The Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) are that eminent group of people concerning whom Allah Ta'ala 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 Sahaabi has in fact challenged Allah's decree in the Qur'an.

Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) declares concerning the Sahaaba: '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 an oath by the Lord of the Kaaba; the companions of Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) were truly on the straight path.' (Hilya).

Special Virtues

Whilst the collective favours of the Sahaaba upon this Ummah are innumerable, some individual Sahaaba clearly excelled in their services of the Ummah. Amongst these noteworthy Sahaaba was Hadhrat Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) whose prestige and position in the eyes of Nabi (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 Nabi (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 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)

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).

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).

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).

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)

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 Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) with regards to Mu'awiya (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 Mu'awiya 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 Mu'awiya (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 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'. The books of history are replete with such praises of Mu'awiya (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 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).

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.' The first naval force was in fact headed by Mu'awiya (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 Mu'awiya (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 Mu'awiya (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu). We have to understand that, on both sides there were eminent Sahaaba, 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'a' by Qaadhi Iyaad:

'If we claim to revere and honour the prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), we must also respect his Sahaaba. 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 Shiahs, 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 Sahaaba (when they are mentioned with disrespect).'

Ayyub Sakhtiani says: 'Whoso honours Sahaaba, can never be a munafiq. Whoso 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 Ta'ala grant us the true love of the Sahaaba. Ameen.

AL-JAMIAT PUBLICATIONS