*The Umayyad Practice of Cursing Imam ‘Ali Bin Abi Talib*
The cursing of Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib was an institutionalized practice introduced by Mu’awiyah b. Abi Sufyan during his caliphate, as a political strategy to further marginalize, belittle, and demean Imam ‘Ali – whom he had viewed simply as a political opponent – to the public eye, particularly in Sham [Levant/Syria]. This practice became integrated top-down into Umayyad society, such that it became a ritual slogan that would be commonly uttered in order to prove loyalty to the government. Muslims would be commanded to follow suit in doing so by their Umayyad governors/Ameers in order to prove their allegiance to the state.
It’s mentioned in Sahih Muslim (Book 31, Hadith 5915):
‘Aamir b. Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas reported on the authority of his father, that Mu’awiyah b. Abi Sufyan appointed Sa’d as the Governor and interrogated him saying: “What prevents you from cursing Abu Turab (Sayidna ‘Ali)?” Whereupon Sa’d said: “It is because of three things which I remember Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said about him that I would never curse him…”
Imam Ibn Hajar mentioned in Fath’ul Bari (7/74) another version from Abu Ya’la, where Sa’d replied: “Even if a saw 🪚 was placed on my neck to curse ‘Ali, I would never curse him!”
Al-Qurtubi mentions in al-Mufhem (20/25):
“The statement of Mu’awiyah to Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas, “What prevents you from cursing Abu Turab”, indicates that the first generation of Umayyads would curse and belittle Ali.”
Ibn Taymiyyah also commented on the Hadith in his Minhaj al-Sunnah (5/42):
“…While the narration about Sa’d (relates to) when Mu’awiyah ordered him to curse ‘Ali but he [Sa’d] refused…”
Ibn Taymiyyah also mentions in Minhaj al-Sunnah (6/201):
“The followers (shi’a) of ‘Uthman (the Umayyads) used to curse ‘Ali openly from the Mosque pulpits”
Ibn Majah mentions in his Sunan (1/45), as does Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf (7/496):
“On his way to Hajj, Sa’d [b. Abi Waqqas] met Mu’awiyah and Sa’d’s companions mentioned ‘Ali, upon which Mu’awiyah badmouthed/cursed him out. Sa’d became angry and asked, ‘Why do you say such things?’”
Al-Albani stated in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah (1/26): “<Cursed him> [fa nâla minhû] means Mu’awyiah cursed ‘Ali and spoke ill about him.”
Ibn Kathir mentions in al-Bidayah wa’l Nihayah (8/285):
“When Marwan was the governor of Mu’awiyah in Madina, he would curse ‘Ali every Friday from the pulpit.”
Ibn Kathir also narrates (Al-Bidayah wa’l Nihayah, Volume 7 page 341):
When Mu’awiya went for Hajj, he held the hand of Sa’d bin Abi Waqas and said to him: ‘Oh Abi Ishaq! We are the people who abandoned Hajj because of wars until we almost forgot some of its laws, so we performed Tawaf (circumambulation) to imitate your Tawaf’.
When they completed (the hajj), he (Muawiya) entered upon him (Sa’d) in a conference room and sat with him on his sofa, then he (Muawiya) mentioned Ali bin Abi Talib and cursed him. He (Sa’d) said: “You brought me to your house and made me sit on your sofa and then you have begun to curse Ali?!”
Al-Suyuti mentions in Tarikh al-Khulafa’ (p. 199): “Marwan was the amir (governor) over us, and he would curse ‘Ali every Friday from the Mosque pulpit, whilst Imam al-Hasan would listen and offer no reply”
Al-Dhahabi mentions in Tarikh al-Islam (2/288):
“Marwan b. al-Hakam used to curse ‘Ali in the Sermon (khutbah) of Friday.”
Also narrated in Sahih Muslim (4/1874):
The Governor of Medina – who was one of the members of the house of Marwan – called Sahl b. Sa’d, and ordered him to curse ‘Ali. But Sahl refused to do so. The governor said: “If you don’t want to curse ‘Ali [verbatim], then just say ‘O God, curse Abu Turab’ (i.e. the nickname of ‘Ali).” Sahl said: “‘Ali did not like any name for himself better than Abu Turab, and ‘Ali used to become very happy when somebody would call him Abu Turab.”
Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal cites in his book Kitab al-‘ilal wa Ma’rifat al-Rijal (3/176):
From ‘Umayr b. Ishaq, who said: “Marwan was our Ameer (governor) for six years and he used to curse ‘Ali every Friday! Then he was removed and Sa’id b. al-‘Aas was hired for two years and he did not curse him. After him, Marwan was rehired and he (again) cursed him.”
Imam Ahmad noted: “The chain of narration is Sahih and may Allah help us.”
Many other classical sources from our scholars cite these sad and unfortunate events, and list similarly for other Umayyad governors of the first generation such as al-Mughira b. Shu’bah, Busr b. Artat, Ziyad b. Abih, and others who all partook in the cursing of Sayidna ‘Ali – upon him be God’s Pleasure and Peace.
The practice of cursing ‘Ali b. Abi Talib actually became a ritualized method of expressing loyalty and allegiance to the Umayyad government!
Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (v. 39, p. 228) narrated about the pro-‘Alid hadith narrator ‘Atiyyah al-‘Awfi:
“‘Atiyyah participated in the revolt of In al-Ash’ath then fled to Färs. Al-Hajjaj wrote to Muhammad b. al-Qásim al-Thaqafi [the following instructions]:
“Send for ‘Atiyyah, if he curses ‘Ali b. Abi Talib, [fine], if not, flog him 400 times and shave his head and beard.”
Muhammad b. al-Qasim sent for ‘Atiyyah and read al-Hajjaj’s letter to him. ‘Atiyyah refused to do [as requested], so Muhammad had him flogged 400 times and had his head and beard shaven.”
Here, the curse is used as a test of loyalty to the Umayyads!!!
Elsewhere, Ibn Jarir al-Tabari also records (v. 39, p. 212):
According to Ibn Sa’d – Malik b. Ismail – Sahl b. Shu’ayb al-Nihmi – his father – al-Minhäl, that is, In ‘Amr, who said:
I came to ‘Ali b. al-Husayn and asked him: “How are you? May God keep you in good state.” Whereupon he said:
“I never thought that a city notable like you would ignore our condition. Since you do not realize it or know, I shall tell you. We became among our people like the Children of Israel among the people of Pharaoh, as the latter used to kill the sons of the former and let their women live. *It has become so that favor is curried with our enemy by cursing or swearing at our leader and master on the pulpits.*….”
These are just a FEW samples and examples. There are many others.
People always ask where “Muslims went wrong” and “why we are where we are today”. There’s no simple answer to this of course.
However, I do believe history helps shed some light on that if we choose to read it with academic honesty/integrity and some transparency with regards to figures.
Cursing Sahaba is a NO and indeed, a major tragedy that befell this Ummah.
However, I ask, what about the first institutionalized practice of cursing Sahaba? What about the Umayyad cursing of Sahaba such as the grand Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib? What do we have to say about that? Is that not just as much “Rafidhism” to us than the cursing of Shaykhayn is? If not, then how consistent are our standards of truth/justice? Because situations are of two sides – Haqq & Baatil. So where do we stand on this?
Just some things to reflect on…
May Allah help us!
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 