He was responsible for a reign of darkness and corruption...

He was responsible for a reign of darkness and corruption; he drank wine, acted in a despicable way and used force to keep government of the Muslims in his hands. Mu'awiyah's mother was one of the women who openly carried out vile and despicable acts against the Muslims. She used poisoned honey to kill the Muslims fighting the way of truth and the faithful supporters of Ali (a s ).

Malik al-Ashtar, the commander of the Egyptian army, appointed by Ali (a s), also died shahid (in the way of Allah) after eating some honey poisoned by Mu'awiyah's mother. Mu'wiyah engaged a number of thugs and ruffians to attack the houses of Ali's friends and anyone who was fighting in the way of truth. Furthermore, he ordered them to seize the Muslims' wealth and to rape and harass the womenfolk.

In the name of Islam, he changed many divine commandments and many of the directives given to the Muslim community by the Prophet. During his government and imperial rule, corruption, debauchery drinking, gambling and plundering of the Muslim's wealth became a way of life. The life and property of a Muslims was into safe from Mu'awiyah and his behaviour; It was he who played a part in the plot to kill Ali (a s), and later had Imam Hasan killed.

During Mu'wiyah's rule, especially during the caliphate of Uthman, the military commanders, ministers of state and administrative officials plundered the baytul-mal (the public treasury of the Muslims community) and used bribes and extortion to achieve their ends. Mu'wiyah outstripped all his contemporaries in matters of guile and treachery, deceit and trickery. His breast burned with revenge and hate for the Muslims who were seeking the truth and trying to establish justice.

He held secret meetings in which he ordered his military officers and spies to make trouble for these most devoted to Allah and the cause of Islam. It was thus decided the Ali(a s) and his sons be subject to the greatest harassment. Mu'wiyah in his usual treacherous way showed Uthman's robe and his wife Na'ilah's two fingers ( which had been cut off during an attack on his own followers) to an assembly of people who had gathered in the mosques.

By this action, he hoped to instigate them against Ali (a s ) and his supporters. He ordered many of the village people and even some of Ali's partisans who had entice away with bribes to shout Islamic slogans and to act in every way as if they supported the cause of Islam.