Muawiya

Mu'awiya 'the Hadi' Took Interest

We read in Muwatta Book 31, Number 31.16.33 under the chapter "Selling Gold for Silver, Minted and Unminted":

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from Ata ibn Yasar that Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan sold a gold or silver drinking-vessel for more than its weight. Abu'dDarda said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbidding such sales except like for like." Muawiya said to him, "I don't see any harm in it." Abu'd-Darda said to him, "Who will excuse me from Muawiya?

I tell him something from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he gives me his own opinion! I will not live in the same land as you!" Then Abu'd-Darda went to Umar ibn al-Khattab and mentioned that to him. Umar ibn al-Khattab therefore wrote to Muawiya, "Do not sell it except like for like, weight for weight."

Muwatta Book 31, Number 31.16.33

Just contemplate the significance of this narration. Mu'awiya had entered in to a profit making transaction that was haraam. Abu'd-Darda corrected him and told him of the verdict of Rasulullah (s) on the matter only permitting such transactions on a 'like for like' basis. Rather than concede that he was wrong, Abu Sulaiman's Hadi replies "I don't see any harm in it" - thus justifying his opinion over that of Rasulullah (s). We congratulate Abu Sulaiman for grasping a Hadi who has no shame in holding an opinion different to that of Rasulullah (s)!

One would think that the natural response would be for Mu'awiya to desist from such actions in the future, Mu'awiya had been told clearly by Abu'd Darda and Umar that an individual can only sell a like for like item i.e. Gold for Gold. The position under the Sharia had been made clear and yet as Khalifa, Abu Sulaiman's Hadi Imam continued to ignore the order of Rasulullah (s) on the matter.

We read in Sahih Muslim Book 010, Number 3852: "Abil Qiliba reported: I was in Syria (having) a circle (of friends). in which was Muslim b. Yasir. There came Abu'l-Ash'ath. He (the narrator) said that they (the friends) called him: Abu'l-Ash'ath, Abu'l-Ash'ath, and he sat down. I said to him: Narrate to our brother the hadith of Ubada b. Samit. He said: Yes.

We went out on an expedition, Mu'awiya being the leader of the people, and we gained a lot of spoils of war. And there was one silver utensil in what we took as spoils. Mu'awiya ordered a person to sell it for payment to the people (soldiers).

The people made haste in getting that. The news of (this state of affairs) reached 'Ubada b. Samit, and he stood up and said: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding the sale of gold by gold, and silver by silver, and wheat by wheat, and barley by barley, and dates by dates, and salt by salt, except like for like and equal for equal. So he who made an addition or who accepted an addition (committed the sin of taking) interest. So the people returned what they had got. This reached Mu'awiya. and he stood up to deliver an address.

He said: What is the matter with people that they narrate from the Messenger (may peace be upon him) such tradition which we did not hear though we saw him (the Holy Prophet) and lived in his company?

Thereupon, Ubida b. Samit stood up and repeated that narration, and then said: We will definitely narrate what we heard from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) though it may be unpleasant to Mu'awiya (or he said: Even if it is against his will). I do not mind if I do not remain in his troop in the dark night. Hammad said this or something like this".

Sahih Muslim Book 010, Number 3852

Yet again Mu'awiya allowed a transaction that was not based on the 'like for like principle' as stipulated by Rasulullah (s). It is interesting to see Mu'awiya's denial of this matter declaring "they narrate from the Messenger (may peace be upon him) such tradition which we did not hear though we saw him". How can Mu'awiya deny knowledge of this matter when it is proven from the previous narration in Muwatta that as Governor of Syria under Umar this issue was brought to his attention by Abu'd Darda and then confirmed in writing to him by the Khalifa himself?

We also read in Sharra Ma'ani Lill Sharra Lill Thahavee page 263 that Mu'awiya used to take interest. In this regard Imam Thahavee narrates a very interesting incident in his work Mana al Ahsaar page 262:

"Mu'awiya purchased a Pearl and Yaqoot necklace for 4,600 dirhams. When Mu'awiya got on to the Puplit Ibada Ibne Samaad stood up and said "No! Mu'awiya entered in to an agreement based on interest and also ate interest and as a result of this is in the Fire".

Mana al Ahsaar page 262

Interest is a despicable act in the eyes of Allah (swt) and In Sahih Muslim hadith number 3881 Jabir bin Abdullah narrates: "Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses; and he said: They are all equal".

Sahih Muslim hadith number 3881

Mu'awiya's introduction of interest in clear violation to the Sharia is worthy of note, particularly in light of the modern day book of Hanafi Fatwas "Aqaaidul Islam" - rendered into English by Moulana Zahier Ahmed Ragie. On page 158 we read the following fatwa:

"A person becomes an unbeliever if he makes lawful the unlawful acts of Islam or vice versa e.g. legalizes interest etc" Mu'awiya 'the Hadi' made changes to the Eid Salat Suyuti in Tarikh ul Khulafa page 200 notes that:

"Zuhri narrates in relation to the Salat of Eid, the first to deliver the Khutba before the Salat was Mu'awiya bin Abu Sufyan". We read in Kitab al Ilm Volume 1 page 229 that:

"Imam Zuhri narrates that Rasulullah (s), Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman lead the Eid Salat without Adhan, but Mu'awiya introduced the Adhan in the Eid prayer".

Ibn Hajar Asqalani in Fathul Bari Volume 2 page 529 expands on this matter yet further:

"There is a difference of opinion over who introduced the Adhan in Eid Salat. Ibn Sheba has a tradition with a Sahih Isnad attributing this to Mu'awiya, whilst Shaafi states Ibn Ziyad introduced this in Basra, Daud claims that Marwan introduced this - but the vast bulk of traditions do not support this. Mu'awiya introduced this in the same way that he introduced the khutba of Eid before Salat".

