Al Sunnah Foundation of Canada
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Hadrat Mu’awiya’s Insulting of Hadrat 'Ali (Rad)?
 
Q. ... I have heard that he (Hadrat Mu’awiya) attempted to bribe the Sahabah into pledging allegiance to his son Yazid and that he (Hadrat Mu’awiya) used to insult Hadrat ‘Ali (karamallahu wajhu) and exhort others to do the same.  Please advise me of the correct position in this regard and if this is true or otherwise.
 
A.  The following accounts about Hadrat Mu’awiya do appear in the classical books of Ahlus Sunnah.  I will simply convey them to you without commenting, as our (Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah’s) view is that we are not in a position to criticize any of the blessed Sahabah (may Allah be well pleased with all of them), let alone the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Uthman, and Hadrat 'Ali ibn Abi Talib) and the Prophet's Ahlul Bayt.  That is the official position of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.
 
Here are the accounts with their references to answer your questions.   You can find an English translation of some of these accounts in the book Hayatus Sahabah Vol. II and III.  We have provided you this book’s reference at the end of the article. 
 
Page. 280-281.
 
Hadhrat Abdur Rahman (RAD) the son
of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (RAD) refuses to
Accept Wealth Given to him
 
 
The Incident with Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) Hadhrat Abdul Azeez bin Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf (RAD) narrates that Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) once sent a hundred thousand dirham’s to Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr (RAD) after he refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid who was the son of Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD).  Hadhrat Abdur Rahman (RAD) refused to accept the money saying, “Should I sell my deen for my worldly gain?” He then proceeded to Makkah where he passed away (1)
 
 
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1.       Hakim (vol.3 Pg. 476) Zubayr bin Bakkar has reported a similar narration, as quoted in isabah (vol 2 pg 408)
 
Page.no.422
The Incident Between Hadhrat Mua’wiya (RAD)
And Hadhrat Wa’il bin Hujar(RAD)
 
 
…when Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) became Ameerul Mumineen, he dispatched an expedition with a man from the Quraysh called Bur bin Artat saying, “Since I have now annexed the entire region, I want you to leave with your army. When you leave the borders of Shaam, draw your sword and kill anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to me. Proceed in this manner to Madinah and even when you enter Madinah, I want you to kill anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to me. And if you find Wail bin Hujar (RAD) still alive, bring him to me.
 
Busr did as commanded and finding Hadhrat Wail (RAD) still alive, he brought him to Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD)
 
…Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) asked further, “Then what prevented you from assisting me when Uthman (RAD) trusted you so much and even made you his son-in-law”? Hadhrat Wail (RAD) replied, “Because you fought a man who was closer to Uthman (RAD) than me when I am more closely related to Uthman (RAD) Hadhrat Wail (RAD) replied.” Rasulullah (PBUH) forged a bond of brotherhood between Uthman (RAD) and Ali (RAD) and the furthermore, I did not want to fight any of the Muhajireen. Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) asked, “Are we not Muhajireen as well? Hadhrat Wail (RAD) replied “did we not stay away from both groups? Another strong reason is that I was once with Rasulullah (PBUH) with a large group when he looked towards the east he then looked back saying, ‘Tribulations shall come to you like the many portions of a dark night. They will be extremely difficult and unpleasant and will appear very fast’. I was the only one who asked, ‘O Rasulullah (PBUH) what will these tribulations be?’ He replied, ‘O Wail When two swords cross in Islam stay away from either one.’”.
 
Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) then said, “Have you now become a Shi’ee?”…“Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) said, “Had I heard this before, I would have never sent for you…”(1)
 
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1.         Tabrani in his Sagheer and kabeer. Haythami (Vol.9 Pg. 376) has commented on the chain of narrators.
 
Page no. 466.
 
