Sunni view
Sunni Muslims refer to this episode as the "Event of Thursday". It is generally seen as a minor event and a test by Muhammad of the
Sahabah (his companions). The companions are considered to have chosen to do the right thing and passed the test, having remained free from criticism by Muhammad for the rest of the days he remained with them. Further Sunni's say it was not a matter of disobedience but rather it was Umar's
Ijtihad (independent reasoning) in that situation.
[4]
This period (from Thursday to Monday) during which Muhammad remained with the companions after this incident was also not utilized to make a will - which, Sunnis argue, confirms that it was not an important document to be written but rather a simple test to know whether the
Ummah is aware of the message of the Quran. The following passage is cited as evidence:
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
—Quran,
sura 5 (
Al-Ma'ida),
ayah 3
[5]
Some other arguments Sunnis use to support their view include:
[6]
- If Muhammad had been ordered by God to write down something, then no one could have prevented him from this- not even Umar. This goes by the Muslim reasoning that God's message cannot be silenced or withheld by the antagonism of anyone. However, the fact that Muhammad did not end up writing something down (neither then nor during the future days) only proves that the thing which was supposed to be written was already known to the Sahabah and Muhammad was aware of this, so he did not take the matter any further.
- The accusation that Umar prevented Muhammad from writing down what he willed due to Umar's fear that it would contain orders of obedience to Ali, is nothing more than an unproven assumption and conjecture driven by ones predetermined feelings towards Umar.
- The obvious, visible and immediate interpretation of Umar's behavior is that he acted solely out of concern for the health and condition of Muhammad (as he saw most fit) due to his love and concern for Muhammad, by not having Muhammad burden himself during his present predicament of ill health. Likewise, other Sahabah who were present followed the same opinion as Umar.
- The Sahabah differed even among themselves in their reaction to the request of Muhammad for a pen and paper i.e. they were not united in their opposition to Muhammad writing something down during his illness. Some Sahabah opposed Muhammad's request, while others agreed with it. Therefore, there was no conspiracy (on behalf of the Sahabah) to "deny" Ali his "right" to succeed Muhammad. Instead, the Sahabah were acting upon their own sincere assessments of the situation of Muhammad.
- Muhammad's condition improved for a time after this incidence and had it been important he would have had it written down then.