Muawiya

Mu'awiya Forced People To Give Bayya To Yazeed

We have discussed this topic with complete references in our article on Yazeed. Please see our article: Yazeed (L'aenn)

Deobandi scholar Rasheed Akhtar Nadwi in "Tahzeeb au Tamadhun e Islami" comments on page 1: "Mu'awiya forced people to give bayya to Yazeed".

Tahzeeb au Tamadhun e Islami

Sayyid Muhammad Rashid Raza the Syrian scholar echoes similar words in his book "Imamate al Uzma" page 99: Mu'awiya introduced the bad practice of giving bayya to Yazeed by force".

Imamate al Uzma page 99

Professor Saeed Akbar Allahbadi in his book "Musalman ka 'Uruj-o-Zawal" (Urdu) page 53 likewise states:

"Mu'awiya attained power by force and secured it for Yazeed in the same manner. People who did not agree were forced to give it". Musalman ka 'Uruj-o-Zawal page 53

Abu Sulaiman had proclaimed that Mu'awiya:

Ansar.org states:consulted the grandest companions, the masters of the people and the district's governors. They all accepted. Delegations from the districts came with acceptance to give allegiance to Yazeed What Abu Sulaiman fails to explain is the method Mu'awiya used that resulted in delegates giving bayya to Yazeed. Let us shed light on his methods by citing the comments of Syed Qutb Shaheed in "Social Justice in Islam" (English translation pages 209-210):

"With the coming of Mu'awiya, the caliphate in Islam became a monarchy, a tyranny confined to the Umayyad family It will be sufficient at this point to quote as proof of this the account of the oath of allegiance to Yazid. From here we may discover the foundation of Umayyad power and find out whether Mu'awiya who established that power was true to the spirit of Islam or to some other ideal. Mu'awiya summoned delegates to represent all the provinces at the taking the oath of allegiance to Yazid.

Then Yazid Ibn al Muqaffa stood up and said "The Commander of the Faithful is here", and he indicated Mu'awiya, "If he dies his successor is here" and he indicated Yazid. "And if anyone refuses - here" and he pointed to his sword. The, said Mu'awiya, "Sit down O best of preachers".

After the oath was taken to Yazid in Syria Mu'awiya gave Said ibn al-'As the task of gaining the acceptance of the people of the Hejaz. This he was unable to do, so Mu'awiys went to Mecca with an army and with full treasury. He called together the principal Muslims and addressed them thus: "You all know that I have lived among you, and you are aware also of my ties of kindred with you.

Yazid is your brother and your nephew. It is my wish that you take the oath of allegiance to Yazid as the next Caliph; then it will be you who will bestow offices and depose from them, who will collect and apportion money".

He was answered by Abdullah ibn Al Zubair, who gave him a choice of three things to do, first he might do as Allah's Messenger had done and appoint no successor, second he might do as Abu Bakr had done and nominate a successor, third he might do as Umar had done, and hand over the whole matter to a council of six individuals, none of whom was a member of his own immediate family. Mu'awiya's anger was kindled, and he asked "Have you any more to say?" "No".

Mu'awiya turned to the remainder of the company "And you?" "We agree with what Ibn Al Zubair has said", they replied. Then he addressed the meeting in threatening terms: "The one who warns is blameless. I was speaking among you, and one of you was bold to get up and call me a liar to my face. That I will bear and even forgive.

But I stand to my words, and I swear by Allah that if any of you speaks one word against the position that I take up, no word of answer will he receive, but first the sword will take his head. And no man can do more than save his life".

Thereupon the commander of Mu'awiya's guard ordered two men to stand over each of the nobles of the Hejaz who opposed him and to each he said, "If your man leaves his guards to speak one word, either for me or against me, then let the guards strike off his head with their swords". Then he mounted the pulpit and proclaimed: "These men are the Leaders and the choicest of the Muslims;

no matter can be successfully handled without them, nor can any decision be taken without their counsel. They are now satisfied to take the oath to Yazid , and have indeed already taken that oath by the name of Allah". So the people took the oath.

Mu'awiya bribed people to give bayya to Yazeed

We read in al Kamil Volume 3 page 350:

"Mu'awiya kept Mugheera in his post. Mugheera arrived at Kufa and spoke to his close representatives, bribing them with 30,000 dirhams to maintain their support. Mugheera sent his son Musa bin Mugheera to Head a delegation that visited Damascus, there they [the group] reiterated their support for the nomination of Yazeed as Khalifa. Mu'awiya summoned Musa and asked him how much money his father had spent to buy these individuals, he replied 30,000 dirhams".

Why did Imam Hussain (as) refuse to give bay'a to Yazeed?

