Some innovators claim that Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.) ordered to keep the love for Abu Bakr and Umar in his heart. Is this really the case?
Answer:
Such a statement is neither in the 2nd volume on page 291 nor anywhere else in the book and is therefore nothing but a worthless lie! In truth, this fairy tale is from the books of the enemy:
Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ah-Dhahabi writes: “Yahya Ibn Kathir reported from Ja’far Ibn Muhammad (As-Sadiq) that his father (Al-Baqir) said: “A man came to my father (Zain-ul-Abidin) and said: “Will you tell me about Abu Bakr?” He said: “You ask for the one who is approved (Siddiq)?” The man said: “You call him the one who finds himself approved?” He said: “May your mother lose you! He has already been called by those who find themselves approved, who are better than i , the Messenger (s.), the emigrants and the helpers. Whoever does not call him the one who finds himself approved (Siddiq), his word will not find any approval with Allah. Go and keep the love for Abu Bakr and Umar and recognize them as guardians and whatever belongs to the matter, so i have it on my neck.” [Siyar A’lam An-Nubala, Volume 4, Page 395]
قال محمد بن أحمد الذهبي: يحيى بن كثير عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، قال: جاء رجل إلى أبي فقال: أخبرني عن أبي بكر؟ قال: عن الصديق تسأل؟ قال: وتسميه الصديق؟! قال: ثكلتك أمك قد سماه صديقا من هو خير مني، رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، والمهاجرون، والأنصار، فمن لم يسمه صديقا، فلا صدق الله قوله، اذهب فأحب أبا بكر وعمر، وتولهما، فما كان من أمر ففي عنقي
Ahmad Ibn Ali An-Nasa’i says about Yahya Ibn Kathir: “He is not trustworthy (Thiqah)“.Al-Uqaili says: “He is to be rejected (Munkar) when it comes to narrations.” Yahya Ibn Ma’in says: “Weak (Da’if).”Abu Zur’ah and Ad-Daraqutni say: “Weak (Da’if).”[Tahdhib-ut-Tahdhib by Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, number 439]