An Exposition of Some Criticisms Against Khilafat-e-Rashida — Page 39
AN EXPOSITION OF SOME CRITICI SMS AG AINST KHILAFAT - E - RASHIDA 39 and blessings of Allah be upon him. The Nomination of Hazrat Ali It may be mentioned here that Hazrat Ali also believed that the naming of a Khalifa was not necessary; indeed, he regarded it against the precepts of the Holy Prophet. At the time he wa s fatally attacked, Jundab bin Abdallah asked him whether Hazrat Hassan should take the oath of allegiance. Ali replied: “I neither ask you to do so nor say anything against it, you know it better already”. (Tabri Vol. VI 346). He is even reported to have ad ded: “I am leaving you in the same state as the Holy Prophet did” (Tabaqat bin Saad Vol. III p. 34). That is, just as the Holy Prophet had left the question of succession to the believers, so was Ali leaving the matter to be decided by the nation. Hazrat Abu Musa Ashaari has explained this position by saying: “Khilafat and Imamat comes through consultation but kingship is attained through the power of sword” (Tabaqat bin Saad Vol. IV p. 113). From the above discourse it is clear that the naming of Khalifas is against Islamic precepts, at the same time however the Holy Prophet left certain sign - posts to guide the believers in their effort to find a successor, e. g. as is mentioned in his saying t hat he wanted to nominate Abu Bakr but then abandoned the idea as he believed that God would not accept election of any other person.