Only people of ignorance and caprice make a great issue of such matters—those whose aim is to open the door to attacking the Companions through lies and calumny.

Alī later assumed the caliphate, and Fadak and other properties came under his authority. Yet he did not give it to Fātima’s children, nor did he [take](1) any of the Prophet’s inheritance away from the Prophet’s wives—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—or the children of al-Abbās.

Had this been an injustice that he was able to rectify, doing so would have been easier for him than fighting Muāwiya and his armies. Can you imagine that he would fight Muāwiya, despite the tremendous evil that ensued, yet not give these people a small amount of wealth when doing so would have been far easier?

[The Rāfidī said: The sixth disagreement concerning fighting those who withheld zakat]

[As for his statement](2): “The sixth disagreement(3) concerns fighting those who withheld zakat. Abū Bakr fought them(4), while Umar exercised independent judgment during his caliphate, restored their captives and property to them, and released those who had been imprisoned.”

This is one of those lies that cannot escape anyone familiar with the affairs of the Muslims. Abū Bakr and Umar agreed that those who withheld zakat must be fought, after Umar had first questioned Abū Bakr about the matter.

Thus, it is related in the two Sahih collections from Abū Hurayra that Umar said to Abū Bakr, “O successor to the Messenger of Allah, how can you fight the people when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:”