Virtues, Wisdom and Caliphate of Amir Muawiya رضي الله عنه

Virtues and Habits

Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه has narrated 163 Ahadith (Traditions which afterwards were in turn narrated by Sahabas like Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Ibn Zubair, Abu Darda رضى الله عنهم and Tabeyeens (those who saw the companions of the Prophet but not the Prophet himself) like Ibn ul-Musayyib and Humaid bin Abdur Rahman رحمها الله. Many traditions are popular about his greatness. Tirmidhi, under the caption 'Traditions of Hasan' has written that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said "O Allah! Make Muawiya رضى الله عنه the guide and the guided." It is recorded in Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, "O Allah! Teach Muawiya رضى الله عنه calculation and save him from punishment." Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه himself says. "I hoped to be caliph the moment when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) told me that when you become a king, treat people with kindness." Amir Muawiya's رضى الله عنه patience and common sense was proverbial. Once after performing Hajj during his caliphate he came to Madinah and stayed there for a few days. One day when Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Aqil bin Abi Talib رضى الله عنه was sitting with Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه, Abu Qatada رضى الله عنه Ansari also arrived. Seeing him Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه said, "We All came to meet me except Ansari." Abu Qatada رضى الله عنه said, "We have no means of communications and so we could not come." Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه said, "What about your camels?" He said, "All our camels have got tired by following you and your father." Then he began to say, "I have heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) say that a time would come when people would prefer the undeserving to the deserving." Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه said, "Then, has the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said something about how to act in such a situation?" Abu Qatada رضى الله عنه said, "The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) has said about such a situation that the people should be patient." Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه said, "Then have patience."

A young man from the Quraish went to Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه and started abusing him. Hearing his unbecoming language Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه said, "O my nephew! Desist from this misbehavior because a king's anger is like a child's but his accountability in like a tiger's." Shabi has said, that there are four wise men among the Arab: Amir Muawiya, Amr bin Al-Aas, Mughira bin Shoba and Zeyad رضى الله عنهم. Muawiya for his patience and common sense, Amr bin Al-Aas for the capacity to solve knotty problems if suddenly encountered, Mughira for maintaining his cool and Zeyad in all small and big matters.

Similarly there are also four Qadis (Judges) Umar bin Khattab, Ali bin Abi Talib, Ibn Masood and Zaid bin Thabit رضى الله عنهم. Jabir رضى الله عنه says, "I have seen none greater than Umar رضى الله عنه as a scholar of the Quran and Fiqah, than Talha bin Obaidullah رضى الله عنه as a giver without being asked, than Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه as a man of patience and commonsense, than Amr bin Al-Aas رضى الله عنه as a sincere friend. One day Aqil bin Abi Talib رضى الله عنه went to Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه. Seeing him Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه out of good humor, said, "Here is Aqil. His uncle was Abu Lahab". Aqil quickly retorted, "Here is Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه his father's sister was Hammalat al-Hatab. (This is in reference to the chapter Masad, the Palm Fiber, of Quran where Allah is promising punishment to Abu Lahab and Hammalat al-Hatab, his wife who brings the fuel for the fire).

When someone asked Abdullah bin Abbas رضى الله عنه about Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه he said, "His patience was antidote to anger and his generosity kept the people tongue tied." He knew how to join hearts and that strengthened his rule. One day Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه himself said, "The success I had against Ali bin Abi Talib رضى الله عنه was due to four factors:

I used to guard my secrets while Ali bin Abi Talib رضى الله عنه disclosed every thing to the people.

My army was obedient while Ali's army was disobedient.

I did not take part in the Jamal war (The war between Ali رضى الله عنه and Aaisha رضي الله عنها).

I was popular with the Quraish while its people were displeased with Ali bin Abi Talib رضى الله عنه.

Important events during Amir Muawiya's Caliphate

When Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه sat on the throne Caliphate there were found three kinds of people in respect of faith and action in the Islamic world. The first sect was of the partisans of Ali. They thought that Ali bin Abi Talib رضى الله عنه deserved the Caliphate and after him, his progeny was entitled to the Caliphate. This sect was found in Iraq and Iran even more. It was also found Egypt. But it dwindled after the renunciation of the throne by Imam Hasan رضى الله عنه and his reconciliation with Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه. The second sect was of the partisans of Muawiya or partisans of Banu Umayyah. It included the whole of Syria and some Arabian tribes like Banu Kalb.

Due to the assassination of Uthman bin Affan رضى الله عنه these people believed that Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه and Banu Umayyah were entitled to the Caliphate and were ready to extend all help to them. The third sect was called Khwarij. They considered the first two sects to have gone astray and into unbelief and thus they used all their powers against them. The hypocrites and conspirators who were unanimously the enemies of Islam remained mingled with this people. The majority of these Khwarij were in Iraq mostly in Basra and Kufa. Besides these three sects, there was one more sect, which remained aloof from all these controversies and wanted to live a life of withdrawal. This group consisted mostly of the great Sahabas. These people were mostly found in Madinah Munawwara and Makkah Mukarama and lived in the rural areas of the Hijaz or the pastures of camels. After becoming caliph, Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه first had to face the Khwarij. When the truce was signed in the last ten days of Rabia al-Awwal 41 Hegira and people in general took the oath at the hands of Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه, Farwa bin Naufil Ashjai, a Khwarij along with 500 other Khwarij readied themselves to oppose him, left Kufa and camped at a place named Nakhlia.

Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه instead of taking strong measures against them acted with commonsense. He assembled the Kufis and exhorted them. He said, "These are your own kith and kin. You yourselves should make them understand and acquaint them with the horrible consequences of opposition or fighting." The people of the Ashja tribe were so impressed that they went and brought Farwa bin Naufil Ashja as a captive. The Khwarij made Abdullah bin Abil Hausa their leader and they did not show any inclination towards reconciliation. At last, the Kufis fought with them and Abdullah was killed. After that, their number was reduced to only 150. Then they chose Abu Hausa Asadi as their leader. They were also appealed to for reconciliation, but they preferred to die fighting and paid no heed to death. Finally, Abu Hausa and his associates were killed while fighting and some of them fled to different towns of Iraq and Iran. That was the first confrontation that Amir Muawiya رضى الله عنه had in Kufa after becoming caliph. Also, he became aware of different groups of Khwarij, which were present in the towns all over Iraq.