Praise from Imam Al-Baqir?

1st question:

Were Abu Bakr and Umar praised by Imam Al-Baqir (a.) in Al-Ihtijaj, Volume 2 page 230 by speaking about a merit of them?

Answer:

First of all, the report is from Imam Al-Jawad (a.) and not Al-Baqir (a.). As for the word preference (فضل), this does not mean praise in this context.

Ar-Rayyan Ibn Shabib reported that Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad (a.) said: “I do not deny that Umar is in possession of a preference, but Abu Bakr is more preferable than Umar and he said at the top of the pulpit: “I have a Satan taking possession of me. When i am filled by him, lock me up!” Yahya said: “It is narrated about the messenger (s.): “If i had not been sent, Umar would have been sent.” He said: “The Book of Allah is to be believed rather than this tradition. The Exalted One says in His Book: “And then We made a Covenant with the prophets, and with you, and with Noah.” (33:7) God already made a covenant with the prophets (a.), so how could it be possible for Him to change His covenant, and among all the prophets (s.) there was never anyone who put other gods alongside God even for a moment, so how could He send someone who practiced idolatry and who increased in idolatry in the days of his life?” The Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “I was already a prophet when Adam (a.) was between spirit and body.” [Al-Ihtijaj of Abu Mansur At-Tabarsi, Volume 2 Page 230]

عن الريان بن شبيب قال: قال أبو جعفر محمد بن علي الثاني عليهما السلام: لست بمنكر فضل عمر، ولكن أبا بكر أفضل من عمر: فقال – على رأس المنبر -: أن لي شيطانا يعتريني، فإذا ملت فسددوني فقال يحيى: قد روي: أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: لو لم أبعث لبعث عمر فقال عليه السلام: كتاب الله أصدق من هذا الحديث، يقول الله في كتابه: وإذ أخذنا من النبيين ميثاقهم ومنك ومن نوح فقد أخذ الله ميثاق النبيين فكيف يمكن أن يبدل ميثاقه، وكل الأنبياء عليهم السلام لم يشركوا بالله طرفة عين، فكيف يبعث بالنبوة من أشرك وكان أكثر أيامه مع الشرك بالله، وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: نبئت وآدم بين الروح والجسد

Moses (a.) said to the Israelites:

“How could i seek for you a god besides God, when He has preferred you above the inhabitants of the world?” [Al-A’raf 7:140]]

أغير الله أبغيكم إلها وهو فضلكم على العالمين

And the inhabitants of hell say:

“You have no preference over us now. Taste the torment for what you have earned.” [Al-A’raf 7:38-39]

فما كان لكم علينا من فضل فذوقوا العذاب بما كنتم تكسبون

2nd question:

Was Abu Bakr described by Imam Al-Baqir (a.) as “Siddiq” (finding himself confirmed) in Volume 2 of Kashf-ul-Ghummah on pages 147 – 174?

Answer:

This fabrication is neither on page 147 nor on page 174, but on page 360 and is a quote which is found in the books of opposition.

Ibn Abi Al-Fath Al-Irbili writes: “The scholar Abu Al-Faraj Abd-ur-Rahman Ibn Ali Ibn Muhammad Ibn Al-Jawzi said in his book called Safwat-us-Safwah: “Abu Ja’far, Muhammad, the son of Ali, the son of Al-Husain, the son of Ali, the son of Abu Talib. And Urwah Ibn Abdillah reported that he asked Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir (a.) about decorating the swords, and he replied: “There is no problem with that. Already Abu Bakr, who found himself confirmed (Siddiq), decorated his sword, may God be pleased with him.” I said: “You call him the one who found himself confirmed?” Then he jumped up, turned his face to the direction of prayer and said: “Yes, the one who finds himself confirmed (Siddiq), yes, the one who found himself confirmed and he who does not call him the one who found himself confirmed, his word finds no confirmation with God, neither in this world nor in the next.” [Kashf-ul-Ghummah, Volume 2 Page 359 – 360]

قال علي بن عيسى الاربلي: وقال الشيخ أبو الفرج عبد الرحمان بن على بن محمد بن الجوزى رحمه الله في كتاب صفوة الصفوة أبو جعفر محمد بن على بن الحسين بن على بن أبى طالب .. وعن عروة بن عبد الله قال سألت أبا جعفر محمد بن على عليهما السلام عن حلية السيوف فقال لا بأس به قد حلى أبو بكر الصديق رضى الله عنه سيفه قلت فتقول الصديق قال فوثب وثبة واستقبل القبلة وقال نعم الصديق نعم الصديق نعم الصديق فمن لم يقل له الصديق فلا صدق الله له قولا في الدنيا ولا في الآخرة

Abu Abdillah Al-Ju’fi reported from Urwah Ibn Abdillah that he asked Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir (a.) about decorating the swords and he replied: “There is no problem with that. Already Abu Bakr, who found himself confirmed (Siddiq), decorated his sword, may God be pleased with him.” I said: “You call him the one who found himself confirmed?” Then he jumped up, turned his face to the direction of prayer and said: “Yes, the one who finds himself confirmed (Siddiq), yes, the one who finds himself confirmed and he who does not call him the one who is confirmed, his word is not confirmed by God, neither in this world nor in the hereafter.” [Hilyat-ul-Awliya’ by Abu Nu’aim, Hadith 3856]

قال أبو نُعيم الشافعي: حدثنا محمد بن علي بن حبيش، حدثنا إبراهيم بن شريك الأسدي، حدثنا عقبة بن مكرم، حدثنا يونس بن بكير، عن أبي عبد الله الجعفي، عن عروة بن عبد الله، قال: سألت أبا جعفر محمد بن علي، عن حلية السيوف، فقال لا بأس به، قد حلى أبو بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه سيفه، قال: قلت وتقول الصديق، قال: فوثب وثبة واستقبل القبلة، ثم قال نعم الصديق فمن لم يقل له الصديق، فلا صدق الله له قولا في الدنيا والآخرة

However, the Imam (a.) is free from praising the tyrants.

Evidence:

Hajar Al-Bajali reported that he was unsure about the two men and therefore went to Medina to question Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.) and he answered: “The first ones who oppressed us and deprived us of our rights and put people on our necks were Abu Bakr and Umar.” He said: “If Ali (a.) had found enough supporters, he would have cut off their heads from both of them.” Salam Ibn Sa’id Al-Makhzumi reported that Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.) said: “Of three persons, the deeds do not ascend to heaven, nor is any act accepted from them: Whoever dies and is angry in his heart at us the people of the house, whoever attributes guardianship to our enemies, and whoever recognizes Abu Bakr and Umar as guardians.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 30 page 383]

وعن حجر البجلي، قال: شككت في أمر الرجلين، فأتيت المدينة، فسمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام يقول: إن أول من ظلمنا وذهب بحقنا وحمل الناس على رقابنا أبو بكر وعمر. وعنه عليه السلام، قال: لو وجد علي أعوانا لضرب أعناقهما. وعن سلام بن سعيد المخزومي، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام، قال: ثلاثة لا يصعد عملهم إلى السماء ولا يقبل منهم عمل: من مات ولنا أهل البيت في قلبه بغض، ومن تولى عدونا، ومن تولى أبا بكر وعمر