Another Prophetic Prophecy regarding Mu’awiyah

Another Prophecy by the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) regarding Mu’awiyah, which was mentioned by him before Abu Dharr (a.s.); it is a detailed incident which is written by Ibn e Abil Hadeed in the ‘Sharh e Nehjul Balagha’, and as it holds such points that speak about the eating of Othman and feeding others, we would quote it in the following lines:

          The incident of Abu Dharr (a.s.) and his exile towards Rabza, is one of those acts regarding which Othman faced objections. This report is narrated by Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz e Jauhari from the book ‘Al Thaqifa’, from the saying of Abdur Razzaq, who narrated from his father, who narrated from Akrama, who narrated from Ibn e Abbas that he said:

          When Abu Dharr was sent on exile towards Rabza, Othman ordered to make this announcement between the people, that no one is permitted to interact with Abu Dharr or to bid him goodbye, and commanded Marwan to expel Abu Dharr from Madina.

          He obeyed his command and people refrained from accompanying Abu Dharr (a.s.) except Imam Ali (a.s.), his brother Aqeel, Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam Husain (a.s.) and Ammar e Yasir. This group accompanied him to bid him goodbye.

          Imam Hasan (a.s.) began the conversation with Abu Dharr. Marwan said to his holiness: O Hasan! Calm down! Don’t you know that the Ameer ul Momineen has prohibited everyone from interacting with this person? If you don’t know, know it now.

          At that time, Imam Ali (a.s.) attacked Marwan and whipped between the two ears of his ride and said: ‘Move away! May God burn you in hellfire!’

          Marwan returned before Othman with great fury and informed him of the matter which also got Othman infuriated over Imam Ali (a.s.).

          When Abu Dharr stood up, that group bid him goodbye. Zakwan, who was freed by Umm e Haani – the daughter of Abu Talib (a.s.), was the memorizer of Hadith, had a sharp memory and was along with Abu Dharr, he said: I memorized the conversation of that group with Abu Dharr. It was such:

          Imam Ali (a.s.) said:

                   ‘O Abu Dharr! You showed anger in the name of Allah therefore have hope in Him for whom you became angry. The people were afraid of you in the matter of their (pleasure of this) world while you feared them for your faith. Then leave to them that for which they are afraid of you and get away from them taking away what you fear them about. How needy are they for what you dissuade them from and how heedless are you towards what they are denying you. You will shortly know who is the gainer tomorrow (on the Day of Judgement) and who is more enviable. Even if these skies and earth were closed to some individual and he feared Allah, then Allah would open them for him. Only rightfulness should attract you while wrongfulness should detract you.’

          Then Imam Ali (a.s.) said to his companions: Bid your uncle goodbye!

          And said to Aqeel: Bid your brother goodbye.

At this time, Aqeel spoke and expressed himself this way: ‘O Abu Dharr! What shall we say as you know that we like you and you like us also. Fear the Almighty and strive towards piety as piety is the true path, and be patient as endurance is a blessing. Beware that if you count patience and endurance as difficult, it is from uneasiness, and if you count the duration of attaining peace as delayed, it is a form of hopelessness. Hence, keep the hopelessness and uneasiness away.’

          Then Imam Hasan (a.s.) said:

                O Uncle! If it wasn’t such that it is not appropriate for the one who bids goodbye to remain silent and for the one who bids farewell to return, my words would have shortened due to the greatness of this sorrow. Haven’t you seen what this nation has done to you? Now, release the world with this remembrance that you will be relieved at the end, and bear its difficulties with the hope of attaining that which will succeed it in the hereafter, and show endurance until you meet your Prophet (p.b.u.h.) while he is happy with you.

          Thereafter, Imam Husain (a.s.) spoke and expressed himself in this manner:

          O Uncle! Verily the Almighty possesses the power of changing what you see. ‘Everyday he is in some affair’. That nation kept their world from you and you kept your religion from them, and you are needless of what they have kept from you but they are in great need of what you have kept from them. Now, ask Allah for patience and assistance and seek refuge from Him as patience is of the religion and is honourable, and covetousness does not bring forth a single day and haste does not postpone or delay one’s death.

          Then Ammar e Yasir (a.s.) spoke furiously and expressed himself in this manner: May God keep that person away from peace who has put you in such fright and may He not provide shelter to the one who has put you in such distress. Indeed, By God, if you would have desired their world and cooperated with them, they would have provided you with it, and if you would have expressed your agreement to their actions, they would have liked you. Nothing has kept the people away from words and beliefs alike your words and belief, except for their satisfaction with the world and resentment with death.

