Mu'awiya instituted the bid'ah of cursing Imam Ali (as)

In his attempt to protect his Nasibi Imam, Abu Sulaiman vigorously seeks to deny the historically established fact that Imam Ali (as) was cursed by Mu'awiya. He claims:

Ansar.org states:It is a lie that Mu'awiyah ordered to insult Ali from the pulpits. There is no rightful or clear evidence about that. Mu'awiya's biography and manners refuses this accusation. What some of the historians mention about that has no value because when these historians presents these words about Mu'awiyah, they do not differentiate between true or false stories. In addition, most of these historians are Shia. But some of the Historians narrated in their books sound stories and false stories, but they are excused when they attributed these stories to their narrators so that we could judge these stories, whether to accept them or reject them.

This being the case then what facts of history should we accept, only those that support Nasibi's and defame Shi'a? Abu Sulaiman is stating that anything that agrees with the Shi'a must be false on account of Shi'a influence. By the same logic anything that supports Nasibi must also be false as it is based on Nasibi influence.

Evidence of the tradition of cursing Ali and Mu'awiya being at its heart can be found in a vast array of books of leading scholars of Ahl'ul Sunnah.

The books of Tarikh, Sirah and hadith are replete with the fact that Mu'awiya introduced the bidah of cursing Imam of Guidance, Ammerul Momineen Ali (as), in his Kingdom. If we are to accept Abu Sulaiman's absurd claim then he is in effect suggesting that all the classical Sunni historians were duped and into narrating this fable. It would be one thing if this alleged fabrication could only be located in scarcely known extant works, but the fact is that leading scholars of Ahl'ul Sunnah have narrated that Imam 'Ali (as) was indeed reviled during the reign of Banu Umayya upon the specific orders of Mu'awiya bin Hind. Abu Sulaiman's attempts to hide this fact is in vain to suggest that most of the historians (who narrated this) are Shia rather than Sunni who would never find fault with Mu'awiya, laughable notion. Especially for him and those wishing to examine the matter further we shall insha'allah present a list of references where you can locate this episode. We then leave it to readers to decided whether there is indeed any basis for Abu Sulaiman's claims that this event never happened, did all these historians get it wrong?

Mu'awiya asks Sa'd to curse Hadhrath 'Ali (as)

We read in Sahih Muslim, Chapter of Virtues of Companions, Section of Virtues of Ali - see Chapter p1284, Tradition #5916

Muawiyah, the son of Abu Sufyan, gave order to Sa'd, and told him: "What prevents you that you are refraining from cursing Abu Turab (nickname of Ali)?" Sa'd replied: "Don't you remember that the Prophet said three things about (the virtue of) Ali? So I will never curse Ali."

The Nasibi adherents of Mu'awiya have sought to redefine it to protect their Imam. Abu Sulaiman is the perfect example who cites the pathetic defence of Nawawi, namely that:

Ansar.org states:"This hadeeth does not mean that Mu'awiyah ordered Sa'ad to insult Ali. But, as it is obvious, Mu'awiyah wanted to know the reason that prevented Sa'ad from insulting Ali... Al-Nawawi says: "Mu'awiyah's saying does not declare that he ordered Sa'ad to insult Ali, but asked him for the reason that prevented him from insulting. As if Mu'awiyah was saying to him: "Have you refrained from insulting Ali as a result of piety, fear or anything like that? If it was as a result of piety and veneration to refrain from insulting, then you are rightful and if it were other than that, then there would be another answer." Or it might be that Sa'ad was in a group of people who insults Ali and he did not insult Ali with them, and could not prevent them and controverted them so Mu'awiyah asked him this question. They said: "And it may have another explanation, that what prevented you from making Ali wrong in his thought and opinion, and to show to people our good opinion and thought and that Ali was wrong?" [Ibid. p250-252]

