What happened between Ali and Muawiyah (رضی اللہ عنهم)?

Walaikum Salam.

The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), witnessed great events with him and were the first people to attain virtue. We are instructed to draw close to Islam by means of loving them.

They were given precedence over the rest of mankind because mistakes,whether deliberate or otherwise, were already forgiven for them, and they have been forgiven for all disputes that arose among them.So we should think and speak of them in the best terms. And that is in obedience to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), who said:

“Do not revile my Companions, do not revile my Companions, for by the One Whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend the equivalent of Uhud in gold [in charity], it would not be equivalent to the mudd [a unit of measure] of one of them or half of that.” (Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 161)

Scholars do not believe that any of the Sahabah are infallible and were protected from major or minor sins, but they did a great deal of righteous deeds and attained virtues by means of which they were forgiven.

If one of them did commit a sin/mistake, then he would have repented from it, or done good deeds that erased it, or have been forgiven for it by virtue of his being one of the first to come to Islam, or by means of the intercession of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) of which they are the most deserving of people, or by being tested with a calamity in this world by means of which it was expiated.

Moreover the amount of objectionable actions that some of them may have done cannot be compared to their virtues and good characteristics such as belief in Allah and His Messenger, Jihad for the sake of Allah, migration (Hijrah), supporting (the religion of Allah), beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds.

Anyone who studies their biographies with knowledge and insight, and sees what Allah bestowed upon them of virtues, will realize for certain that they are the best of people after the Prophets; there never was and there will never be anyone like them.

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,

“Do not revile the dead, because they have gone to what they sent on ahead.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6516)

Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan was one of the kings of the Muslims, who did good deeds and bad deeds. Scholars do not deny his good qualities or exaggerate about them. His criticism was found in the books of later historians during the time of the ‘Abbaasids who likewise used it as a state policy. One of the great tragedies of politics is that it can take people who in real life would be peaceful and loyal and loving friends and turn them into bitter enemies.

It’s a pity that transient politics has caused permanent rifts among Muslims. One annoying effect of extreme political polarization is that scholars on different sides can’t agree about facts. A scholar who diverges from the consensus of the people with whom he agrees politically is then not deemed credible. The people who rearrange their beliefs for it think that they are taking control of their lives. They don’t seem to realize that they are actually letting politicians control their lives who care nothing for and actually seek to divide people so they can conquer them. To permit these strangers to dictate your religion and fundamentally alter something so important as Islam is to give politicians more power and importance than they deserve. Thus, its only commitments with regard to values like Iman, Ibadah, Adl etc. that define your position.

Alhamdulillah

See also

• 10 things the Muslim world needs to rethink about
• Why are there sects in Islam?
• What is the status of Hadhrat Ameer Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan in Islam?