Followers of the Saqifa school of thought claim that Imam Ali PBUH had a pleasant relationship with the three caliphs (Abubakr, Umar, Uthman). They use false stories like the marriage of Umm Kulthum to Umar and Imam Ali PBUH naming His sons after the caliphs, however, we have already debunked these myths in the past. In this article, we will look at what Imam Ali thought of the caliphs, based on authentic Sunni sources, then you can decide for yourself what to believe.
Sahih Sunni Sources: What They Reveal
Based on the Sahih narrations of al-Sindi found in the most Sahih (authentic) Sunni books, it is clear that Imam Ali PBUH never had friendly relationships with the three caliphs and did not consider them as frieds or allies; instead, He viewed them as liars, Sinners, Deceivers, Traitors, Oppressors,Tyrants, and so forth.
Before sharing the evidence, we want to clarify that our intention is not to disrespect anyone’s beliefs; rather, we are simply presenting information from Sunni books with Sahih sources and chains of narration. The ultimate judgment is left to our respected Shia and Sunni readers.
Sahih Muslim: Abubakr and Umar were Sinners!
Muslim Neyshabouri, in his book ‘Sahih Muslim’, narrates a long narration from Omar ibn al-Khattab who said to Amir al-Mo’minin (PBUH):
فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلي الله عليه وسلم– قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنَا وَلِيُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ –صلي الله عليه وسلم– فَجِئْتُمَا تَطْلُبُ مِيرَاثَكَ مِنَ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ وَيَطْلُبُ هَذَا مِيرَاثَ امْرَأَتِهِ مِنْ أَبِيهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلي الله عليه وسلم– « مَا نُورَثُ مَا تَرَكْنَا صَدَقَةٌ ». فَرَأَيْتُمَاهُ كَاذِبًا آثِمًا غَادِرًا خَائِنًا وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُ لَصَادِقٌ بَارٌّ رَاشِدٌ تَابِعٌ لِلْحَقِّ ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَأَنَا وَلِيُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ –صلي الله عليه وسلم– وَوَلِيُّ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَرَأَيْتُمَانِي كَاذِبًا آثِمًا غَادِرًا خَائِنًا
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away, Abu Bakr said:” I am the Wali (successor) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” Both of you came to demand your shares from the property (left behind by the Messenger of Allah). (Referring to Abbas), he said: You demanded your share from the property of your nephew, and he (referring to ‘Ali) demanded a share on behalf of his wife (Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) from the property of her father. AbuBakr said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said:” We do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity.” So both of you thought him to be a liar, sinner, deceiver and a traitor, And Allah knows that he was true, virtuous, well-guided and a follower of truth. When AbuBakr passed away and I have become the Wali (successor) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and AbuBakr, and you thought me to be a liar, sinner, deceiver and a traitor
Then, at the end of the narration, Umar ibn Khattab asks Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and Abbas if they confirm the statements he has made.
Both of them respond: “Yes.
قَالَ أَكَذَلِكَ قَالاَ نَعَمْ
Do you confirm what I have said?” They both said, “Yes.”
📚 Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1378, p. 1757
Al-Albani’s Confirmation: Authenticity of the ‘Oppressor and Tyrant’ Narrative
Other Sunni books have also narrated the same story using the terms “oppressor and tyrant”. Even Albani, who is a Wahhabi, has confirmed its authenticity as Sahih:
قَالَ وَأَنْتُمَا تَزْعُمَانِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ فِيهَا ظَالِمًا فَاجِرًا وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ صَادِقٌ بَارٌّ تَابِعٌ لِلْحَقِّ ثُمَّ وُلِّيتُهَا بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ سَنَتَيْنِ مِنْ إِِمَارَتِي فَعَمِلْتُ فِيهَا بِمِثْلِ مَا عَمِلَ فِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلي الله عليه وسلم وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَأَنْتُمَا تَزْعُمَانِ أَنِّي فِيهَا ظَالِمٌ فَاجِرٌ.
Omar said: You two believed that Abu Bakr was unjust and sinful in this matter, while Allah knows he was truthful, virtuous, and in the right. After Abu Bakr, the administration of Fadak and… was under my control for two years, and I conducted myself in the same manner as the Prophet of God (PBUH) and Abu Bakr did; however, you believed that I am unjust and sinful.
📚 Al-Albani, Muhammad Nasser al-Din (d. 1420 AH), Al-Tasliqat al-Hasan al-Sahih ibn Hanban, vol. 9, pp. 319-320.
After narrating the story, Al-Albani affirmed that the source of the narration is Sahih.
The same narration is also found in the book ‘Sahih Ibn Habban’ with the research of the extermist Wahhabi researcher Shuaib Al Arna’ut. They both agreed that the source is Sahih.
Sahih Bukhari: Abubakr and Umar are Hypocrites!
According to these two narrations, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) believed that AbuBakr and Umar are “Liars, Sinners, Deceitful, Treacherous, Unjust, and Corrupt.”
Interestingly, these same qualities are listed as characteristics of hypocrites (Munafiqs) in Sahih Bukhari. Muhammad ibn Isma’il writes in his book Sahih Bukhari:
33. حدثنا سُلَيْمَانُ أبو الرَّبِيعِ قال حدثنا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بن جَعْفَرٍ قال حدثنا نَافِعُ بن مَالِكِ بن أبي عَامِرٍ أبو سُهَيْلٍ عن أبيه عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ عن النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ إذا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ وإذا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ وإذا أؤتمن خَانَ
33. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three:
- Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
- Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ).
- If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)”
34. حدثنا قَبِيصَةُ بن عُقْبَةَ قال حدثنا سُفْيَانُ عن الْأَعْمَشِ عن عبد اللَّهِ بن مُرَّةَ عن مَسْرُوقٍ عن عبد اللَّهِ بن عَمْرٍو أَنَّ النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال أَرْبَعٌ من كُنَّ فيه كان مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا وَمَنْ كانت فيه خَصْلَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كانت فيه خَصْلَةٌ من النِّفَاقِ حتي يَدَعَهَا إذا أؤتمن خَانَ وإذا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ وإذا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ وإذا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ
صحيح البخاري، كتاب الإيمان، بَاب عَلَامَةِ الْمُنَافِقِ ، ح33 و 34 📚
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.
- Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.
- Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
- Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
- Whenever he quarrels, he oppresses (behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner).”
📚Sahih al-Bukhari, The Book of Faith, Bab al-‘Alam al-Manafiq, H 33 and 34.
Online sources
Prophet’s Warning: Signs of Hypocrisy in Sunni Hadiths
The qualities mentioned have all been attributed by the Prophet of God PBUH to the hypocrites, and even more so, as believed by the Commander of the Faithful; Imam Ali PBUH, to be traits of Abu Bakr and Omar. These are detailed in the most Sahih Sunni books.
Final question
Now our question for those with open minds and awakened consciences is; how could Amir al-Mo’minin Imam Ali (PBUH) arrange a marriage for His daughter with someone he views as a “Liar, a Sinner, a Deceiver, a Traitor, an Oppressor, and a Tyrant“?
How is it plausible that Amir al-Mo’minin (PBUH) named his cherished children after individuals he perceives as embodying all the the traits and characteristics of hypocrites?!!!
