah - Kam, Babul Istikhlaf). It is clear therefore that since the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, firmly believed that it was entirely the preserve of God to appoint a Khalifa, he declined to issue any writing for the appointment of Abu Bakr to the office. Similarly, Hafsa, who was the daughter of Omar and was also one of the consorts of the Holy Prophe t is reported to have said: “The Holy Prophet once said that after him, Abu Bakr shall be the Khalifa and thereafter Omar would be the Khalifa. I asked how did he know this and he replied that God the Omniscient had told him so”. (Tafsir Qummi, Sura Tahreem). Furthermore, it is related by Osman, the third Khalifa to the Holy Prophet, that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, once told him: