| prejudice, while this may be
contrary to truth. Or owing to self-interest and adverse
motive, he may resort to every trick in order to conceal
truth. This is the way of some writers who try to establish
some concordance between two opposite views. This concordance
may seem agreeable, but it is obvious that two contrary
views and aspects cannot be brought together to create
harmony.
Mr. 'Askari has succeeded in removing in his own discussion
such defects, which exist in the way of every scholar's
investigation. He pursues a definite goal from which
he has not deviated, and he has not made personalities
and authorities the axis of his task, since his aim
has been to discover truth.
Moreover, he has been able to lay aside his own feelings
and inclinations, and allow perfect freedom to intellect
alone in issuing verdicts, avoiding all blind and misleading
prejudices, and showing no preference to one group over
another, even if that group belongs to his own sect.
It would be no exaggeration to say that Mr. 'Askari
has laid down a firm and steadfast rule in the method
of his investigation. What mostly attracts scholars
apart from the apparent form of this book and wins their
praise and admiration is the fact that he has been able
to observe the general law in his7 scientific discussion,
and analyze the traditions of Umm alMu'minin with perfect
care and caution, and thus reveal the truth with all
its manifestations.
'Ali's assassination
and 'A'ishah's praise of God
Historical evidence compels
us to express doubt about some of the traditions of
Umm al-Mu'minin such as the traditions which speak of
the caliphate of the two elders (Abu Bakr and 'Umar)
without a mention of 'Ali and also the traditions related
to the qualities of the two elder caliphs and 'Uthman
and 'Ails ways, since in these traditions, feeling and
interest have played an important role, for, her relationship
with Abu Bakr was one between a daughter and father.
Similarly, her words about 'Umar are very different
from her expressions about 'Ali who was considered a
rival of Abu Bakr and 'Umar. Also, her rise against
'Uthman and her incitement of people to
|
