The AMI Podcast

Shia presentation by Shaykh Kumail Rajani on the relationship between Fatima al-Zahra and the Khulafa after the death of the Prophet in light of the dispute over Fadak. (Part 2 of 3)

Sunni presentation by Maulana Abdul Hamid Kusuri on the relationship between Lady Fatima al-Zahra and the Khulafa after the death of the  Prophet in light of the dispute over Fadak. (Part 1 of 3)

Early Islamic History, Saqifa and the Appointment of the First Caliph Abubakr, Shia Sunni panel discussion and Q&A.  (Part 3 of 3 videos)

Early Islamic History, Saqifa and the Appointment of the First Caliph Abubakr, Shia view presentation by Syed Hadi Rizvi.  (Part 2 of 3 videos)

Early Islamic History, Saqifa and the Appointment of the First Caliph Abubakr, Sunni view presentation by Mufti Abdul Majeed Nadeem. (Part 1 of 3 videos)

Amongst the points raised in the discussion was that companions not following the Prophet’s commands in providing him with paper could be taken as a failure in his mission, and thus should be dismissed as a  possibility. However, this was rejected as a weak argument as the disobedience of a people is not an indication of success or indeed a  failure of prophets or for that matter God. Of the more interesting points raised during the discussion was the acknowledgement by certain  Sunni scholars that the Prophet had indeed wanted Ali to be the successor, however since this was a communal matter, it was up to the community to decide ultimately i.e., the Prophet’s words were just advice and not binding.

Shaykh Mahmood using the Quran and hadith critiqued arguments used to justify the actions of the companions who denied the Prophet’s request in writing something down on his deathbed. He then went on to conclude,  evidenced by hadith, that the Prophet had indeed wanted to write a will and that the will was in regard to his successor being Ali. (part 3 of 4)

Was the Prophet denied a chance to record a last testament before his  death by his own companions? The issue of qirtas, refers to the incident at the end of the Prophet’s life when he asked his companions for a pen and paper to record something but was refused, which has been an ideological dividing line for the Shia and the Ahl al-Sunna. Shia scholars maintain that the Prophet wished to write down the successorship of Imam Ali whilst Sunni scholars refute this understanding. (2 of 4)

Shaykh Umar Ramadhan argued that although there are solitary narrations the Prophet wanted to record something, it was not related to succession. He reasoned that the issue of succession is so great that the Prophet would have insisted because it would have been his duty to convey the message. However, according to the narration when the Prophet asked for a pen and paper Umar ibn Khattab said that he was unwell and that the book of God is sufficient guidance. When his companions began arguing the Prophet said it was not appropriate for them to raise their voices and ordered them to leave. If he wanted to write something so fundamental to the wellbeing of the Muslim Ummah, he would have corrected Umar ibn Khattab as he had done on previous occasions and persisted. Thus, the Prophet wanted to convey something personal, and not something which had been revealed to him regarding the leadership after him. The final revelation of the verses of the Quran which occurred a few days prior to the incident stating, ‘We have not missed anything from the book’, supports this view and provide a justification as to why Umar ibn Khattab insisted that the book of God is enough. (1 of 4)

The succession of the Prophet and the event of Ghadeer, Shia Sunni Panel Discussion.