The First Alteration: The exception of Jesus Christ (as) and John the Baptist (as) The Second alteration: distortion of the hadiths in favor of the Shaykhayn (Abu Bakr and ‘Umar) 1. The hadiths recounted by al-Tirmidhi The first chain of transmission The second chain of transmission The third chain of transmission 2. The hadith recounted by Ibn Majah The first chain of transmission The second chain of transmission 3. The hadith narrated by Haythami 4. The hadith recounted by Dulabi 5. The hadith recounted by ‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal 6. The hadiths recounted by Khatib Baghdadi The first chain of transmission The second chain of transmission The third chain of transmission The fourth chain of transmission The hadith recounted by Ibn Hajar The hadith recounted by Ibn al-Najjar The hadith recounted by Ibn ‘Asakir The hadith recounted by Ibn Abi Shaybah The first chain of transmission The second chain of transmission The third chain of transmission The fourth chain of transmission The hadith recounted by Ibn Abi Hatam The hadith narrated by Tabarani The first chain of transmission The second chain of transmission The hadith narrated by Ibn Qutaybah The problem with the text of this hadith Abu Sufiyan, Yazid’s Grandfather Abu Sufiyan’s enmity towards the Holy Prophet (S) Abu Sufiyan’s conversion to Islam Abu Sufiyan’s conspiracies against Islam Denial of the existence of resurrection and hereafter The curse of the Holy Prophet (S) upon Abu Sufiyan Hadrat ‘Ali’s (as) viewpoint of Abu Sufiyan Mu‘awiyah before accepting Islam Mu‘awiyah’s antagonism against Islam Mu‘awiyah and his great [kabirah] sins Mu‘awiyah dranked alcoholic beverages Mu‘awiyah altered the practice of obligatory rituals Failure to recite the traveler’s prayer on journeys Friday Congregational Prayers done on Wednesday Mu‘awiyah provides verdict opposed to the Qur’an Innovations due to enmity with Imam ‘Ali (as) Mu‘awiyah and abandonment of divine limits Mu‘awiyah wore clothing that was prohibited Ziyad attributed to Abu Sufiyan Coercion used to get allegiance for Yazid Mu‘awiyah’s rebellion against the righteous leader Mu‘awiyah’s heinous crimes against the Shi‘ahs Mu‘awiyah’s crimes after the peace settlement Mu‘awiyah himself cursed Imam ‘Ali (as) Mu‘awiyah’s purpose for annihilating Bani Hashim a. Obstruction of knowledge of the virtues of the (as) b. Initiating enmity and cursing of Imam ‘Ali (as) The Holy Prophet (S) forbade the cursing ‘Ali (as) The judgment for anyone who curses Imam ‘Ali (as) The Illegitimacy of Yazid’s Caliphate Evidence regarding the illegitimacy of Yazid’s caliphate 1. The Imamate of Husayn ibn ‘Ali (as) 2. Imam al-Husayn’s (as) infallibility 3. Allah’s Prophet (S) is pleased with al-Husayn (as) 4. al-Husayn (as), the master of the youths of Paradise 5. The continuity and stability of the Prophet’s (S) mission depended heavily on al-Husayn’s (as) uprising 6. Peace treaty with Imam al-Hasan and the caliphate 7. Mu‘awiyah himself was not the legitimate caliph 8. The absence of allegiance for Yazid The supporters of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) uprising Yazid, Instigator of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) Death Ibn Taymiyyah’s defence of Yazid 1. Yazid appointed Ibn Ziyad governor of Kufah 2. Yazid and Ibn Ziyad were in constant contact 3. Yazid’s order: allegiance or death 4. Yazid’s second letter to Walid ibn ‘Aqabah 5. Exposing Imam al-Husayn (as) to death 6. While in Mecca, Imam al-Husayn (as) foretold that the enemies of Allah were planning to kill him 7. Yazid issued the order to put Imam al-Husayn (as) to death 8. Ibn Ziyad’s letter to Imam al-Husayn (as) 9. Ibn ‘Abbas’s letter to Yazid 10. Yazid publicly boasted about killing Imam al-Husayn (as) 11. Ibn Ziyad, highly regarded after killing al-Husayn (as) 12. Declaration of one present in Yazid’s court 13. Yazid was informed about everything 14. Yazid’s son admitted his father’s guilt 15. Ibn Ziyad was not censured for killing Imam al-Husayn (as) 16. Ibn Ziyad retained his high governmental post 17. Yazid sent rewards for ‘Ubayd Allah in Ziyad 18. Yazid protected ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad from criticism 19. ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad was Yazid’s courtier and advisor 20. Choosing one of two options 21. Imam al-Sajjad (as) made the truth clear 22. Yazid expressed pleasure at killing Imam al-Husayn (as) 23. Yazid’s actions correspond with his personality 24. Yazid in the viewpoint of Sunni scholars [‘ulama’] 1. Mu‘awiyah’s last will and testament to Yazid 2. Yazid exonerated himself of the killing of al-Husayn (as) 3. The long distance between Sham and Kufah Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah and the Massacre of the People of Medina Origins of the uprising of the people of Medina Karbala and the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (as) Political chaos and disorganization Confrontation between Sham army and forces of Medina Massacre and looting of property in Medina Some well-known people who were executed Mourning and Paying Homage to Allah’s Awliya’ Different types of religious rites and ceremonies Reasons for the preference for holding ceremonies A. Verses of the Holy Qur’an that permit ceremonies B. Analogous verses permit celebrating signs of Allah Implementation according to common sense and wisdom 1. Only the Divine Legislator can originate laws 2. The necessity of delegation of auhtority by Allah 3. The halal (lawful) will be mistaken to be haram (unlawful) and vice versa 4. This amounts to playing with basic doctrines of shari‘ah 5. Extension of the concept to all instances 6. Desecration of fundamentals of Islam and pillars of the shari‘ah 7. Some rites and rituals are harmful Mourning from the Viewpoint of Reason 1. Mourning and the revival of the culture