Debunking the False Narration About Muawiyah and the Prophet

Refuting the Fabricated Hadith: ‘Kill Muawiyah on My Pulpit

Sheikh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi (may Allah preserve him) Jeddah Da’wah Center, Hayy As-Salamah (Saudi Arabia)

In the context of history, the Shia spread this lie attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “When you see Muawiyah on my pulpit, kill him”—we seek refuge in Allah from this. By citing many books of history and narrator criticism, the Shia narrate a tradition whose text is as follows:

قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم :اذا رایتم معاویہ علی منبرفاقتلوہ۔

Translation: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When you see Muawiyah on my pulpit, kill him.”

However, the scholars and muhaddithin have written in these books that this narration is false and fabricated, and they have recorded it in their books to clarify this lie. Look at the ruling of the muhaddithin and researchers regarding this narration, and you will realize its falsehood and fabrication:

1. Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that this narration is a lie and fabricated. (Minhaj as-Sunnah: 4/378)
2. Ayyub as-Sakhtiyani said it is a lie. (Tahdhib at-Tahdhib: 8/74)
3. Al-Uqayli declared it munkar (denounced). (Tahdhib at-Tahdhib: 2/428)
4. Ibn Hibban said that in its chain is a narrator named Hakam ibn Dhuhayr, who used to insult the companions and narrate fabricated things from trustworthy narrators. (Al-Majruhin: 1/304)
5. Ibn Adi declared it unauthentic. (Al-Kamil fi ad-Du’afa: 2/491)
6. Ibn al-Qaysarani said that it contains Hakam ibn Dhuhayr al-Fazari, who fabricates hadiths, and from him, this narration was taken by ‘Abbad ibn Ya’qub ar-Rawajini, who is an extreme Rafidi (Shia). (Ma’rifat at-Tadhkirah: 92)
7. Ibn al-Jawzi declared it fabricated. (Mawdu’at Ibn al-Jawzi: 2/266)
8. Imam adh-Dhahabi said that there is criticism regarding Hakam ibn Dhuhayr in it. (Mizan al-I’tidal: 1/572)
9. Allamah Ibn Kathir said that without a doubt, it is a lie. (Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah: 8/135)
10. Allamah ash-Shawkani also declared it fabricated. (Al-Fawa’id al-Majmu’ah: 407)
11. Sheikh Nasiruddin al-Albani declares it fabricated. (Silsilat al-Ahadith ad-Da’ifah wal-Mawdu’ah: 4930)

In addition to these, numerous scholars have declared this narration to be false. Therefore, it is not permissible for any Muslim to attribute this false statement to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) entrusted Amir Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) with the writing of the revelation, and what greater honor could there be than that? Regarding this matter, it is a grave falsehood, and we seek Allah’s forgiveness. This is Shia deception, lies, and slander. If this statement were true, Amir Muawiyah would certainly have been killed.

On one hand, the Shia claim to love the Ahl al-Bayt and exaggerate in their love for the Ahl al-Bayt to an unwarranted extent, and on the other hand, they make the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) the target of oppression, cursing, slandering, and abusing them. What kind of tyrannical behavior is this?

Have you thought about why the Shia insult the noble companions? Regarding this, Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that the Shia are a people who tried to slander the Prophet (peace be upon him) but were not successful in this attempt, so they began to slander and defame the companions so that people would say about him (the Prophet) that he was a bad man because his companions were bad; if he were a good man, his companions would also have been good. (As-Sawa’iq: 1405)

Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote regarding the noble companions that slandering the best of generations, the companions who were honored with the companionship of the Prophet (peace be upon him), is in reality slandering the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). (Majmu’ al-Fatawa by Ibn Taymiyyah: 4/429)

Therefore, O Muslims! Saying anything wrong about Amir Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), or in the context of the story of Karbala, or without any context, about any Muslim, especially about the noble companions, is detrimental to our faith and righteous deeds. Keep this matter firmly in mind.