The Sahaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) are that eminent group of people concerning whom Allah Taala has declared His eternal blessings in the indomitable words of the Qur’an. Therefore, any individual who challenges and casts aspersions concerning the position of a Sahabi has in fact challenged Allah’s decree in the Qur’an.
Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) declares concerning the Sahaba: “He who wishes to follow anyone, let him follow the companions of Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). They were the best and most prestigious of this Ummah. Their hearts were the purest; their knowledge the most profound; and they had the least formality about them (their humility was such that anyone could approach them). They were a nation whom Allah Ta’ala selected and chose for the companionship of His Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and for the propagation of His Deen. Imitate their characters and follow their way of life, for I swear on oath by the Lord of the Ka’bah; the companions of Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) were truly on the straight path.” (Hilya).
Special Virtues
Whilst the collective favours of the Sahaba upon this Ummah are innumerable, some individual Sahaaba clearly excelled in their services of the Ummah. Amongst these noteworthy Sahaaba was Hadrath Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) whose prestige and position in the eyes of Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was such that he was amongst those Sahaaba to whom the delicate and tremendous taste of writing down wahi (divine revelation of the Qur’an) was entrusted. This special duty also necessitated his being regularly in the service of Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), thus enabling his personality and character to be developed directly at the hands of the noble master (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself.
Such was the love Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had for him that he was given the following beautiful and concise Dua by Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam): ‘O Allah! Make Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) a means of hidaayat and make him one who is himself on hidaayat and give people hidaayat through him.’ (Zawaaid)
On another occasion Prophet (Pbuh) (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).
Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) even made Dua for the knowledge of Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) where he said, ‘O Allah endow Muawiya with the special knowledge of the Qur’an and save him from punishment.’ (Ahmad; Tabrani).
Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was even privileged to be the brother-in-law of Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) since Umme Habiba (Radhiallaahu Anha), the sister of Muawiya, was one of Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s wives. Once Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) came home to find Muawiya (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 Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) received tremendous glad tidings from Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), where he said, ‘Allah and His Rasul definitely love Muawiya.’ (Tabrani).
Prophecy of Leadership
Such was the confidence which Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had in the leadership qualities and trustworthiness of Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that once when Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) once consulted with Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) regarding a certain matter and they were unable to give a suitable suggestion. Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) sent for Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) saying: ‘Consult Muawiya (Radhiallahu Anhu) in your affairs since he is trustworthy and reliable.’ (Tabrani, Bazzaar)
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)
This Hadith in essence represents the prophecy of Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) with regards to Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) gaining leadership. Similar confidence was exhibited by none other than Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) whose stringent requirements for governorship are well known. He appointed Muawiya governor, in which position he remained throughout the life of Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) as well as that of Usman (Radhiallaahu Anhu). Umar’s (Radhiallaahu Anhu) perception of character was tremendous and it was he who said: ‘You praise the rulers of Persia and Rome and speak highly of their knowledge, whereas you have in your midst a man like Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu)’.
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 Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu), for if you lose him it would be such a tragedy as if you see your limbs falling from your bodies’. The books of history are replete with such praises of Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) from other Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum).
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 who had sent him. The lion replied that Allah had sent him to instruct me to inform Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that he was of the people of Jannat’ (Tabrani).
In fact it is reported in Bukhari Shareef that Prophet (Pbuh) (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: ‘The first army that will fight a naval battle in my Ummah will have made Jannat compulsory on themselves.’ The first naval force was in fact headed by Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) during the Caliphate of Usman (Radhiallaahu Anhu).
Evil Propaganda
In the light of the above, who can possibly doubt the benevolent position of Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu), yet we find that he is amongst those personalities that have become the target of evil propaganda. This propaganda has its roots in the difference of opinion that arose between Muawiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu). We have to understand that, on both sides there were eminent Sahaba, all of whom motivated by a sincere belief of the truth of their cause. In such matters it is best that we hold our tongues. Of benefit in this context is the following quotation from ‘Shifa’ by Qaadhi Iyaad:
If we claim to revere and honour the prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), we must also respect his Sahaba. As Muslims, it is incumbent on us to appreciate that we owe them, to follow them and to ask forgiveness of Allah for them. No doubt they had their differences but we have no right to comment on them. We must beware of the stories forged by Shia’s, innovators and biased historians, whose mischievous motive is to slander some of the Sahaaba and slight the others. We must never doubt the sincerity and honesty of Sahaaba. When we come across any event in history which appears likely to lower their status in our eyes, we must explain it as far as we can in their favour and attribute it to sincere motives, for they really deserve this line of action. We should always speak of their virtues and must hold our tongues in uttering anything likely to slight them. The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself has said: ‘Observe silence in respect of my Sahaba (when they are mentioned with disrespect).’
