One of the most absurd examples of historical revisionism that has become common among certain sects in Islam is that Ali b. Abi Talib (as) and Mu’awiyah b. Abi Sufyan were 'allies' and their 3 year long civil war was a mere misunderstanding and a 'respective' dispute. Despite the sheer amount of death and a permanent change to islamic history this battle has done, some have tried to justify the bloodsheds caused and deny any proofs for their hatred to one another. So some therefore ask, did Ali (as) ever curse Mu'awiyah?
Did Ali (as) consider Mu'awiyah a 'friend'?
Amongst the absurdities revisionists have tried to argue, is that not only did Ali (as) bear no hatred against Mu'awiyah, but viewed him as a friend who has misunderstood him and likewise did Mu'awiyah. This view is at very least laughable and incompatible with islamic history and common sense. For I would not be fighting a friend for years on, sacrificing my followers and friends for a cause that could be worked out by simply communicating.
Nonetheless, let's examine the real views of Imam Ali (as) regarding Mu'awiyah. Sa'eed b. Mansur, a famous Sunni compiler of hadiths before Bukhari and Muslim, wrote in his Sunan, vol. 3, pg. 63, h. 125 - 6:
الحمد لله الذي جعل عدونا يسألنا عما نزل به من أمر دينه، إن معاوية كتب إلي يسألني عن الخنثى ، فكتبت إليه أن يورثه من قبل مباله .
Praise belongs to Allah Who made our enemy ask about something that had occurred to him in the matter of his deen. Mu’awiya wrote to me asking about the ambiguous hermaphrodite
This has also been quoted by al-Suyuti in his Tarikh al-Khulafa, pg. 194 [English version].
In another narration, Ali (a.s) while preaching to his people says in Ibn Athir's Kamil Fi al-Tarikh, Vol. 2, pg. 689:
فقال لهم عليّ : عباد الله امضوا على حقكم وصدقكم، وقتال عدوّكم ، فإن معاويـة وعـمـراً، بن أبي معيط وحبيباً، وابن أبي سَرْح، والضحاك ، ليسوا بأصحاب دِين ولا قرآن، أنا أعرف بهم منكم ، قد صحبتهُم أطفالاً، ثم رجالاً، فكانوا شرّ أطفال وشرَّ رجال
Ali (a) said to them: Servants of God, carry your rights and honest, and fight your enemies, for Muawiyah, Amr, Ibn Abi Muait and Habib, Ibn Abi Sarh, and al-Dahhak, they neither people of faith nor Qur’an. I know them better than you, I was with them while they were children, and then [when they can became] men, and they were the worst of children and the worst of men.
This clearly demonstrates that Ali (as) did not consider Mu'awiyah an ally in any way, and believed that Mu'awiyah was an enemy of Islam for it is recorded in the event of Ghadeer that the Prophet (s) said: 'Oh Allah be an ally for whoever is an ally of Ali, and be an enemy whoever is an enemy of Ali'. This thus demonstrates Mu'awiyah is an enemy of Allah (swt) per the request of the Prophet (s).
Did Ali (as) curse Mu'awiyah?
Mu'awiyah's corruption had made him a despicable individual, who was not worthy to ever attain the rahma (mercy) of Allah (swt) nor to gain victory in the hereafter. This is why Ali (as) had made du'a against Mu'awiyah, and this is of course no odd thing since he took Mu'awiyah as an enemy. We shall quote several sources which show the prayers Ali (as) had made against Mu'awiyah.
Ibn Jarir al-Tabari records in his famed book, History of al-Tabari, vol. 17, pg. 110 [Arabic] and Nasr Ibn Muzahim (ra) in his Waqa'it Siffin pg. 552 both state similar narrations saying:
Ibn 'Abbas said, "God damn the decision (ra'y) of Abu Musa! I warned him and told him to be circumspect, but he took no heed!' And Abu Musa used to say, "Ibn 'Abbas warned me of the treachery of the evildoer (fasiq), but I trusted him and did not imagine that he would put anything above sincere advice to this community!' Then 'Amr and the Syrians went back to Mu'awiyah and greeted him as caliph, while Ibn 'Abbas and Shurayh b. Hani' went to 'Ali. Whenever he was making the early morning prayers, 'Ali would stand in supplication and say, "Oh God, curse Mu'awiyah, 'Amr, Abu al-A'war al-Sulami, Habib [b. Maslamah], 'Abd al Rahman b. Khalid, al-Dhahak b. Qays, and al-Walid (b. 'Uqbah)!' Mu'awiyah heard about that, and when he himself made supplication, he cursed 'Ali, Ibn 'Abbas, al-Ashtar, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn.
