Why didn't Imam Ali (as) partake in any battles During the Calipate of First 3 Calipahs ?

This is one of the questions which is asked by the 12r Shias umpteen times. They seem to think just because they ask something umpteen times or make a statement umpteen times, it become a valid argument against their opponents. Also, we must recall that their statement a level of truth to it. However, this historical fact about Imam Ali's (as) lack of participation of wars, is not indication that Imam Ali (as) believed that the calipate of the 3 calipahs was illegitimate. What the 12rs fail to initially realize is their definition of imamate is not the same as the Sunni definition of Calipate. In fact, their definition of imamate in reality is suspended till the reappearance of the 12th imam. Anyway, in this topic I will explain why Imam Ali (as) didn't partake in any battles during the calipate of the 3 calipahs, and also provide a rational to why the 12r Shia arguement is flawed.

Jihad is compulsory duty in Islam, so why did Imam Ali (as) decide to stay back after he eventually gave bayah to Abi Bakr (ra) after 6 months, gave bayah to Umar (ra) and Uthmaan (ra) ? To answer this question we must refer to the Quran, where an exception for exalted sahabi such as Imam Ali (as) is made.
In the Quran, Allah (swt) tells us

It is not for the believers to go forward in battle all at once. Rather, there should be a separate group from every division that [remains behind] to obtain understanding (fiqh) in the religion and warn their people towards cautiousness when they return} (Q. 9:122).

Now since, Imam Ali (as) believed he was the most knowledgeable in Islam, the imam extracted this ayah and decided to stay back and council the 3 Calipahs instead. If this is the case, how can we dismiss the 12rs statement ? In history, Ammar bin Yassir (ra) who the 12rs consider to be a Shia among the Sahabis did partake in the wars of calipahs. He fought in the wars of apostasy under the rule of Abi Bakr (ra).

In the meantime Musaylima and his followers who were lying in ambush attacked the Muslims. The Muslims were faced with great trouble and began running away like a scared flock of sheep.




Historians like Waqidi, Ibn Sa'd and others who have recorded the biography of Ammar have written that Abdullah bin Umar said: "I saw Ammar Yasir on a hillock while his detached ear, wounded by a sword, was bleeding, and he was going on fighting in the same condition, and was calling out the fleeing Muslims and saying “O' Muslims! Are you running away from Paradise! "Then again he raised his voice and said: "I am Ammar! I am Ammar! Come to me, and run towards me!"



"I (Abdullah) saw that the ear of Ammar was hanging and I also saw that in that very condition he was killing the enemies, reciting epic verses, shouting and encouraging others so that eventually the Muslims gathered round him. When the Muslims had gathered near him he attacked the enemies and came out victorious from the battlefield". We receive al-Hasan at the time of Uthman, while he was in the vigor and prime of youth. He was over twenty years old. This age allows one to plunge into the battle of life and give an opinion of the social side. During this age, Imam al-Hasan entered, as it was said, the field of jihad, which is one of the doors to the Garden. He joined the Mujahideen whose standards headed for Africa to conquer it in the year 26 A. H.[1] Through al-Hasan, the grandson of Allah’s Apostle (a.s), the Mujahideen remembered the personality of his grandfather. So they showed extreme courage and Allah made Africa be conquered at their hands. When the battle ended, al-Hasan (a.s) headed for the capital of his grandfather (a.s). He was victorious and happy at the expansion of Islam and spread of the religion of his grandfather. In the year 30 A. H. the Muslim armies carried the standards of victory and headed for Tabaristan. Al-Hasan joined them.
http://www.al-islam.org/ammaryasir/12.htm

On the contrary, for the 12rs the sahaba who rejected waliyah are bigger apostates since status of imamate is higher than Prophethood.

Next when Imam Hassan (as) reached at level of maturity, the imam fought under the rule of Hz Uthmaan (ra).

At the Time of Uthman

We receive al-Hasan at the time of Uthman, while he was in the vigor and prime of youth. He was over twenty years old. This age allows one to plunge into the battle of life and give an opinion of the social side. During this age, Imam al-Hasan entered, as it was said, the field of jihad, which is one of the doors to the Garden. He joined the Mujahideen whose standards headed for Africa to conquer it in the year 26 A. H.[1] Through al-Hasan, the grandson of Allah’s Apostle (a.s), the Mujahideen remembered the personality of his grandfather. So they showed extreme courage and Allah made Africa be conquered at their hands. When the battle ended, al-Hasan (a.s) headed for the capital of his grandfather (a.s). He was victorious and happy at the expansion of Islam and spread of the religion of his grandfather. In the year 30 A. H. the Muslim armies carried the standards of victory and headed for Tabaristan. Al-Hasan joined them.
http://www.maaref-foundation.com/english/library/pro_ahl/imam02_hasan/the_life_of_imam_hasan/10_1.htm

Also, what is interesting to note that Hz Umar (ra) himself wanted to partake in battles during his own calipate. Yet it was Imam Ali (as) who stopped him from going further. In fact, even the 12r Shia till this day cannot deny this. Also, let go a step further and see the 12rs themselves citing the words of Imam Ali (as).





Imam Ali (as) wanted Umar's (ra) to live.
Instead of following Imam Ali's (as) sunnah the 12rs praise the pioneer of Rafidism who is none other than Abu Lulu.



Also, another interesting fact to note down is Umar (ra) leaving Madina to go to Palestine.

