History Books

Answering the Fatwa of Abu Hamid Ibn GhazzaliThe lovers of Yazeed have made efforts to exalt Yazeed as a pious and just khalifa who has been the victim of a 1,400 year hate campaign waged by (almost) ALL the scholars and Shia AND Sunni (including Wahabi) Islam. They have thus sought to rewrite history. In the midst of all these scholars who condemned Yazeed, including imam Ahmed ibn hanbal who issued Takfir on him (see above), the Nasibis found one, and only one 'father figure' of traditional Sunni Islam: Ibn Ghazzali. Now Ghazzali was a Sufi, and all other Sufi sheikhs condemn Yazeed. It is also interesting to note that the Nasibis HATE Ghazzali usually because he was a Sufi. Suddenly, they forget that hate campaign against the Sufi on this issue, and these filthy Nasibi seek to pass him off as the greatest scholar after the four Fiqh Imams. Azam Tariq rants off the prized fatwa as follows:

Kr-hcy.com states:A QUESTION WAS PUT TO IMAM GHAZZALI WHETHER THERE IS A VALID GROUND FOR CURSING YAZID FOR HIS ALLEGED COMPLICITY IN THE MURDER OF HAZRAT HUSAYN. THE IMAM GHAZZALI REPLIED AS UNDER:

"IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO CURSE ANY MUSLIM. ANYONE WHO CURSES A MUSLIM IS HIMSELF ACCURSED. RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) SAID: "A MUSLIM IS NOT GIVEN TO CURSING." BESIDES THE ISLAMIC SHARIAH HAS PROHIBITED US FROM EVEN CURSING THE ANIMALS. HOW THEN IT WOULD BE PERMISSIBLE TO CURSE ANY MUSLIM WHEN THE HONOUR OF A MUSLIM IS MORE SACRED THAN THE HOLY KABA AS MENTIONED IN A HADITH (IBN MAJAH).

"THE ISLAMIC FAITH OF YAZID IS PROVED WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF DOUBT. AS REGARDS THE MURDER OF HUSAYN, THERE IS NO DEFINITE EVIDENCE THAT YAZID EITHER KILLED HIM OR ISSUED ORDERS FOR HIS KILLING OR APPROVED ANY SUCH PLANS. WHEN NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED IN THIS REGARD, HOW WOULD IT BE LAWFUL TO CAST DOUBTS AND ASPERSIONS ON YAZID WHEN ENTERTAINING SUSPICION ABOUT A MUSLIM IS UNLAWFUL IN ISLAM."

ALMIGHTLY ALLAH SAYS IN THE QUR'AN "O YE WHO BELIEVE! SHUN MUCH SUSPICION; FOR LO! SOME SUSPICION IS CRIME. AND SPY NOT, NEITHER BACKBITE ONE ANOTHER. WOULD ONE OF YOU LOVE TO EAT THE FLESH OF HIS DEAD BROTHER? YE ABHOR THAT (SO ABHOR THE OTHER). AND KEEP YOUR DUTY (TO ALLAH)." (49: 12).

HAZRAT ABU HURAIRAH REPORTED ALLAH'S MESSENGER AS SAYING "DESPISING HIS BROTHER MUSLIM IS ENOUGH EVIL FOR ANY ONE TO DO. EVERY MUSLIM'S BLOOD, PROPERTY AND HONOUR ARE SACRED TO A MUSLIM." (MUSLIM).

IMAM GHAZZALI REITERATES:

"ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT YAZID ORDERED THE KILLING OF HUSAYN OR LIKED THE KILLING OF HUSAYN SUCH A PERSON IS ABSOLUTELY FOOL ... ."

"AS REGARDS SAYING (RADIALLAHU ANHA) AFTER THE NAME OF YAZID, THIS IS NOT ONLY PERMISSIBLE BUT COMMENDABLE. IT IS RATHER INCLUDED IN OUR DUA WHEN WE PRAY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL MUSLIMS AND YAZID WAS CERTAINLY A MOMIN (BELIEVER)." ( ,BERIRUT, P. 288).

