Someone once said that Abu Bakr was cleverer than the Prophet (SAWW) because he assigned Umar as his successor, and the Prophet (SAWW) was unable to see that he should assign some-one as his successor. Did the Prophet (SAWW) not see this problem as important, or did he not take it seriously?
But how is it possible that the Prophet of Islam (SAWW) who has tried hard to implement Islam, and tolerated a lot of problems, and paid a big price to establish Islam in the Arabian peninsula, leaves people without assigning anyone to keep this religion alive after him?
The religion that is to be the last religion of God for this world, the religion that was supposed to be for every nation all over the world, what happened that we Muslims are in this miserable situation in the world for centuries? What happened that the chain of rulers has reached to people like King Fahad, Saddam Hussain, Husni Mubarak, ect.? Something is terribly wrong!
The problem is in leadership and guardianship. Was this problem not so important for Prophet (SAW) or did he not take it seriously? Of course, he did take it serious and he must have assigned a chain of successors (Caliphs) who where the most qualified as the head of Islamic state and as the guardian of Shari’ah (divine law).
Are Allah (SW) and His Prophet (SAWW) more qualified to assign the Caliphs, or people? Is Islam on the basis of democracy (government of people over people) or on the basis of theocracy (Kingdom of Allah (SW) over the earth)? The history of Islam testifies that the government after the death of Prophet was neither democratic nor theocratic. Just a few people gathered in “Saqifah bani Saaedah” and assigned Abu Bakr as Caliph while Imam Ali (AS) was busy of the burial of the holy prophet in Medina.
Is it our choice as to whom should be a Prophet or it is Allah’s (SW) choice? Can we select Prophet by Shura? The same goes for assigning the successor of the Prophet (SAWW), for Allah (SW) knows best who is the most qualified for this position. It seems very strange that a deputy of a chief is assigned by any person other than him. Deputy of God (or Prophet) is only assigned by God (or Prophet), and it is not people’s business! There are many examples in Quran where Allah (SW) states that He is the one who assigns a successor on Earth.
Allah (SW), states in Quran:
- “O’ David, we assigned you as Caliph (successor) on the earth …” (Quran 38:26)
- “… We have assigned you (Abraham) as Imam (leader) for people …” (Quran 2:124)
- “Surely We gave the book to Moses and assigned his brother Aaron as his vizier.” (Quran 25:35)
- “… And Moses said unto his brother Aaron: Take my place among the people.” (Quran 7:142)
- As we see, Caliph/Imam for the mankind is assigned by Allah (SW). Even Prophet Moses, when he wanted to go to Miqaat, did not ask people to form a Shura to assign a Caliph for him. “(Moses said: ) “O’ Allah (SW) assign me a vizier from my family, (that is my brother Haroon…,” (Allah (SW) said) “We granted your requests, O’ Moses”.” (Quran 20:29-36)
The above verses of Quran concerning Haroon show that even the Prophet does not assign his deputy/successor, and it is rather Allah (SW) who does that. Prophet Moses prayed to Allah (SW) and requested that Aaron becomes his deputy, and Allah (SW) approved the suggestion/request of Prophet Moses (AS). The Prophet (SAWW) thereby meant that as Moses had left behind Aaron to look after his people when he went to Miqaat (meeting Allah (SW)), in the same way he was leaving Ali behind to look after the affairs of Islam after he met Allah (SW) (i.e., his death).
(Notice that “Ukhlufni” and “Khalifa” (Caliph) are exactly from the same root.) In this connection, let us take a look at the following tradition from Sahih Al-Bukhari: The Messenger of Allah (SW) said to Ali “Your position to me is like the position of Aaron (Haroon) to Moses, except that there shall be no Prophet after me”
Also see these Sunni References:
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Arabic-English version, Traditions 5.56, 5.700
- Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, pg. 1870-1871
- Sunan Ibn Majah, pg. 12
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 1, pg. 174
- Al-Khasa’is, by Al-Nisa’i, pg. 15-16
- Mushkil Al-Athar, by Al-Tahawi, vol. 2, pg. 309