In 636 CE, at the battle of Yarmuk, the Byzantines were defeated by the Muslim Army. Christian Patriarch Sophoronius offered to surrender the city if Caliph Umar (RA) himself would come in person to ratify the terms of surrender. Umar (RA) agreed to the suggestion. The encounter between these two men was very dramatic.

Umar (RA) took to the road immediately, accompanied by a guard, and leaving Ali ibn Talib (RA) as his deputy in Madinah. Traveling by camel is a slow process. Umar (RA) and his guard would alternate mounting on the camel. So, it took few weeks before Umar (RA) arrived in Jerusalem. The crowd had gathered, and the eyes were wide open with curiosity. The Patriarch had prepared himself to meet with the most powerful ruler of his time, Caliph Umar, who had just defeated the Byzantines. From where he was standing, he saw a tall man walking, dressed in ordinary clothes, while holding the rope of a camel, and surrounded by Muslim generals; another person was riding on the camel. For a moment, the high priest, used to the pompous way Heraclius had carried his affairs, was confused as to who the Caliph was. Was the Caliph the man riding on the camel or the one pulling the camel? Eventually, recognizing the Caliph, he surrendered the key of the city. In the words of a Christian historian, Anthony Nutting, “Umar taught the caparisoned throng of Christian commanders and bishops a lesson in humility by accepting their surrender in a patched and ragged robe and seated on a donkey.” [The Arabs, New American Library, N.Y. (1964)]

When he left Madina he left Imam Ali (as) in charge of Madina. In a non-war zone Imam Ali (as) doesn't stop Umar (ra). However, in a war zone he prevents Umar (ra) from dying.

Ahlul Bayt (as) view on Abu Bakr (ra) and Umar (ra) Part 1

This clip covers the view which the Ahlul Bayt (as) had about Abi Bakr (ra) and Umar (ra)

Mistakes of A Sahaba

There are many examples where the sahaba made mistakes during their lifetime. However, the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat do not believe in the infallibility of the sahaba. Since the sahaba made mistakes does this mean we should stop following them ? The correct answer to this question is the sahaba should be only followed when they are correct. For example Abi Bakr (ra) himself is believed to have said "Follow me until I lead you on the path of Allah." He said: "Help me, if I be the right; set me right, if I be the wrong. The weak among you shall be strong to me until his rights have been vindicated. The strong among you shall be weak with me until, if God wills, I have taken what is due to him. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Prophet; when I disobey Him and his Prophet, obey me not.""
Therefore, when a sahaba commits a mistake it is not compulsory for us to follow him. Now when one debates against the shia they point out these mistakes of the sahaba and force a sunni to curse them. For example in Tijani's book "Then I Guided" he cites a quote where Umar (ra) gives an incorrect rule regarding Tayamum. He cites from Bukhari:
Al-Bukhari stated in his book, in a chapter which deals with ritual impurity: I heard Shaqiq ibn Salmah saying: I was with Abdullah and Abu Musa, and Abu Musa asked, "What do you say about a man who is unclean but cannot find water?" Abdullah answered, "He should not pray until he finds water." Abu Musa then asked, "What do you think about what the Prophet said to Ammar [regarding the issue of impurity] when Ammar asked him?" Abdullah said, "For that reason Umar was not satisfied with [that]." Abu Musa said, "Forget about what Ammar said, but what do you say about the Qur'anic verse?" Abdullah did not know what to say, but he justified his stance by saying, "If we let them do that, then whenever the water becomes cold, they avoid using it to clean themselves, and instead they use sand. I said to Shaqiq, "Abdullah is most certainly hated for that." He said, "Yes".
Sahih, Bukhari, vol 1 p 54

Over here it is clear that Umar (ra) made a mistake. However, does this mean accepting the shia sect will make a prevent a person from making mistakes or committing sins? Are the scholars which the 12rs follow also not capable of making mistakes ? Are they infallible ?

Below is a pictures of Al Tijani where he is using his left hand to drink coffee.




It is reported in Suyuti book regarding the Calipate Imam Hassan ibn Ali (as), that Imam Hassan (as) gave a ruling in fiqh to only use one's left hand when dealing with impure acts such as cleaning the nose, or any other form of cleansing.

In fact, Marwan bin Hakam used to abuse to Imam Hassan (as) on many occasions, and the only time Imam Hassan (as) reprimanded him was when he saw that Marwaan using his right hand to clean his nose.

Ibn Saád reports from Zurayq ibn Suwār: Marwān and al-Ĥasan had an argument. and Marwān began to speak rough; al-Ĥasan kept silent. And then Marwān began picking his nose with his right hand. Al-Ĥasan said: 'Woe unto you. Do you not know to use the right hand for clean things, and the left for the unclean? Shame on you.' This silenced Marwān. (Tareek e Khulufa, Suyuti)



Anyway, this is just example. On top of that there are examples when there were mistakes by Imam Khomeini when he took a temporal position to rule over Iran. I'm still in process of researching the details of those events. However, my purpose of this research is not ask shias or sunnis to curse Imam Khomeini, but it is point out that we are all human who don't have a status to be infallible. If shias think I am impressed by the way they quote our sunni sources to prove the mistakes of the sahaba, they are wrong. In fact, I have seen fiqhi mistakes made by the 12r marja too made big mistakes. So in this case who are we suppose to follow ? We are only suppose to follow our fallible leadership when their teachings are parallel to Quran, Sunnah and the Ahlul Bayt.

May Allah Forgive us for our Sins which we commit day and night !