The Balanced Stance of Ahl al-Hadith Regarding Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Fada’il wa Khisal ka Bayan, Vol. 1, p. 479
❖ Question
What is the stance and viewpoint of Ahl al-Hadith regarding Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah?
Some people say one thing, others say something else. It is argued that the Prophet ﷺ expressed immense love for Hasan رضي الله عنه and Husayn رضي الله عنه, highlighting their virtues, but nothing of that sort was mentioned about Yazid or his family. Furthermore, it is also said that Yazid drank wine and did not perform good deeds.
❖ Answer
Alhamdulillah, waṣ-ṣalatu wa-s-salāmu ‘ala Rasoolillah, amma ba‘d!
The stance of Ahl al-Hadith scholars regarding Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah is a principled and balanced stance, based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the understanding of the pious predecessors.
❖ The Position of Ahl al-Hadith
◈ Yazid’s Faith:
According to Ahl al-Hadith, it is not correct to declare Yazid a disbeliever. This is because several eminent Companions رضي الله عنهم pledged allegiance to him, including Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه, Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه, and other senior Sahabah who accepted his caliphate.
◈ Criticism of Yazid’s Actions:
As for Yazid’s personal conduct, historical reports indicate that he drank alcohol and engaged in questionable acts. However, despite these reports, it is not correct to declare him a disbeliever or outside the fold of Islam.
The principle of Ahl al-Hadith is that no Muslim can be declared a disbeliever unless there is clear, unequivocal evidence from Shari‘ah.
◈ Virtues of Ahl al-Bayt:
Without doubt, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ loved Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهما deeply, openly declaring their greatness and virtues. Numerous Ahadith affirm that they are the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
It is incorrect and impermissible to compare their virtues with Yazid or his family. Their status is established by clear, authentic texts, whereas no such definitive text exists in favor of Yazid.
❖ Summary
✔ The disagreement over Yazid is based on historical reports and differing interpretations.
✔ The principled stance of Ahl al-Hadith is: It is permissible to criticize Yazid, but it is not permissible to curse him or declare him a disbeliever.
✔ The virtues of Ahl al-Bayt are established and beyond dispute, and it is entirely inappropriate to compare Yazid’s character with their honored status.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
