Islam that emerged...

Islam that emerged, during their rule, bore only a miniscule outward resemblance to the Islam propagated by the Prophet (S). In the hands of the Banu Umayya, Islam was devoid of its true spirit, philosophy, and the concept of God and the moral and ethical life and standards taught by the Prophet (S).

Abu Sufyan, his son Mu’awiya and grandson Yazid abhorred the Divine commandments that demanded Muslims to lead a virtuous, pious, and peaceful life of coexistence with people holding different beliefs. Mu’awiya’s denial of the afterlife and accountability naturally led him to addiction to all sorts of vices and the temerity to commit great atrocities against the poor.

He harassed, persecuted, tortured or killed the companions of the Prophet (S) who resented his way of interpreting the way of life prescribed under Islam. He annihilated those who were even suspected to be sympathetic to Imam Ali (a.s.) or the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Cunning as he was, Mu’awiya carried out in public, the pretension of being a Muslim, lest the power he gained as the head of the Islamic state be wrenched away by the public.

Slowly, but systematically, he eroded minor injunctions of Islam, by letting go the transgressors and later rewarding those who could fallaciously justify their irreligious acts. He used the public funds not only to aggrandize himself but also to eliminate or silence any opposition and to purchase support. His appointees to higher posts had no knowledge of Islam or any other sciences, but were well-versed in every evil trade and act.

One of the governors, while drunken, offered four rak’as in the Morning Prayer instead of the obligatory two, and mockingly he told the congregation that, if they were not tired, he could perform several more. His son, Yazid used to make fun of Islam in the open court. Yazid’s conduct eroded the credibility and quality of Islam, causing great anxiety to the Imams (S) as well as the surviving companions of the Prophet (S) who were the true Muslims of the time.

Simon Oakley wrote:“Among my authorities, I find one who, when treating of Hasan’s death, asserted that, in the treaties between him and Mu’awiya, it has been stipulated that Mu’awiya should never appoint a successor so long as Hasan lived, but should leave, as Umar had before, the election in the hands of a certain number of persons to be nominated by Hasan.