ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Abu Hurayra and the Falsification of Traditions (hadith) Text Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan ibn Harb played a major role in distorting the Islamic creed by paying writers to tailor design "traditions" to serve his interests and support his deviated views. He installed himself as ruler of Syria1 in 40 A.H./661 A.D. and ruled for twenty long years till his death at the age of seventy-eight.

Mu'awiyah declared himself "caliph" in Syria when he was 59 years old and assumed authority by sheer force. He was neither elected nor requested to take charge. He did not hide this fact; rather, he bragged about it once when he addressed the Kufians saying, "O people of Kūfa! Do you think that I fought you in order that you may establish prayers or give zakat or perform the pilgrimage?! I know that you do pray, pay zakat and perform the pilgrimage.

Indeed, I fought you in order to take command over you with contempt, and Allāh‎ has given me that against your wishes. Rest assured that whoever killed any of us will himself be killed. And the treaty between us of amnesty is under my feet."2 Shortly before his death, which took place in the month of Rajab of 60 A.H./May of 680 A.D., he managed to secure the oath of allegiance to his corrupt and immoral son, Yazid, as his successor.

He did so by intimidation once and once by buying loyalty and favors, spending in the process huge sums of money that belonged to the Muslims, funds of their baytul-mal , state treasury. The weak-minded majority of the Muslims of his time swore allegiance to him. This proves that the majority does not necessarily have to be right.

Imām‎ al-Hussain*(Alaiha al-Salam)* [Peace Be Upon Him] , together with a small band of devotees to the cause of truth, refused to bow their heads to the oppressive forces. Yet the worst type of mischief which Mu'awiyah committed was his embarking on the task of fabricating hadīth , traditions detailing what the Prophet of Islam*(Salla-a-Allahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wa Sallam) [Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him and His Household]* said or did.

Hadīth is one of the two sources of Islam’s legislative system, the Shari’a, the other being the Holy Qur’ān. Selecting Imām‎ ‘Ali*(Alaiha al-Salam)* [Peace Be Upon Him] as his lifetime’s adversary, Mu'awiyah soon found out that his cause was hopeless. ‘Ali’s merits were very well recognized by every Muslim while Mu'awiyah’s family and dismal conduct were the objects of their contempt.