Who Began Cursing Sahabas?-Part-2

An Old Photograph of Damascus-Capital of Amir Muawiya

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi 

I had posted an article on January 19,2016 in response to the constant allegations by two viewers that Shias curse Sahaba Karam.The article traced the origin of  how cursing began and who was the first Sahabi who was cursed.The research revealed that Hazrat Ali was cursed during the regime of Amir Muawiya for 65 years to reduce his exalted status as the first to embrace Islam and his close bond with Holy Prophet as his cousin and son-in law besides being Lion of Allah in view of his exemplary bravery.There are many traditions attributed to Holy Prophet wherein he stated his intimacy with Hazrat Ali and said "who curses Ali, curses me and who curses me,curses Allah".

How the command of Nabi Karim was defied is also evident from the traditions listed below:

Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas narrated Muawiyah, the son of Abu Sufyan, give order to Sa'd, and told him:

"What prevents you that you are refraining from cursing Abu Turab (nickname of Ali)?" Sa'd replied: "Don't you remember that the Prophet said three things about (the virtue of) Ali? So I will never curse Ali."

Reference: Sahih Muslim, Chapter of Virtues of Companions, Section of virtues of Ali, Arabic, v4, p1871, Tradition  No 32.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hazim that the Governor of Medina who was one of the members of the house of Marwan called Sahl Ibn Sa'd, and ordered him to curse Ali but Sahl refused to do so. The governor said: "If you don't want to curse Ali, just say God curse Abu Turab (the nickname of Ali)." Sahl said: "Ali did not like any name for himself better than Abu Turab, and Ali used to become very happy when somebody would call him Abu Turab."

Reference: Sahih Muslim, Chapter of Virtues of Companions, Section of Virtues of Ali, Arabic version, v4, p1874, Tradition  No 38.

One of the ugliest innovations that started during the reign of Muawiyah was that Muawiyah himself, and through his order to his Governors, they used to insult Imam Ali (AS) during the Sermons in the Mosques. This was even done on the pulpit of the mosque of the Prophet in Medina in front of the grave of the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and his Progeny),so that even the dearest Companions of the Prophet (sawa), and Imam Ali (AS), his family and his near relatives used to hear these swears with their ears.

References :- History of al-Tabari, V4, Pg 188,- History of Ibn Kathir, V3, Pg234; V4, Pg154,- al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, V8, Pg259; V9, Pg80

"Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) was cursed on the pulpits (manabir) of the east and west...", during the time of Muawiyah. Reference :Mu'jam al-Buldan, al-Hamawi, V5, Pg 38.

Umme Salama(swt), the wife of the Prophet (sawa) wrote to Muawiyah: "...You are cursing Allah and His messenger on your minbar,and that is because you are cursing Ali Ibn Abi Talib and whomever loves him, and I am a witness that Allah and His messenger loved him." But no one paid any attention to what she said.Reference: al-Aqd al-Fareed, v2, p300

 When Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan put al-Mughairah Ibn Shubah in charge of Kufah in Jumada 41 (September 2- October 30, 661), he summoned him. After praising and glorifying God, he said: "Now then, indeed a forbearing person has been admonished in the  past... The wise might do what you want without instruction. Although I have wanted to advise you about many things, I left them alone,trusting in your discernment of what pleases me, what helps my regime      and what sets my subjects [raiyyah] on the right path. I would continue to advise you about a quality of yours- do not refrain from abusing Ali and criticizing him, not from asking God's mercy upon  Uthman and His forgiveness for him. Continue to shame the companions of Ali, keep at a distance, and don't listen to them. Praise the faction of Uthman, bring them near, and listen to them." History of Tabari, English version, events of year 51 AH, Execution of Hujr Ibn Adi, v18, pp 122-123

After his death, Muawiyah II, son of Yazid, gathered the people on a well known day and said  "My grandfather Muawiyah stripped the command from those who deserved it, and from one who is more justified of it, for his relation to the Messenger of Allah and his being first in Islam, and that is Ali Ibn Abi Talib, he (Muawiyah) took over it by your help as you are fully  aware."

 "Then following it my father Yazid wore the command after him, and he did not deserve it. He quarreled with the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, and by that he shortened his own life... He rode his whim and hope left him behind." Then he cried and continued: "Surely, the greatest problems of us is our knowledge of his bad behavior and his awful ending, and that he killed the progeny (Itrah) of the Messenger of Allah, and he permitted drinking alcohol, and he fought in the sanctuary of Mecca, and destroyed the Ka'ba………And I am not the one who is dressing up for your command, nor the one to be responsible for your followers... You choose for yourselves.."

References:- Khulafaa al-Rasool, by Khalid Mohammed Khalid, p531 (The above quote includes author's punctuation.)- Sawaiq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, end of Ch. 11, pp 336

It was Caliph Umar Ibn Abdil Aziz  who canceled this order after more than half a century. Some historians even believe that the Umayyah descendants themselves killed (poisoned) Umar Ibn Abdil Aziz, because he stopped people from cursing Ali. Reference :  "History of the Saracens," by Amir Ali, Chapter X, pg 126-127.

The duo should remember that by supporting Amir Muawiya that are making themselves accountable  as the holy book  says "And do not think Allah to be heedless of what the unjust do; He only respites them upto a day on which the eyes will be fixedly open."  (Quran 14:42).The blogger has given these examples as  to enable other viewers to decide themselves as to who introduced the custom of cursing companions of Prophet ?This was done with the objective of ensuring throne to Yazid in defiance of the precedent set by Khufa-e-Rashdeen. The outcome of the move resulted in the situation that confronts Muslims all over the world. The blogger also knows that this article will not change the mindset of the duo and they will claim these authentic traditions as false.let them do so ,for Allah knows better. It is also a known fact that people find difficult to emerge safe from the clutches of satan after getting trapped.

(The names of viewers have not been given deliberately as it would have been amounted to discourtesy.Some viewers may find the contents shocking as a section of Muslims have been striving to prove Amir Muawiya better than Hazrat Ali for the past two centuries.those acquainted with genuine Islamic history knows the truth and they won't find the post objectionable)Photo Courtesy-Google Images.