Abu Sulaiman claims:

Ansar.org states:Ibn Al-Zubair and Al-Hussain (as) disagreed on this allegiance but it does not defame this allegiance because it must have some objectors. From this we know that Mu'awiyah was eager to have the acceptance of the Ummah in giving the allegiance to Yazeed.

The objection was not some simple matter like a difference of opinion over a dinner table. This was a matter intrinsically linked to the Deen (religion), that ultimately asks the question, 'was it legitimate for a fasiq to be the khalifa of Rasulullah (s)?' On the one hand we had the opinion of IbnUmar who deemed it correct, and on the other we had Imam Hussain (as) who said that this was a sin in the eyes of Allah (swt). The clearest proof comes from his letter to the Shi'a of Kufa:

"From Husayn b. Ali to the believers and the Muslims. Hani and Sa'id came to me with your letters, they being the last among your messengers and delegations to come to me. I have understood what you said and that you have invited me to come to you because you have no Imam to guide you, and that you hope my arrival there will unite you in the right path and in the truth.

I am sending my cousin and the trusted one from my family [Muslim b. Aqil] to report to me about your affairs. If his report conforms with what you have written, I will soon come. But you must be clear about the fact that the Imam is only one who follows the Book of God, makes justice and honesty his conduct and behaviour, judges with truth, and devotes himself to the service of God. Peace." (Tareekh Tabari Volume 2 page 235)

The last sentence of the letter, explaining the duties of an Imam and the nature of the Imamate, helps us to understand Husayn's approach and attitude towards the whole problem. The Imam was one who:

Followed the Quran and Sunnah Was just and trustworthy Was of good character Was a true devotee of Allah (swt)

It is evident that Imam Hussain (as) did not see these conditions inherent in Yazeed which is why he refused to give him baya. Tabari also records this letter of Imam Hussain (as) to the Shi'a of Basra:

"God has chosen Muhammad from among his people, graced him with His Prophethood and selected him for His message. After he admonished the people and conveyed His message to them God took him back unto Himself. We, being his family (ahl), his close associates endowed with the quality of guardianship (awliya'), his trustees and vice regent (awsiya'), and his heir and legatee (warith), are the most deserving among all the people to take his place. But the people preferred themselves over us for this [privilege].

We became contented, disliking dissension and anxious to preserve the peace and well being [of the community], though we were fully aware that we were more entitled to this [leadership] than those who had taken it for themselves . . . I have sent my messenger to you and I call you to the Book of God, and the Sunna of his Prophet, the Sunna which has become obliterated and innovations have become active and energetic. If you listen to me and obey my orders I will guide you to the right path. May the Peace and the Mercy of God be upon you." (Tareekh Tabari Volume 2 page 240)

So Imam Hussain (as) felt that the Deen had been corrupted and he was calling on the people to turn to him for guidance. This was far more than just a difference of opinion it was a difference at the heart of Deen, who has the right to call oneself the khalifa?

Mu'awiya's development of lineal succession

Ansar.org states:Mu'awiyah did not invent a new system for the caliphate by inheriting the leadership to his son Yazeed. Abu Bakr was the first to do it when he gave the leadership to Umar bin Al-Khattab andUmar did the same when he limited the leadership in six Companions.

Mu'awiya created a completely new system. Abu Bakr deemedUmar the most worthy for the role of succession and Umar selected six people who he himself stated that were the most worthy to succeed him. For Mu'awiya he created a system where succession was NOT based upon merit but upon lineage character did not come in to the equation.

He then states that Imam Ali (as) in fact started the lineal succession that appointed Imam Hasan (as). He accuses the Shi'a of applying contradiction condemning:

Ansar.org states:"Mu'awiyah giving the leadership as an inheritance to his son Yazeed yet the greatest doctrine of the Imamiyah Rafidites is their belief that the leadership is a hereditary in the sons of Ali bin Abi Talib by the father giving the leadership as an inheritance to his son! Is it allowed for them and forbidden on others?"

This type of hereditary succession is in accordance with the will of Allah (swt) and Rasulullah (s). The Shi'a concept of succession is that the Imam is appointed by Allah (swt) BECAUSE he has the right to succeed on account of his perfection / merits. Imam Ali's appointment of Imam Hasan (as) is not on account of the fact that he is his son, but because he is the most superior in the Ummah to lead the Ummah. Rasulullah had made it clear that if you follow the Qur'an and Ahl'ul bayt (as) you will NEVER go astray.

Hence the succession of Hasan (as) was not in any way shaped by nepotism rather it was on account of his entitlement to lead as he was the legitimate Imam appointed by Ali (as) through the will of Allah (swt) who would prevent the people from going astray. Imam Hasan (as) was qualified to take power, whilst the Banu Umayya possessed no such qualities. Is Abu Sulaiman going to suggest to us that no one in the entire Ummah was superior to Yazeed?