Mu'awiyah enter
the caliphate's council while he is one of those who
is not qualified to be elected caliph? He and his
father have been among the leaders of the groups fighting
against
How could the caliphate be consolidated
for him when 'Umar had said during his own rule: "In
the question of caliphate there is no share for a
freed captive or the son of a freed captive or for
other Muslims of Mecca after its capture'? Such persons
are not allowed to assume that position."(335)
The people also remembered the declaration of Imam
'Ali who had said: "Mu'awiyah is a man for whom
God has prescribed no precedence in religion, and
he has no backing of chastity and honesty this faith.
He is the freed son of another freed captive who has
taken part in all the wars against Islam. He and his
father have always been hostile to God, His Prophet
and Islam, so much so that they unwillingly embraced
Islam and abstained from proclaiming it." (336)
Another time the Imam said to Mu'awiyah: "Remember
that you are one of those freed captives who are never
allowed to become caliph, and do not merit the crown
of allegiance, and have not the right of entry into
the Muslims' council."(337) (338)
'Abd Allah ibn Badil, a commander of the Alawite army
in the battle of Siffin said about Mu'awiyah: "Mu'awiyah
is claiming something which does not belong to him,
and combats someone to whom the caliphate belongs
and has no similarity to Mu'awiyah. Fight this oppressive
group who are combating a person who has the merit
of being caliph, while they themselves have no merit
for it. I have fought them in the company of the Prophet,
and today they are the same creatures who are no better
nor chaster individuals than those days. (Meaning
in fighting the Imam they are no better than the days
when they fought the Prophet). They are the enemy
of God and you. Rise up and may God bless you!"(339)
'Ammar ibn Yasir a true Muslim and a devoted supporter
of the Imam, cried out in the battle of Siffin about
Mu'awiyah: "O Muslims! Do you wish to have a
look at the enemy of God and His prophet, and a man
fighting them and oppressor of Muslims and an accomplice
of infidels? A man who came to the Prophet embraced
Islam when God Almighty willed that His religion
