Question
Some Ahbash members tried to convince me that those Sahaabah who fought against Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu anhu) did a sinful act. I showed them quotes of classical scholars who said that Mu'awiya's (Radhiallahu 'anhu) act against Ali (Radhiallahu 'anhu) was ijtihaadi, and one should be silent regarding the differences of the Sahaabah. They answered that non-prophet scholars can also make mistakes and that the act of Mu'awiya (Radhiallahu 'anhu) was not ijtihadi. Their basic argument is that according to usul if there is a nass (explicit Qur'aanic aayat/Hadith) then no ijtihad is possible and they quote the ayat which means: "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you ("Ulil Amri Minkum")..." The Ahbash say because Ali (Radhiallahu 'anhu) was from the "Ulul Amri Min-kum", and it is fardh to obey the "ulil amir min-kum", that it can never be just a mistake in ijtihad and has to be a sin according to the ayat. I couldn't refute their view on Mu'awiya (Radi Allaahu anhu) because of the ayat. How should we understand this ayat and how can one answer the Ahbash?
Answer
You could not refute the miscreants because you lack knowledge. When you lack knowledge, then do not become embroiled in argument and debate. Lack of knowledge during a debate creates doubts and even jars one's weak Imaan. The Ahbash are stupid, hence they produced a drivel argument.
Who was correct or who had erred is not the issue in the context of our answer to you. The issue is that Hadhrat Muaawiyah (Radhiyallahu anhu) was a senior Sahaabi, and a Scribe of Wahi, and morons should not wag their tongues against any Sahaabi even a junior one. It is sheer ignorance to compromise one's Aakhirah for the sake of something which at the minimum is futility, and it could be much worse. It could be gross disrespect for Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) because he has warned the Ummah not to wag their tongues like dogs against his Sahaabah. "All my Sahaabah are like the Stars (of Hidaayat).", said Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
What benefit will you and the Ahbash derive by sitting in judgment over Hadhrat
Muaawiyah
(Radhiyallahu anhu). Do you and the Ahbash have the authority to issue judgments against the Sahaabah? Those who categorically accuse this senior Sahaabi of sin – and we are not saying that the Sahaabah were Ma'soom -- themselves reek of sin and wallow in jahaalat. They display Shiah inclinations. The morons did not even understand the meaning of Ijtihaad. An Ijtihaadi error – a genuine intellectual error -- is quite possible in the interpretation of Nass. A Mujtahid can err in his interpretation of Nass. There are numerous Nusoos which are differently interpreted by the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen. If the Ulul Amr deviate from Siraatul Mustaqeem, there will be grounds for valid conflict, and such conflict will not necessarily be in rejection of the Nass- the Qur'aanic aayat which the Ahbash cite. It could be an error in understanding which is termed an Ijtihaadi error or a genine misunderstanding. This was precisely the case when some Aimmah Mujtahideen sided with Banu Abbaas against Bani Ummayyah who were the Ulul Amr of the time.
Your question is futile, spiritually harmful and of no practical and no intellectual benefit. On the contrary, one could fall into grave error by probing issues about which Allah Ta'ala will not question us. When Allah Ta'ala decides the dispute between Hadhrat Ali (Radhiyallahu anhu) and Hadhrat Muaawiyah (Radhiyallahu anhu) on the Day of Qiyaamah, neither will you, the Ahbash or us be called to testify in the Divine Court. But if any disrespect is displayed to any Sahaabi, the chances of being hauled into the Divine Court are real and fearful.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 23 No 08
- PDF page
- 7
Appears under YOU WILL NOT BE CALLED TO TESTIFY (approximate).