Befitting reply of Muawiyah (رضي الله عنه) when Roman Caesar offered him help to fight Ali (رضي الله عنه)
✍From Caesar of Rome to Katib e Wahi Ameer Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him),
We've come to know of what has occurred between you and Ali, and we see that you are more fitting for the Caliphate and so if you wish I will send you an army which will retrieve for you the head of Ali (رضي الله عنه).
✍From Ameer Muawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) to Heraql,
Two brothers disputing so what right do you have to intervene?
If you don't keep quiet I will send you an army
its forerunners near you
while its rearmost near me,
to retrieve your head which
I WOULD THEN GIVE TO ALI (رضي الله عنه)."
Source: Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah Wa An-Nihaya 8/122
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Virtues of Muawiyah رضي الله عنه & Response to Objections by Shia
Prophet prayed to protect Muawiyah from the Punishment
قال أبو مسهر عن سعيد بن عبد العزيز عن ربيعة بن يزيد عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي عميرة – وكان من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم – عن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – قال : ( اللهم علم معاوية الحساب وقِهِ العذاب ) .
Prophet Peace be upon him said ” O Allah ! Teach Muawya Math, and protect him from the Punishment ” [Ibne Asakir 16/684,686, Musnad Shameen 190]
a) Shaykh Al-AlBani Said: “The Chain is Good.according to me Rout is Strong, Narrators are trustworthy and are those of Sahih Muslim except Ibne Abi Omair who is Companion(of Prophet peace be upon him) Some other routs say “”Allah, make him (Muawiya) guided, a guider, and guide people through him”. (Silsilah As Saheeha Vol 7 page no: 690 hadith no: 3227)
b) Ibn Asakir authenticated in [Tareekh madinatul dimashq (59/106), Shaykh Nasir ud din al-Albani Quoted in Silsilah as-Saheeha Vol 7 Page 694 hadeeth no: 3227]
c) Ibn Kathir He agreed with the authentication of Ibn Asakir and praised him for that. [al Bidaya wal Nihaya 8/160]
d) ad-Dahabi said:
هذا الحديث رواته ثقات، لكن اختلفوا في صحبة عبد الرحمن، والأظهر أنه صحابي،
This hadeeth has trustworthy narrators, but there is difference of opinion on companionship of Abdul Rahman, but is is more correct that he was a sahabi. [Tareekh al Islam 4/309]
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Prophet prayed to make Muawiyah guided, a guider, and guide people through him
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُسْهِرٍ عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمِيرَةَ، وَكَانَ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ ” اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا وَاهْدِ بِهِ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) said to Muawiyah (r.a): “O Allah, make him (Muawiya ) guided, a guider, and guide people through him”.[Imam Bukhari in Tareekh Al Kabeer 5/240, Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Shaykh Al-Albani Authenticated in (Sahih Tirmidhee 3/236)]
a) Imam Tirmidhee quoted this under the chapter “Manaqib Muawiya bin Abi Sufiyan RadhiAllahanho” Then he said “Hasan Ghareeb”
b) ad-Dahabee said:
حَسَّنَهُ: التِّرْمِذِيُّ.
“Tirmidhee said its Hasan” [Seray Ailam an-Nubala 3125]
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Muawiyah (رضي الله عنه) was a Faqih
Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: Somebody said to Ibn ‘Abbas,
“Can you speak to the chief of the believers Muwaiya, as he does not pray except one Rak’a as Witr?”
Ibn ‘Abbas replied, “He is a #faqih (i.e. a learned man who can give religious verdicts) .