Why did Imam Ali (as) not challenge the Khilafat of Abu Bakr?

If Imam Ali (as) had wished, he could have risen up in arms against the decision at Saqeefa – considering that just a few months ago the Prophet(pbuh) had clearly proclaimed him his successor at Ghadeer e Khum. However, there were a number of reasons for his not doing so. It is important to understand the political and social climate that prevailed amongst the Arabs at the time. Since the growth and expansion of Islam over the previous 10/11 years, there had been a growing sense of discontent among the Muslims.

• To begin with, the early converts and the Helpers of Medina were beginning to feel hardly done by when the later Muslims were given prominence and voice in the society. They felt this was a disregard and belittling of their own struggle and hard work in the propagation of the Deen in the early days.

• Also, since many of the latter converts had turned to the Prophet (pbuh)and Islam for political and economic reasons, their loyalty to him and the Deen lacked the sincerity of those who had turned to Islam with pure intentions. Many had turned because they did not seem to have a choice. Bedouin tribes had accepted Islam to protect themselves against aggression. They had turned Islam attracted by the growing power and security within it. And, within the folds of this newly flowering religion we see the evolution of a dangerous group of people, whom the Quran Majeed refers to as the Munafiq – the hypocrites. Like a sickness, they bred within the body of Islam. They were deeply entrenched within society and could not be clearly identified. On the surface they seemed to be like every other Muslim, yet their hearts and minds were filled with animosity and resentment, some of which had already begun to be clearly visible on the expedition to Tabuk – when there were constant mutterings of dissatisfaction with the Prophet’s (pbuh) decisions – although it has been an extremely successful mission. The Quran very clearly talks about this in Sura e Tawba, ayats 65, 66: If you question them [regarding their conduct], they will surely say, ‘We were just gossiping and amusing ourselves.’ Say, ‘Were you deriding Allah, His signs, and His apostles? (65) Do not make excuses. You have disbelieved after your faith.’ (66) 

There was even a conspiracy to kill the Prophet (pbuh) on their return journey from Tabuk by pushing him off the cliff – which thankfully failed and he returned in safety.

Coming to the subject of this essay, both the Prophet (pbuh) and Imam Ali (as) were well aware of this and were loath to ‘rock the boat’, as it were. The religion was new to the people, it had not yet taken root. Any discord might have encouraged the people to turn back to their old ways, jeopardising all the effort and hard work spent in its propagation.

On the other hand, there were others – from both As-haab and Ansar – who were aware of the situation too. And unfortunately for the Muslims, they, who had gathered at Saqeefa, took advantage of the situation to push their own interests forward instead of reflecting on the words and wishes of the Prophet (pbuh). Obviously, the event of Ghadeer must have been fresh in their minds, where the Prophet had proclaimed Imam Ali (as) as the ‘Maula’ of all those who took himself for their Maula, since less than three month had passed - that had been Zill Hijj and this was Rabi ul Awwal. Most however, chose to ‘forget it’ and if reminded ‘ignored it’. There were a number of reasons for this.

• Imam Ali(as) had a lot of enemies amongst the new converts – invariably someone of their relatives and dear ones had been killed at his hands during the battles fought not so long ago. So, there were plenty who would have to like to see him suffer and fail. They definitely would not have wanted to support his claim if given the choice.  

• Imam Ali (as) was an object of many people’s envy because he held such a special position in the heart of the Prophet (pbuh). He was the Prophet’s son in law, the father of the Prophet’s beloved grandsons and above all a loyal guardian and supporter, inseparable from the Prophet at all times. He was wise, brave military hero who made a mark in every battle that was fought during the propagation. Moreover, the Prophet (pbuh) had more than once proclaimed his love and trust of Imam Ali. This was a cause of great envy amongst his closest as-haab.

• In comparison to his contenders he was far younger: a plausible reason for their not wishing him in a place of authority. They probably felt that, based on their age, they deserved the privileged position.

Considering all this, the events that followed the death of the Prophet (pbuh)were not a surprise – to say the least.

Now for the question: Why did Imam Ali (as) not stand up and contend for his rightful position?

• He did not want a discord amongst the umma that might have led to the new Muslims being disillusioned by the disharmony that would have resulted. Islam was too young to survive such an onslaught.

• He would not want people to choose him from fear of him – because they had been bullied or coerced into submission. His moral rationale would not permit him to resort to aggression to promote himself.

• There were very few people who really understood the significance of making the right choice of Khalifa to lead them forward; or had the insight to see what the future consequences of their choices might be. Therefore, if Imam Ali (as)nhad raised this issue, there wouldn’t have been many to back him – most being content with the choice of Abu Bakr who was a ‘benign contender’ – an old man, both gullible and malleable; putty in the hands of any game-player.   Furthermore, reflecting on Imam Ali's life we can clearly see that he truly lived by the principles he stood for. He was undoubtedly one of those who had sold his nafs for Allah. As the Quran says in 2:207:

And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants. (207)

 For him therefore, obeying the will of the Prophet (pbuh)and serving Allah(swt) and His deen was far more important than satisfying his own ego.

As an aside, it is our individual choices that decide the course our present and future will take. And, all our choices put together design the course of the society as a whole and make history what it is. In this instance, Imam Ali (as) made his choice: to sacrifice the ‘self’ for the better of the Deen to save it from annihilation; and the ummat made its choice: to blindly turn away from him and what he had to offer, for a lesser leader. Coerced and manipulated they may have been, nevertheless they failed their responsibility to the Prophet (pbuh) who had made his wishes explicit at Ghadeer.  Imam Ali’s (as) choice did give the Ummat a brief respite; time to settle.  The ummat’s choice, on the other hand, sowed the seeds of discord and injustice which within half a century had culminated into the empowerment of the likes of Muaviya and Yazeed  at the helm of the Islamic Nation.

These choices have fashioned the lives of the Muslims over the last 1400 years making them become what they are today – divided, disunited and dissipated – exactly what Allah (swt) did not want them to be:

Going back, this was a great loss for the Ummat at that point in time. From every perspective Imam Ali (as) had been the ideal, accomplished leader Islam needed:

• an expert scholar of the Quran and its teaching, from having been a constant companion of the Prophet (pbuh);

• a brave and fearless soldier, proven by his exploits in all Islamic Battles and

• a wise and just arbitrator, having worked with the Prophet (pbuh)in the establishing and running of the Islamic Government in Medina.

History might stand up and say: He did get the opportunity, albeit 25 years later. But the mischief was done and the Islam and its people were in a state of turmoil. There was civic unrest. There had been improper allocation of wealth – based not on merit but on family and social status. Consequently, there  was decentralisation of power – with Muawiya  declaring himself supreme in Syria. Imam Ali spent a greater part of his time endeavouring to right the wrongs from the past until he was martyred at the hands of Ibn Muljim within three and a half years of his taking the reins of the Islamic Government.