English translation
4240, 4241. Narrated 'Aishah رضي الله عنها: Fāṭima ٱلسلام, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ sent someone to Abū Bakr (when he was a caliph), asking for her inheritance of what Allāh's Messenger ﷺ had left of the property bestowed on him by Allāh from the Fai (i.e., booty gained without fighting) in Al-Madīna, and Fadak, and what remained of the Khumus of the Khaibar booty. On that, Abū Bakr said, "Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, 'Our property is not inherited. Whatever we leave, is Ṣadaqa (charity), but the family of (the Prophet) Muḥammad ﷺ can eat of this property.' By Allāh, I will not make any change in the state of the Ṣadaqa of Allāh's Messenger and will leave it as it was during the lifetime of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ, and will dispose of it as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ used to do." So, Abū Bakr refused to give anything of that to Fāṭima. So she became angry with Abū Bakr and kept away from him, and did not talk to him till she died. She remained alive for six months after the death of the Prophet ﷺ. When she died, her husband 'Alī buried her at night without informing Abū Bakr and he offered the funeral prayer by himself. When Fāṭima was alive, the people used to respect 'Alī much, but after her death, 'Alī noticed a change in the people's attitude towards him. So, 'Alī sought reconciliation with Abū Bakr and gave him the Bai'a (pledge). 'Alī had not given the Bai'a (pledge) during those months (i.e., the period between the Prophet's death and Fāṭima's death). 'Alī sent someone to Abū Bakr saying, "Come to us, but let nobody come with you," as he disliked that 'Umar should come. 'Umar said (to Abū Bakr), "No, by Allāh, you shall not enter upon them alone." Abū Bakr said, "What do you think they will do to me? By Allāh, I will go to them". So, Abū Bakr entered upon them, and then 'Alī uttered Tashahhud(1) and said (to Abū Bakr), "We know well your superiority and what Allāh has given you, and we are not jealous of the good what Allāh has bestowed upon you, but you did not consult us in the question of the rule, and we thought that we have got a right in it because of our near relationship to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ." Thereupon Abū Bakr's eyes flowed with tears. And when Abū Bakr spoke, he said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, to keep good relations with the relatives of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ, is dearer to me than to keep good relations with my own relatives. But as for the trouble which arose between me and you about his property, I will do my best to spend it according to what is good, and will not leave any rule or regulation which I saw Allāh's Messenger ﷺ following, in disposing of it, but I will follow." On that 'Alī said to Abū Bakr, "I promise to give you the Bai'a (pledge) this afternoon." So, when Abū Bakr had offered the Zuhr prayer, he ascended the pulpit and uttered the Tashah-hud and then mentioned the story of 'Alī and his failure to give the Bai'a (pledge) and excused him, accepting what excuses he had offered. Then 'Alī (got up) and praying (to Allāh) for forgiveness, he uttered Tashah-hud, praised Abū Bakr's right, and said, that he had not done what he had done because of jealousy of Abū Bakr or as a protest of what Allāh had favoured him with. 'Alī added, "But we used to consider that we too had some right in this affair (of rulership) and that he (i.e., Abū Bakr) did not consult us in this matter, and therefore caused us to feel sorry." On that all the Muslims became happy and said, "You have done the right thing." The Muslims then became friendly with 'Alī as he did to what the people had done (i.e., giving the Bai'a (pledge) to Abū Bakr).