Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib

Mu`awiyah Ibn Abi-sufyan

Mu`awiyah was born from the womb of Hind bint `Utbah and was the son of Abū-Sufyan ibn Harb. Hind was first married to Fakihah ibn Mughirah. When Fakihah was killed at the hands of Banū-Judhaymah, she married Hafs ibn Mughirah, and married Abi-Sufyan when Hafs died. Hind was on top of the roster of women of ill repute in Makkah and was in the forefront of the enemies of Islam. In the Battle of Uhud, she rendered martial songs to encourage the infidels to fight the Muslims. She chewed the liver of the Prophet’s uncle, Hamzah, and set a record of barbarity. She was known from that time as The Eater of the Liver. Similarly Abū-Sufyan too was a sworn enemy of the Prophet of Islam (a.s) and was a part of the conspiracy that forced the Prophet (a.s) to migrate from Makkah to al-Madinah. Even after the Migration Abi-Sufyan continued to fight with the Prophet (a.s) and the battles of Badr, Uhud and al-Ahzab were fought by the infidels at his instance. When Makkah was conquered in 8H, he accepted Islam along with his son Mu`awiyah to save his and his children’s’ lives. Jalaluddin al-Suyūti has written:

“Mu`awiyah, along with his father, accepted Islam on the day Makkah was conquered and participated in the Campaign of Hunayn. He was in the list of al-Mu’allafatu-Qulūbuhum”

The al-Mu’allafatu-Qulūbuhum are the persons who did not embrace Islam through their own conviction but they had done it out of fear for their lives. It was like the abjectly defeated surrendering to the victor! Therefore, Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) has said about them, “By Allah! They had not embraced Islam but had bowed down their heads!” Notwithstanding this explicit Islam of those persons, the Prophet (a.s) included them in the fold so that they might slowly understand the teachings of the Faith. In fact, to humor them he gave them more facilities than to the other Muslims. Therefore, from the booty of the Battle of Hunayn he gave more to Abū-Sufyan and his two sons Yazid and Mu`awiyah. Abū-Sufyan and his two sons got the share of al-Mu’allafatu-Qulūbuhum, that was a hundred camels each while the other Muslims got four camels each.

The control of Mu`awiyah over the territory of Syria came about in the following manner. Abū-Bakr decided to attack Syria He organized four contingents of men under Shurahbil ibn Hasnah, Abū-`Ubaydah al-Jarrah, Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan and `Amr ibn al-`As. He made an agreement with these commanders that after achieving victory Abū-`Ubaydah would be the governor of Hims, Shurahbil ibn Hasnah of Jordan, `Amr ibn al-`As and `Alqamah ibn Majzaz of Palestine and Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan of Damascus. Then all the four contingents took different routes and met at Yarmūk. The Muslims were confronted with a huge Roman army. They sent word to Abū-Bakr to send more men. He sent Khalid ibn al-Walid with 2,000 men from Iraq to Yarmūk. Now the total force available was 46,000 men. In Yazid’s contingent Suhayl ibn `Amr and some other sheikhs were present as advisers. The standard of the contingent was in the hands of Mu`awiyah.

While this campaign was in progress, Abū-Bakr died on 21 Jumada II, 13 H. And the caliphate was transferred to `Umar. During his reign, in the month of Rajab 14 H, after a siege of 6 months Damascus was conquered and Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan was appointed the governor. In 18 H Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan died of a plague and `Umar appointed his brother Mu`awiyah, who was present at Damascus, in his place. After the death of `Umar in 23 H when `Uthman became the caliph, he gave Mu`awiyah the charge of Jordan, Palestine, Hims and Qinnasrin in addition to Damascus. The foundation for the influence that Mu`awiyah laid, `Umar gave it a practical shape and `Uthman strengthened it.

It is surprising that the Companions of the Prophet (a.s), whose services had been invaluable, were totally neglected and those who were open enemies of Islam, opponents of Banū-Hashim and always opposed the Prophet (a.s), were supported and promoted by the three caliphs.