          And they have shown inclination to the same thing towards which their ruler has inclined and ‘the kingdom belongs to the one who dominates’[1]. People have granted their religion to them and that nation has also granted their world to them and have faced detriment in both this world and the hereafter; verily it is the evident detriment.

          Abu Dharr (r.a.), who was a very old man, wept and said: O household of peace! May God shower mercy on you! Whenever I see you, I am reminded of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Neither did I have nor is there any source of relief and attachment in Medina apart from you. I have now become unbearable for Othman in Hijaz like I was unbearable for Mu’awiyah in Syria. Othman did not prefer to place me in the vicinity of his brother or maternal cousin in one of the two cities[2] as he felt that I would urge the people to revolt against them. He has sent me to a land where there will not be any supporter and defender except God, and by God, I do not require any companion but God and I do not fear any terror in His company.[3]

          Most of the biography writers and historians have reported that Othman firstly sent Abu Dharr to Syria on exile and after receiving complain from Mu’awiyah regarding him, he called him back to Medina, and when he began to make similar objections in Medina, he sent him to Rabza on exile.

          The actual incident is this: When Othman began to grant his treasuries to Marwan bin Hakam and others, and allocated a part of it for Zaid bin Thabit, Abu Dharr began to object before the people in the alleys and streets saying: “Give tidings to the infidels of deadly repercussions”, and he used to raise his voice and recite this verse:

( وَالَّذِیْنَ یَکْنِزُونَ الذَّہَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ یُنفِقُونَہَا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّہِ فَبَشِّرْہُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِیْمٍ)

‘And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment.’[4]

This report was regularly given to Othman but he remained silent. Thereafter, he sent one of his kins and his freed slave towards Abu Dharr and said: “Refrain from that which I have been reported about you”.

          Abu Dharr said: “Is Othman restricting me from the recitation of the Holy book and from objecting on someone who does not follow the divine commands? By God, if I please Allah (s.w.t.) by displeasing and infuriating Othman, it is much better and preferable for me than pleasing Othman in return of Allah’s fury”.

          This message highly infuriated Othman and he kept it in his mind but showed patience and endurance, until the day when Othman questioned while the people had gathered around him: “Is it legitimate for an Imam to seek loan from Allah’s wealth and return it when possible?”

          Ka’ab ul Ahbar said: There is no objection in this act.

          Abu Dharr said: O son of two Jews! Will you teach us our religion?

          Othman said to Abu Dharr: The troubles initiated by you for me and my friends have exceeded its limit, leave for Syria!

          And he sent him from Medina to Syria on exile. Abu Dharr objected on the actions of Mu’awiyah in Syria. One day, Mu’awiyah sent 300 dinars for him.

          Abu Dharr said to Mu’awiyah’s envoy: “If this wealth is given out of the account that was allotted for me, which I had been deprived of this year, then I accept it, and if it is a grant or donation, then I am needless to them, and he returned it.

          After that incident, Mu’awiyah laid the foundation of the green castle in Syria. Abu Dharr said to Mu’awiyah: If you have constructed this castle from God’s wealth, it is treachery, and if it is made out of your own wealth, it is extravagance.

          He used to say in Syria: By God! Such actions have come up which are not known to me and by God, they are neither in God’s book, nor in the traditions of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). By God! I can see that the divine light is diminishing and injustice is reviving, and I see the words of the truthful being denounced and the impious individuals being selected over them, and others are preferred over the ones who perform good deeds.

          Habib bin Muslima e Fehri said to Mu’awiyah: Abu Dharr will destruct Syria for you. Get back the people of Syria and if you wish to rule it, then think of a plan.

           Abu Othman Jahiz narrates from the saying of Jalam bin Jundal in his book ‘Al Sufiyaniya’ that he used to say:

          I was the servant of Mu’awiyah and was deployed in Qansareen and Awasim[5] in Othman’s reign. One day, I went to Mu’awiyah for asking him about my activities. Immediately, I heard a person cry out loudly at the gate of Mu’awiyah’s castle saying: “This herd of camels arrived to carry fire, o God, curse those who command the good deeds but do not perform it themselves and those who stop from undesirable deeds while they commit them”.

          The hairs of Mu’awiyah’s body got burnt and his skin changed colour with fury while he said: O Jalam! Do you recognise this crier?

          I said: Absolutely not.

          He said: Who can deliver me from Jundab bin Junada? He comes at the gate of my castle every day and cries out these same words loudly.

