And the reasoning mentioned by Ibne Hajar in Fathul Bari that Uthman saw
exigency of congregation in that they should be able to reach Prayer…does not
justify the act of Caliph, because this important exigency was also present during
the time of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and it was not followed, because not
giving concession to it for the exigency of legislation of Shariah, which was more
important than this.
Thus, this viewpoint as opposed to Sunnah is like personal exertion (Ijtihad)
as opposed to established texts (Quran and traditions). And if it is allowed to
change laws according to personal viewpoints of people, in that case no base
would remain for Islam.
That is why there is no contradiction between viewpoint of Uthman and
viewpoint of Marwan: both are heresies, which they have invented; although
Marwan committed another disgrace regarding that and resorted to abuse those,
who are not worthy to be abused.
This was the gist of the statement regarding heresies of the Caliph.
As for those other than him from the progeny of Umayyads, who in their
sermons from pulpits, abused and cursed Maula Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.).
That is why people did not sit to listen to their sermons and dispersed from there.
So they delivered the sermon before Prayer so that people are compelled to listen
to it, inspite of the fact that they did not consider those hateful statements lawful,
due to authentic traditions of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) narrated through Ibne
Abbas and Umme Salma that:
“One, who abuses Ali, has indeed abused me and whoever abuses me, has in
fact abused Almighty Allah.”1
Ibne Hazm has written in his Mahalli:2
“Bani Umayyah started the practice of reciting the sermon before the prayer
and argued that after people recited prayer, they would leave without hearing the
sermon, and it was due to the fact that they cursed Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), and
that is why Muslims fled from there, and they had the right to it; and how they
should not have the right, while sitting to hear the sermon is not obligatory.”
Shaukani has written in Neelul Autar:3
“In Sahih Muslim,4 report of Tariq bin Shahab is mentioned from Abu Saeed
that he said: The first one to recite the sermon before Eid Prayer was Marwan.
And it is said that: The first to do this was Muawiyah. Qadi Ayaz has mentioned
this point…and it is said that: The first to do this was Ziyad in Basra and during the Caliphate of Muawiyah. Qadi Ayaz has also narrated this point. Ibne Mudhir
has narrated from Ibne Sireen that: The first to do this was Ziyad in Basra. He
says: There is no contradiction between these two quotations and the quotation of
Marwan, because both of them were appointees of Muawiyah; and these three
quotations can be reconciled that Muawiyah started this practice and his
governors followed him.
In Kitabul Umm,5 Shafei has narrated through Wahab bin Kaisan that: I saw
Ibne Zubair recite the prayer before the sermon. Then he said: They have
changed all the practices of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), even the Prayer.
Thus, if one defect is applied to the Caliph regarding this, the other
Umayyads have two defects: opposing the Sunnah and creating the heresy of
abusing Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), and they are famous as the implication of the
proverb: The dates were rotten and the measure was also defective.
If these person had innovated heresies, I am not amazed, because their other
deeds resemble this quality, as committing wanton deeds and sins, shamelessness
and disgrace was a part of their nature and committing sins was their habit; so it
is not amazing even if they distort all the Sunnahs.
And it is not amazing that the sermon, which was supposed to comprise of
moral exhortations or opposing sinful acts, which are severely prohibited in
Shariah, was replaced by cursing of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), who was the first
of Muslims, defender of religion, an infallible Imam, who according to
declaration of Quran, was purified and its clarification is that he was the self of
Prophet, and according to the tradition of two weighty things is an equal to the
greater heavy thing, peace be on him.
Perhaps, you will, after the life history of Caliph and his biography, which
reveals his qualities and manners, not be amazed that also due to distorting
practice of God and Messenger as all of them were from the same tree; a tree,
which is uprooted and has no stability.
But it is amazing that they regard those, who are immersed in such things
and their like to be reliable only because they were companions and all
companions are equitable in their view.
And more amazing is the fact that in numerous chapters of jurisprudence,
they have reasoned through such characters; yes, the wanton always follow the
wanton.