`Umar not only gifted the governorate of Damascus to Mu`awiyah but he laid out the road map for his influence and perpetuation. He instructed people that when they noticed the changing environment, they must migrate to Damascus and gather around Mu`awiyah. Therefore, Ibn Hajar al-Makki writes:

“`Umar used to encourage people to follow Mu`awiyah and used to prepare them that when there was division among the people, they must migrate and go to Mu`awiyah in Syria.”[1]

This fact does not need any proof that in the hearts of Banū-Umayyah there was always enmity and hatred for Banū-Hashim. In addition to this ancestral

[1] Tathīr al-Jinān, Page 19

maternal grandfather `Utbah, brother Hanzalah and uncle al-Walid ibn `Utbah. It was the nature of the Arabs that they did not easily forget old enmities. Although Islam tried to change this evil trait in people, but the trait that remained with them for centuries could not be removed so fast. The farsighted eyes of `Umar were seeing that the spirit of hatred and revenge can raise its evil head in the form of war. It was possible that the circumstances changed and the power shifted to the hands of `Ali (a.s). In such an event the influence of Mu`awiyah might wane. Forecasting such a scenario he advised people to migrate to Syria and assemble under the flag of Mu`awiyah. This, he thought would strengthen the hands of Mu`awiyah. In fact, such a thing did happen. As soon as `Ali (a.s) assumed power, people started moving towards Damascus in numbers. They looked like moving at the slightest hint of his eyebrows! If this dissent was not in the mind of `Umar, how was he advising people to assemble under Mu`awiyah so far ahead of that time. What sort of dissent he was forecasting that he advised people to gather under Mu`awiyah at Damascus and not in al-Madinah, to strengthen it, the original Dar al-Hijrah!

When it was not hidden from `Umar the type of lifestyle that Mu`awiyah had adopted was certainly the emulation of Caesar and Khusrow which had nothing to do with the Spartan Islamic Lifestyle! Therefore, once `Umar was in Syria. He saw the pomp and pageantry of Mu`awiyah and said, “You look the Khusrow of the Arabs! I have heard that the needy come to your door standing there for long hours and you remain relaxing at home! “Mu`awiyah replied, “We are in such a land that where the sleuths of the enemy keep an eye on every move of ours and conveying the intelligence to their center. We want to frighten them with our pomp and show! “Hearing this reply, `Umar said, “This is the talk of a clever person!”

Al-Tabari writes that `Umar used to say:

“You talk of the cunning exploits of Caesar and Khusrow, although Mu`awiyah is living amongst you!”[1]

But, despite this he paved the way for Mu`awiyah and put it in his mind that he should take advantage of the mutual differences and to usurp the caliphate Thus, psychologically he made him a candidate for the caliphate. Therefore, Ibn Abil-Hadid writes with reference to the book, Al-Safinah, by Abū-`Uthman al-Jahiz quoting what `Umar told the members of the Shūra:

[1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 4, Page 244

“If you act with the spirit of mutual cooperation and help and thoughtfulness, then you and your progeny will taste the caliphate. If you persist with envy and hate and hesitated in helping each other, then Mu`awiyah ibn Abi-Sufyan will overwhelm you and grab the caliphate.”[1]

If this talk had reached the ears of Mu`awiyah he must certainly have been motivated by the words and his mind might have started thinking in terms of getting the caliphate in the future. Therefore, his movements and actions very well demonstrated that from the time of `Uthman he had started running around to achieve his end. After the assassination of `Uthman, he redoubled his efforts. He tried all methods, fair and fowls to achieve his end.