Clearly this is a case of defending the un-defendable. Why would Mu'awiya want to know why Sad did not insult Ali? Was this a normal practice for the Muslims of the time? If so who CURSED Ali (as)? The above tradition clearly indicates that Mu'awiya was surprised why he was refraining from cursing. Mu'awiya asks this question with surprise "What prevents you" - you only ask a matter in this way if you are surprised if for example an individual is acting in a manner that is contrary to a norm / precedent. I will give you an example; in the West it is enshrined in law and customary to wear a seat belt when you go out driving. If I act contrary to the act it in front of my acquaintances a common reaction would be or them to ask "What prevents you from wearing a seat belt?". Why? Because I am violating an accepted practice and they are enquiring WHY. Likewise, it is clear common sense that Mu'awiya wanted to know why Sad was NOT cursing Ali (as). This shows that cursing Ali was a common practice and Mu'awiya wanted to know why he was acting contrary to it? If this is not logical then the clearest proof comes from the next narration from other sources of Ahl'ul Sunnah that shed light on Mu'awiya's intention.

Mohibuddin al Tabari in his classical book of hadith Riyad ul Nadira states that "Mu'awiya ordered Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas to curse 'Abu Turab" (Volume 3 page 194).

Ibn Hajar Asqalani in his commentary of Sahih al Bukhari "Fathul Bari" states:

"Mu'awiya issued an order to curse Hadhrath 'Ali. Upon hearing this Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas said "Even if you place a sword over my head and demand that I curse 'Ali, I will refuse to do so".

Fathul Bari, Vol. 7, Page 74, "Bab Manaqib 'Ali"

Today's modern day Nasibi whos concpet of authenticity is limited to the writings of Ibn Taymeeya, Ibn Katheer, Bin Baaz should know that this is one of your greatest hadith scholars, so his narration cannot simply be rejected.

We read in the Biographical Notes in 'Reliance of the Traveller', Noah (Nuh) Ha Mim Keller, USA:

Sunna Books, 1991 CE, x159 (pg. 1054):

"Ibn Hajar Asqalani (w29.2(1)) is Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad al-Kinani, Abu al-Fadl Shihab al-Din Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, born in Cairo in 773/ 1372. A Shafii Imam and hadith master (hafiz), he reached the level of Commander of the Faithful in Hadith, the only rank above that of hadith master (hafiz). Known as Sheikh al-Islam, scholars travelled to take knowledge from him, and he was appointed to the judiciary in Egypt several times. He authored a number of works on hadith, history, biography, Koranic exegesis, poetry, and Shafii jurisprudence, among the most famous of them his fourteen-volume Fath al-Bari bi sharh Sahih al-Bukhari [The victory of the Creator: a commentary on the "Sahih" of Bukhari] which few serious students of Islamic knowledge can do without. He died in Cairo in 852/1449 (al-Alam (y136), 1.178; Sheikh Shuayb Arna'ut; Sheikh Hasan Saqqaf; and A).

In Sunan Ibn Majah page 12 Dhikr 'Ali we read:

"On his way to Hajj, Sad met Mu'awiya and his companions mentioned 'Ali upon which Mu'awiya showed disrespect towards Ali, Sad got angry and asked 'why do you say such things?'"

In the Arabic text the words used by Mu'awiya are "fanala minho" and the editor Muhammad Faula Abdul Bakee states in the footnotes that these words mean that Mu'awiya cursed and disparaged 'Ali.

If the word fanala does not mean curse / disparage then what was the reason for Sa'd getting angry?

Ibn Kathir records that:

"Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas said to Mu'awiya you have sat me next to you on your throne and begun to curse Hadhrath 'Ali"

Al Bidayah al Nihayah" page 341 Volume 7 the Chapter "The virtues of 'Ali"

This reference is enought to shut the mouths of the Salafi who love and admire the writings of Ibn Kathir, who they deem the definitive word when it comes to ascertaining historical facts - the Ibn Kathir that you worship cited the fact that Mu'awiya not just cursed but used vile language about Imam 'Ali (as). Check out the link and weep!

Ibn Kathir also records:

"Mu'awiyah ibn Sufiyan ordered Sa'd [ibn Abi Waqas], saying to him: 'What prevents you from insulting (tasabb) Abu Turab?"

Al Bidayah wal Nihayah, Vol. 7, Page 352, Chapter "The virtues of 'Ali"

If the Nawawi party are to say that it doesn't mean anything bad, we should point out that the word sabb according to the Hans Wehr's dictionary that is the standard English-Arabic dictionary says: "Sabb. To insult, abuse, call names, revile, rail at; to curese; to blaspheme, curse, swear." The only other meaning that the word has is to cause something, as in the word 'sabab' which means cause.

