Muslims read your own history

Muslims read your own history
by Sh. G. F. Haddad

Al-Hamdu lillah, Islam is exalted above needing forged narrations to defend the honor of one of the Holy Prophet's ﷺ Companions.

Yes, Muslims, read your own history but according to Muslim criteria i.e. the verifying sciences of the huffaz, not according to Western criteria of reporting everything that the wind carries to your ears just because one has good intentions.

Al-Nasa'i, al-Hakim, and others said there are no authentic narrations - or close to none - in praise of Muʿawiya (ra) and al-Dhahabi said most of them are weak or forged. But it is enough merit for Muʿawiya that Allah Most High granted him to conquer more lands and build up Islam more than at any other time before him.

Such was the love Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had for him that he was given the following beautiful and concise Dua by Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam): 'O Allah! make Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) a means of hidaayat and make him one who is himself on hidaayat and give people hidaayat through him.' (Majmau Zawaaid)

Al-Tirmidhi (hasan gharib) and Ahmad from the Companion ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abi ʿUmayra al-Azdi, perhaps the only authentic hadith of this post with the very last one.

On another occasion Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'Allah! guide him with guidance from yourself, save him from any disgrace and forgive all his past and future sins.' (Tabrani).

A true translation of this report would be: "O Allah! guide him with guidance; fend him off from disgrace; and forgive him here and hereafter." Al-Haythami said (#15915): "Al-Tabarani narrated it and its chain contains al-Sari ibn ʿAsim who is weak." More precisely he is accused of lying and of stealing chains and attributing them to himself.

Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) even made Dua for the knowledge of Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) where he said, 'O Allah endow Mu'awiya with the special knowledge of the Qur'an and save him from punishment.' (Ahmad; Tabraani).

A true translation would be: "O Allah! Teach Muʿawiya the Book and arithmetic (al-hisab), and save him from punishment." Its chain contains al-Harith ibn Zyad al-Shami who is unknown (majhul) as stated by al-Dhahabi and Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, and the latter graded this hadith as rejected (munkar). Cf. Maʿruf and al-Arna'ut, Tahrir Taqrib al-Tahdhib (1:234-235 #1022).

Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was even privileged to be the brother-in-law of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) since Umme Habiba (Radhiallaahu Anha), the sister of Mu'awiya, was one of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)'s wives. Once Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) came home to find Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) with his sister. He asked her whether she loved him. To this Umme Habiba (Radhiallaahu Anhu) declared that he was her brother and therefore she definitely loved him. It was then that Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) received tremendous gladtidings from Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), where he said, 'Allah and His Rasul definitely love Mu'awiya.' (Tabrani).

Al-Haythami (#15923): "Al-Tabarani narrated it and its chain contains narrators I do not know."

PROPHECY OF LEADERSHIP

Such was the confidence which Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had in the leadership qualities and trustworthiness of Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) once consulted with Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) regarding a certain matter. They were unable to give a suitable suggestion. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) then sent for Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) saying: 'Consult Mu'awiya (Radhiallahu Anhu) in your affairs since he is trustworthy and reliable.' (Tabrani, Bazzaar)

Yes, al-Haythami (#15916) states that al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar narrate it, then he declares it a munkar narration.

The confidence which Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had in him was of such a level that he even made Dua: 'O Allah endow him with the knowledge of the Qur'an and grant him leadership of the lands.' (Tabrani)

Its chain contains a missing link as stated by al-Haythami (15919) as well as Abu Hilal al-Rasibi who is weak, cf. Tahrir (3:250 #5923).

Hafiz Ibn Katheer (R. A.) reports that none other than Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said after the Battle of Siffin: 'O people, do not hate or talk ill of the leadership of Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu), for if you loose him it would be such a tragedy as if you see your limbs falling from your bodies'.

But Ibn Kathir cited his chain, it is gharib and contains Mujalid ibn Saʿid al-Hamdani who is not strong,

Auf Ibn Malik (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says: 'Once whilst sleeping in a masjid in Areeha, I awoke suddenly to notice a lion coming towards me. I lunged for my weapon. The lion addressed me saying that he had been sent to deliver a message. I inquired as to whom had sent him. The lion replied that Allah had sent him to instruct me to inform Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that he was of the people of Jannat' (Tabrani).

Al-Haythami said (#15925): "Al-Tabarani narrated it and its chain contains Abu Bakr ibn Abi Maryam whose memory is muddled." Elsewhere (e.g. #892, 893, 1108, 2746) al-Haythami states that Ibn Abi Maryam is "munkar al-hadith" i.e. his narrations are rejected and he is "matruk" i.e. discarded.

In fact it is reported in Bukhari Shareef that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'The first army that will fight a naval battle in my Ummah will have made Jannat compulsory on themselves.'

Narrated from Umm Haram bint Malhan, Anas' maternal aunt, by al-Bukhari in his Sahih, Book of Jihad.

The first naval force was in fact headed by Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu)

Narrated from Anas ibn Malik by al-Bukhari in his Sahih, Book of Jihad.

during the Caliphate of Usman (Radhiallaahu Anhu).

Correct, in the year 28 as in Fath al-Bari in commentary of this report.

WAllahu aʿlam