Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi T&ib 223
Al-Ya'qoobi also said: "Among those from whom Islamic
jurisprudence was learned during the time of Ahu Bakr were 'Ali ibn
Abi Tilib, 'Umar ihn al-KhatJZb, Mu'Zdh ihn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Ka'h,
Zayd ibn ThZhit and Ahdullah ibn ~ as'ood."~~ Abu Bakr (&) gave
precedence to 'Ali (&) out of all his companions. This is a clear
indication that they used to deal with one another and give
precedence to 'Ali (&) ,., with regard to seeking advice35 and referting
matters forjudgement. At one time, a delegation of disbelievers came
to Madinah. They noticed some weakness in the Muslims and saw
that they were small in number because many of them had gone in
different directions for jihad to uproot the apostates and evil
wrongdoers. Abu Bakr (&) sensed that they posed a danger to the
capital of Islam and to the Muslims, so he ordered that Madinah be
placed under guard, and he appointed troops to protect its gates and
watch out for approaching armies. He appointed 'Ali, az-Zubayr,
Tabah and Abdullah ihn Mas'ood (may AUah be pleased with them)
in charge of these guards, and they remained like that until they felt
they were safe from the threat.36
There was constant interaction between Abu Bakr and 'Ali
(may Allah be pleased with them both), as well as friendship and
complete harmony. Thus 'Ali (&), who was the head of Ah1 al-Bayt
and the father of the two grandsons of the Messenger (g), used to
accept presents and gifts, as is the habit of brothers who treat one
another on an equal footing and love one another. He accepted (as a
gift) as-Suhba', the slave woman who was captured during the Battle
of 'Ayn at-Tamr, and she bore him 'Umar and ~ u ~ a ~ Abu ~ a h .
Bakr (&) also gave him Khawlah bint Ja'far ibn Qays, who was one
of the captives taken during the Battle of al-Yamhab; she bore him
the best of his children after al-Hasan and al-Husayn, namely
M&ammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah. Khawlah was one of the female
captives from the war against the apostates, and her son Muhammad
ibn al-Hanafiyyah was named after her and attributed to her.38