Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted by Mufti Mohammed Desai on 15/06/2023
In this Majlis, we will discuss Mushaajaraat-e-Sahaabah, differences of the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum. This refers to the differences that arose amongst the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum. The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum experienced major differences between themselves, to the extent that it led to war.
Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu on one side, with Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha on the other side in the Battle of Jamal. Then, Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu on one side and Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu on the other side in the Battle of Siffeen. Because of these differences, there are people who use these incidents to turn others away from the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum. Yet, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam referred to the Sahaabah as guiding stars; whomever you follow, you will be rightly guided.
وَعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ – قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – يَقُولُ ( «سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَنِ اخْتِلَافِ أَصْحَابِي مِنْ بَعْدِي، فَأَوْحَى إِلَيَّ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ! إِنَّ أَصْحَابَكَ عِنْدِي بِمَنْزِلَةِ النُّجُومِ فِي السَّمَاءِ، بَعْضُهَا أَقْوَى مِنْ بَعْضٍ، وَلِكُلٍّ نُورٌ، فَمَنْ أَخَذَ بِشَيْءٍ مِمَّا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنِ اخْتِلَافِهِمْ فَهُوَ عِنْدِي عَلَى هُدًى» ) قَالَ: وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: ( «أَصْحَابِي كَالنُّجُومِ، فَبِأَيِّهِمُ اقْتَدَيْتُمُ اهْتَدَيْتُمْ» ) . رَوَاهُ رَزِينٌ.
Lessons derived from the differences of the Sahaabah
Hadrat Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Sahib mentions regarding these differences among the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum, that there are many Masaa’il that are extracted from here.
During the time of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, if any person rebelled against Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he would become Murtad instantly. Based on this, how would they deal with a person who opposes the Khalifah, after the demise of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Each Khalifah had his share of challenges, and the challenges of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu was the opposition to his Khilaafah.
Battle of Jamal
In the Battle of Jamal, 20 000 people lost their lives. Despite their differences, they exuded love and respect for each other. At the start of the Battle, Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu stepped forward and called for Hadrat Zubayr Radiallahu Anhu to come forward. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu embraced Hadrat Zubayr Radiallahu Anhu and asked him, “What has brought you to this day where you are facing against me?”
Hadrat Zubayr Radiallahu Anhu replied, “We want revenge for the death of Hadrat Uthmaan Radiallahu Anhu.” It is said that they spoke with each other for a while before returning to their armies. This depicts how clean their hearts were that even in Battle, they respected each other. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu was victorious in this Battle and took many captives. Some Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum were of the opinion that these captives should be killed. But Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu took Bay’ah (pledge of allegiance) from them and forgave them.
Some suggested that they be treated as captives. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu retorted saying, “Who from amongst you is willing to take your mother Hadrat Aisha as a captive?” Collectively they replied with Istighfaar. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu then told them that if they can’t take Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha as a captive, how then can they expect him to take these Sahaabah as captives, and he too made Istighfaar.
Aisha Radiallahu Anha falls from her camel
During the Battle, Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha fell from her camel. Immediately Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu sent someone to check on her and see whether she was hurt. Muhammad bin Abu Bakr, who was Hadrat Aisha’s brother, got up and tended to her even though he was on the side of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu himself then goes to Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha and checks on her, and seeks forgiveness on her behalf from Allah Ta’ala by saying, “May Allah Ta’ala forgive you.”.
Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha in turn says to Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu, “May Allah Ta’ala forgive your errors as well that we have come to war with each other.” This was the interaction between the opposing armies in the battlefield. Hadrat Sheikh says these battles had nothing to do with money, popularity or tribalism. This was a sign of their Imaan e Quwwat that, despite their differences they could still recognize each other’s status and grant them honour accordingly.
Muhammad bin Talha Radiallahu Anhu was martyred. While lying on the ground, Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu speaks to him before passing away, ” May Allah Ta’ala have mercy on you. You were that person who spent the entire night in Salaah. And during the hottest days, you would fast.” They were on opposing sides, yet Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu made Dua for him.
Killer of Ali Radiallahu Anhu
The man responsible for killing Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu was ibn Muljid. He came to Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu with some need. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu fulfilled his need. After fulfilling his need, Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu informs the Sahaabah that, that was the man who was going to kill him. The Sahaabah questioned why not kill him. Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu replied, ” If I kill him, who will kill me? So let him go.”
In another narration, Hadrat Ali says, ” It isn’t permissible for me to kill him yet.”
When the moment came where Hadrat Ali’s moment of death was near, he instructed the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum to feed him well and give him a comfortable place to sleep. But when I’m martyred then they may kill him for taking my life unjustly.
During the Battle of Siffeen, many were martyred. Such was their condition that, the opposing sides would attend the Janaazah of those who were killed. Their hearts were free of malice.
If a person needed a Mas’ala to be answered, and they were aware of a learned person on the opposing side, they did not hold back from asking. This shows their sincerity in fighting for the Pleasure of Allah.
Caesar looking for an opportunity
Caesar of Rome thought that he found an opportune moment to attack the Muslims when he heard of the differences between Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu and Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu. Hadrat Muawiyah wrote a letter to Caesar stating that if he had to ever go ahead with his plan of attack, he will immediately reconcile with Hadrat Ali and send a Jamaat of young people to Constantinople, and he will present himself as well. He wrote further that he would burn his country to ashes and discard it like rubbish.
In another narration it is mentioned that Caesar wrote to Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu offering to send an army to fight with him against Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu. Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu replied, “O Christian dog! You are intending to take advantage of the differences between me and Ali Radiallahu Anhu. If you have to look at Ali Radiallahu Anhu unkindly or unjustly, I will be the first one to dig out your eyes!” This was their love for each other that despite going to war with each other, no Kaafir would be allowed to exploit the situation.
Ali Radiallahu Anhu is superior
Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu said of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu, “Ali is better than me; Ali is far more superior to me; my only difference with him is that Ali is not taking Qisaas (retribution) for the murder of Hadrat Uthmaan Radiallahu Anhu. The day Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu kills the murderers of Hadrat Uthmaan Radiallahu Anhu, I will be the first of everyone in Shaam to pledge allegiance to Ali Radiallahu Anhu.” This again highlights their sincerity in actions done solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
Referring the matter to Ali Radiallahu Anhu
During the era of Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu, a person by the name of Ibn Khaybari came home one day and found his wife involved in Zinah with someone. He went into such a fit of rage that he killed that person.
The matter was brought before Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu where they asked if killing this man was permissible. The ruling was that the killer’s life must be taken in return. Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu was uncertain how to resolve this matter, so he wrote a letter to Abu Moosa Ash’ari Radiallahu Anhu to ask Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu to pass a verdict.
Hadrat Meerad bin Thamurah Radiallahu Anhu was on the side of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu. After the demise of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu, he went to visit Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu. Hadrat Muawiya Radiallahu Anhu asked him to mention some Fadheelat (virtues) of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu. The Sahaabi mentioned many virtues of Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu after which Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu started crying. He cried so much, his beard became wet and he wiped it with his sleeve. Even the people around him started weeping uncontrollably for Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu. Hadrat Muawiyah Radiallahu Anhu remarked, “Indeed you have spoken the truth. May Allah Ta’ala have mercy on Hadrat Ali!”
The lessons we learn from the Mushaajaraat (differences) of the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum are, that despite their differences, they had sincere love for each other, their hearts were devoid of malice, and they held each other in high regard. May Allah Ta’ala grant us Taufeeq!