Obviously the hadeeth has no meaning with this second meaning, so anybody who has even a basic knowledge of Arabic would know that the tradition means to curse or swear at somebody The improtant thing to note is that Mu'awiyah gave a command to Sa'd. "He commanded him saying: What prevents you from insulting Abu Turab?" So it is not possible to say that he was merely asking a general question, but in fact the question was merely a way of giving an order, such as if you said to somebody "Why don't you give me that book?" intending to tell that person to give you a book.

The Syrian scholar Abu Zahra in his Tarikh ul Islam Volume 1 page 38 records:

When Mu'awiya was proceeding to Hajj he saw Sad, grabbed him by the hand and sat him next to his pulpit. Thereafter he proceeded to curse Ali, Sad got angry stating you have sat me next to you and began to indulge in the awful act!

It is proven from Sahih Muslim that Mu'awiya would curse Hadhrath 'Ali. Nawawi in his Sharh Muslim displays dishonesty in his defence of Mu'awiya. An Ahl'ul Sunnah scholar took notice of this, basing his comments on Sahih Muslim, we plead justice accordingly.

In Tashdheed al Mathan Volume 2 page 405, we read that scholar of Ahl'ul Sunnah Wajideen Umar bin Abdul Muhsin in his famous work "Hilyatul Azhar Sharra Mushraak ul Anwar wrote "When the people of knowledge saw that Mu'awiya's language contravened the dictates of norms, they sought to justify his actions and this is wrong, for it is clear that Mu'awiya wanted Sad to curse Ali, and Sad objected. Mu'awiya asked what prevented him from cursing Abu Turab, to which Sad replied citing three traditions as his reasons"

Sibt Ibn Jauzi al Hanafi in His Tadhkiratul Khawass page 113 narrates:

"Mu'awiya ordered the people and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas to curse 'Ali, this angered Sa'd and fearing Allah (swt) he refused to do so, not caring what anyone else thought".

Mu'awiya would curse Ali after the Friday Sermon and this bida became a tradition during the Banu Umayya reign

Ibn Abi al Hadeed in his commentary of Nahjul Balagha Volume 1 page 464 states:

"At the end of the Friday sermon Mu'awiya would say 'O Allah, curse Abu Turab, he opposed your Deen and path, curse him and punish him in the fire.' He introduced this bidah during his reign, his Governors acted upon it, this bidah continued until the reign of Umar bin Abdul Aziz"

In Mu'jam al Buldan, Volume 1 page 191 Allamah Yaqoot Hamawi states:

"Upon the orders of Mu'awiya, 'Ali was cursed during the reign of Banu Umayya from Mashrik (east) to Mughrib (west) from the Mosque Puplits".

In Iqd al Fareed Volume 1 page 246 we read:

"Following the deaths of 'Ali and Hasan, Mu'awiya issued an order to all Mosques including Masjidun Nabi that the people curse 'Ali".

In al-Nasa'ih al-Kaafiyah page 77 we read that

"This practice (of cursing) reached such state that the people considered that without cursing Ali their Friday worship was incorrect"

The comments on this shameful practice of Pakistani Hanafi scholar Maulana Raghib Rahmani in "Hadhrath Umar bin Abdul Aziz" page 246, are indeed very poignant:

"It is indeed unfortunate that this bidah was introduced that cut the nose of the cities, this bidah even reached the pulpits and even shamelessly reached the ears of those present in the Mosque of Rasulullah (s). This bidah was introduced by Amir Mu'awiya".

Khalifatul Zahid, Page 246

Mu'awiya refused to follow the peoples' demands that he abolishes the practice of cursing Hadhrath 'Ali (as)

In al-Nasa'ih al-Kaafiyah page 70 we read that:

Some people from Banu Umayya approached Mu'awiya and said 'You've attained power so why don't you stop the practice of cursing 'Ali, he replied "By Allah I wont, not until every child grows up, not until every grown up becomes elderly, not until no one is left to praise him".