Ayyub Sakhtiani says: ‘Whosoever honours Sahaba, can never be a munafiq. Whosoever reviles them, he is surely an innovator or Munafiq or anti Sunnat. No good action of such person, I am afraid, will be accepted by Allah until he cleans his heart of their spite, and begins to love all of them.
May Allah Taala grant us the true love of the Sahaba.
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Muharram is the first month of the Islamic, Hijrah calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah Ta’ala says, ‘The number of months in the sight of Allah are twelve (in a year) - So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein.’ (Surah Taubah).
The four months, according to authentic Hadith, are the months of Zil-Qa‘dah, Zil Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The sanctity of these four months was observed in the Shari’ah of all the Ambiyaa (Prophets) (AS).
Allah Ta’ala made them (i.e. the four months) sacred and increased their sanctity. Hence declared a sin therein more severe and increased the virtue of good deeds and (also) the reward thereof.’ (Ibn Katheer).
The Ulama have stated that the actions performed in these months have an effect on what a person does in the remaining months of the year.
The Month of Muharram
The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of Salats besides the Fardh (obligatory Salaat) is the Tahajjud Salah (performed after midnight). (Sahih Muslim).
The day of Aashura (10th of Muharram) The tenth of Muharram, known as the day of Aashura, is a very significant day in the Islamic calendar. Prophet (Pbuh) has exhorted the Ummah to fast on this day. Hadrath Aaisha (RA) reports that the Prophet (Pbuh) ordered the observance of the fast of Aashura. However, when the fast of Ramadan became compulsory, Prophet (Pbuh) left the fast of Aashura (i.e. the compulsion). Thereafter, whosoever desired kept this fast and whosoever desired, (not to keep it) did not observe this fast’. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 1).
Hadrath Ibn Abbaas (RA) says, ‘I did not see Rasulullah (SAW) anxiously await the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day (of Aashura) and the month of Ramadan (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1).
Virtue of the Fast of Aashura
With regard to the blessing of this fast, Prophet (Pbuh) was asked regarding it’s virtue. He answered, ‘It is a compensation for the sins of the past year.’ i.e. the sins of one year that has just gone by will be forgiven. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1). Only minor sins are forgiven. For the forgiveness of major sins, Tauwbah is a prerequisite.
The Fast of Aashura
Hadrath Ibn Abbaas (RA) narrates that when Prophet (Pbuh) came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of Aashura, he inquired, ‘What is the significance of this day on which you fast?’ They replied, ‘This is the day Allah saved Prophet (Pbuh) and his followers and drowned Fir’oun and his army, thus Moosa (AS) fasted on this day as a token of thanksgiving. Therefore we too fast on this day.’ (Sahih Muslim, Vol 1). Rasulullah (SAW) said, ‘We are more worthy of Moosa (AS) and nearer to him than you.’ Thereafter, he fasted on this day and ordered the Sahaba to fast on this day. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1) Rasulullah (SAW) is reported to have said, ‘Observe the fast of Aashura and oppose (the way of) the Jews. Fast a day before it (also) or a day after it.’ (Baihaqi, Vol4) Hence, one should fast for two days: Either the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th. To fast only on the 10th of Muharram is MAKROOH (reprehensible) and bears semblance to the Jews.
Generosity to One’s Family
Besides fasting on the day of Aashura, being generous to one’s family and spending more than what is normally spent on food, etc. is an act of great merit. It is mentioned in a Hadith, ‘He who will be generous to his family on the day of Aashura, Allah will be generous to him for the entire year.’
Fallacious Belief
The day of Aashura is regarded by many people as the day of mourning the martyrdom of Sayyidina Hussain (RA). To attribute the significance of Aashura to Sayyidina Hussain (RA)’s martyrdom is totally baseless because the sanctity of Aashura is proven, beyond doubt, from the time of Rasulullah (SAW), whilst Sayyidina Hussain (RA) was martyred fifty years after Prophet (Pbuh) left this earthly abode. The fact that the martyrdom of Sayyidina Hussain (RA) occurred on the Day of Aashura has absolutely no bearing on the significance of this day nor is the sanctity of this day derived from this event. On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Sayyidina Hussain (RA) that he was martyred on the Day of Aashura.
Respect what Allah has honoured, for verily to honour things due to virtue which Allah has accorded them is among the traits of the intelligent.
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