 
Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) Forbids Hadhrat Mu’awiya
(RAD) from Insulting Hadhrat Ali (RAD)
 
Hadhrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (RAD) narrates that Hadhrat Mu’awiya bin Abu Sufyan (RAD) once instructed him saying, “What prevents you from reviling Abu Turab (Hadhrat Ali) (RAD)? ” Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) replied, “If I had to my credit even one of the three virtues that Rasulullah (PBUH) mentioned for Ali (RAD) I would prefer this to having red camels. I cannot revile him as long as I remember these. When Rasulullah (PBUH) appointed Ali (RAD) as his Deputy (in Madinah) when leaving for one of the battles, Ali (RAD) asked, ‘O Rasulullah (PBUH) are you leaving me behind with the women and children?’ I then heard Rasulullah (PBUH) say, would you not like your relationship with me to be like the relationship between Haroon (ALASALAM) And Moosa (ALASALAM)? Of course, there shall be no Nabi after me. I also heard Rasulullah (PBUH) say during the Battle of Khaybar, ‘I shall give the flag to someone who loves Allah and his Rasool (PBUH) and whom Allah and His Rasool (PBUH) also love. I also hoped to get it but Rasulullah (PBUH) then asked for Ali (RAD) to be summoned. When brought before Rasulullah (RAD), he suffering from pain in his eyes, Rasulullah (PBUH) put some of his blessed saliva into Ali’s (RAD) eyes (thus curing them) and handed the flag over to him. Allah then granted the conquest at his had. Furhtermore, it was Ali (RAD), Fatima (RAD), Hasan (RAD) and Husayn (RAD) whom Rasulullah (PBUH) called for when Allah revealed the verse,
 
“Say to them (O Rasulllah (PBUH), “Come! We shall call your sons and our sons, your wives and our wives, yourselves and ourselves” (Surah Al Imran, Verse 61)
 
Thereafter, Rasulullah (PBUH) said, “O Allah! This is my family”(1)
 
Hadhrat Abu Nujayh narrates that when Hadhrat Muawiya (RAD) performed Hajj, he took hold of the hand of Hadhrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (RAD) and said, “O Abu Is’haq! We are people whom all these battles have distanced from the Hajj to the extent that we have almost forgotten some of its Sunnah practices. You perform the Tawaf and we will follow you. “After the Tawwaf was complete, Hadhrat Mu’awiya (RAD) took Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) into Darun Nadwa where he seated him upon his chair. He then spoke of Hadhrat Ali bin Abi Talib (RAD) and spoke ill of him.  Hadhrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (RAD) said, “You brought me into your room, seated me on your chair and then start to speak ill of Ali (RAD)? By Allah! More than everything upon which the sun rises, I love to have even one of the three virtues he had more than everything upon which the sun rises. I love to have for myself what Rasulullah (PBUH) said to him when he left for the expedition to Tabook, on that occasion, Rasulullah (PBUH) said ‘Ali (RAD) would you not like your relationship with me to be like the relationship between Haroon and Moosa?’ Of course, there shall be no Nabi after me, more than everything upon which the sun rises, I love to have for myself what Rasulullah (PBUH) said about him during the Battle of Khaybar. On that occasion, Rasulullah (PBUH) said to Ali (RAD) I shall give the flag to someone who loves Allah and his Rasool (PBUH) and whom Allah and his Rasool (PBUH) also love. Allah shall grant the conquest at his hand and he is never one who flees from the battlefield. More than everything upon which the sun rises, I love to have for myself the virtue of being the son-in-law of Rasulullah (PBUH) by marrying his daughter and having from her the children that he did. I shall never again enter any room with you. Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) then took off his shawl and left (1)
 
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1.   Abu Zur’ah Dimishki, as quoted in Al bidayah wan Nihayah (Vo. 7 Pg. 340, 341)
 
 
Page no. 465.
 
Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) Seeks protection from the
Anger of Rasulullaah (PBUH) when he Insulted
Hadhrat Ali (RAD)
 
 
Hadhrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas (RAD) says, “I was sitting in the Masjid with two other persons when we insulted Ali (RAD). When Rasulullaah (PBUH) arrived, we could see the anger on his face, so we sought protection in Allaah from his anger. Rasulullaah (PBUH) said, ‘What have you got against me? Whoever hurts Ali has hurt me.”(1)
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 1.   Abu Ya’la as quoted in Ali Bidaayah wan Nihaayah (Vol.7 Pg.347).  Haythami (Vol.9 Pg.129). has commented on Bazzaar’s chain of narrators
 
 
                                   Page no. 465.
 
Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD)says, “I shall never revile him
Even if a saw is placed on my Head”.
  
Hadhrat Abu Bakr bin Khaalid bin Urfuta narrates that he once went to Hadhrat Sa’d bin Maalik (RAD) and asked. “The news has reached me that in Kufa you people are being forced to revile Ali (RAD). Have you ever reviled him?” Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) replied, “Allah forbid! I swear by the being who controls the life of Sa’d that I have heard Rasulullah (PBUH) say such things about Ali (RAD) that I would never revile him even if a saw is placed on my head.(1)
 
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 1.   Abu Ya’la reporting from reliable sources as confirmed by Haythami (vol. 9 Pg. 130)
 
Page. No. 484-485.
 