          Then he said: Bring Abu Dharr near me.

          Abu Dharr was brought near him while a group of people were dragging him! When he stood before Mu’awiyah, he said to him: O enemy of God and His Prophet! You come here every day and behave this way? Verily if I could kill one of the companions of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) without the permission of Ameer ul Momineen Othman, I would have certainly killed you, and will seek permission regarding you now.

          Jalam says: I wanted to see Abu Dharr as he was one of my tribe, I looked at him. He was a thin man with wheatish skin, bony face and bent back.

          He turned towards Mu’awiyah and said: “I am not the enemy of God and His Prophet, but both you and your father envy God and His Prophet (p.b.u.h.), you have accepted Islam apparently but concealed your infidelity, and the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) has damned you and cursed you several times that you will never be full, and I myself heard the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) say:

          ‘Whenever that man with big eyes and wide neck, who eats but does not get full, becomes the governor, this nation should refrain from him.’

          Mu’awiyah said: I am not that man.

          Abu Dharr said: You are indeed that very person. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) has informed me and at times when you passed by his holiness, I heard him say:

          ‘O Lord! Curse him and do not fill him with anything but dust.’

I have also heard the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) say:

          ‘Mu’awiyah’s final abode is nothing but Hell’.

Mu’awiyah laughed and commanded to imprison Abu Dharr and wrote to Othman regarding him.

          Othman wrote in reply to Mu’awiyah: Send Jundab towards me on the most mulish and disobedient ride and send someone with him who will whip him day and night!

          Mu’awiyah rode Abu Dharr on an old camel which did not have anything except a seat and sent him to Medina while the flesh of his thighs fell due to the sufferings of the journey.

          When Abu Dharr reached Medina, Othman sent a message for him: You may go where ever you wish to.

          He asked: May I go to Mecca?

          He answered: No.

          He asked: May I go to Bait ul Muqaddas?

          Othman answered: No.

          He asked: May I go to one of the two cities?

          He answered: No. I will send you to exile towards Rabza.

It is mentioned in the narration of Waqidi that: When Abu Dharr came before Othman, Othman read a couplet for him whose meaning was this: ‘May God never brighten the eyes of Qayn and never adorn him, and whenever we face each other, our greetings and salutations are fury and rage’.

          Abu Dharr said: I have not heard the name Qayn for myself ever.

It is mentioned in another narration that Othman shortened the name of Abu Dharr and said: O Junaidab! May God never brighten your eyes!

          Abu Dharr said: My name is Jundab and the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) named me Abdullah and I have chosen that name for myself which is kept by the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

          Othman said: You are the same person who thinks that we said: “Allah’s hand is fettered and He is poor whereas we are affluent?”

          Abu Dharr said: If you were not of such belief, you would have donated Allah’s wealth to His servants and I bear witness that I have heard the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) say:

          ‘When the sons of Abul Aas will reach thirty in number, they will store the wealth of Allah, enslave the servants of Allah, and make Allah’s religion a source of destruction’[6].

          Othman asked the ones present before him: “Have you heard this from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)?”

          They said: “No”.

          Othman said: “O Abu Dharr! Shame on You! Are you associating false statements towards the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)?”

          Abu Dharr faced the audience and said: “Are you not aware that I speak the truth?”

          They said: “No. By God!”

          Othman said: “Bring Ali near me.”

          Just when the Leader of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.), arrived, Othman said to Abu Dharr: “Narrate your Hadith regarding the sons of Abul Aas before Ali (a.s.)”.

          Abu Dharr repeated what he had said. Othman said to Ali (a.s.): “Have you heard this Hadith from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)?”

          He replied: “No. But Abu Dharr is doubtlessly speaking the truth.”

          Othman asked: “How are you aware of his truthfulness?”

          He replied: “I myself heard the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) say: ‘The sky has not shadowed over a man more truthful than Abu Dharr, and the earth has not borne someone more truthful than him[7]’.

          Those who were present said in one voice: All of us have heard this Hadith from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

          Abu Dharr said:” I narrate before you the Holy Prophet’s Hadith and you suspect me? I had not assumed that I would live such a life in which I would hear such things from the friends and companions of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).”

          Waqidi narrates in another report from his source Sahban, related to the Aslamis, that he used to say: I saw Abu Dharr the day he was brought before Othman, Othman said to him: Are you the one who committed these activities?

          Abu Dharr said: When I advise you, you think that I am committing treachery, and when I advised your friend, he thought the same.

          Othman said: You are lying. You like to initiate rebellious activities and you want it to occur, you have devastated Syria for us.