When the Umayyad standard flew in Syria, there was an imprint of the Roman culture on it. Even after the advent of Islam, there the people were still under the influence of the Roman culture. Mu`awiyah too forsook the simple Islamic style of living and adopted the Roman ways. He lived in the lavish palace, Qasr al-Khadra’, built by him. On the gates of the palace, he had liveried guards and the slaves in bejeweled girdles used to flit around him. This pomp was a reflection of the lifestyles of Caesar and Khusrow. This show and the furniture that would create a glow in the eyes of the beholder were sufficient to overwhelm anyone. But where he thought that the royal pomp and show might not work, he adopted another tactic. Therefore, `Amr Ibn al-`As once came to him with a delegation of the Egyptians. He wanted to belittle Mu`awiyah in the eyes of the delegates. `Amr told them that when they met Mu`awiyah, they should not address him as the caliph. And wish him as they do with any other Muslim. He also told them to adopt a style of conversation as they do talking to ordinary persons. He warned them not to be awed with his pomp and show. He told them that behaving that way, their respectability would enhance. Mu`awiyah had already guessed that `Amr had plans of making him seem unimportant in the eyes of the visitors. He ordered the guards that when the Egyptians arrived, they should shake them up that all their smartness would vanish. They should be under the impression that they were being pushed towards death. The guards followed the instructions. When they arrived, confused and disturbed, before Mu`awiyah, a person by name Ibn Khayyat came forward and said, “Peace be upon you, O Allah’s messenger.” Then all the Egyptians who followed did the same. `Amr was furious when he met them outside and said:

[1] Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah by Ibn Abil-Hadīd, Vol 1, Page 37

“Allah curse on you! I had asked you not even to address him as the caliph! You have addressed him as ‘O Allah’s Messenger”[1]

This is surprising that Mu`awiyah is addressed as the prophet and he keeps listening to it. If anyone else were addressed that way, his spirit would shiver. If the quiet were with some meaning, he would have thought that the utterance was blasphemous. But he kept quiet all along. What would he do if that frightened delegation addressed him as the god? Would he keep quiet even then or reprimand them for their blasphemous talk?

Where the bent of mind is of that type, it cannot be imagined that the commandments of Islam are respected at all. Therefore, Islam has made the wearing of silks as taboo for the Muslim men. He wore silks without any reservation. He used vessels of gold and silver and intoxicants were in daily use! Even these drinks were served to the others. `Abdullah ibn Buraydah says that he went with his father to the court of Mu`awiyah. They were asked to squat on the floor. After the meal, they were served spirits. His father, when he saw the spirits, said:

“From the time the Prophet (a.s) had termed the spirits taboo (haram), I have never touched them.”[2]

There is a long list of Mu`awiyah’s innovations in the Faith. Therefore, he termed the illegitimate issue of his father, Ziyad ibn Sumayyah as Ziyad ibn Abi-Sufyan, made a joke of the Prophet’s saying, “The child is his father’s and stone is for the adulterer.” In sermons, Mu`awiyah used to talk ill of `Ali (a.s). He started the practice of reciting the adhan prior to the `Id prayers. He gave priority to the Sermon of the `Id to `Id Prayers. He started delivering the khutbah sitting down instead of standing up. After Mu`awiyah, Banū-Umayyah made it their practice. After the Umayyads, when Abul-`Abbas al-Saffah, the first `Abbasid ruler, became the Caliph, he started delivering the khutbah standing. Then the people shouted:

“O son of the uncle of the Prophet (a.s)! You have revived the Sunnah! May Allah keep you alive!”[3]

[1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 4, Page 344
[2] Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Vol 5, Page 347
[3] Muhā¤arat al-Awā’il, Page 84

Mu`awiyah stopped reciting the basmalah [1] loudly during prayers. Muhammad ibn `Aqil writes:

“Mu`awiyah was the first in al-Madinah to avoid saying the basmalah loudly during the prayer. The Muhajirūn and Ansar raised their voices against this and said, ‘O Mu`awiyah! You have stolen the Basmalah!’”[2]

Besides changing the clear commands of Islam, he invented several customs and festivities that were prevalent amongst people of other faiths. He appointed other people on key positions. He tried to disturb the central status of al-Madinah. The person in charge of his main office was Sirjawn al-Rūmi, a Christian. The person responsible for collection of the tribute in Hims too was a Christian, Ibn Awsal. When Mu`awiyah went to al-Madinah during the Hajj in 50 H, he wanted to shift the Pulpit to Damascus. When they tried to lift it, there was suddenly an eclipse of the sun. The people who saw this phenomenon were frightened. Seeing the anger of the people, Mu`awiyah desisted from putting his plan into operation. He made an excuse that by lifting the pulpit from its place he wanted to see whether it was affected with the mites.

