History Books

Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah was an Umayyad caliph who committed uncountable crimes during his short-lived reign. In the first year of his three-year rule, he issued orders that the Prophet’s (S) grandchild, Imam al-Husayn (as), must be put to death along wit...

Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah was an Umayyad caliph who comm...

Most Muslims, including the Sunnis, remember the historical epic of Imam al-Husayn (as) with unanimous honor and respect. In addition, after the event of Karbala, those who had either opposed the Ahl al-Bayt (as) or had taken a position of neutrality...

Most Muslims, including the Sunnis, remember the h...

7. Mu‘awiyah himself was not the legitimate caliph Sunni Islam accepts the legitimacy of the incoming caliph by relying on the oath of the previous caliph. However, the caliphate and Imamate of the previous caliph must indisputably be proven before ...

7. Mu‘awiyah himself was not the legitimate caliph...

5. The continuity and stability of the Prophet’s (S) mission depended heavily on al-Husayn’s (as) uprising On his own chain of transmission, al-Tirmidhi narrates from Ya‘la ibn Marrah that the Holy Prophet (S) said, «حسين منّي وأنا من حسين.&r...

5. The continuity and stability of the Prophet’s (...

2. Imam al-Husayn’s (as) infallibility Imam al-Husayn (as) is one of the people included in the ‘Verse of Purification’ [Ayah al-Tathir] of the Holy Qur’an. Therefore, he is free of any sort of sin, error or forgetfulness. Imam al-Husayn (as) cannot...

2. Imam al-Husayn’s (as) infallibility Imam al-Hu...

Supporters of Bani Umayyah and Yazid’s partisans among some Islamic sects have been persistent in trying to portray the issue of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) uprising against Yazid as a rebellion against a legitimate Muslim caliph whose allegiance and calip...

Supporters of Bani Umayyah and Yazid’s partisans a...

Some misguided traditionalists and historians have attempted to portray Yazid’s caliphate and government as legitimate according to Islam. They have endeavored to demonstrate that the people pledged allegiance to Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah. By doing so, th...

Some misguided traditionalists and historians have...

1. On his own chain of transmission, al-Tirmidhi narrates from Umm Salamah that the Holy Prophet (S) always used to say, «لا يحبّ علياً منافقٌ ولا يبغضه مؤمنٌ.» “No hypocrite loves ‘Ali, and no believer hates ‘Ali.”69 2. Al-Tirmidhi al...

1. On his own chain of transmission, al-Tirmidhi n...

1. The Holy Prophet (S) said, «لاتسبّوا علياً؛ فانّه کان ممسوساً في ذات الله عزّ وجلّ.» “Do not curse ‘Ali, because he is heedless of any dangers in the way of Allah.”65 2. The Holy Prophet (S) also said, «من سبّ علياً فقد سبّني...

1. The Holy Prophet (S) said, «لاتسبّوا علي...

As long as the Holy Prophet (S) was alive, Bani Hashim and Imam ‘Ali (as) holding the foremost position among them, were held in great honor and high respect, but soon after the death of the Holy Prophet (S), hostilities and enmities began to appear....

As long as the Holy Prophet (S) was alive, Bani Ha...

By trying to eliminate Bani Hashim, Mu‘awiyah ibn Abu Sufiyan was endeavoring to achieve two main aims: one of his goals was to annihilate the very roots of the religion and in this way nip Islam in the bud. The other objective was to avenge the blo...

By trying to eliminate Bani Hashim, Mu‘awiyah ibn ...

When Imam al-Hasan (as) was obliged to compromise and make peace with Mu‘awiyah ibn Abu Sufiyan, he felt great concern for the safety of Imam ‘Ali’s (as) followers. It was for this reason that, in his peace agreement with Mu‘awiyah, Imam al-Hasan (a...

When Imam al-Hasan (as) was obliged to compromise ...

Starting from the thirty ninth year of the Islamic calendar, Mu‘awiyah ibn Abu Sufiyan started to carry out widespread terrorist attacks on the Shi‘ahs of Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as). He dispatched cruel and irreligious people to attack the Shi‘ahs. H...

Starting from the thirty ninth year of the Islamic...

Another one of Mu‘awiyah’s disobedient acts was rebellion against the rightful and legitimate Imam of the Time, Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as). Mu‘awiyah rebelled against the Imam who, besides being explicitly appointed by Allah and His Prophet (S) to be...

Another one of Mu‘awiyah’s disobedient acts was re...

One of Mu‘awiyah’s transgressions which was a clear violation of Islamic law, common logic and societal mores was getting allegiance from the people for his son Yazid by force and coercion. This allegiance was opposed by the council of elders which, ...

One of Mu‘awiyah’s transgressions which was a clea...

Mu‘awiyah testified that Ziyad was the son of Abu Sufiyan, his father. Mu‘awiyah claimed that during the Age of Ignorance, his father had committed adultery with Sumayyah, the wife of ‘Ubayd. Mu‘awiyah claimed that Ziyad was born as a result of this ...

Mu‘awiyah testified that Ziyad was the son of Abu ...

Abu Dawud quotes from Khalid, “Miqdam ibn Ma‘di Karb, ‘Amru ibn Aswad and a man of Bani Asad from the tribe of Qansarin went to see Mu‘awiyah ibn Abu Sufiyan. Mu‘awiyah said to Miqdam, ‘Do you know that al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali has passed away?’ Miqdam quot...

Abu Dawud quotes from Khalid, “Miqdam ibn Ma‘di Ka...

Al-Mawardi and other transmitters of hadith have recounted that a number of thieves were brought before Mu‘awiyah for judgment. He cut the hands of all the thieves save one. Then, Mu‘awiyah said to the remaining thief, “I have cut the hands of all of...

Al-Mawardi and other transmitters of hadith have r...

Nassa’i and the other transmitters of hadith quote Sa‘id ibn Jabir saying that on the Day of ‘Arafah, Ibn ‘Abbas asked him, “Why is it that I do not hear the people saying the talbiyah (labbayk)?” Sa‘id ibn Jabir answered, “The people are afraid of M...

Nassa’i and the other transmitters of hadith quote...

Tabarani and Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrate from ‘Ibad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Zubayr on an authentic chain of transmission that he said, “When Mu‘awiyah intended to go for the hajj, he came to inform us about his intention and we traveled together to Mecca. He...

Tabarani and Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrate from ‘Ibad i...

Mu‘awiyah the son of Abu Sufiyan was not a person who refrained from committing great sins. He was so daring that he openly committed illegitimate actions among the people. Here, reference will be made to some of the actions he committed that were in...

Mu‘awiyah the son of Abu Sufiyan was not a person ...