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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Muawiya Mu'awiya Asks Sa'd To Curse Hadhrath 'ali (as) We read in Sahih Muslim, Chapter of Virtues of , Section of Virtues of Ali - see Chapter p1284, Tradition #5916 Muawiyah, the son of Abu Sufyan, gave order to Sa'd, and told him: "What prevents you that you are refraining from cursing Abu Turab (nickname of Ali)?" Sa'd replied: "Don't you remember that the Prophet said three things about (the virtue of) Ali?

So I will never curse Ali." The Nasibi adherents of Mu'awiya have sought to redefine it to protect their Imam. Abu Sulaiman is the perfect example who cites the pathetic defence of Nawawi, namely that: Ansar.org states:"This hadeeth does not mean that Mu'awiyah ordered Sa'ad to insult Ali. But, as it is obvious, Mu'awiyah wanted to know the reason that prevented Sa'ad from insulting Ali...

Al-Nawawi says: "Mu'awiyah's saying does not declare that he ordered Sa'ad to insult Ali, but asked him for the reason that prevented him from insulting. As if Mu'awiyah was saying to him: "Have you refrained from insulting Ali as a result of piety, fear or anything like that?

If it was as a result of piety and veneration to refrain from insulting, then you are rightful and if it were other than that, then there would be another answer." Or it might be that Sa'ad was in a group of people who insults Ali and he did not insult Ali with them, and could not prevent them and controverted them so Mu'awiyah asked him this question.

They said: "And it may have another explanation, that what prevented you from making Ali wrong in his thought and opinion, and to show to people our good opinion and thought and that Ali was wrong?" [Ibid. p250-252] Clearly this is a case of defending the un-defendable. Why would Mu'awiya want to know why Sad did not insult Ali? Was this a normal practice for the Muslims of the time? If so who CURSED Ali (as)?

The above tradition clearly indicates that Mu'awiya was surprised why he was refraining from cursing. Mu'awiya asks this question with surprise "What prevents you" - you only ask a matter in this way if you are surprised if for example an individual is acting in a manner that is contrary to a norm / precedent. I will give you an example; in the West it is enshrined in law and customary to wear a seat belt when you go out driving.

If I act contrary to the act it in front of my acquaintances a common reaction would be or them to ask "What prevents you from wearing a seat belt?". Why?