In Tarikh Madhahib al Islam Muhammad Abu Zahra records in Volume 1 page 35:

"And during the reign of Banu Umayya the dignity of 'Ali was attacked, he was cursed because Mu'awiya during his reign introduced the ugly bidah of cursing 'Ali. His successors continued this tradition until the reign of Umar bin Abdul Aziz. The tradition entailed cursing the Imam of Guidance 'Ali at the end of the Friday Sermons, the Sahaba's remonstrations that this was wrong was ignored, Mu'awiya and his Governors refused to desist from their actions. Ummul'Momineen Salma (ra) wrote a letter to Mu'awiya and his respective Governors reminding them that by cursing 'Ali they were in fact cursing Allah (swt) and his Prophet (s)".

Tarikh Madhahib al Islam Muhammad Abu Zahra page 35

This book has also been rendered in to Urdu by Professor Ghulam Hamid Hurrayree and we attach the Urdu translation of the above text:

Islami Madhahib page 66

If today's Nasibi try and distance themselves from this reference by deeming Abu Zahra's book as unreliable, they should know that their beloved Website Ansar.org deemed the same book as reliable enough to 'prove' that the Shi'a betrated Zayd Ibn'Ali due to his refusal to critisise the Shaykhayn, (please see footnote 6 in their article - 'Who killed Imam Hussain'). If this source can be advanced as 'proof' by Ansar.org against the Shi'a then by the same token this book can also be used by the Shi'a as 'proof' against Mu'awiya.

Mu'awiya's Governors would curse Hadhrath 'Ali (as)

Egyptian Sunni scholar Ahmad Zakhee Safwaath in his book Umar bin Abdul Aziz (Urdu tanslation bu Abdul Samhad al Azharee) pages 54-55 states:

"Hadhrath Umar abolished the practice of cursing 'Ali on the pulpits, that started during the reign of Amir Mu'awiya.

Historians have recorded that in 41 Hijri, Mu'awiya wrote to his Governors stating 'I have no responsibility for anyone who praises 'Ali and his family. As a result [reciters] from every pulpit in every village would curse 'Ali, they would distance themselves from 'Ali, and would disrespect him and his family.

Mu'awiya issued an edict throughout the provinces that no one should accept the testimony of any Shi'a or members of that person's family. In a separate order he stated that if it is established that an individual loves 'Ali and the Ahl'ul bayt, his name should be removed from the register and his stipends should be with held. In another order Mu'awiya said that any person who has friends that are Shi'a should be punished and his house should be demolished.

Mu'awiya went on Hajj, upon his arrival in Madina he intended on disrespecting 'Ali. People told him not to since Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas would oppose such an action. Mu'awiya sent a man to Sa'd so as to ascertain his viewpoint, Sa'd replied, 'If you perform such an act I shall never set foot in the Mosque again'. Mu'awiya chose to desist from this action until the death of Sa'd in 55 Hijri - it was then that he proceeded to climb on to the pulpit of 'Ali and from there spoke out against him, he then wrote to his Governors to discredit 'Ali. Umm Salmah wrote to Mu'awiya stating 'You are in fact cursing Allah (swt) and his Prophet (s), verily I testify that Rasulullah (s) loved him ['Ali]. Mu'awiya ignored her words".

Umar bin Abdul Aziz, Page 54 & 55

In Tarikh Kamil Volume 3 page 25 we read that:

"Mu'awiya appointed Mughira as a Governor stating to him 'I have based your appointment on common sense, give me bayya on the condition that you continue with the practice, (namely) that you cease to disgrace and curse 'Ali and praise Uthman. Mughira was the Governor of Kufa for some time, during it he cursed and disgraced 'Ali".

In Tarikh Abul Fida Volume 1 page 120 we are told that:

"Mu'awiya and his Governors during the Friday Sermons would say things in praise of Uthman and would curse 'Ali".

Dr Umar Farokh in his Seerat-i-Khilafat, under the Chapter "Dhikr Umar bin Abdul Aziz" narrates as follows:

"One ugly shameful bidah practised during the Banu Umayya reign, one that reached all the Mosque pulpits including the Mosque of Rasulullah (s) and every ear was introduced by Mu'awiya and spread by his order to his (provincial governors). The order was that they curse Hadhrath 'Ali during the Friday Sermons as an act of obedience to him".