Once again Abu Sulaiman's Hadi Imam is shown to have changed the Sharia, this time in connection with Eid prayers, in that there is no doubt, for we read in Sahih Muslim Book 004, Hadith Number 1926 Chapter 164: The prayer of the two Ids:

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: I observed prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the 'Id day. He commenced with prayer before the sermon without Adhan and Iqama.

In addition to this clear proof we also present the fatwa of Imam Malik taken from the English translation of his Muwatta under the chapter "The Ghusl of the Two Ids, the Call to Prayer for The prayer, and the Iqama" Book 10, Number 10.1.1:

"Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard more than one of their men of knowledge say, "There has been no call to prayer or iqama for the id al-Fitr or the id al-Adha since the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." Malik said, "That is the sunna about which there is no disagreement among us."

Mu'awiya 'the Hadi' issued a Fatwa deeming it permissible for a man to marry two sisters at any one given time Imam of Ahl'ul Sunnah, al Hafidh Jalaladeen Suyuti in Durre Manthur Volume 2 page 477 records the following fatwa of Abu Sulaiman's Hadi Imam:

"Qasim bin Muhammad records that Mu'awiya was asked whether it was permissible for a man to marry two sisters at any one given time. Mu'awiya replied 'There is nothing wrong with that'. Upon hearing this reply, Numan bin Basheer asked 'You have issued this fatwa?' to which Mu'awiya replied 'yes'.

Mu'awiya 'the Hadi' wore prohibited items despite the fact that he was aware that Rasulullah (s) deemed them haraam We read in Sunan Abu Daud Book 32, hadith Number 4119:

Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib:

"Khalid said: Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib and a man of Banu Asad from the people of Qinnisrin went to Mu'awiyah ibn AbuSufyan. Mu'awiyah said to al-Miqdam: Do you know that al-Hasan ibn Ali has died? Al-Miqdam recited the Qur'anic verse "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return."

A man asked him: Do you think it a calamity? He replied: Why should I not consider it a calamity when it is a fact that the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to take him on his lap, saying: This belongs to me and Husayn belongs to Ali?

The man of Banu Asad said: (He was) a live coal which Allah has extinguished. Al-Miqdam said: Today I shall continue to make you angry and make you hear what you dislike. He then said: Mu'awiyah, if I speak the truth, declare me true, and if I tell a lie, declare me false.

He said: Do so. He said: I adjure you by Allah, did you hear the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) forbidding use to wear gold?

He replied: Yes. He said: I adjure you by Allah, do you know that the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited the wearing of silk?

He replied: Yes. He said: I adjure you by Allah, do you know that the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited the wearing of the skins of beasts of prey and riding on them?

He said: Yes. He said: I swear by Allah, I saw all this in your house, O Mu'awiyah. Mu'awiyah said: I know that I cannot be saved from you, O Miqdam.

Khalid said: Mu'awiyah then ordered to give him what he did not order to give to his two companions, and gave a stipend of two hundred (dirhams) to his son. Al-Miqdam then divided it among his companions, and the man of Banu Asad did not give anything to anyone from the property he received. When Mu'awiyah was informed about it, he said: Al-Miqdam is a generous man; he has an open hand (for generosity). The man of Banu Asad withholds his things in a good manner".

So here we learn that Mu'awiya the Hadi:

Was asked whether he was aware that Rasulullah (s) had prohibited the wearing of gold, silk and animal skin.

Mu'awiya confirmed that he knew this to be the position

The man testified that he had witnessed all three prohibited items being worn in his house What a wonderful Hadi! One that is fully aware that a matter has been prohibited by Rasulullah (s) but openly violates this order. Can we define a Hadi as an individual that knowingly violates an order of Rasulullah (s)?

An appeal to justice

We have cited just a few examples where Mu'awiya violated the rules of Shari'a. What sort of Hadi could Mu'awiya be for others when he himself was so misguided that he turned his back on the Qur'an and Sunnah and followed practices that contradicted theses two sources? Can one who introduces not just one, but countless bidahs into the Deen be deemed a Hadi who has guided others?

This is completely illogical, guidance is based on following the Qur'an and Sunnah not innovating and devising your own rulings to suit your personal desires! Would Rasulullah (s) deem an innovator to be a hadi? Clearly not! We had, in the previous section, highlighted the rulings of Ahl'ul Sunnah Ulema on Ahl'ul bidah, let us now cite Rasulullah(s)'s view on the matter Rasulullah (s) criticised those that praise Ahl'ul Bidah Imam of the Salafis, Albanee verifies as authentic this hadith taken from Baihaqi, in his commentary of Mishkaah al Masabih Volume 1 page 66 hadith number 189:

"He who honours an innovator has assisted him in the destruction of Islam".

Abu Sulaiman and his fellow supporters should take note. They have set out pathetic defence for their master Mu'awiya, honouring him as a Hadi, despite the fact that he was the Chief of innovators having devised and instituted the bidah of vilifying Imam 'Ali (as) during the Friday sermons, he also introduced interest, made changes in Salat, distribution of war booty, the law of inheritance etc.

Despite this Abu Sulaiman and his party continue to shower and extol this innovator calling him a Hadi. In doing so, they are only harming themselves for an innovator is an individual who is attacking Islam, and in the eyes of Rasulullah (s) those that praise him have aided and abetted him in the process.

Even if the advocates of Mu'awiya refuse to accept these facts, then let us look at this alleged hadith from several other angles.