The Dua of Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) is Accepted
Against Someone who Reviled Hadhrat Ali (RAD)
Hadhrat Talha (RAD) and Hadhrat Zubayr (RAD)
 
 
Hadhrat Aamir bin Sa’d narrates that Hadhrat Sad (RAD) was once walking somewhere when he overheard a person speaking ill of Hadhrat Ali (RAD) Hadhrat Talha (RAD) and Hadhrat Zubayr (RAD) Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) said, “You are reviling people who have received tremendous accolades from Allah by Allah if you do not desist from reviling the,. I shall curse you.  The man scoffed ‘He threatens me as if he were a prophet.’ Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) then prayed “O Allah, if he is reviling people who have received accolades from You, then teach him his lesson this very day.”  A Bactrian camel then came running and the people gave her way until she trampled the man (and killed him). Hadhrat Aamir says that he then saw the people walking behind Hadhrat Sa’d (RAD) saying (in wonderment), “O Abu Ishaaq Allah accepted your dua (1)
               
Hadhrat Musab bin Sad narrates that when someone reviled Hadhrat Ali (RAD) Hadhrat Sad bin Maalik (RAD) (HADHRAT Sad bin abi Waqqaas (RAD)) cursed him a camel then ran forward and killed the man. Hadhrat Sad (RAD) then set a slave free and swore never to curse anyone again(2)
 
Hadhrat Qais bin Abu Haazim reports that he was once walking about the market place in Madinah when he reached a place called Ahjaaruz Zayt. There he saw some people gathered around a horseman who had mounted an animal and was reviling Hadhrat Ali bin Abi Talib (RAD) The people were just standing there (without saying or doing anything) when Hadhrat Sad bin Malik (RAD) arrived. Stopping there, Hadhrat Sad (RAD) asked, “What is happening here?” When the people informed him that the man was busy reviling Hadhrat Ali (RAD). Hahdrat Sad (RAD) went forward and the people gave him way until he stood by the man, he then said, “What is this, for what reason are you reviling Ali bin Abi Talib? Was he not the first to accept Islam? Was he not the first to perform Salah with Rasulullah (PBUH) was he not the most abstinent of people? Was he not the most knowledgeable of people? He then continued mentioning ...'was he not Rasulullah (PBUH)’s flag-bearer in his battles'?” Hadhrat Sad (RAD) then faced the Qibla, raised his hands and prayed, “O Allah! This man is reviling one of your Friends. Let this gathering not disperse without showing them your power.”
 
Hadhrat Qais says, “By Allah! We had not yet dispersed when the animal started sinking in the ground and it threw him off. He landed head first on the stones, causing him to die as his head burst open (3)
 
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1.                    Tabraani reporting from reliable sources as confirmed by Haythami (vol.9 pg. 154)
2.                    Hakim (vol. 3 pg. 499)
3.                    Hakim (vol. 3 lpg. 500) reporting room reliable sources as confirmed by Dhahabi. Abu Nuaym has also reported a similar narration in his Dalaa’il (pg. 206)

  
Page no. 465.
 
Hadhrat Umar (RAD) Reproaches Someone who
Insulted Hadhrat Ali (RAD)
 
 
Hadhrat Urwa (RAD) narrates that someone once insulted Hadhrat Ali (RAD) in the presence of Hadhrat Umar (RAD). Hadhrat Umar (RAD) said, “Do you know that occupant of this tomb? He is Muhammad (RAD), the son of Abdullah, who was the son of Abdul Muttalib. Ali is the son of Abu Talib who was also the son of Abdul Muttalib. You should therefore only speak good of Ali (RAD) because if you hurt Ali, you will be hurting the one in this tomb.”(1)
 
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1.   Ibn Asaakir, as quoted in Muntakhab kanzul Ummaal (Vol.5 Pg.46).
 
 
English Source: Hayatus Sahabah: The Lives of the Sahabah. National Edition. Vol II & III. Kandhalevi, Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf. Translated by Mufti Afzal Hossen Elias, Islamic Book Service. New Delhi , India , 2000. ISBN 81-7231-728
 
And Allah Knows Best!
 
Sayyid Ahmed Amiruddin