Seadet-i Ebediyye - Endless Bliss Third Fascicle

epresentative who would execute these wâjibs. Therefore, Hadrat
Abû Bakr ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ stood up and said, “If you have been
worshipping Hadrat Muhammad, know that he has passed away. If
you worship Allâhu ta’âlâ know that He never dies, His life is
endless. You have to choose someone to carry out His
commandments. Think, find, and choose!” Everybody said he was
right. Hadrat ’Umar ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ immediately stood up and
said, “We want you, o Abâ Bakr!” All of those who were present
there said, “We have elected you.” Then Hadrat Abû Bakr ‘radiy-
Allâhu ’anh’ mounted the minbar and looked around. “I cannot
see Zubayr. Call him,” he said. When Zubayr came Hadrat Abû
Bakr said to him, “The Muslims have elected me as Khalîfa. Will
you disagree with their unanimity?” “O you, the Messenger’s
Khalîfa! I do not disagree with the unanimity,” replied Zubayr. He
held out his hand in admittance. Then Hadrat Abû Bakr ‘radiy-
Allâhu ’anh’ mounted the minbar and looked around. He could
not see Hadrat ’Alî. He told others to call him. When Hadrat ’Alî
came, he repeated his question to him, who, also, said, “I do not
disagree,” and held out his hand and did musâfaha (shook hands
in a manner prescribed by Islam) with him in admittance. Hadrat
’Alî and Zubayr ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anhumâ’ apologized to the Khalîfa
for being late for the election, and said, “We are late because we
have not been notified in advance. We are sorry about it. We see
that Abû Bakr is the most suitable candidate for the caliphate
among us. For, he was Rasûlullah’s companion in the cave. He is
the most honoured, the best of us. Rasûlullah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi
wa sallam’ chose him as the imâm from among us. He performed
namâz behind him.” If Hadrat Abû Bakr had not been worthy of
the caliphate, Hadrat ’Alî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ would not have
admitted him and would have said, “It is my right.” As a matter of
fact, he refused Hadrat Muâwiyya’s ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ being
Khalîfa. He strove hard so that he himself would be Khalîfa
although Hadrat Muâwiyya’s army was very strong. Thus, he
caused many people to die. Since he asked for his right at such a
difficult situation, it would have been much easier to ask for it from
Hadrat Abû Bakr if he had considered it his right. He would have
asked to be chosen, and that would have been done immediately.
After choosing Hadrat Abû Bakr ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ Khalîfa and
paying homage to him, Hadrat ’Alî ‘radiy-Allâhu ’anh’ sat before
the minbar. In their next conversation he gave effective answers to
the Khalîfa’s questions and supported him.
Ghaws-i a’zam, Sayyid ’Abdulqâdir-i Geilânî ‘quddisa sirruh’,
– 110 –