ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Misbah-uz-Zulam, Roots of the Karbala’ Tragedy Ahlul Sunnat And Bani Abbas Caliphs Allamah Suyuti, Shah Abdul Haqq, Qastalani and Nawawi have included Bani Abbas Caliphs in the tradition of the twelve Imams. Apart from this, we find great praise and respect to Bani Abbas Caliphs among Ahlul Sunnat. Thus, when these Caliphs are such, how could their actions and words be not labeled as goodly innovation (Bidat Hasana)?

But some Caliphs seem to be openly Shiite! For example Saffah, the founder of the Abbasid Kingdom, Nasiruddin Billah, Qahirbillah, Qaim Billah, Mutee Billah and Taalebillah; all of them were Shias, without dissimulation. In such circumstances, it is necessary that their acts and words would also be considered ‘goodly innovation’ (Bidat Hasana).

These Caliphs were such that scholars and rich people were supporting them, judges were giving them oaths of allegiance and sermon reciters prayed for them in their sermons. They were reciting Friday and Eid prayers behind them. And in the words of Khatib Baghdadi, the scholars of that time considered them honest, trustworthy and jurisprudents (Faqih). Then the acts and deeds of these Shia Caliphs must also be considered ‘goodly innovation’.

In such a situation, Ahlul Sunnat will have to do many things against their beliefs, which they could not have done, if they followed their religion properly. And they would have to accept many things that those people could not have accepted while properly following their religion. Here, I will quote from Tarikhul Khulafa[^1] some innovative affairs of the period of Muizuddaulah. Ahlul Sunnat cannot avoid them.

They are: On the gates of the Shia Mosque in Baghdad curses were written on Muawiyah, Abu Bakr, Umar, ‘A’ysha, Uthman. One night someone erased these inscriptions. The chief officer of Muiyiddaula decided to have them re-written. The prime minister advised him that instead of those inscriptions, the following should be written: Curse be on those who did injustice on the Progeny of the Prophet, and curse be on Muawiyah.

Apart from this, Muyiuddaula made such an arrangement that on Ashura Day (10th of Muharram), all the shops and business establishments should be closed and nothing should be cooked. The Caliph also constructed domes and ordered women to come out wailing and mourning for Imam Husayn (a.s.).