Question:

Shi'a people said that Khalifah Abu Bakr killed many companions who refused to pay Zakat. Were the people who refused to pay Zakat the companions of the Prophet?

Shi'a also said that the companions killed Khalifah Uthman ibn Affan. Were the rebels who killed Uthman the companions of the Prophet?

Please help me to reply to this falsity.


 

Answer:

A Sahaabi (Companion) is the one "who has met the Prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- and died in a state of Iman (Faith)."

Meanwhile, those whom you mentioned have apostatized for they refused to pay Zakaah after the Messenger of Allah passed away -may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.

The issue of Zakaah is of great importance: there is not even one verse in the Quran that mentions Salaah without pairing it with Zakaah. This is why Abu Bakr said: "I shall fight those who separated Salaah from Zakaah."

Maalek ibn al-Nuwayrah and his comapanions refused to give the Zakaah even though they were Muslims. Fighting them was necessary in accordance with the Islamic Punishment (Hadd). Also, if their rejection sprang from their denial to it being a duty after the passing of the Messenger of Allah, then they are to be fought due to their apostasy. Hence, in both cases they were to be fought.

We want you to read the story of Maalek ibn al-Nuwayrah on this link:

http://www.ansar.org/english/q&a.htm

Then you may comprehend the dimensions of this issue.

But, what can we do about those who argue in defense of people classified as 'apostates' and seek to explain their stances(!), saying that their agreement to stop paying Zakaah does not mean they apostatized?! This is while they do not feel any shame in aiming arrows to Abu Bakr and the Sahaabah (Companions) who advocated Islam and remained firm on the religion of Allah after many people relinquished it. The shia later slandered them, claimed they apostatized and favored disbelief! All this just because they did not grant the Caliphate to Ali!!

Those apologetic people are not just unaware of the greatness of the duty of giving Zakaah, which Allah pairs constantly with Salaah in the Qur'aan! They are also unaware of the sayings of Ahlul Bait which clearly explains that what Abu Bakr did with those who abstained from paying Zakaah was absolutely right, that this deed of his testified to his vast knowledge -may Allah be pleased with him.

al-Kulaynee narrated in 'al-Kaafee', on the authority of Abu Abdullaah -peace be upon him, that he said: "whosoever refuses to pay a carat of due Zakaah is neither a Believer nor a Muslim. This is the saying of Allah -azza wa jall: *(O my Lord! send me back (to life), in order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected (23:99-100))*". In another narration: "no Salaah is accepted from him (the abstainer of giving Zakkah."(1)

Also, on the authority of Abu Abdullaah -peace be upon him, that he said: "whosoever refuses to pay a carat of due Zakaah, then God-willing he will die as a Jew or as a Christian."(2)

Also, on the authority of Abu Ja'far -peace be upon him, that he said: "Allah -azza wa jall- paired Zakaah with Salaah; He said: *(And be steadfast in prayer, give Zakaah (2/43))*, so whoever establishes Salaah and does not give Zakaah, he has not established Salaah!"(3)

So, where is Al-Tijani, Sharafuddeen al-Mousawee, etc., of the imams and scholars of Shee'ah, who continue to chant the issue of fighting those who refuses to pay the due Zakaah, attempting to make them look innocent, while hurling falsehood and accusations of apostasy on Abu Bakr and the Sahaabah. Where are these specimens from those clear sayings? Moreover, Ali stood firmly beside the rightly-guided Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, during that crisis?!!

Abu Bakr, that man who lived for a great cause (Islam) which was his top preoccupation, Ibn Shahrashoub says in his book 'Mutashaabeh al-Qur'aan' when explaining the saying of Allah -azza wa jall: *(Bow down, prostrate yourselves (22:77))*. So, this is a general saying, for all situations, including the prostrating to thank Allaah after praying; the Prophet -may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him- prostrated (to thank Allah) when Abu Jahl's head was brought to him, and Ali (alayhis salaam) prostrated when they found the man with the breasts (whom the Prophet described and prophesied will be amongst the casualties of that battle), and Abu Bakr prostrated when the news of conquering al-Yamaamah and killing Musaylamah reached him."(4)

A man prostrating to thank Allah, delighted by Islam's victory and the destruction of prophecy-claimer, Musaylamah, but he was still accused of apostasy and favoring disbelief!! His honor, faith, and everything were also accused!!

With regard to the faith-established motto under the slogan of which the Sahaabah fought Musaylamah and those with him, al-Nooree al-Tubrusee mentions in (Mustadrak al-Wasaa'el, 11/113), on the authority of Imaam Alee ibnul Hussein, that he said: "the motto of the companions of the Messenger of Allah -may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him- the day they fought Musaylamah was: 'O people of Surat al-Baqarah'".

What a great motto!! Great are these men!

O reader, these excerpts I brought to your attention, which testified to the whole-hearted devotion of these men to advocate this religion, on top of whom was the rightly-guided Caliph, Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq, these excerpts are but facts written down in the books of Twelver Shee'ah themselves!! So, what if I referred you to what the books of Ahlus Sunnah mention about these events??

When one comprehends this truth, he surely detects the misguidance being uttered by those who slander the companions of the Messenger of Allaah, and make symbols of disbelief, apostasy, and hypocrisy of those who struggled in the path of raising this religion!!

This was why Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Alee respected Abu Bakr a lot, for his great rank in Islaam.



al-Arbalee, one of the great Shee'ah scholars, mentions in his book (Kashf al-Ghummah fee Ma'refat al-A'emmah), on the authority of Urwah ibn Abdullaah, that he said: "I asked Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali (alayhis salaam) about adorning the swords, so he said: nothing is wrong about it: Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq -may Allaah be pleased with him- adorned his sword. I said: do you say 'al-Siddeeq'?! He said: He got up and took the direction of the Qiblah and said: yes, as-Siddeeq! Yes, as-Siddeeq! Yes!! He who does not call him 'as-Siddeeq', may Allaah not take a word for truth from him, neither in this World nor in the Hereafter!"(5)

May Allaah be Merciful with Imaam Abu Ja'far, and may He have mercy upon his words, which ancient books contained, but today's consciences would not utter!

Brother, you asked whether the Companions killed Uthman or not.
Be assured brother that there is not even one Companion contributed to the murder of Uthman
There is no authentic report to say otherwise. You will find none.

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(1) al-Kaafee, 3/503.
(2) al-Kaafee, 3/505.
(3) al-Kaafee, 3/506.
(4) Mutashaabeh al-Qur'aan, 2/173.
(5) Kashf al-Ghummah, 2/360.