A significant note

                   The researchers, irrespective of their field or subject of research, should always pay attention towards this fact that many of the historical, Qur’anic and jurisprudential realities can be derived by carefully focusing on the contents of these subjects.

            For instance, with reference to history and historical writings, many a times the historians have not presented a clear image of many historical realities, either because of their lack of knowledge or due to their personal intentions. Although, the true scholars and researchers, who like to disclose the realities that are concealed in the pages of history, should not perceive the subject with an amateur view, but they should think about their subject of research with absolute focus and concentration, so that they can unveil the untold details, and with the help of their dedication and commitment, illuminate the darkness of history for the society.

          Here, we will narrate a brief historic note and analyse its cause thereafter in the following pages:

             It is mentioned in history that the Christians and Jews who inclined towards Islam considered Othman as the caliph until his reign; and even when his house was surrounded by a group of people, they defended him by putting their own lives at risk. But after his assassination, majority of their prominent and renowned personalities did not pledge allegiance with Imam Ali (a.s.) and left Medina for Syria to gather around Mu’awiyah.

          This is a fact that has been mentioned in the history and we will present its instances in this book. At present, we should focus on this point that why did the Jews and Christians, who apparently accepted Islam, show readiness to support Othman? And why did they not support Amir al-Momineen, Imam Ali (a.s.)? And why did they leave for Syria and backed Mu’awiyah?

          Can their behaviour be understood as a proof that they had their personal motives behind their apparent acceptance of Islam and their support extended for Othman? What had Othman done for them that the Muslims buried him in the Jewish graveyard? Why did they not attach themselves with the Holy Progeny (a.s.) and went after Mu’awiyah?

          If we carefully study these issues, this reality will become evident for us that the group of Christians and Jews, who had apparently accepted Islam, supported Mu’awiyah with the intention of harming Islam. And even before the assassination of Othman, they nominated the name of Mu’awiyah as the next caliph. When they reached Syria, Mu’awiyah welcomed them warmly and appointed a few of them as the guardians of Muslims.

                    One of the effects of their acceptance of Islam, was the propagation of Israelite stories, superstitions and concocted Hadith. They began to promote these with the apparent acceptance of Islam; and those caliphs who did not care for Islam, let these people free. This was one of the factors behind their acceptance of Islam.

          Yes, they backstabbed Islam using the name of the companions of Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). It is notable that many of Umar’s closed ones were the friends and companions of such people.

          The author of the book ‘Israelite wa Tatheer e Aan” writes: “That which aided the propagation of Israelite stories and superstitious and falsified the beliefs of the ‘people of the Book’, was the apparent acceptance of Islam by a few Jewish and Christian clerics who donned the dress of Islam and the attire of the Prophet’s companions. They were able to easily inculcate their superstitious beliefs and ideologies in the form of narrations and traditions and distribute it between the innocent Muslims, and contaminated the pure stream of Islamic tradition with their falsehood and fictions.

          One of the factors that caused the Israelite stories of these so called Muslims to be welcomed by the people, was that the majority of Muslims considered their position to be equal and in line with the companions of Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and had high regards for them; this was because they were unaware of their corrupt intentions.

          Imam Ali (a.s.), amidst one of his sermons regarding concocted traditions, describes this category of Muslims and says:

                   “The hypocrite is a person who makes a show of faith and adopts the appearance of a Muslim; he does not hesitate in sinning nor does he keep aloof from vice; he wilfully attributes false things against the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.). If people knew that he was a hypocrite and a liar, they would not accept anything from him and would not confirm what he says.

          Rather they say that he is the companion of the Prophet, has met him, heard (his sayings) from him and acquired (knowledge) from him. They therefore accept what he says. Allah too had warned you well about the hypocrites and described them fully to you. They have continued after the Holy Prophet. They gained position with the leaders of misguidance and callers towards Hell through falsehoods and slanderings. So, they put them in high posts and made them officers over the heads of the people, and amassed wealth through them. People are always with the rulers and after this world, except those to whom Allah affords protection”.[1]

          In the history of Islam, there are numerous examples that prove this speech of Imam Ali (a.s.) based upon the optimism of Muslims towards ‘the people of the Book’ - who had positioned themselves in the group of the companions. It went up to such an extent that it has arrived in a few historical sources that:

          At the time of his death, Ma’aaz bin Jabal advised the people gathered around him to seek knowledge from four men: Salman (r.a.), Ibn e Mas’ood (r.a.), Abu Dar’daa (r.a.) and Abdullah bin Sallam – a Jew who had later accepted Islam, because he stated that he had heard the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) say, “He, i.e. Abdullah bin Sallam, is one of those ten people who will dwell in Paradise”![2]

          A more authentic and clear narration is as follows:

          “A man questioned Abdullah bin Umar about an issue. Abdullah replied while a Jewish man named Yusuf was present near him, “Ask Yusuf, because the Almighty Allah has said about them: فَاسْئَلُوا أَھْلَ الذِّکْرِ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ لاٰ تَعْلَمُوْنَ “Ask the followers of the Reminder if you know not”[3]. [4]

          In this incident, there are notable points that will be mentioned in the following manner:         

1. Why did Ma’aaz bin Jabal, Umar’s friend, refer to Abdullah bin Sallam, a Jew turned Muslim, but did not name Imam Ali (a.s.) who always remained with the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)? Was the religious knowledge of Abdullah bin Sallam, a Jew turned Muslim, more than Imam Ali (a.s.)? Or was it because Abdullah bin Sallam gave different knowledge on the name of religion to the ignorant and acquitted Muslims?  
2. Why did Abdullah bin Umar ask the person who questioned him about a problem, to refer to Yusuf, the Jew?
3. Why did Abdullah bin Umar interpret the verse فَاسْئَلُوا أَھْلَ الذِّکْرِ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ لاٰ تَعْلَمُوْنَ “Ask the followers of the Reminder if you know not”, in favour of the likes of Yusuf? While in both the Shia and Sunni interpretations, this verse has been mentioned regarding the Holy Progeny (p.b.u.h.).
4. Why had Abdullah bin Umar made a Jew his companion and why did he honour him so much?
5. From whom did Abdullah bin Umar learn the companionship with Jews and the act of honouring them? Was he personally of such a nature? Was Umar aware of his actions? If yes, then why did he not stop him from this act? And if Umar was not aware of his actions, then for someone who is not aware of his son’s deed in Medina, how is it possible to administer the entire Muslim community throughout the nation?

It is evident that if deeply analysed and focused on these topics, many significant points will be illuminated for the researcher.

It is notable that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) prohibited the Muslims from their companionship with the ‘people of the Book’.