The renowned Scholar of the Ahlus Sunnah Ibne Abil Hadeed relates from the book Al Saqifah of Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz Jawhari,that when Abu Bakr heard the sermon of Sayyedah Fatemah (s.a.) with regards to Fadak, her words proved etreme and hard upon him, he mounted the pulpit in the midst of men and said, "O people !What situation is this ? Why do you lend your ears to every speech and where was this desire of yours during the age of theProphet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) ? Beware ! Then anyone who has heard anything regarding it (Fadak) from the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) should relate it, and whoever was present should say something. Verily he is a fox who is betrayed by his own tail (he refers to Imam Ali, Allah's refuge), he seduces and is the one who says that we should return to the previous state (of confusion) when he has turned old. He invites the weak ones to assist him and seeks help from women, similar to the renowned woman Umm Tahhal,[223] whose most dear kinsman is the one who is
[223] Umm Tahhal was an adultress in the days of ignorance, with whom the men of her own family were fond of committing adultery. Thus Abu Bakr uses such offensive language for Imam Ali (a.s.). The Ulama have, in slightly different words, reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that, "One who reviles Ali, really reviles me; who reviles me, really reviles Allah". (Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, “Musnad”; Imam Nisai, “Khasaesul Alawiyah”; Imam Zahabi and Fakhruddin Razi in their Tafseer; Ibn Abil Hadeed, “Shahr Nahjul Balaghah”; Muhammad binYusuf Ganjei Shafe'I, “Kifayatut Talib”; Sibt Ibne Jawzi, “Tazkirah Khawasul Ummah”; Imam Muslim, “Saheeh”; Muhammad bin Talhah Shafe'i, “Matalibus Su'ul”; Hakim Naishapuri, “Mustadrak”. Muhammad bin Ganji Shafe'i in Kifayatut Talib reports that once Abdullah bin Abbas and Sa'eed bin Jubayr saw on the brink of Zamzam a group of Syrians raiting at Ali (a.s.). They went to them and said, "Who among you was abusing the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)"? They replied, "None of us was abusing ……". Then they said, "Well, who among you was abusing Ali (a.s.)"? They replied, "Yes, we have been abusing Ali". They said, "You should bear witness that we heard the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) saying to Ali, one who abuses you really abuses me; one who abuses me, really abuses Allah (s.w.t.). If someone abuses Allah (s.w.t.), He will throw him headlong into the fire of hell".
more disgraced. Beware ! If I desire I could speak and if I speak I could bring to light, but now I have chosen silence". Then he turned towards the Ansar and said, "O group of Ansar ! I heard your stupid talks that you are nearer to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), you gave refuge to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and assisted him because he came to you. Beware ! I shall extend my tongue and hands towards the one who thinks that we are not entitlted to this position". Saying this, he alighted from the pulpit and Fatemah (s.a.) returned home.
Ibne Abil Hadeed says that I related this (audacious) speech to Naqeeb Yahya bin Abi Zayd Basari and asked him, "Who does Abu Bakr refer to in this speech and who does he mean"? He replied, "Rather he made it clear". I asked, "If he had made it clear, I would not have questioned you". Naqeeb smiled and said, "He meant Ali bin Abi Talib". I asked, "All these words were meant for Ali (a.s.)"? And he replied, "Yes, this is the sovereign my son". I asked, "What did the Ansar say in this regard"? He replied, "They considered Ali, while Abu Bakr feared their talks and stopped them from saying anything". Then I asked the meanings of the speech of Abu Bakr to Naqeeb and he explained it to me.
abusing the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)"? They replied, "None of us was abusing ……". Then they said, "Well, who among you was abusing Ali (a.s.)"? They replied, "Yes, we have been abusing Ali". They said, "You should bear witness that we heard the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) saying to Ali, one who abuses you really abuses me; one who abuses me, really abuses Allah (s.w.t.). If someone abuses Allah (s.w.t.), He will throw him headlong into the fire of hell".