PEACE TREATY OF IMAM HASAN (A.S.) WITH MUAWIYA BIN ABU SUFYAN

            PEACE TREATY OF IMAM HASAN AL-MUJTABA WITH MUAWIA                                                BIN ABU SUFYAN

Abu Sufyan was the arch enemy of Islam and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). He was the ring leader of Polytheists who fought numerous wars with the Muslims. The last encounter, the Victory of Makkah, was settled without any bloodshed. When Abu Sufyan witnessed the huge Muslim army anchored at the suburbs of Makkah, he realized that it was impossible to face the new emerging power of Islam, hence he advised his followers to surrender. Being a shrewd politician, he saw a big future for the Umayyad clan to grab power. A new strategy dawned in his mind. A victory which could not be achieved by the swords after numerous confrontations with Muslims could be achieved by hypo critic ploy of entering Islam by conversion but keeping the flame of grasping power as a Muslim!

As they practiced during the period of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s period of apparent khilafat, Banu Umayyad continued the strategy of achieving their goals by, bribing the influential people, coercing the Muslim Ummah, and secretly or openly eliminating their opponents. Imam Hasan (a.s.) experienced the same environment. His army commanders were bought out by Muawia ibn Abu Sufyan and different types of rumors were spread. The Imam was left with no option but to seek truce. Seeing that his scheme had worked, Muawiya sent a blank paper after his seal of approval offered to the Imam whatever terms and conditions he wished, he may put on the “blank paper”. The Imam agreed to the following:

1. 1      Hasan (a.s.) would hand over the rule or government to Muawiya provided he acts according to the Holy Book of God, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the character of the pious, virtuous caliphs.
2. 2.       Muawiya does not have any power to nominate any one after him. The rule would be handed over back to Hasan (a.s.).
3. 3.       The life, property, and honor of the general public, black or white, belonging to Syria, Iraq, Tehama, Hejaz or whichever area, would be safeguarded.
4. 4.       The life, property, and honor of Shias of Imam Ali (a.s.), and their family members, will be protected and Muawiya ibn Aby Sufiyan is bounded by the covenant of Almighty God in this respect and he will honor this covenant with Almighty God in this respect.
5. 5.       Muawiya will not take any open or secret action against Imam Hasan (a.s.) or against AhlulBayt (a.s.) of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and he will not try to terrorize them anywhere in earth.
6. 6.       Imam Ali (a.s.) will be remembered with honor and dignity and he will not be reviled, according to some narrations, in the life time of Imam Hasan (a.s.), no abusive language against Hazrat Ali (a.s.) will be used.
7. 7.       Muawiya will hand over the Bait-ul-Maal of Kufa and the revenue of Darab Jard (Darab Gard) will be given to him (Imam Hasan) so that he may meet his expenses from them or may repay debt or other dues.
8. 8.       Muawiya will not call himself Ameer-al-Momineen.

How these terms were openly and deliberately violated:

As soon as the treaty was signed, he came to Iraq and at a place Nakheelah, near Kufa; he addressed the people after the Juma prayer and said: “My objective for the war was not that you pray salaat, fast during Ramazan, perform Hajj or give charity. You have been doing all this. My sole objective was to capture power and rule over you. That has been achieved by my peace treaty with Hasan. In spite of your unhappiness, I have succeeded.  As for the terms of peace treaty, it is under my foot. People were stunned by his utterances, but it was too late. Abu Sufyan’s plan for Umayyad Dynasty was completed.  As soon as the conditions were under control, Muawiya sent decrees to his governors that if any one narrates any tradition for Abu Turab (Imam Ali) and his progeny then he will not be responsible for them! It amounts to giving a free hand to his officers to start carnage of Imam Ali’s shiahs and they did not fail him. He violated the terms of peace treaty and nominated his son Yazid as his successor. Through this ugly act, Muawiya committed the gravest sin in his religion, and the most horrible crime towards the public interest. Ibn al-Athir narrates that Muawiya went to Makkah and before going on to the pulpit, asked his chief of guards to place two guards behind the people present and gave the order that whoever opposes his demand of allegiance to Yazid; their heads should be cut out.

Reference:      Suleh Hasan (a.s.)                                                        by Shaikh Razi Ale Yasin

                      Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Khilafat                                     by Qurrat-ul-Ain Abidy

                      Fourteen Stars                                                              by Sayyid Najmul Hasan Karrarvi