Mu'awiya agreed with Imam Hasan (as) that he would not curse Ali (as), but then reneged on the promise

In Tarikh Kamil Volume 1 page 203 Chapter "Dhikr Sulh Hasan" we read that during the negotiations with Mu'awiya:

"Hasan placed a condition that Mu'awiya stop the practice of cursing 'Ali, a condition that he rejected. Hasan then asked that he refrain from cursing 'Ali in his presence. Mu'awiya agreed but did not fulfil this condition either".

Tarikh Ibn Wardi Volume 1 page 251 likewise states that despite the agreement Mu'awiya continued to curse Imam 'Ali.

Tarikh Ibn Wardi Vol. 1 page 251

Mu'awiya signing the Peace Treaty and the conditions is the clearest proof that he cursed Imam 'Ali (as). If he did not then why did he agree to abide by this condition? His reneging on the condition is yet further proof that he was a munafiq, for we read in Sahih Bukhari hadith 4:403 that Allah's Apostle said, that one sign of a pure hypocrite is "if he gives a promise, he breaks it". Mu'awiya's promise and his subsequent breach are clear indictments with regards to his character.

The admission by al Muhaddith Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlavi that Mu'awiya cursed Hadhrath 'Ali (as)

Al Muhaddith Shah Abdul Aziz was a leading Sunni scholars and a lead name in his fight against the spread of Shi'aism in the Indian Subcontinent. Despite his opposition to the Shi'a he also made the acknowledgement in his Fatawa Azizi on page 214:

"The act of cursing 'Ali was introduced by Mu'awiya, this is not worse than fighting, for we learn from hadith that cursing a Muslim is Fisq, fighting him is kufr. It is established that Mu'awiya fought 'Ali and in doing so he committed a great sin, to explain this away in terms of ijtihad is wrong".

The admission by leading Deobandi Ulema that Mu'awiya introduced the bidah of cursing Ali (as)

Deobandi's are rigid Hanafis from the Indian Subcontinent and are strong opponents of the Shi'a hence there is NO opportunity for Abu Sulaiman to claim that they were influenced by Shi'a leanings.

Maulana Sayyid Abu'l Ala Maudoodi records this fact in his "Khilafath wa Mulukiyaat". On page 174 he writes:

"Ibn Kathir in al Bidayah records that one unlawful and outrageous practice started by Mu'awiya was that he and his governors would curse Hadhrath 'Ali during the Friday sermon from the Imam's position. This took such an extreme that this practised even took place in the Mosque of the Prophet, in front of the grave of the Prophet (saws), the cursing of the most beloved relative would take place, in the presence of Hadhrath 'Ali's family who would hear this abuse with their own ears." (also: Tabari Volume 4 page 188, Ibn Athir Volume 3 page 234, al Bidayah Volume 8 page 259 and Volume 9 page 80)

Khilafath wa Mulukiyaat page 174

Before supporters of Mu'awiya seek to attack Maudoodi it should be pointed out that he was NOT expressing an opinion, he was citing the facts recorded in the annals of Sunni history books, including al Bidayah by Ibn Kathir. The sources are cited; Maudoodi has not just fabricated them out of the blue.

The supporters of Mu'awiya were naturally perturbed by Maudoodi's critical stance of Mu'awiya. This led to rebuttal and counter rebuttals by Deobandi Ulema. Pakistani scholar Abu Khalid Muhammad Aslam in "Khilafat wa Mulukiyyat wa Ulema-i-Ahle Sunnat" wrote in defence of Maulana Maudoodi. He wrote:

"Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi in Hakayat Awliyaa page 124 wrote that Shah Ismail Shaheed had a debate in Lucknow with a Shi'a by the name of Subhan Khan. Shah Ismail asked him "Did they curse Mu'awiya in the court of Ali? Khan replied, "Ali's Court was pure of such things. Shah Ismail then asked did Mu'awiya curse Ali in his Court? To which Khan replied "Yes he did". Maulana Ismail then said "The Ahl'ul Sunnah are alhamdolillah followers of Ali and have left Mu'awiya'

From this it is proven that Shah Ismail and Thanvi both agreed that in Mu'awiya's Court people would curse Ali. Now if someone continues to deny this then we are left with no other choice but to adopt silence in the presence of illiterates, one should take note of the individual who was being cursed.

Zaynul Abideen Sajjad Meerathee in Tareekh ay Milath al Islam writes: "The greatest achievement of Umar bin Abdul Aziz was, one that shall be written in Gold is the fact he put an end to the Banu Umayya tradition of cursing Ali [r] from the pulpits. When he became khalifa he ordered this to be banned".

Maulana Shah Moinuddin Nadvi in Tareekh-i-Islam, Volume 1 pages 13-14, writes "During his reign Mu'awiya introduced the tradition of cursing Ali [r], his subjects followed suit. Mugheera bin Shu'ba was a great man but in his obedience to Mu'awiya also followed this bidah"

In previous pages we have cited the comments of great Ulema, all who have confirmed the fact that Ali was cursed. Were they not Ulema of Ahl'ul Sunnah? If they were then what right do their opponents have to call themselves Ahl'ul Sunnah? It would better that they leave Ahl'ul Sunnah and embrace Yazeed and Nasibi aqeedah, entertaining others with their new thought". [Khilafath wa Mulukiyyat wa Ulema-i-Ahle Sunnath, by Abu Khalid Muhammad Aslam - pages 120-122]

Khilafath wa Mulukiyyat wa Ulema-i-Ahle Sunnath page 120-122

Mu'awiya's bidah of cursing Imam Ali during the Friday Sermon was a practice that continued during the Banu Umayya reign until the reign of Umar bin Abdul Aziz

In Nifa Thafthee wa Islaal by Maulana Abdul Hai we are informed on page 42 that:

"During the Banu Umayya reign Hadhrath 'Ali was cursed in the Friday Sermons".

In Tafseer Mazhari Volume 5 page 21, Hanafi Scholar Qadhi Thanaullah Uthmanee makes the admission that:

"There was a time when the Banu Umayya would curse the family of the Prophet".

In Tarikh Madhaib al Islameeeya Volume 1 page 38 we learn that:

Abu Muhammad Abu Zahra writes:

During Banu Umayya reign Ali was openly cursed, this tradition was started by Mu'awiya and continued until the reign of Umar bin Abdul Aziz"

In Tarikh Khamis Volume 2 page 316 we learn:

"When Umar bin Abdul Aziz came to power be put an end to the bidah introduced by Mu'awiya, namely of swearing at 'Ali and cursing the family of the Prophet at the end of the Juma Khutba".

Similarly we read in Tarikh Abul Fida Volume 1 page 301 "Dhikr Mu'awiya":

"During the reign of Banu Umayya Banu Umayya would curse 'Ali in the Friday Sermon, when Umar bin Abdul Aziz became khalifa he brought an end to this horrible bidah that had been introduced by Mu'awiya".

Maula 'Ali (as) was cursed for ninety years

Allamah Shibli Numani writes:

"Traditions were first formed in book form in the days of Ummayads, who, for about 90 years, throughout their vast dominions stretching from the Indus in India to Asia Minor and Spain, insulted the descendants of Fatima and got Ali openly censured in Friday sermons at the mosques. They had hundreds of saying coined to eulogise Amir Muawiya." (taken from Siratun Nabi, Volume 1 page 60).

Siratun Nabi Vol.1 page 60

Summary of references

So to summarise from the references presented (many more could have been cited we felt this will suffice for the sake of brevity), we learn:

Mu'awiya used to curse Hadhrath 'Ali (as)

He introduced the bidah of cursing 'Ali (as) in the mosques following the Friday Sermons during his reign.

In line with the order his Governors would carry out the bidah of cursing 'Ali in the Mosques

This outrageous bidah went on for 90 years

During that same time (of cursing) hadith were first collected

Umar bin Abdul Aziz abolished this ugly bidah.

