Their situations from the Hadith during the reigns of `Umar ibn al-Khattab...

Their situations from the Hadith during the reigns of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, `Uthman ibn `Affan, and Mu`awiyah ibn Abi-Sufyan were very clear; they, without any hesitation, backed these rulers as regards the prohibition from recording the Hadith. In addition, the situations of Abu-Sufyan and Mu`awiyah, his son, against the Holy Prophet and the Divine Message encourages us to doubt the rulers’ intentions as regards the recordation of the Hadith.

As soon as `Uthman ibn `Affan came to power, Abu-Sufyan visited the tomb of Hamzah -the Holy Prophet’s uncle and the master of martyrs- and kicked it with his foot saying, “See, Abu-`Imarah!

The matter for which you had unsheathed your sword against us has now become in the hands of our boys who are playing with it as they like!”[^5] The following narration has been reported by al-Mughirah: When Mu`awiyah visited al-Kufah, al-Mughirah pleased him to stop persecuting the Hashimites lest he would be mentioned badly in the future. Answering him, Mu`awiyah said, “Too far and impossible is this! What sort of mention that I wish for myself in the future?

When the son of (the tribe of) Taym (namely Abu-Bakr) came to power, he ruled justly and did what he had done; but as soon as he perished, his mention died with him, except that there may exist an individual who says, ‘Abu-Bakr was so-and-so!’ Then the son of (the tribe of) `Adiy (namely `Umar ibn al-Khattab) came to power, tried his best, and ruled for ten years.

As soon as he perished, his mention died with him, except that there may exist an individual who says, ‘`Umar was so-and-so!’ On the contrary, the name of the son of Abu-Kabshah (i.e. the Holy Prophet) is declared loudly five times a day! (i.e. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ) Which deed will then perpetuate and which mention will remain after that? Woe to you!

Work on burying this mention!”[^6] It has been also narrated that when Mu`awiyah arrived in al-Kufah, he declared, “I have not fought you to make you perform the prayers, observe the fasting, carry out the Hajj, or defray the Zakat!

I have already known that you are doing these deeds; rather I have fought you in order to domineer over you.”[^7] How is it then logic to refer in the religious laws to such a source about whom the Holy Prophet had a bad impression or such people who had taken such a unenthusiastic situation from the Divine Message? Moreover, some of these people had been accursed by the Holy Prophet by names!