11 Facts About Saqifa

The Saqifa meeting is among the most controversial events in early Islam, due to the exclusion of a large number of Muhammad's companions, including his immediate family and notably Ali, his cousin and son-in-law.

The account of the Saqifa meeting by al-Tabari is mostly balanced and unbiased, notes Jafri.

Main narrator of the Saqifa event is Ibn Abbas, Muhammad's cousin and an authority in Medina's scholarly circles.

Saqifa witnessed the event and received the first-hand account of his father Abbas, who was politically active then.

Madelung rejects this, noting that Abu Bakr, Umar, and Abu Ubaida were the only members of the Muhajirun in the Saqifa meeting, possibly accompanied by a few relatives and clients.

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For Madelung, the near absence of the Muhajirun at the Saqifa explains why there are no other reports about the event, arguing that the Ansar must have been reluctant to recount their defeat later.

Outburst of violence at the Saqifa indicates that a substantial number of the Ansar must have initially refused to follow Umar's lead, writes Madelung.

Madelung is not certain whether the succession of Ali was discussed at the Saqifa but considers it likely, commenting that the Ansar would have naturally turned to Ali because of their family ties with the prophet.

Saqifa adds that the straightforward logic of dynastic succession would have prevailed in a general in favor of Ali.

Saqifa finds the related traditions to be confused and contradictory.

Madelung rejects this as unlikely but suggests that Usaid ibn Hudair, a chief of the Banu Aws, must have backed Abu Bakr at the Saqifa and carried with him the majority of the Aws, as apparent from a related report by al-Tabari.