Abu Bakr sent Qunfudh along with some others to ‘Ali and when Qunfudh came to the house of ‘Ali, he first asked permission to enter, but the Imam refused him. The companions of Qunfudh returned back to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar who were seated in the masjid with a group of men and said that ‘Ali did not permit them to enter his house. Hearing this ‘Umar said, ‘Return back to the house of ‘Ali, and if he does not permit you, then enter without permission.’
They came to the door of the house of Imam ‘Ali and asked permission to enter. Sayyidah Fatimah came to the door of the house and said, ‘I forbid you to enter my house without permission.’
Qunfudh remained at the house while the companions of Qunfudh again came to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and informed them about Fatimah’s refusal to grant them permission to enter.
Hearing this ‘Umar was enraged and said, ‘What do we have to do with the tasks of women!’ Saying this, he ordered firewood to be gathered. They gathered firewood and along with ‘Umar, came to the door of the house of Fatimah. They scattered the wood at the door while ‘Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn were inside the house. Then ‘Umar shouted, ‘By Allah! If you do not step out O ‘Ali and swear allegiance at the hands of the caliph of the Prophet of Allah, I shall burn you down.’ His demands were heard by ‘Ali and Fatimah, to which Fatimah replied, ‘Why do you deal with us in this manner?’
‘Umar replied, ‘Open the door or else I will burn you down!’
Fatimah said, ‘Do you not fear Allah still and still persit in wanting to enter my house?’
‘Umar did not move and asked his associates to bring fire at which point he burnt the door of the house of Fatimah, and pushed against the door with force, then stepped inside. Seeing this, Fatimah stood facing him and called out, ‘O father! O Prophet of Allah!’
‘Umar unsheathed his sword and struck Fatimah on her side at which point she called out, ‘O father!’
Then ‘Umar lifted his whip and struck the arm of Fatimah at which point, she let out a cry, ‘O Prophet of Allah! Bear witness to how badly Abu Bakr and ‘Umar have dealt with us!’
At this moment Imam ‘Ali jumped up and caught hold of the collar of ‘Umar and threw him down to the ground with such force that his neck and eye were injured. He was determined to kill him but suddenly recalled the testimony of the Prophet (to forebear) and called out, ‘O son of Sahhak! I swear by Allah Who exalted Muhammad to the rank of prophethood that if the command of Allah would not have been decreed and the promise (to bear patiently) not have been given to me by the Prophet of Allah, you would have realized how difficult it is to enter my house!’
‘Umar then sent a man to Abu Bakr asking him for further assistance and to his appeal, a group of supporters of Abu Bakr came and entered the house of Imam ‘Ali.
Seeing this, Imam ‘Ali arose and unsheathed his sword. Qunfudh ran back to Abu Bakr in fear that ‘Ali would strike at them with his sword, for he was aware of the valour and courage of ‘Ali in the battles.
Abu Bakr told Qunfudh, ‘Return back to the house of ‘Ali. If he comes out of his house bring him to me, or else burn down the house with its inhabitants!’
Qunfudh returned back and entered the house of ‘Ali with his associates without seeking permission and ‘Ali tried to lift his sword, however Qunfudh preceded him and snatched away the sword from him. At that moment, Fatimah came in between to defend Imam ‘Ali and Qunfudh took his whip and struck her (may Allah’s eternal curse be upon him and his associates, and may Allah fling him into the bottomless pit of hell in the next world). When she (Fatimah) died, the mark (of the whip) was visible upon her arm similar to that of a bracelet.’
Imam ‘Ali was then forcefully brought to Abu Bakr, while ‘Umar was standing at his head with his sword unsheathed, and others, namely Khalid b. al-Walid, Abu ‘Ubaydah al-Jarrah, Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, Ma’adh b. Jabal, al-Mughirah b. Shu’bah, Usayd b. Hudhayr, Bashir b. Sa’ad and others were standing around Abu Bakr fully equipped with weapons.
House of Sorrows Translation of Baytul AhzanShaikh Abbas Al – Qummi