History Books

Ahlisunnah.org/ahlibayt states:

Furthermore, Sayyidina Ali (Radhi Allahu Anh) instructed his men as follows:

"I dislike you starting to abuse them, but if you describe their deeds and recount their situations that would be a better mode of speaking and a more convincing way of arguing. Instead of abusing them you should say, "O'' Allah! save our blood and their blood, produce reconciliation between us and them, and lead them out of their misguidance so that he who is ignorant of the truth may know it, and he who inclines towards rebellion and revolt may turn away from it."

Nahjul-Balaghah, Sermon 205

Are the Shi''ah in anyway, form or manner following the instructions of the one whom they hold dearest to them, Sayyidina Ali bin Abu Tleb (Radhi Allahu Anh)? Most certainly not. All we hear from them is slandering and cursing to the best men honored and chosen by Allah Ta''ala to be the Companions of His Holy Last Messenger, Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam".

Imam ''Ali (as) is telling his followers not to ABUSE his opponents, in that there is no doubt. The Shi''a don''t use swear words, we distance ourselves (Tabarra) from the enemies of the Ahl''ul bayt (as). As for abuse, it is haraam to use swear words. The followers of Imam Ali (as) don''t stoop to that depth because we follow those who never used abuse. Interestingly, abuse is the methodology of their beloved Imam Mu''awiya.

The late Deobandi scholar, Sayyid Abu''l Ala Maudoodi records this fact in his "Khilafath aur Muluiqeyath". On page 79 he writes:

"Ibn Kathir in al Bidayah records that one unlawful and outrageous practice started by Mu''awiya was that he and his governors would curse Hadhrath ''Ali during the Friday sermon from the Imam''s position. This took such an extreme that this practice even took place in the Mosque of the Prophet, in front of the grave of the Prophet (saws), the cursing of the most beloved relative would take place, in the presence of Hadhrath ''Ali''s family who would hear this abuse with their own ears (Tabari Volume 4 page 188, Ibn Athir Volume 3" page 234, al Bidayah Volume 8 page 259 and Volume 9 page 80).

Adapted from the book: "Historic Background of Shiism"