Since when had Muawiyah acquired knowledge and awareness about Holy
Quran in spite of the fact that he did not know even a single verse; like the verse:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
“O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you…”1
Was Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) not from the statement ‘those in authority’ according to every exegesis of the verse?
Also, the verse:
وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَلِدًا فِيهَا
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is hell; he shall abide in it.”2
Or like the verse:
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلُوا۟ بُهْتَـٰنًۭا وَإِثْمًۭا مُّبِينًۭا (٥٨)
“And those who speak evil things of the believing men and the believing women without their having earned (it), they are guilty indeed of a false accusation and a manifest sin.”3
As well as other numerous verses. Can one, who did not act upon even one of the verses and did not apply any of their laws, becomes trustee of Quran?
وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ
“And whoever goes beyond the limits of Allah, he indeed does injustice to his own soul.”4
وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَـٰلِدًۭا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ (١٤)
“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Apostle and goes beyond His limits, He will cause him to enter fire to abide in it, and he shall have an abasing chastisement.”5
Was his excess of knowledge, which made almost qualified to be sent as a
prophet, impelled him to harbor enmity to the purified progeny? Whether it was
his knowledge, which urged him to commit serious crimes and practice wanton
acts, which are so clear that history has recorded them for all to see? History has
recorded for us in accurate details, the account of Muawiyah exterminating the
followers of Imam Ali (a.s.) in Kufa and all the Islamic territories.
As for his repeated and continuous distress caused to the sincere followers of
the holy progeny, whatever you say regarding that you would not have
exaggerated, and no objection would be applicable to you and I will later describe
the vile acts Muawiyah in detail.
Then we ask the reporters about the honesty of Muawiyah, through which he
became the third person after Jibraeel and Prophet and became to be considered
among the trusted ones of God, whether his honesty is related to Quran, which he
opposed? Or it is trustworthiness with regard to Sunnah, on which he did not act?
Or trustworthiness regarding blood of Muslims, which he shed? Or
trustworthiness in relation to Ahle Bayt (a.s.), whom he oppressed? Or it was to
create peace and security in the nation, which he destroyed from the root? Or his
truthfulness, which he gave up completely? Or falsehood, upon which he
instigated others? Or believers, whose limbs he cut off? Or Islam that he
destroyed? Or Islamic laws, which he distorted? Or the pulpits, which he polluted
through cursing the saints of God? Or it is…?
Was it due to these crimes and their like that he should be almost qualified
to be appointed as a prophet as the dishonest reporters have alleged? Kudos to
such a prophethood to which he came near and whose burden, fellows like him
would bear.
“Bent stature, white beard and profuse tears of Yahya
What happens if you don’t flirt in this condition.” (Poetic verse)
If the malevolent reporters did not bestow prophethood to the like of
Muawiyah; this alone would have sufficed for recognizing his prophethood and
excellence. The tradition is as follows:
“If rice had been an animal it would have been in the form of human being
and if it had been human it would have been in form of a righteous person and if
it had been a righteous person, it would have been in form of a prophet; and if it
had been a prophet it would have been in form of a messenger; and if it had been
a messenger it would have in my form.”6
11. It is narrated from Abu Huraira that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) came out
leaning on Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.). Abu Bakr and Umar went to welcome His Eminence.
The Prophet asked: “O Ali, do you love these two?”
He replied: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).”
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: “Be affectionate to these two, so that you may enter
Paradise.”
This tradition is a fabrication of Muhammad bin Abdullah Ashnani, as Dhahabi in Mizanul Etedal7 has mentioned and remarked:
“The tradition is invalid, but its chains of narrators is correct.”
Ibne Jauzi has mentioned this tradition in his book of Mauzuaat8
12. It is directly narrated from Ubayy bin Kaab that Jibraeel said to the
Prophet:
“If I sit with you as much as Nuh lived in his nation, I will not be able to
narrate all the merits of Umar.”
Ibne Jauzi has mentioned this tradition in his book of Mauzuaat, which is a
compilation of forged traditions.9
13. It is directly narrated from Abdullah that: “Abu Bakr is the crown of
Islam, Umar is its dress and Uthman is its half crown and Ali is its fragrance.”
Dhahabi has mentioned this tradition in Mizanul Etedal and said: “This
tradition is a fake.”10
14. It is directly narrated from Abu Huraira that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
said:
“Almighty Allah created me from His effulgence, created Abu Bakr from
my effulgence, Umar from the effulgence of Abu Bakr, Uthman from the
effulgence of Umar; and Umar is the lamp of the folks of Paradise.”
Dhahabi has mentioned it in Mizanul Etedal, in the biography of Ahmad bin
Yusuf Mabanji and said:
“This tradition is a fake.”11
15. It is narrated from Imam Ali (a.s.) that he said:
“The first ones to enter Paradise are Abu Bakr and Umar; and I and
Muawiyah will stand for taking the account of deeds.”
Dhahabi has mentioned in the biography of Asbagh Shaibani:12
This is not a correct report and Ibne Jauzi has included it among nonsensical
and weak traditional reports.