THE ASSAULT BY UMAR IBN AL-KHATTAB ON THE HOUSE OF LADY FATIMA (as), DAUGHTER OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (sa)

Soon after the passing away of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and even before his burial, a gang of elders led by some notables from the Quraysh gathered in Saqifa Banu Saeda to plan, bargain and wrestle for power and who will lead the Muslim ummah.

The gathering of the Saqifa Banu Saeda is the saddest event in islam which led to the usurpation of the right to caliphate by Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (as).

Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib had being declared by the Holy Prophet as the first successor to lead the ummah when the Prophet was divinely informed of his near departure from earth.

The Prophet declared Imam Ali (as) on many occassions that he will be the first successor of the ummah after his demise.

In the Saqifah Banu Saeda they gathered when the Prophet (sa) was even yet to be buried.

His family members and Imam Ali (as) were making funeral arrangements and taking care of the burial. The gang in the Saqifa Banu Saeda eventually declared Abu Bakr as "caliph".

Among the first who objected to the usurpation of the caliphate was Imam Ali, his wife Lady Fatima (as) and a band of loyal supporters that included notable companions of the Holy Prophet like Salman al-Farisi, al-Miqdad, Abu Dhar al-Ghifari and Ammar Bin Yassir (may Allah be pleased with them).

The scoffle for power reached the stage where even a piece of land (known as Fadak) given to Lady Fatima by her father, the Holy Prophet, was confiscated by Abu Bakr under the false testimony that prophets do no leave inheritance. Both Imam Ali and his wife protested.

Infact, there is a popular speech by Lady Fatima in the Masjid-An-Nabawi where she addressed Abu Bakr in protest.

The attrocities reached a stage whereby force was used to threaten Imam Ali to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr.

It is recorded that for as long as Lady Fatima lived Imam Ali refused to pay allegiance to Abu bakr as caliph.upon hearing the news that Imam Ali had refused to pay allegiance, a customary pledge attributed to arab tradition known as "bay'a", Umar (the same man who hurt the Prophet on his deathbed by calling him "delirious" when the Prophet asked for pen and paper to write a will) gathered his gangs and attacked the House of Fatima.

Umar asked Imam Ali and his loyal supporters to come out of the house to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr.

He stated that upon their refusal he would set the house ablaze.

He was told that Fatima the daughter of the Prophet was in the house.

His reply:" I do not care"! Finally firewood was gathered by Umar's gang to set the door ablaze and gain access into the house. The assault on the house of Fatima, led to the untimely death of the Prophet's daughter. The Prophet had already foretold and informed his daughter that she would be the first to follow him.

Lady Fatima (as) was close to the door when the door was forced open. A nail injured her which led to her untimely death. Tetenus could have been the possible cause of her ensuing illness and unfortunate death.

During the assault also, Lady Fatima was pregnant which led to the miscarriage of her yet unborn child, Muhsin. Barely 6 months had passed after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) when his daughter Lady Fatima passed away.

Heartfelt condolences to the 12th Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (may Almighty Allah hasten his reappearance and the decent of Prophet Jesus)

And to the entire Muslim Ummah especially the followers of the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) on the occasion of the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah Zahra, the daughter of Holy Prophet (pbuh & hf).

Among the records of this event,the most renowned Sunni historian Ibn Jareer al Tabari also recorded this event. We read in al Tabari (English translation), Volume 9 page 187:

"Ibn Humayd - Jarir - Mughirah - Ziyad b. Kulayb:Umar Ibn al-Khattab came to the house of Ali. Talha and Zubair and some of the immigrants were also in the house.

Umar cried out: "By God, either you come out to render the oath of allegiance, or I will set the house on fire." al-Zubair came out with his sword drawn.

As he stumbled (upon something), the sword fell from his hand so they jumped over him and seized him."- History of al-Tabari, Volume 9 page 187

"Although the timing is not clear, it seems that Ali and his group came to know about Saqifa after what had happened there.

At this point, his supporters gathered in Fatimah's house.

Abu Bakr and Umar, fully aware of Ali's claims and fearing a serious threat from his supporters, summoned him to the mosque to swear the oath of allegiance.

Ali refused, and so the house was surrounded by an armed band led by Abu Bakr and Umar, who threatened to set it on fire if Ali and his supporters refused to come out and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr.

The scene grew violent and Fatimah was furious". - Ansab Ashraf, by al-Baladhuri in his, v1, pp 582-586;Tareekh Ya'qubi, v2, p116;al-Imamah wal-Siyasah, by Ibn Qutaybah, v1, pp 19-20.

The names of those people who brought firewood to burn the House of Fatima (as)

1) Umar Ibn al-Khattab

2) Khalid Ibn al-Walid

3) Abdul-Rahman Ibn Awf

4) Sabit Ibn Qais

5.) Ziad Ibn Walid

6) Mohammad Ibn Muslam

7) Zaid Ibn Sabit

8 ) Salamah Ibn Salamah

9) Salman Ibn Aslam

10) Aseed Ibn Hazeer

(Reference:Kitab-ahlus-Sunnah,Tareekh al-Yaqoobi, J-2 Page #126).

May the curse of Almighty Allah be upon the enemies of Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad from the first to the last of them to the Day of Judgement. Ameen.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad said:"Fatima is a part of me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry."

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 5 hadith 61

Say (O Muhammad), "I do not ask any recompense for it (my work as a messenger), except the love of my near relatives (Ahlul Bayt)."

And whosoever earns good, We (Allah) increase for him good therein.

Verily, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Grateful. (Holy Quran, Surah ash-Shura, 42:23)