A matter has been confusing me as my Shia friends keep telling me bad things about Abu Bakr that he did bad things to Fatima and harmed her. They also tell me that they have narrations from Bukhaari that Abu Bakr harmed Fatima and Umar burnt her house and many other things that I can't reply to. Can you please enlighten me on the matter about Abu Bakr and Fatima as this issue is causing a great deal of Fitna?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The claim that Abu Bakr offended Faatimah is nothing but an absolute lie and slander. It is neither reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhari nor in any other book of authentic narrations. On the contrary, Imaam Al-Bukhari reported from Abu Bakr that he said, “I swear by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, to keep good relations with the relatives of the Messenger of Allaah is dearer to me than to keep good relations with my own relatives." Imaam Al-Bukhari also reported that Abu Bakr said, "Be kind to Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, through his family," i.e., be good to his, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, family and do not harm them.

Then how does one dare to say, after knowing this, that Abu Bakr wronged Faatimah and that this is mentioned in Saheeh Al-Bukhari? May Allaah fight the liars!

Likewise, the claim that 'Umar burned down the house of Faatimah is an absolute lie and slander. It is a false claim from those whose hearts are full of jealousy and spite against 'Umar through whom Allaah The Almighty uprooted the kingdom of the fire-worshipping Persians. Their descendents fabricated lies against ‘Umar to defame him and their claims are plain lies that are not found in any authentic book of narration.

If it is assumed that Abu Bakr and 'Umar caused harm to Faatimah then where was the lion of Allaah, and the lion of His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the brave hero, 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib ? Why did he not stand up and support her? Why did he not take revenge for her honor? The answer to these questions is that these claims had no basis. In fact, 'Ali loved Abu Bakr and 'Umar, respected them and held them in high status, may Allaah be pleased with all of them.

'Ali said to Abu Bakr when he gave him the pledge of allegiance, "We know well your superiority and what Allaah has given you, and we do not envy you for the good that Allaah has bestowed upon you..." [Al-Bukhari] In addition, Mohammad ibn Al-Hanafiyyah said, "I asked my father ('Ali ibn Abi Taalib ), ‘Who are the best people after Allaah's Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?’ He said, ‘Abu Bakr.’ I asked, ‘Then who?’ He said, ‘Then 'Umar.’ [Al-Bukhari] Thus, 'Ali himself confirmed that Abu Bakr and 'Umar are the best people after the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

When Abu Lu'lu'ah, may Allaah punish him as he deserves, (who is highly respected by the descendents of the fire-worshipping Persians) stabbed 'Umar 'Ali visited him and said, "(O 'Umar!) May Allaah bestow His mercy on you. I always hoped that Allaah will keep you with your two companions, for I often heard Allaah's Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saying: “I, Abu Bakr, and 'Umar were (somewhere). I, Abu Bakr and 'Umar did (something). I, Abu Bakr and 'Umar set out.’ So I hoped that Allaah would keep you with both of them." [Al-Bukhari]

Now you know that the claim that Abu Bakr and 'Umar offended Faatimah is nothing but a lie. We advise you to stay away from such innovators, lest they fill your heart with spite and ill feelings against the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for this will lead to the loss of both lives, the life of this world as well as that of the Hereafter. Read the books of creed written by Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah and what the four Imaams said about Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Ali, the family of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and all of the Companions . Read about their good behavior, sacrifice and loving relations with each other. They were in fact as Allaah The Almighty describes them in the verse (which means): {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful amongthemselves.}[Quran 48:29]

Beware of mixing with those who defame the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; speaking ill of Companions is a sign of loss and deprivation. It is not allowed for a Muslim, if he does not have enough knowledge to refute and respond to doubts, to mix with those who trigger doubts since this affects his religion badly. If you can read Arabic then we advise you to visit our Arabic Fatwa site, where we have answered many such doubts and mentioned the virtues of Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and all the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Finally, we would like to inform you that Abu Bakr did not distribute the inheritance of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, amongst his heirs since the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had prevented this, as he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had said: “We prophets are not to be inherited, and whatever we leave is to be spent in charity.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allaah Knows best.