This has been quoted by Ibn Kathir in his al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah, Vol. 10 pg. 575, but he is quick to weaken Abi Mikhnaf and reject this narration for 'the sahaba would never do this'. However, we would like to object to Ibn Kathir on this issue he raises, for we have other authentic chains in other books which mention similar things.
For example, Ibn Jarir al-Tabari recorded this same narration with a different authentic chain in Tahdhib al-Athar, Vol. 1 pg. 346:
حَدَّثَنِي عِيسَى بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ عِيسَى، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَالِدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَعْقِلٍ، قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ عَلِيٍّ الْمَغْرِبَ، فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ، قَالَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ عَلِيٍّ الْمَغْرِبَ، فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ، قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ فُلَانًا وَفُلَانًا وَأَبَا فُلَانٍ وَأَبَا فُلَانٍ
Abdul Rahman bin Ma’qil stated that he offered prayer behind Ali and when Ali raised his head from the third Rakat, he supplicated using the following words: ‘Oh Allah! Curse such and such, such and such person and Abu (father of) such and such and Abu (father of) such and such’.
Al-Tabari decided to censor the names in this hadith though, seeing it as an issue to narrate the fact that Ali (as) used to curse Mu'awiyah and other companions like Amr Ibn al-'Aas. Anyone would know this includes Mu'awiyah, but for those trying to find excuses and wanting to hope that it was not Mu'awiyah, we present the following report authenticated by the inspector, in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Vol. 5, pg. 7:
حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا حُصَيْنٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ، قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ صَلَاةَ الْغَدَاةِ، قَالَ: فَقَنَتَ، فَقَالَ فِي قُنُوتِهِ: «اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ بِمُعَاوِيَةَ وَأَشْيَاعِهِ، وَعَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَأَشْيَاعِهِ، وَأَبِي السُّلَمِيِّ وَأَشْيَاعِهِ، وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ وَأَشْيَاعِهِ.
Narrated to us Hushaym who said Hussayn told me that Abdulrahman bin Ma’qil said: ‘I prayed with Ali dawn prayer, then he (Ali) performed qunut and Ali made the following supplication in his Qunut: ‘Oh Allah, destroy Mu’awiya and his adherents, Amr bin al-Aas and his adherents, Abu A’war Al-Sulami and his adherents and Abdullah Bin Qays and his adherents.”
What does "Allahuma 'alayka" mean?
Some people try and comfort themselves with this report by trying to claim that Ali (as) is not slandering Mu'awiyah, but rather only asking Allah to hold him to account. While this strange reply doesn't do any good defence in itself, we wish to demonstrate the dishonesty and inconsistency behind our opponents.
The Prophet (s) in many famous hadiths used to say to Quraysh and ones from them this same dua like in Sahih al-Bukhari 2934:
اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ بِقُرَيْشٍ، اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ بِقُرَيْشٍ، اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ بِقُرَيْشٍ
Allahuma 'alayka bi-Quraysh [x3]
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explained this meaning of the dua in his Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 11, pg. 198:
وَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ بِأَبِي جَهْلٍ أَيْ بِإِهْلَاكِهِ
His saying i.e. ‘Allahuma Alaika Abi Jahl' means, Oh Allah, kill him.
Many scholars have attested to this meaning of the dua 'Allahuma 'alaika' and we shall cite a few:
Al-Suyuti in his Sharh of Sunan al-Nasai, Vol. 1 pg. 177.
Allamah Shams ad-Din al-Barmawi in Al-Lamie al-Sabih Ba Sharh al-Jamie al-Sahih, Vol. 9 pg. 266.
Allamah Abu Ishaq Ibn Qarqol in Mutali’ al-Anwar, Vol. 1 pg. 423.
