The Najran Pact

Mobaahelah (Mubahilah)

Part 7

Now, let us find out where did Umayya- a major “enemy” of Hadrat Haashem (SBUH) and at the same time a “hero” of the Najranites- had come from originally and what his beliefs were … .

… Perhaps Umayya had come from Shaam originally, or possibly he was from one of the Roman empire’s so called colonies or states under its control, being a Roman slave; and thus either with the same blasphemous and polytheistic so called christian beliefs of the Roman empire or the pagan beliefs of the pre-christian empire, Abyssinia, Najran, or…, worshipping the sun or palm trees or other idols. Allah knows … .

But based upon  the place the bani Umayya will flee to and that which they shall do there at time of the Appearance of Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH), it seems very probable that Umayya was actually a so called Christian of blasphemous and polytheistic belief:

In regard to verses 12 and 13 of the Surah Anbiya  of the Majestic Qur’an in which it is said that certain people when feeling the punishment coming, they flee, but they shall be told to flee not and to return so that they will be called to account, Imam Baaqer has said:

When the Disappeared Imam (SBUH) Appears, he (SBUH) will send for the bani Umayya in (where used to be) Shaam (Syria …), and they will flee to (where used to be the territories of) Roman empire (Europe …). But they will tell them that they will not accept them until they convert to christianity. The bani Umayya will then start wearing crosses on their necks, and then they shall be accepted. When the companions of the Qaa’em (SBUH) reach (where used to be the territories of) Roman empire and conquer that region, they will ask for mercy and cessation from the companions of the Imam. In response the companions of the Imam will tell them that they will not comply unless they hand over to them those who sought asylum with them. They will agree and hand over the bani Umayya. The Imam (SBUH) then shall ask bani Umayya to divulge all their hidden treasures, while- as emphasized by Imam Baaqer (SBUH)- Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH) knows the locations himself.

Then as it is stated in verses 14 and 15 of the same Surah, "Woe to us! Verily we were unjust," will be the utterance of them (the bani Umayya) till Allah shall make them like a reaped harvest and extinguished ashes. (Tafsir Qommi; Translated Rozah Kaafi, pp. 83-84; al Kaafi, vol. 8, 51, 52; …)

Here it is  important to realize that although Hashim was wealthy but he spent his wealth for the benefit of the people; he used to, for instance, offer the pilgrims sopped bread in broth from his own wealth. The Hashimites were such. But the bani Umayya were quite different. It was Bani Umayya’s greed that converted Islam into a Muslim Empire by oppressively and tyrannically expanding  territories and accumulating huge amount of illicit wealth.

In other words, the charitable disposition of the Hashimites could not allow the hoarding of any personal wealth, but the selfishness of the Umayyads had enabled them to store abundant wealth.

For instance, the famous sunni traditionist, Mas'udi, in his Muruju'dh-Dhahab, Volume I, page 433, and other historians have recorded that the third so called caliph, ‘Uthman of the Umayyads, built a sophisticated stone house with doors made of sandalwood. He accumulated great wealth, which he bestowed lavishly specially on the Umayyads. On the day he was murdered, his personal fortune amounted to 150,000 dinars and 20 million dirhams in cash. He owned property in Wadiu'l-Qura and Hunain valued at 100,000 dinars and huge herds of cattle, sheep, and camels. As a consequence of his actions, the leading Umayyads amassed great wealth at the expense of the people.

And as Imam Baaqer stated, Hadrat Mahdi (SBUT) at time of his Appearance, will have the children of Umayya divulge all these illicit wealth that they have hidden throughout the ages … .

In addition it is noteworthy to mention that Allah SWT has referred to the bani Umayya in Qur’an as the Mal’oon (cursed to be totally deprived of Allah’s Mercy) Tree:

Qur’an 17:60 And when We said to you: Surely your Lord encompasses mankind; and We did not make the vision which We showed you but a trial for mankind, and The Accursed Tree in the Qur’an; and We cause them to fear, but it only adds to their inordinate transgression.

The sunni Fakhru'd-Din Razi, Tabari, Qartabi, Nishapuri, Suyuti, Shawkani, Alusi, Ibn Abi Hatim, Khatib Baghdadi, Ibn Mardawaih, Hakim, Maqrizi, Baihaqi, and others of sunni ulema narrate from Ibn Abbas that the "Accursed Tree" in the Qur'an refers to the Umayya tribe: In a dream, the Prophet saw monkeys climbing up and down his pulpit. When he woke, the Angel Gabriel revealed verse 17:60 and told the Prophet that the monkeys were the bani Umayya, who would usurp his caliphate after him; his place of prayer and pulpit would remain in their control for a thousand months.