          Abu Dharr said: Follow the method of your two friends so that people don’t raise their fingers at you.

          Othman said: O motherless man! What have you to do with these matters?

          Abu Dharr said: By God! I do not have any reason for myself other than Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahi Anil Munkar.

          Othman became angry and said: “Guide me as to what should I do of this old liar? Should I beat him? Or throw him in the prison? Kill him or expel him from the Islamic lands? He has separated the Muslims”.

          Imam Ali (a.s.), who was present in the gathering, said:

          ‘I will guide you like the Believer of Aal e Fir’awn who said: ‘If he is a liar, he is solely responsible for his lies, and if he is truthful, it is possible that some of his truths reach you, as the Almighty never guides anyone who lies or commits extravagance’[8].

          Othman gave a stern response to Imam Ali (a.s.) and Imam (a.s.) also responded in the same manner and we will not mention them because they contain denunciation.

          Waqidi said: Thereafter, Othman prohibited the people from interacting and conversing with Abu Dharr and he spend a portion of his life in this manner. Then he was brought before Othman and when he stood in front of him, Abu Dharr said to him: Haven’t you observed the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), Abu Bakr and Umar, is your way of living similar to their way of living? Indeed you have oppressed me like the oppressors!

          Othman said: Go away from us and our lands.

          Abu Dharr said: Yes. Your company is extremely disheartening for me. Where should I go?

          He said: Where ever you wish.

          Abu Dharr asked: Shall I go towards Syria as it is the land of Jihad.

          Othman said: I called you back from Syria because you devastated that land, now you want me to send you there again?

          Abu Dharr asked: Shall I go to Iraq?

          He said: No. If you go towards Iraq, you will be living with people who object over their governors and leaders and comment over them.

          Abu Dharr asked: Shall I go towards Egypt?

          Othman said: No.

          Abu Dharr asked: Then where shall I go?

          Othman said: Towards the desert.

          Abu Dharr said: Do you want me to become a Bedouin Arab again after migration?

          He answered: Yes.

          Abu Dharr asked: Can I go towards the Bedouins of Najd?

          Othman said: Go towards Far East, go away from this path but do not cross Rabza.

          Abu Dharr left for Rabza.

          Waqidi narrates from Malik bin Abir Rijaal who narrates from Musa bin Maseera that Abul Aswad e Do’ili used to say:

          ‘I wanted to visit Abu Dharr and ask him about the reason behind his journey towards Rabza. I went to him and asked: Will you inform me if you are leaving Medina wilfully or if you were forced to leave?’

          He answered: I was near one of the borders of the Muslim land defending it. I returned to Medina with the thought that it is the place of migration and the city of my friends, and I came from Medina to this place as you see.

          Then he said: One night, when the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was alive, I was sleeping inside the mosque while the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) walked past me and hit me with his leg and said: I should not find you sleeping inside the mosque again.

          I said: May my parents be sacrificed on you! I was overcome by sleep and my eyes closed, therefore I slept inside the mosque.

          He said: What would you do when you will be expelled from this mosque and sent to exile?

          I said: In that case, I will go towards Syria as it is a holy land and a place for Jihad.

          He asked: What would you do if you are expelled from Syria?

          I said: I will return to this mosque.

          He asked: What would you do if you are sent to exile from this mosque again?

          I said: I will raise my sword and bring them down.

          He said: Shall I guide you towards a better act? Where ever they take you, go along with them. Be obedient and listen to them.

          I listened to them and obeyed them and even now, I listen to them and obey them and by God, Othman will meet God in such a condition that he will be indebted to me.[9]

          In the aforementioned incident, Abu Dharr narrated three narrations from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) regarding Mu’awiyah which prove that he was misguided, cursed, damned and the hellfire is his abode.

          Considering this, why does a section of the people who claim to follow the tradition of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) express their love for Mu’awiyah?

           Did the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) not say: ‘My nation should refrain from him’.

          Do they not believe in the words of the most truthful person, i.e. Abu Dharr?

          Should Othman have exiled Abu Dharr, who was one of the most beloved companions of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), from city to city, because he objected on him for donating the wealth from the public treasury to his son-in-law Marwan and others?

          Was this act of Othman an imitation of the Holy Prophet’s tradition? Why did Othman retain Mu’awiyah, who was cursed and damned by the Prophet several times, as the governor of Syria? Should Othman have torn his stomach apart, as per the saying of Holy Prophet, or should he have kept him as his governor?

          To know the answers to these questions, pay attention to the incident related to this prophecy: