Sayyiduna Ameer Muawiya’s Love for the Ahl al Bayt

Bright Stars

Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah’s love for the Ahl al-Bayt

Bilal Husain Attari

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمsaid: ‘Make incumbent upon yourself love for the Ahl al-Bayt. Whoever meets Allah in the state that he loves us will enter Paradise because of our intercession.’^[1]

From the time of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمuntil the present day, the Muslim Ummah has had immense love for his family. Amongst these devotees is the name of Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. He was a scribe of revelation, a figure of guidance, a man of knowledge and forbearance and a companion of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Biographies are replete with events where he expressed his love and respect for the Ahl al-Bayt.

The love for Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ

On one occasion, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمasked Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ: ‘O Mu’awiyah! Do you love Ali?’ Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُreplied: ‘I swear by the One who alone is worthy of worship, I have great love for Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.’^[2]

Below are examples where Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُdisplayed his love for Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ:

* He spoke of the good qualities of Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُand would order people to do the same.

* He would request those present in his gatherings to recite poetry in praise of Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُand reward them in return.

* Once, Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwas mentioned in the presence of Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, and the latter said: ‘I swear by Allah! When Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُspoke, his voice was powerful like a lion’s roar. He would appear like a shining moon. And he would give open-handedly like the fall of rain.’ Some participants in the gathering then asked him: ‘Are you superior or is Sayyiduna Ali?’ He replied: ‘Even the foot of Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُis better than the family of Abu Sufyan.’^[3]

* When dealing with a complicated matter, he would seek advice from Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.^[4]

* When he received the news that Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُhad been martyred, he became sorrowful, started crying and said: ‘What great grace, fiqh and knowledge has been lost!’^[5]

* After the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, he asked Sayyiduna Diraar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُto speak of the qualities and excellences of Sayyiduna Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. When Sayyiduna Diraar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُdid so, Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُbecame tearful to the extent that his beard was soaked in tears. He wiped away the tears with his sleeve, and those present could not contain themselves and started crying too.’^[6]

Seeking advice from the Ahl al-Bayt to better himself

Despite governing the Islamic state for years and fulfilling his duties competently, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwas not heedless in remembering Allah and the Hereafter. In his strive to better himself, he would seek advice from the family of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. On one occasion, he sent a letter to Sayyidatuna Aisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَاasking her to list things that would benefit him.’^[7]

Love for Hasan and Husain رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما

* Whenever Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwould meet Imam Hasan or Imam Husain رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, he would say: مَرحَباً وَاَهلًا بِاِبْنِ رَسُوْلِ الـلّٰـهِ صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, meaning, ‘Welcome O son of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ Greeting them in this manner, he would then present gifts to them.^[8]

* Whenever Imam Hasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُvisited him, he would seat Imam Hasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُin his place and stand before him with his hands folded. Someone asked him why he did this, to which he replied that Imam Hasan resembled the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and so he was showing respect to this resemblance.^[9]

* Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwould mention the good qualities of Imam Husain رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُin his gatherings of knowledge. Once, a person from the Quraysh said: ‘When you go to the Prophet’s masjid, you will see a gathering in which people will be listening attentively. They will be sat respectfully as if there are birds sitting on their heads. Know that this is the gathering of Sayyiduna Abu Abdullah Imam Husain رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. There will be no joking or anything of the sort in this gathering.’^[10]

* Despite giving expensive gifts to Sayyiduna Imam Husain رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, he would apologise and say: ‘I was unable to serve you properly. Next time I will present more gifts.’^[11]

* Towards the final stages of his life, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُcalled Yazeed and made some requests to him. One was to be kind and favourable towards the grandson of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمImam Husain رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُfor he was well-accepted amongst people. Furthermore, Yazeed was told that it would be better for him to maintain ties with Imam Husain and be gentle towards him.^[12]

Death

According to one narration, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُpassed away on 22 Rajab 60 AH in Damascus, the famous city of Syria. Sayyiduna Dahhaak bin Qays رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُled his funeral prayer, and he was buried in Bab al-Sagheer cemetery in Damascus.^[13]

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to live with love for the noble companions and the Ahl al-Bayt عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم