Is it true that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb opposed the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, and believed that Ali ibn Abi Talib was more deserving of the caliphate due to his lineage and proximity to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Abo Sufyan knew the status of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq before his conversion to Islam. As for his desire to prefer Ali over Abu Bakr in the matter of the caliphate, there are weak and inconsistent narrations regarding it. Even if they were authentic, Abu Sufyan's position stemmed from pre-Islamic tribal bias favoring Banu Abd Manaf, not from a preference for Ali himself, as he believed that the caliphate should be within his tribe, and Ali opposed him in that.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Original fatwa ID
- 28105
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy