"(Rasullilah :saw: was reported to have said) Allah, make him (Muawiya :ra: ) guided, a guider, and guide people through him." [Tirmidhi 3824, 3018]
Mu'awiyah Bin Abu Sufyan(ra) was a companion there is a wide spread false propaganda and many lies that have spread against this great sahabi, he is one of the scribes of the revelation. I'm not looking for a debate, if you want to debate I'm not interested, a discussion is fine, this post is mainly aimed at those young sunnis who do not know much about Mu'awiyah(ra) except what the shias post here.
Yesterday someone posted the hadith in sahih muslim in which the Prophet(saw) cursed by saying "May Allah not fill his belly" Mu'awiyah here is an explanation for those who have an open mind.
It has been narrated that Rasullulaah(saw) called for out for Mu'awiyah, where by Mu'awiyah was found to have been busy eating, from this Rasllilah (salalahu alahi wasalam) replied "May Allah not fill his belly!". This is in fact what you might call an example in the English language of someone saying "Go break a leg", and in reality the meaning behind the Arabic of "May Allah not fill his belly" is "May your sustenance be without end".
Sunnis know that Mu'awiyas(ra) position was wrong in regards to Ali's :ra: decision not to punish those who assassinated Caliph Uthman :ra: this we know is a fact, however if we curse him for that that should then include Aisha :ra: , Talha :ra: and Zubair :ra: . Remember, Muawiya :ra: did not partake in the Siege of Basrah and the Battle of the Camel.
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Allah reminds us:
"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allâh as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety; and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do." (Qur'an 5:8)
1. Muawiya's :ra: position was wrong in regards to Ali's :ra: decision not to punish those who assassinated Caliph Uthman :ra: this we know is a fact, however if we curse him for that that should then include Aisha :ra: , Talha :ra: and Zubair :ra: . Remember, Muawiya :ra: did not partake in the Siege of Basrah and the Battle of the Camel.
2. Though Muawiya :ra: did not recognize the Caliphate and defended himself at the Battle of Siffin (though seen as a wrong way to wage war in defense, perhaps out of desperation) did end up with a peace agreement with Ali :ra: and this resulted in the Kharijites to seperate from Ali :ra: and eventually the Revolt of the Kharijites under Muawiya's :ra: rule.
3. Muawiya :ra: in fact considered Ali :ra: above himself:
"Ali is better and more virtuous than me and I differ from him only in the matter of qisaas of Uthman and if he takes the qisaas of the blood of Uthman I will be the first of the people of Syria to make bayah to him" [al-Bidayatu wan-Nihaayah, vol 7 page 129,259]
In fact there is one occasion where Muawiya :ra: seeked advice from Ali :ra: under his government [eg. Muwatta of Imam Malik 36.19.18]
4. The Great Cursing Ali :ra: Lie: Some have this belief based on a Hadith that Muawiya :ra: used to curse Ali :ra: . However one has to read the Hadith in Sahih Muslim carefully, where Muawiya :ra: was ASKING "What prevents you from abusing Abu Turab". All it was was a question to Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas :ra:, and there was no response from Muawiya :ra: no flogging, no cursing of Sa'd :ra: for his decision.
Commentary from Imam Nawawi (ra) regarding the Hadith: "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."
5. The "May Allah not fill his belly." Lie: The Shiites like to use the hadith in Sahih Muslim whereby Rasullilah (salalahu alahi wasalam) called for Muawiya :ra: and found that he was busy eating, from this Rasllilah (salalahu alahi wasalam) replied "May Allah not fill his belly!". This is in fact what you might call an example in the English language of someone saying "Go break a leg", and in reality the meaning behind the Arabic of "May Allah not fill his belly" is "May your sustenance be without end".
6. Ali :ra: and Muawiya's :ra: groups were in fact MUSLIMS. This is proven by the Prophecy of Rasullilah :saw: as it states in Sahih Bukhari as Rasullilah :saw: spoke about Hassan ibn Ali :ra: : "This son of mine is a leader, and through him, Allah will bring together two huge groups of MUSLIMS." In fact this came true after Hasan :ra: united the Ummah after feeling betrayed by the Shiat'Ali by handing the Caliphate over to Muawiya :ra: (Shia texts confirm this as well in al Ihhtijaj vol. 2 page. 290-291, (copy?paste