Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … These are the supplications of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam for Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, which will certainly be accepted.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu, who says: “The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent Muawiyah to write something for him. It was said: ‘He is eating.’ Then he sent for him again, and it was said: ‘He is eating.’ The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ‘May Allah not fill his belly.’” … The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent for Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu to have him write something. They said he was eating. Then he sent for him again. They said: He is eating. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “May Allah not fill his belly.” (Sahih Muslim: 8/27)

Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah writes: Some sects have unjustly tried to use this blessed hadith to criticize Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, whereas this cannot be used as evidence for them. (Do such people not see that) this very Sayyiduna Muawiyah was also the scribe of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?

The reality is that these words of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam were not intended as a supplication against him. It was the habit of the Arabs to utter such words without any specific intent or purpose, just as the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to his wife: “Barren one, shaven-headed one.” Similarly, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “May your hand be dust-ridden, may your life not be prolonged.”

It is also possible that these words were uttered by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam due to human nature, as he himself has explained. Sayyidah Aishah radi Allahu anha narrates that two men came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and spoke to him about something which I did not understand. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam became angry and cursed them. When they left, I said (sarcastically): “O Messenger of Allah! The good that has come to those poor fellows has not come to anyone else, has it?” He asked: “How is that?” I said: “You cursed and reviled them (this is their misfortune).” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Do you not know what condition I stipulated with my Lord? I said: O Allah! I am but a human being. So whichever Muslim I curse or revile, make it a purification and a reward for him.” (Sahihah: 83)

Imam Muslim established this chapter for this hadith: If the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam curses, reviles, or supplicates against someone who is not deserving of it, then it will be a means of purification, reward, and mercy for him.

Then he narrated this hadith: Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik radi Allahu anhu narrates that Sayyidah Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha, who was Anas’s mother, had an orphan girl with her. (One day) the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saw this girl and asked: “Are you she? You have grown up, may your age not increase.” Upon hearing this, the orphan girl went to Umm Sulaym crying. Umm Sulaym asked: “Daughter! What happened?” The girl replied: “The Prophet of Allah supplicated against me that my age not increase or my time not be prolonged.” Umm Sulaym quickly wrapped herself in her cloak and went out until she reached the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He asked: “Umm Sulaym! What is the matter with you?” She replied: “O Messenger of Allah! Did you supplicate against my orphan girl?” He asked: “Which one (explain)?” She said: “My orphan girl says that you supplicated against her that her age not increase or her time not be prolonged.” (Upon hearing this) the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam smiled and said: “O Umm Sulaym! Do you not know that I have stipulated with my Lord that I am a human being, I am pleased as humans are pleased, and I become angry as humans become angry? So, for any member of my Ummah upon whom I supplicate against with a supplication for which he is not deserving, may He make it a purification, a means of purification, and a means of nearness by which he is brought closer to Him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahihah: 84)

Then Imam Muslim, at the end of the chapter, mentioned this very hadith regarding Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, indicating that just as the supplication against the orphan girl became a means of purification and nearness for her, the same will be the case for Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu. Imam Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim:

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam supplicating against Sayyiduna Muawiyah can have two answers:
1. These words were uttered by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam without any specific intent.
2. Due to his delay, these words were said to him as a form of reprimand. Imam Muslim understood that in reality, Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu was not deserving of this supplication against him, which is why he included this hadith in this chapter. Others have even established the virtue of Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu from this hadith, because it becomes a supplication in his favor from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Hafiz Dhahabi, in Siyar A’lam al-Nubala (9/171/2), alluded to this same meaning, saying: It is possible to say that this hadith mentions the merit and virtue of Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “O Allah! Whomever I curse or revile, make it a means of purification and mercy for him.” (Sahihah: 82)