The next day Imam Ali (a.s.) came to Abu Bakr in the Masjid when he was surrounded by the Emigrants and Ansar. He (a.s.) told him, "Why did you forbid Fatemah (s.a.) from the inheritance that she received from her father (s.a.w.s.), the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.), when he in his life-time had handed it over to Fatemah (s.a.)"? Abu Bakr replied, "Fadak is the spoils of war and is associated with all Muslims. Then if Fatemah (s.a.) brings witness that the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) had given it to her as her property, we shall give it to her, otherwise she does not have claim upon it". Imam Ali (a.s.) said, "O Aba Bakr ! You have judged against the orders of Allah (s.w.t.) regarding us among the Muslims". Abu Bakr said, "It is not so". Ali (a.s.) said, "Then ifa property is under the possession of a Muslim and is under his control, then I claim that it is my property, from whom will you ask for two witnesses"? Abu Bakr replied, "I shall ask you to produce two witnesses to support your claim". Then Imam Ali (a.s.) said, "Then why do you ask for two witnesses from Fatemah (s.a.) regarding the property that was already under her possession, and it was very much under her possession during the life-time of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and even after his death ? Then why do you not ask Muslims to produce two witnesses on their claim, in the same way that
Khattab (before his death), I called upon him and saw his head on the lap of his son Abdullah, while he was weary. He told his son, “Keep my cheek on the ground”. Abdullah refused, so he said again, “Keep my cheek on the ground”. Abdullah refused, so he said, “Keep my cheek on the ground, you motherless one”. So he kept his cheek on the ground, and then Umar said, “O my mother ! Woe to me my mother ! I am not forgiven (by Allah)”. He went on saying that till he died. (Shaikh al Mufeed, “Al Amali”)
you ask me to produce witnesses when I claim the property under the possession of another"? Hearing this Abu Bakr did not reply anything against this inference and remained silent. Then Umar said, "O Ali ! Keep aside these talks, for we do not have the capability to refute your claims. Then if you bring just witnesses, we shall accept your claim, if not, Fadak is the property of all Muslims and you and Fatemah (s.a.) have no claim upon it".
Then Imam Ali (a.s.) again said to Abu Bakr, "Have you read the Qur'an"? Abu Bakr replied in the positive. Imam Ali (a.s.) continued, "Then tell me in whose praise is this verse of the Qur'an revealed, Verily Allah intends to keep off from you (every kind) of uncleanliness, O ye Ahlulbait, and purify you (with) athorough purification.[168] Then is this verse revealed in our praise or anyone else"? Abu Bakr replied, "It is revealed in your praise". Imam Ali (a.s.) continued, "Presume that some people bear witness that (Allah forbid) Fatemah has committed a crime, what shall be your order regarding her"? Abu Bakr replied, "I shall punish her according to the laws of Allah (s.w.t.) as I would do to any other women". Imam Ali (a.s.) said, "In that case you would be among infidels in the sight of Allah (s.w.t.)", Abu Bakr asked, "And why is that so"? Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, "For you have refuted the Witness of Allah (s.w.t.) regarding the Chastity of Fatemah and accepted the witness of the people, thus you have rejected the command of Allah (s.w.t.) and that of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.). The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) gifted Fadak to Fatemah (s.a.) under the direct command of Allah (s.w.t.), while it remained under her possession in the lifetime of the Prophet
[168] Holy Qur’an, Surah al Ahzab : 33
(s.a.w.s.). You refute this command of Allah (s.w.t.) and you accept the witness of a bedoin who urinates upon his heels (Aws bin Hadasan) ? Then you snatch away Fadak from Fatemah (s.a.) and claim that it is from among the spoils of war for all Muslims, when the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) has said that, proof is to be brought by the claimant while oath is to be taken by the defendant, then you refute the words of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.)". Hearing this the people were enraged and a hue & cry arose among them and some said, "By Allah ! Ali speaks the truth". Then Imam Ali (a.s.) returned back to his house. Fatemah (s.a.) then came to grave of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), and while circumambulating it, recited the following couplets, "Verily such calamities arose after you, that if you were present they would not have increased much".