The sunni Tabari, explaining the revelation of this verse, has documented a dream that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had wherein the children of Hakam b. Abi Aas (from the family of Umayya) were jumping up and down upon his pulpit like monkeys. This dream upset the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) so much that he never laughed again. (Tafsir-e-Tabari, vol 15, pg 177; Al-Durr al-Mansur, vol 4, pg 191; …)

The sunni Haakim Nishapuri, in his Mustadrak, Volume IV, page 437 and Ibn Hajar Makki in Sawa'iq-e-Muhriqa, narrate a hadith from the Prophet in which the Prophet  said that his AhlulBayt would shortly be dispersed and assassinated by his community; and the Prophet mentioned the bani Umayya as one of the most callous of their enemies.

Let us also as a sample narrate a few authentic Shi’ah Hadiths in this regard:

The Prophet (SBUH&HA) saw in a dream that monkeys were climbing up his pulpit, seeing that he became extremely sad. Jabra’il (Gabriel) Descended and said that the bani Umayya would prevail over the bani Hashim and would climb up the pulpit of the Prophet, and that they were The Accursed Tree. It is narrated that thenceforth no one ever saw the Prophet (SBUH&HA) smile. (Majma’ al Bayaan, vol. 3, p. 424; Noor al Thaqalayn, vol. 3, p. 179; …)

In another Hadith narrated by Zoraarah from one of the Imams Baaqer and Saadeq (SBUT), it is said that the Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA) while talking to Hadrat Ali (SBUH), in addition to mentioning the bani Umayya, hinted at AbuBakr and ‘Omar as those whom Allah had informed him that would be climbing his pulpit after him. (al-Kaafi, vol. 8, p. 345; …)

Once Talhah asked Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) to whom he was going to leave the Qur’an; and Hadrat Ali responded that as commanded by the Prophet (SBUH&HA), he was going to leave it to his Wasi, his son Hasan- the best of creations- and then Hasan would give it to his (Ali’s) other son Hosain (SBUT), and afterward, it would be given to the sons of Hosain until the last of them enter unto the Prophet (SBUT) at the Hawz. Hadrat Ali (SBUH) emphasized that they would be with Qur’an and the Qur’an with them, and one would not ever be separated from the other. Then Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) informed Talhah that Mo’aawiyah and his son would attain ruleship after ‘uthman; then after them seven of the children of Hakam ibn Abi al ‘As (son of Umayya, thus of the bani Umayya), after each other would attain ruleship, until twelve imams of misguidance and obliquity would attain ruleship, those whom the Prophet (SBUH&HA) saw climbing his pulpit and taking his Ummah backward; ten of them would be from bani Umayya and two of them would be the two who founded this wicked act (AbuBakr and ‘Umar; and the heavy burden of these two in Qiyaamat would be equal to the loads of the entire Ummah. (al-Ehtejaaj ‘Ala al-Lejaaj, vol. 1, p. 155; …)

Thus Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) has clarified that the twelve imams of aberration were AbooBakr, ‘Omar, ‘Othmaan, Mo’aawiyah, Yazid and seven of the Marwanids -branch of the Umayyads-, indeed starting with Marwan son of Hakam whom the Prophet had cursed:

The sunni ibn Hajar relates from Umar bin Murratu'l-Jihni, Halabi in Siratu'l-Halabiyya, Volume I, page 337; Baladhuri in Ansab, Volume V, 126; Sulayman Balkhi in Yanabiu'l-Mawadda; Hakim in Mustadrak, Volume IV, page 481; Damiri in Hayatu'l-Haiwan, Volume II, page 291; Ibn Asakir in his Tarikh; Imamu'l-Haram Muhyi'd-Din Tabari in Zakha'iru'l-Uqba, and others have narrated from Umar bin Murra that Hakam Bin (Abi al) ‘As sought an interview with the Prophet. The Prophet, recognizing his voice, said: "Let him come in. Curse be on him and on his descendants, excepting those who believe, and they will be few."

The Sunni Hakim Nishapuri, in his Mustadrak, Volume IV, page 437, and … have narrated that the Prophet in regard to Marwan son of Hakam, a child at that time, said: "This is … a cursed one, son of a cursed one."

… But for those whose hearts beat for the Chosen Ones of bani Hashim- the Prophet Mohammad and his beloved daughter Fatimah and the twelve Infallible Imams (SBUT)-, for those who know that in every Night of Qadr the heart of Qur’an has been and is being bestowed upon the celestial heart of the Infallible Imam of each time- they who have been the heart of existence and whose hearts are as vast as existence,- for them the Night of Qadr has been and still is majestic and magnificent, because a reason Allah SWT revealed the Surah Qadr was to comfort His most beloved, the Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA), who was troubled to see in his dream that bani Umayyah would be ascending his pulpit and ruling for a thousand months, revealing that each Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months … And finally Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH), the last Chosen One of bani Hashim,  shall come and … .

To be continued …