Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Sayyiduna Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan bin Sakhr bin Harb radi Allahu anhu is a renowned Companion of the Messenger. His mother is Sayyida Hind bint Utbah. He is the brother of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Umm Habibah radi Allahu anha. On the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah, Sayyiduna Muawiyah, his father, his mother, and his brother Yazid were honored with Islam, and Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu participated with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in the Battle of Hunayn. He was among the scribes of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu first appointed Sayyiduna Yazid bin Abi Sufyan radi Allahu anhu as governor of Syria, but when he passed away in the year (16 or 17) Hijri, Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu appointed his brother Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu as governor of Syria, and he remained governor of this region during the era of al-Faruq. Then Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhu kept him in this position, rather, he gave him the entire region of Syria, and in the year (27) Hijri, he conquered the island of Cyprus.

When Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali radi Allahu anhu, in order to save the Muslims from bloodshed, announced his abdication from the caliphate in the year (41) Hijri, Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu was pledged allegiance to as Amir al-Mu’minin, and then this position remained with him until he passed away in the year (60) Hijri. The duration of his governorship was also twenty years, and the period of his caliphate was also twenty years.

Regarding the stance of Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu and his supporters in their opposition to the Caliph of the Muslims, Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu, we consider this to be an ijtihadi error on their part. May Allah be pleased with everyone.