You, too, will test me, and see whether you approve and...

You, too, will test me, and see whether you approve and praise my deeds or consider them unworthy and reproach me." Mu'awiyah said: "No, with God's Will, I shall praise you."346 345. What Mu'awiyah meant was that during the Friday prayer sermons and official gatherings, 'Uthman should be praised from the pulpit, and Imam 'Ali should be blamed and spoken ill of. at-Tabari 6/108, events of year 51 of the Hijrah, and Ibn al-Athir 3/202.

Al-Mada'ini writes in his book of "al-Ahdath": After he became caliph, he wrote a decree to all his governors and officials to the effect that whoever speaks of the excellence and virtue of Abu Turab ('Ali) and his family, it will mean his having no respect for his own life and property, and will lose his blood! Meanwhile the people of Kufah, who loved the Alawite house, suffered more than others.

Once again Mu'awiyah wrote to his agents in all parts of the realm, not to accept the testimony of the Shi'ites of 'Ali and his household, and to find out those who were attached to 'Uthman and those who spoke of his fine qualities in the land under their administration, in order to show them favors and a greater respect. Then these agents were ordered to write down for him the words of such givers of praise together with their names and their parents' names.

This order was carried out to such an extent and so many traditions were forged by the self-sold and worldly individuals for the sake of worldly profits, that 'Uthman's virtues were given no bounds. For this purpose Mu'awiyah offered money, robes of honour, property and everything else under his control.

Every unknown and worthless fellow who found his way to Mu'awiyah to offer a word or tradition in praise of 'Uthman, was shown much favour, and his name was recorded and he was granted a position in the governmental organization!

After some time another decree was issued by Mu'awiyah to his agents, stating: "As the narrations about 'Uthman's excellence have become plentiful and are heard in every city, on the receipt of my letter invite the people to recite the virtues of the Prophet's companions and early caliphs, without any mention of Abu Turab's qualities except something to his detriment.