In fact, we even find the Sahaba viewing this dua in such a way like Ibn Umar did in Taghleeq al-Taleeq ala Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 5 pg. 149 by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani:
وَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْك بِأبي جهل وَقَالَ ابْن عمر دَعَا النَّبِي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الصَّلَاة اللَّهُمَّ الْعَن فلَانا وَفُلَانًا حَتَّى أنزل الله {لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ}
And he (the Prophet) said: ‘Allahuma Alaika Abi Jahal’. Ibn Umar stated that the Holy Prophet (s) supplicated against someone in his prayer, ‘Oh Allah curse such and such person’ after which the following verse was revealed: ‘Not for thee, (but for Allah), is the decision.’
Scholarly views on this
This qunut dua is so well-known and widely reported that many scholars have used this to justify certain fiqh opinions. It is a well-known occurence that Ali (as) used to do qunut during fajr prayers and make this qunut for the specific intention of cursing his enemies. Abu Hanifa’s main disciple, Muhammad al-Shaybani stated in Al-Athar, pg. 229:
[قَالَ: إِبْرَاهِيمُ: وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ إِنَّمَا أَخَذُوا الْقُنُوتَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَنَتَ يَدْعُو عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ حِينَ حَارَبَهُ، وَأَمَّا أَهْلُ الشَّامِ فَإِنَّمَا أَخَذُوا الْقُنُوتَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَنَتَ يَدْعُو عَلَى عَلِيٍّ كَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ حِينَ حَارَبَهُ
Ibrahim stated that people of Kufa adopted the practice of reciting qunut from Ali (as) as he would recite Qunut for supplicating against Muawiya during the battle and people of Syria adopted the practice of reciting qunut from Muawiya as he would recite the qunut when supplicating against Ali (as) during the battle.
We read in Musannaf Abdul Razzaq, Vol. 3 pg. 107:
وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُجَالِدِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، وَالْأَسْوَدِ، قَالَا: «مَا قَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ إِلَّا إِذَا حَارَبَ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَقْنُتُ فِي الصَّلَوَاتِ كُلِّهِنَّ وَلَا قَنَتَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَا عُمَرُ وَلَا عُثْمَانُ حَتَّى مَاتُوا، حَتَّى لَا قَنَتَ عَلِيٌّ حَتَّى حَارَبَ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ، فَكَانَ يَقْنُتُ فِي الصَّلَوَاتِ كُلِّهِنَّ، وَكَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَقْنُتُ أَيْضًا فَيَدْعُو كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ»
Alqamah and Al-Aswad stated that the Prophet (s) never recited Qunut in any of his prayers except in the prayers performed during battles and he (s) recited it during the prayers performed in each battle. Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman didn’t recite Qunut until they died. Ali also didn’t recite Qunut but when battle of Siffin occurred, he would recite it in each prayer and Mu’awiya likewise recited it and everyone used to supplicate against each other's opponents.
Al-Bayhaqi stated in al-Sunan Al Kubra, Vol. 2 pg. 290:
قنت عَلّي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْه فِي الْفجْر قَالَ الْبَيْهَقِيّ: هَذَا عَن عَلّي صَحِيح مَشْهُور
Ali (ra) recited qunut during his Fajar prayers regarding which Bayhaqi stated that it is popularly proven through a Sahih chain.
Ibn Hajar Asqalani stated in At-Talkhis al-Habir, Vol. 1 pg. 444:
وَرَوَى أَيْضًا بِسَنَدٍ صَحِيحٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ مُقَرِّنٍ قَالَ قَنَتَ عَلِيٌّ فِي الْفَجْرِ
Ibn Maqal has narrated through a Sahih chain that Ali (ra) recited Qunut during Fajr prayers.
Conclusion
The evidence we have presented demonstrates a few points. For one, it clearly clarifies that Imam Ali (as) did not believe in what is known as ‘Adalat Al-Sahaba’ (the justice of the companions), and he certainly did not believe Mu'awiyah was his friend. Secondly, we see that were it not for Imam Ali (as) cursing Mu’awiya in his qunut, it is likely that the modern Sunni jurists would not have known the permisibility of qunut at all. We challenge any Sunni to make the same dua againts Mu'awiyah as Ali (as) did if they are truthful in their claim that they follow him.
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