The history of Islam and knowledge of its famous and important personalities serve as a necessary starting point of departure for an understanding of the main text of Islam. We may even venture to claim that without a proper and exact understanding of the history of Islam, one cannot get a true feeling of the facts and realities of this faith. For, on the one hand, knowledge of the great and well-known Islamic personalities and their ideas, conducts and deeds which form a part of the text of religion and which are translated into the term "tradition", is not possible without a knowledge of the time, place, customs, habits and morals of their contemporaries, and on the other hand an understanding of the characters opposing Islam reveals the perspicacity Islam, and shows the manner of the combats and strivings of Islam and leaders against the wicked and wickedness.
In view of the importance of this principal fact we see what the role of a true history and its worth and position are in the religious Life of the Muslims. We realize to what extent a knowledge of historical facts helps us in our clear understanding of the realities of our religion, and after being alien for many centuries from the rise of the bright sun of Islam, to what extent we are capable of noticing this brilliant light and how close we are getting to this fountain virtues.
In the coming pages we shall see how the history and
tradition of Islam have become subject to the plots of sensualists, and how far falsehood and alterations have found their way into them.(7) History and texts of traditions were greatly altered and misinterpreted by the hands of these plotters who were supported by the Umayyad rulers, particularly by Mu'awiyah himself. Every day that went by in the life of Islam, fresh lies were added to the enormous