Praise of Ameer Muawiyah رضی اللہ عنہ by the Righteous

Praise of Amīr Muʿāwiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ by the Righteous

Maulana Hafiz Hafeez al-Rahman Attari Madani

The Prophetic Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ were granted many blessings by the final Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, one of which were the supplications he made for them. Among the Companions to who the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم supplicated for by name was Amīr Muʿāwiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. On a number of occasions, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم supplicated for him in the following manner:

“O Allah, make him one who guides (hādī) and rightly guided (mahdī), grant him guidance and grant others guidance through him.”^[1]

“O Allah, grant Muʿāwiyah knowledge of the Book and wisdom, and protect him from punishment.”^[2]

“O Allah, protect Muʿāwiyah from devastation, and forgive him in this world and the hereafter.”^[3]

“O Allah, grant him knowledge and forbearance.”^[4]

Dear readers, remember that the supplications of the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are unquestionably accepted by the Lord Almighty.  Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī al-Shāfiʿī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes that the supplication of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is undoubtedly accepted for his nation, especially in favour of his Companions.^[5]

Indeed, the noble individual who received such wonderful supplications and for whom the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم expressed affection in statements like, “Muʿāwiyah, I am from you, and you are from me”^[6] and “Allah and His Messenger love Muʿāwiyah”^[7], would be fondly remembered by many. Let us consider some statements of the Companions and pious predecessors about the excellence and rank of Amīr Muʿāwiyah    رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.

The opinions of Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم

The second caliph of the Muslims, Sayyidunā Umar b. Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said:

“You speak of the dominance of Caesar and Chosroes^[8] even though you have Muʿāwiyah among you.”^[9]

On his return from Ṣiffīn, the fourth caliph, Sayyidunā Ali رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, stated:

“Do not think Muʿāwiyah’s governance is bad, by Allah, when he will not be here, heads will fall to the ground like the fruit of wild gourd^[10].^[11]

Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said:

1.   Muʿāwiyah is a faqīh (jurist).^[12]

2.   I have not seen anyone more accomplished in state governance than Muʿāwiyah.^[13]

3.   Do not say anything to Muʿāwiyah; he is the companion of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.^[14]

Sayyidunā ʿUmayr b. Saʿd رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, “Only remember Muʿāwiyah with goodness.”^[15]

Sayyidunā ʿAbdullah b. ʿUmar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ once said, “I have not seen a greater commander after the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم than Muʿāwiyah.”^[16]

Sayyidunā Saʿd b. Abī Waqqāṣ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ stated, “After Uthman, I have not seen anyone judge in accordance with the truth more than Muʿāwiyah.”^[17]

Sayyidunā Abū Dardāʾ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ related, “I have not seen anyone whose prayer resembles that of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم more than Muʿāwiyah.”^[18]

Sayyidunā Kaʿb b. Mālik رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, “No individual in this nation will ever match the way Muʿāwiyah has governed.”^[19]

The opinions of pious predecessors

Sayyidunā Mujāhid رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه once said, “If you saw Amīr Muʿāwiyah, you would say that he was rightly guided (mahdī).”^[20]

Someone asked Sayyidunā Muʿāfā b. ʿImrān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه,

“Is Amīr Muʿāwiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ greater or Sayyidunā ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه?”

On hearing this question, the noble Muʿāfā was angered.

“Do you compare a [Prophetic] Companion to a Follower (tābiʿī)? [Sayyidunā] Muʿāwiyah was a Companion of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, his relative through marriage, his scribe, and a protector of revelation (waḥy) from Allah”, he responded vehemently.^[21]

Sayyidunā Qabīṣah b. Jābir رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said:

“I have not seen anyone more forgiving, further from ignorance, and more dignified than Amīr Muʿāwiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.”^[22]

Dear readers, the honour and rank of Amīr Muʿāwiyah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is highlighted by the statements of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and the Companions’ praise of him. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every Muslim to respect Amīr Muʿāwiyah as well as every other Companion.

Imam ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Shaʿrānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes:

“He who disrespects the Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ, endangers his faith.  Therefore, preventing this is necessary, especially in relation to Amīr Muʿāwiyah and [Sayyidunā] Amr b. ʿĀṣ.”^[23]

May Allah Almighty enable us to truly honour all the Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ and strengthen our love for them.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ عَلَیْہِ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم