2. Statement of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)
In the book of Al-Imtaa wal Mawanisa,1 Abu Hayyan Tauhidi has reported
that Shobi has narrated as follows:
Amr Aas reminisced about Ali (a.s.) and said: “He is a comical person.” When this was reported to Ali (a.s.), he said:
“The son of the wanton woman thinks that I am a comedian and funny man
and that I pass my life in useless pursuits and joviality. Remembrance of death,
fear of Judgment Day and accounting restrains man from nonsense. If someone
has proper belief, these things serve as lessons to him and they restrain him from
such acts. Indeed, lying is the worst kind of discourse and in fact Amr Aas makes
a promise and then breaks it. And when he speaks, he lies. The day when the
matter becomes difficult, till the time swords do not injure and cut up the bodies
of people, he enjoins good and prohibits evil, but with the beginning of battle his
greatest deceit in order to save his life is that he exposes his genitals.”2
3. Letter of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) to Amr Aas
From the servant of Allah, Ali Ameerul Momineen to the one, whose
generation are cut off, son of one, whose generations are cut off, Amr bin Aas bin
Wael, enemy and ill-wisher of Muhammad and progeny of Muhammad during
the period of Ignorance and in Islam.
Peace be on one, who follows the guidance of God. So to say: “Undoubtedly
you have subordinated your religion to the worldly power, pomp and wealth
provided to you by a person, whose apostatizing and skepticism are not hidden
from anybody. He and his ways are known to everybody. He sullies the
reputation as well as the character of those, who keep company with him. He tries
to deceive sober and sedate people. For the sake of remnants and crumbs of bread
left over at his table, you have attached yourself to him.
You are following him like a dog which follows a tiger, frightfully looks at
its paws and waits to live upon the refuse, which it leaves of its kill. In this way
you have lost your self-respect and honor in this world and your salvation in the
next. You have ruined your present and future. Had you followed the true path,
you would have secured success in this world as well as in the Hereafter. And
peace.”3
Point
Ibne Abil Hadeed4 has quoted the above letter in the same form in Sharh
Nahjul Balagha,5 from Kitabus Siffeen by Nasr bin Muzahim, but I did not find
this point there.
In the same way, if someone pays attention to the majority of the instances,
which Ibne Abil Hadeed has quoted, he will conclude that this book, which is
presently in our hands is not the actual book, but is a condensed version of what
it originally was. The original book was much more than this.
Numerous statements about this man are mentioned in sermons of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.); like for instance, he says:
“Son of the wanton woman, enemy of God, and helper of the enemy of God,
has gone to Egypt.”
Or the statement of His Eminence: “The transgressors have conquered
Egypt. The leaders of oppression and injustice, who prevent people from the path
of God and who deviate them from Islam.”6
4. Qunut of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) cursing Amr
Tabari in his book of History,7 says:
“Ali recited in the Qunut of morning prayer: O God, curse Muawiyah, Amr,
Abul Awar Salmi, Habib, Abdur Rahman bin Khalid, Zahhak bin Qays and
Walid.”
When this was reported to Muawiyah, he also cursed Ali, Ibne Abbas, Malik
Ashtar, Hasan and Husain.
5. Ayesha condemns Amr
When the news of the assassination of Muhammad bin Abu Bakr reached
Ayesha, she lamented and bemoaned in excess. And from that time, in the Qunut
and after prayer, she cursed Muawiyah and Amr Aas.
Tabari8 and Ibne Kathir9 have mentioned this in their books of history; as well Ibne Athir in Al-Kamil fit Tarikh,10 and Ibne Abil Hadeed in Sharh Nahjul Balagha11
.