Balazari has written in Al-Ansab:1 They had given Marwan the title of
Khaite Batil [invalid thread]2 due to his being of very thin and tall, as a string, a
thin white effulgence seen in the sun.
That which is mentioned about Marwan regarding his biography and acts is
that he did not accord any value to the laws of the upright religion and regarded it
as politics and exigency of times; so he had no qualms in changing it into another
rule on the basis of what was demanded by times and circumstances, and
testimonies to these great crimes would be mentioned for you and things, which
we will not mention, you can just deduce:
1. Bukhari3 has narrated from Abu Saeed Khudri that: I went out with
Marwan, the Governor of Medina, for the prayer of Eidul Adha or Eidul Fitr.
When we reached the Musalla, there was a pulpit made by Kathir bin As-Salt.
Marwan wanted to get up on that pulpit before the prayer. I got hold of his
clothes, but he pulled them and ascended the pulpit and delivered the sermon
before the prayer. I said to him, “By Allah, you have changed (the Prophet’s
tradition).” He replied, “ Abu Saeed! Gone is that which you know.” I said, “By
Allah! What I know is better than what I do not know.” Marwan said, “People do
not sit to listen to our sermon after the prayer, so I delivered the sermon before
prayer.”
Do you see how Marwan distorted the Sunnah? And how he dared to speak
against it, such that his statement does not befit a Muslim.
Yes, at this point Marwan followed two objectives: One was to follow in the
footsteps of his cousin, Uthman, and another that he spoke ill of Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.) and abused him in the sermon of prayer and that is why people
used to go away before listening to the sermon. So he recited the sermon before
the prayer that they may not go away and hear those blatant and sinful statements.
Refer to the details mentioned above.4
And the statement of Abdullah bin Zubair, as was mentioned before5 that:
“He distorted all practices of the Prophet, even prayer,” shows that distortion of
Sunnah and playing with it through personal views was not restricted to recitation
of sermon before prayers, on the contrary, he distorted numerous rules.
2. Abusing Ameerul Momineen (a.s.). And as Usamah bin Zaid said: “He
used foul language and abused.”6
The actual founder regarding this was Uthman, who instigated this accursed
lizard to take steps against Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) on the day he said: “Leave
Marwan to take retaliation from you.”
Ali (a.s.) asked: “What for?”
He replied: “For your abusing him and pulling the rein of his mount.”
And he said to His Eminence: “Why he should not abuse you? As if you are
better than him!”7
Muawiyah, using all powers and possibilities, went ahead on this
foundation, but Marwan was the worst follower and when he mounted the pulpit,
he did not leave any effort in making that practice established. He was always
earnest in this act and encouraged it; so much so that he acted in this way after
every Friday and congregational prayer and every gathering he organized, and
encouraged it among his agents, when he became the Caliph.
The Caliphate, which lasted for nine months. Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)
described him as: “A dog licking its nose.” And this hateful practice and custom
was only due to exigency and politics of the time.
The report, which Darqutni has narrated through the channels of Marwan
exposed his inner feelings. He says: “No one defended Uthman more than Ali
(a.s.).” He was asked: “Then what impelled you to abuse him from pulpits?” He
replied: “Our rule can never prosper without it.”8
Among Muslim, no two people will dispute that abusing the Imam and
cursing him is a greater sin.
If what Ibne Hajar has mentioned in Tahzibut Tahzib,9 quoting from Ibne
Moin is correct; that10 one, who abuses Uthman or Talha or one of the companions
of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) is a liar and his statements should not be
recorded and curse of God, angels and all the people are upon him. Then what is
the value of the statement of Marwan?
As much we descend to a lower level, we will not come to the stage that
Maula Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) is like one of the companions and the rule of
abusing or cursing him is also included in that, and how this should not be as
such, whereas we believe that he was without any doubt chief of companions,
chief of successors and chief of predecessors and future people, except for his
cousin, Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).
And he, according to clarification of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), is the self of
Prophet. Thus, abusing and cursing him is in fact abusing and cursing Prophet
and His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said:
“One, who abuses Ali, has in fact abused me and one, who abuses me, has
abused Allah.11
Also, Marwan was the ill-wisher of Ahle Bayt (a.s.) of purity, and was
always waiting for an opportunity to harass and torment them. Ibne Asakir has
written in his Tarikh:12
Marwan did not allow Imam Hasan (a.s.) to be buried in the chamber of
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and he said: “I will not allow the son of Abu Turab
to be buried, whereas Uthman is buried in Baqi.”
And Marwan was deposed on that day and he wanted to please Muawiyah
through this act. So he was always inimical to Bani Hashim, till he died.
What Caliph is that his pleasure should be sought through harassing the
progeny of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)? And who was worthier than Imam
Hasan (a.s.) to be buried in that holy chamber? And from the command of which
Book or Sunnah and from which proof can Uthman be buried there?