Conclusions

In light of these established let us now see the true position of Mu'awiya in light of hadith and Fatwas of Ahl'ul Sunnah:

Rasulullah (s) cursed those who commit bidah

Abdul Qadir Jilani in "al Ghuniya" Voulme 1 page 60 narrates that Rasulullah (s) said:

"Whoever introduces a bidah or protects it is cursed by Allah (swt) his Angels and the vast bulk of mankind".

Allamah Abdul Qadir Gilani's Fatwa against Ahl'ul bidah

Abdul Qadir Jilani in "al Ghuniya" Voulme 1 page 18, Chapter "Dhikr Mu'awiya" states:

No one should go near Ahl'ul Bidah, don't go near them, don't share in their happiness on Eid, don't participate in their Salat or Funerals, don't read mercies upon them".

Allamah Saduddeen Taftazanee' s fatwa that Ahl'ul bidah should be cursed

Allamah Saduddeen Taftazanee in Sharh al Maqasid page 270 comments:

"One should hate Ahl'ul bidah, talk ill of them, curse them, do not pray Salat behind them to do so is Makruh".

These fatwas make it clear those that indulge in bidah are cursed and it is a duty to separate ourselves from such people. This being the case one needs no reminding that Mu'awiya was responsible for the introduction of the bidah of cursing Ameerul Momineen 'Ali throughout his empire a bidah that went on for 90 years.

Cursing Ali (as) is tantamount to cursing Allah (swt)

"Whoever curses (or verbally abuses) Ali, he has, in fact, cursed me, and whoever has cursed me, he has cursed Allah, and whoever has cursed Allah, then Allah will throw him into he Hell-fire."

Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v6, p33

Hanafi Fatwa declaring it kufr to curse Hadhrath 'Ali (as)

In Sharh Mishkat Volume 11 page 345, esteemed Hanafi scholar Mulla Ali Qari states:

'Imam Ahmad narrates from the Prophet(s) "Whoever curses Ali, he has, in fact, cursed me, and whoever curses me, has cursed Allah.", this hadith means that cursing Hadhrath 'Ali is kufr'.

Fatwa of al Muhaddith Shah Abdul Aziz - those that curse 'Ali are kaafir

In Tuhfa Ithna Ashariyya Shah Abdul Aziz states on page 394:

"If the people of Syria i.e. Mu'awiya and his supporters bore enmity towards 'Ali(r), considered him a kaafir and cursed him, then I consider such people to be kaafir".

As is habit of the Ulema of his like, Shah Sahib has sought to cast doubts as to whether Mu'awiya did indeed curse Maula 'Ali (as). Fortunately as is common amongst such scholars his contradiction is exposed by the fact that he himself admitted in Fatwa Azeezi that Mu'awiya would curse Maula Ali (as).

Similarly the Grand Imam of the Nasibis Ibn Taymeeya whilst tactically avoiding to implicate Mu'awiya make this admission is his Fatawa Volume 2 page 408:

"The followers of Mu'awiya would curse Hadhrath 'Ali".

If those that curse Maula Ali are kaafir then from the Shah's own pen Mu'awiya IS a kaafir as are those that entertained this action.

Fatwa of al Muhaddith Shah Abdul Aziz - whoever disrespects Ahl'ul bayt (as) is a murtad

In Tuhfa Ithna Ashariyya Shah Abdul Aziz states on page 263:

"What view should we hold of those people who express happiness on Ashura when Imam Hussain was killed, who marry on that day who disrespect the family of the Prophet and the descendents of Sayyida Fatima? It is correct to refer to such individuals as Murtad".

If one who shows disrespect towards Ahl'ul bayt (as) is a Murtad then clearly one of the rank and file of Mu'awiya who demonstrated his disrespect of 'Ali (as) by introducing the cursing of him in the Mosques comes at the fore-front of such murtads. Moreover one should also highlight Mu'awiya's pleasure upon receiving the news that Imam Hasan (as) was dead.

An appeal to justice

Is it not curious that those that curse the Sahaba are kaafir (as a general rule) whilst those that curse Imam 'Ali (as) are not kaafir but the Imam of Nasibis, whom Allah (swt) is pleased with? Now think about the personality being cursed, a Khalifa Rashid, the cousin and son in law of the Prophet (s) - Ali ibne abi Talib (as).