There was No Conflict between the Four Khulafah ar-Rashidin

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

When the Prophet (s.a.w.) passed away, Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.) was 28 years old, and Sayyidina Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utsman asw-Swiddiq (r.a.) was 61.  The swahabah were ordered to love Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) three months before the death of the Prophet (s.a.w.), at the declaration of Ghadir Kumm.  But they were also ordered to pray behind Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.) just five days before the Prophet (s.a.w.) passed away.  They all prayed behind him, including Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.), until the Prophet (s.a.w.) passed away.  It was on this basis that Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.) was named caliph by shura’. 

When Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.), who was from Banu Taym, a lower-ranking tribe, was made the caliph, Abu Sufyan went to Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.), who was from Banu Hashim, and said, “The lowest of households of the Quraysh have overcome you in this matter.  By Allah, I will raise up an army full of men and horses,” offering to fight for Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.). 

Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) replied, “You remain an enemy of Islam and its people.  Indeed, Islam and its followers have not been harmed.  We see Abu Bakr as fit for it.”  This incident is recorded in al-Istiy’ab fi Ma’rifat al-Aswhab by Imam Yusuf ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Birr (r.a.) and elsewhere.  When Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.) was dying, he desired that Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) should wash him as he had washed the Prophet’s (s.a.w.). 

Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) remarried seven days after the death of Sayyidina Fathimah az-Zahrah (r.a.).  He named two sons “‘Umar”, and the others “Muhammad”, “Abu Bakr”, and “‘Utsman”.  Sayyidina Hasan ibn ‘Ali (r.a.) and Sayyidina Husayn ibn ‘Ali (r.a.) also had sons whom they named “Abu Bakr” and “‘Umar”.  In fact, Sayyidina Husayn (r.a.) married Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq’s (r.a.) daughter, Sayyidatina Hafswah bint ‘Umar (r.a.). 

Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad asw-Swadiq (q.s.) was the great-great grandson of Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) and Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.).  His mother was Shaykha Umm Farwa bint al-Qasim (r.a.), wife of Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir (q.s.).  Shaykh Umm Farwa’s (r.a.) father was the Islamic jurist Imam al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr (r.a.), and her mother was Shaykha Asma bint Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr (r.a.).  This makes Shaykh Umm Farwa (r.a.) the great-granddaughter of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.). 

When Sayyidina Abu ‘Amr ‘Utsman ibn ‘Affan’s (r.a.) house was besieged by rebels, Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) sent his sons, Sayyidina Hasan (r.a.) and Sayyidina Husayn (r.a.) to be amongst the guards at the gates.  When the faction from Egypt offered him the caliphate, Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) turned them down. 

These were the best of the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.).  This idea that there were issues between them is false.  This idea that they sought out the caliphate is sacrilege.  They were people of akhirah, and had no desire for the trappings of the world.  It is only later generations who came, and retroactively created a political conflict that did not exist in that time.