It is necessary for us to pause before this apology...

It is necessary for us to pause before this apology, that we may come to know its reality and rightness. If we carefully consider it, we will conclude that such a speech is incorrect, does not agree with the Islamic law, and does not serve the community’s interests. The reasons for that are: Firstly, the properties he gave to his family were not his own, that he might have a choice in spending them on his relatives.

Rather they belonged to the Muslims; therefore, it was incumbent on him to spend them on them. The ruler had no right to act freely in respect of them. For example, once, Aqeel went to Yathrib. He was poor and was in need of his brother Imam Ali (a.s). He asked him to settle his debts. So the Imam asked him: How many dinars? Forty thousand (dinars). I do not have them. Be patient until I receive my pay, and I will give it to you. [^1] Al-Ansab, vol. 5, p. 28.

-The public treasuries are at your hand, while you delay me to your pay. - Do you order me to give you the Muslims’ wealth, while they have entrusted me with it?[^1] This is the speech of Islam, this is its justice, and this is its equality. It makes no distinction between the near and the far; all people are equal in pay and other than it. Secondly, the members of his family, to whom he was charitable, were worthy of boycott and deprivation. They opposed Islam and battled against it.

They are the cursed tree in the Qur’an. Ibn Abi Hatam has narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar, who said: “The Prophet (a.s) said: ‘As if I see the sons of al-Hakam bin al-‘Aas on the pulpits. They look like apes. So Allah revealed: And we did not make the vision which We showed you but a trial for men and the cursed tree in the Qur’an as well.

He has meant al-Hakam and his sons.”[^2] A’isha said to Marwan: “I have heard Allah’s Apostle (a.s) say to your father: ‘Abi al-‘Aas bin Umayya, you are the cursed tree in the Qur’an.”[^3] Allah has prohibited showing love toward His enemies and made it forbidden to be kind to them.

He, the Most High, has said: You shall not find a people who believe in Allah and the latter day befriending those who act in opposition to Allah and His Apostle, even though they are their (own) fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kinsfolk.[^4] Uthman loved the Umayyads very much.