Imam ‘Ali approached Abu Bakr in the Masjid. He told him, “Why did you forbid Fatimah from the inheritance that she received from her father, the Prophet of Allah, which he had handed over to Fatimah during his life-time?”
Abu Bakr replied, “Fadak is from the spoils of war and is associated with all of the Muslims. Thus, if Fatimah brings witnesses that the Prophet of Allah had given it to her as her (own personal) property, we will give it to her, otherwise she has no claim over it.”
Imam ‘Ali said, “O Abu Bakr! You have judged against the orders of Allah regarding us among the Muslims.”
Abu Bakr said, “It is not so!”
‘Ali said, “If a property is in the possession of another Muslim and is under his control and I was to claim that it is my property, from whom will you ask for two witnesses?”
Abu Bakr replied, “I shall ask you to produce two witnesses to support your claim (that the property is yours and not that other Muslim’s).”
Then Imam ‘Ali said, “Then why do you ask for two witnesses from Fatimah regarding a property that was already under her possession, and it was very much under her possession during the life-time of the Prophet and even after his death? Why do you not ask the Muslims to produce two witnesses on their claim in the same way that you ask me to produce witnesses when I claim the property under the possession of someone else?”
Hearing this Abu Bakr could not offer any reply and remained silent. ‘Umar then said, “O ‘Ali! Keep aside these talks for we do not have the capability to refute your claims. If you bring just witnesses, then we will accept your claim; if not, Fadak is the property of all the Muslims and you and Fatimah have no claim upon it!”
Then Imam ‘Ali again said to Abu Bakr, “Have you read the Qur’an?” Abu Bakr replied in the positive. Imam ‘Ali continued, “Then tell me in whose praise was this verse of the Qur’an revealed, ‘Verily Allah intends to keep off from you (every kind) of uncleanliness, O Ahlul Bayt, and purify you (with) a thorough purification.’ Is this verse revealed in our praise or anyone else?”
Abu Bakr replied, “It is revealed in your praise.”
Imam ‘Ali continued, “Presume that some people bear witness that (Allah forbid) Fatimah has committed a crime, what would your orders be in regards to her?”
Abu Bakr replied, “I shall punish her according to the laws of Allah as I would do to any other woman.”
Imam ‘Ali said, “In that case you would be among the disbelievers in the sight of Allah!”
Abu Bakr asked, “Why is that so?”
Imam ‘Ali replied, “For you would have refuted the witness of Allah regarding the chastity of Fatimah and accepted the witness of the people – thus you have rejected the command of Allah and that of the Prophet of Allah! The Prophet of Allah gifted Fadak to Fatimah under the direct command of Allah and it remained under her possession in the life-time of the Prophet. You refute this command of Allah and you accept the witness of a bedoin who urinates upon his heels (‘Aws b. Hadasan)? You snatch Fadak away from Fatimah and claim that it is from among the spoils of war for all Muslims (to own a share of), whereas the Prophet of Allah had said that proof is to be brought by the claimant while an oath is to be taken by the defendant! You refute the words of the Prophet of Allah!”
Hearing this, the people were enraged and a hue and cry arose among them and some of them said, “By Allah! ‘Ali speaks the truth.” However after all of this transpired, Imam ‘Ali returned back to his house.
House of Sorrows Translation of Baytul AhzanShaikh Abbas Al – Qummi