Provide the report of Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s)
Chapter 7 - ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd and al-Mu’taziliy Groups’ Visiting abu ‘Abd Allah,
‘Alayhi al-Salam
H 8184, Ch. 7, h 1
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah from ‘Abd al-Karim ibn
‘Utbah al-Hashimiy who has said the following:
“I was sitting in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, in Makkah when a group of people
of al-Mu‘tazilah among whom ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd was present as well as Wasil ibn ‘Ata’, Hafs ibn
Salim Mawla’ ibn Hubayrah and people of their leaders came to visit. This happened during the time
when al-Walid was killed and people of al-Sham had differences among them. They spoke (about the
situation) a great deal with confusion and made it very lengthy. Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam,
said to them, ‘You have spoken a great deal and it is excessive for me. Appoint someone from among
yourselves to speak in favor of your arguments and make it short.’ They then appointed ‘Amr ibn
‘Ubayd for this task. He spoke assiduously and made it lengthy. Among other things he said, ‘People
of al-Sham have killed their Caliph, and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has struck one
group against the other and has scattered their affairs. We have deliberated and found a man who has
religion, reason, kindness, position and resource for Caliphate and he is Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah
ibn al-Hassan. We then decided to gather around him to pledge allegiance, then come with him in
public. Those who pledge allegiance with us will be of us and we will be for him. Those who stay
away from us we will keep away from him. Those who plan against us we will do Jihad and plan
against them because of their rebellion and their rejection to return them to the truth and the people of
truth. We like to present this plan before you so you will also join us; we need a person like you. It is
because of your position and the great number of your followers.’ When he finished, abu ‘Abd Allah,
‘Alayhi al-Salam, asked, ‘Are you all of the same opinion as ‘Amr is?’ They replied, ‘Yes, we are of
the same opinion.’ He (the Imam) then praised Allah and glorified Him; then asked Him to grant
salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to His cause).
He then said, ‘We become angry when Allah is disobeyed but when He is obeyed we become happy.’
‘O ‘Amr, tell me if the nation will make you the person in charge of their affairs and give you
authority without fighting and expenses and said to you, “Whomever you choose to be their ruler with
authority is accepted by the nation.” Whom then would you choose for the nation?’ He replied, ‘I will
make it Shura’ (to be decided by the Muslims). He (the Imam) asked, ‘To be decided by all Muslims?’
He replied, ‘Yes, by all Muslims.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Will it be decided by their scholars of law
and good ones?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Will such people be of Quraysh and
others?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Will they be of Arab and non-Arab?’ He replied,
‘Yes.’ He (the Imam) then said,
‘O ‘Amr tell me, do you love abu Bakr and ‘Umar or denounce them?’
He replied, ‘I love them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘But you just opposed them. What do you all say?’
They replied, ‘We love them.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘O ‘Amr, were you to be a man who
denounced the two of them, then it would have been permissible for him to oppose them. How can you
love the two of them when you just opposed them? ‘Umar had made a covenant with abu Bakr on the
basis of which he pledged allegiance to him and he did not counsel anyone else on the issue.
Thereafter abu Bakr returned it to him (‘Umar) and did not counsel anyone in the issue. ‘Umar then
formed a council of six members. He kept all of al-Muhajirun and al-Ansar out of this council except
those six people from Quraysh. He made a will about the council to which, I think, neither you nor
your friends agree because you make a Shura’ of all Muslims.’ He asked, ‘What did he do?’ He (the
Imam) replied, ‘He commanded Suhayb to lead Salat (prayer) for the people for three days and to
consult the six people and no one else except the son of ‘Umar who consulted them but would have
had have no say in their decision. He made a will and advised those of al-Muhajirun and al-Ansar in
his presence to do this: “If three days pass before the council finish the task or pledge allegiance to a
man, you must cut off the necks of all the members of the council. If four of them agree on a plan
before three days pass but two of them oppose, you must cut off the necks of the two opposing
members of the council.” Do you accept such a plan about the council that you like all Muslims to
form?’ They replied, ‘No.’
“He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Amr, leave this aside.