This event is similar to that of Hassan Ibn Kalal al-`Abdi. He too wanted to dismantle the Ka`bah and carry the stones to Yemen but nature did not allow him to fulfill his wish. In Mu`awiyah’s case, too nature expressed its fury in the form of the solar Eclipse.

There are plenty of acts of Mu`awiyah that were contrary to the norms of the Faith. But his naming his evil son, Yazid, as his successor was worst act that he perpetrated. This was such a heinous act that the group which abstains from criticizing the Companions, closing their eyes and ears to their deeds, cannot control themselves from condemning this episode from Mu`awiyah’s evil life. They were forced to accept that Mu`awiyah had turned caliphate towards Monarchy naming his son as his heir! He laid the cornerstone of such an evil innovation that it continued for centuries in the Islamic dominions. One, who sat on the throne of caliphate with cruelty and oppression, considered it his fief and put his uncouth, undeserving and evil son on that throne. Thereafter every person who usurped the position called himself the caliph of the Muslims and the chain of succession continued!

[1] Basmalah is saying, “bismillāhirrahmānirrahīm (In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful)”
[2] Al-Nasā’ih al-Kāfiyah, Page 96

This act of Mu`awiyah was not only contrary to the norms of Shari`ah, but from the moral aspect too was very undesirable. He had signed a covenant with Imam al-Hasan (a.s) that he would not nominate anyone as his successor. But in breach of the agreement, despite the opposition of the Muslims, imposed his son on them. A son who was a known debauch and drunkard. He was the practitioner of all the evil habits that can be named! Such a person was nominated to be the caliph of the Muslims! The people from whom he feared some resistance, he did not trouble them as a strategy. Some persons he threatened and silenced them, those who were not acquiescing to his demand, he silenced them by administering poison through cunning and stealth. Therefore, Imam al-Hasan (a.s) was poisoned by Ju`dah bint al-Ash`ath. Al-Mas`ūdi writes:

“Mu`awiyah secretly sent her a message that if she killed Hasan (a.s) by some means, he would give her one hundred thousand dirhams and will marry her to Yazid.”[1]

According to the terms of the conspiracy Mu`awiyah sent to her one hundred thousand dirhams but did not fulfill the second term of the agreement saying that Yazid’s life was very precious for him!

Similarly Mu`awiyah got Khalid ibn al-Walid’s son poisoned. Ibn `Abd al-Barr writes that Mu`awiyah, delivering a sermon in Syria, said, “O People! I have grown old and my death is near! I wish to make arrangement for the realm after me.” He was under the impression that the people would themselves suggest the name of Yazid awed by the wealth and pomp of the court. Then under the cover of the public opinion he would announce the succession of Yazid. But the evil acts of Yazid were no secret for the people. They could not have imagined that Yazid’s name could even be mentioned about the caliphate. They took the name of `Abd al-Rahman ibn Khalid. When Mu`awiyah heard the name of `Abd al-Rahman coming from the people instead of Yazid’s name, a knot was formed in his evil heart. He instantly decided to remove this stone from the path of his son. Therefore, when he heard of the illness of `Abd al-Rahman, he deputed a physician from the court to administer the medicine that cured the poor person forever!

“He was to go to him, administer the medicine and thus finish him.”[2]

[1] Murūj al-Dhahab, Vol 2, Page 50
[2] Al-Istī`āb, Vol 2, Page 401

`Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi-Bakr too was the victim of poison as well. Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani writes that when Mu`awiyah wanted to take bay`ah from the people for Yazid, `Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi-Bakr said:

“Is it the reign of Heracles that one Caesar dies and the next Caesar take his place? By Allah! We are not ready for this!”[1]

Mu`awiyah sent him one hundred thousand dirhams to close his mouth. But he returned the money and said that he was not willing to sell his Faith for the world. The result of this was that on the way to Makkah, he must have traveled about ten miles when he was sent to eternal sleep. Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani writes:

“`Abd al-Rahman died suddenly while in sleep!”[2]

[1] Al-Isābah, Vol 2, Page 400
[2] Al-Isābah, Vol 2, Page 400