Here Ghazzali takes on every single other Sunni scholar from the year dot to the present-day, excepting the contemporary Nasibis. Ghazzali had knowledge, but he was not in the same category of knowledge in the field of either history or traditions as the numerous Sunni scholars we have quoted. It seems he took the principle of piety in not cursing another seriously... and it reflected his PERSONAL LACK of knowledge of history and the traditions that deal with this issue. As we saw earlier, imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who outranks Ghazzali in this realm of knowledge, issued Takfir on Yazeed. INDEED all 4 Sunni madhabs, including the 4 sheikhs Abu Hanifa, Ahmed ibn Hanbal, imam Malik and imam Shafi'i have said it is permissible to curse Yazeed (see below). Furthermore, unlike the Nasibi scholars of today, Ghazali was not lying but he did misinform...the misinformation that came from his tongue was due to lack of in-depth knowledge. Ghazali is in fact easily dealt with. We don't have to, as every other substantial Sunni scholar (except modern-day Nasibis) has disagreed with him on this point and have said Yazeed killed Husayn (as) and should be cursed. This includes eminent Sufi Sheikhs who some may say outrank Ghazali. So the Nasibis producing Ghazali's viewpoint is not very substantial at all. But we might as well rebut him to be comprehensive.

First Reply

Allah (swt) in his pure book sends curses on various types of people, for example in Surah Baqarah verse 161 we read:

"Those who reject Faith, and die rejecting, - on them is Allah's curse, and the curse of angels, and of all mankind"

In Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 61 we read:

"If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee, say: "Come! Let us gather together, - our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!"

It is stated in Surah Hud verse 18:

Who doth more wrong than those who invent a life against Allah? They will be turned back to the presence of their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord! Behold! The Curse of Allah is on those who do wrong!

And Surah Hud verses 59-60:

Such were the 'Ad People: they rejected the Signs of their Lord and Cherisher; disobeyed His messengers; And followed the command of every powerful, obstinate transgressor.

And they were pursued by a Curse in this life, - and on the Day of Judgment. Ah! Behold! For the 'Ad rejected their Lord and Cherisher! Ah! Behold! Removed (from sight) were 'Ad the people of Hud!

Surah Maida verse 78:

Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.

These verses prove that it is the Sunnah of Allah (swt) and his prophets (peace be upon all of them) to curse rejecters. Can there be a greater rejecter that Yazeed who rejected the Ahl'ul bayt (as), the Qur'an stipulates love for them to be a part of Deen; he killed them and openly rejected the Prophethood of Rasulullah (s) ?

Second Reply

Ghazzali supporters should refrain from cursing the Devil - since according to Ghazzali the act of cursing someone that you do not know is pointless, and it is better to use one's tongue to recite Surah Fateha. This type of logic contradicts the practice Allah (swt) and his Rasul (s) - for no man can be as forgiving and pious as Rasulullah (s), and yet we learn that at various points during his life that he would curse his enemies and those of Allah (swt). If Ghazzali would deem this practice to be a sin then is he accusing Rasulullah (s) of indulging in sinful actions?

Third Reply

It is very amusing that these Nasibi afford Ghazzali this rank because he gave this pro Yazeed fatwa - but fail to apply the Fatwa to their own lives. They have issued takfeer and cursed other Muslim Sects such as the Shi'a and Barelvi, indeed no one has escaped their takfeer tirade. They accept one part of the fatwa and then leave the part that serves no benefit to them - if they deem Ghazzali to be a reliable Hujjut-ul-Islam then should they not be adhering to everything that their dear imam had said? Instead they curse the Sufis, and Ghazali is famous for being a Sufi.

Fourth Reply

We read in al Bidaya Volume 8 page 223

"Rasulullah (s) said whoever perpetuated injustice and frightened the residents of Medina, the curse (la'nat) of Allah (swt), His Angels and all people is on such a person"

We have already presented the event of Harra before our readers and shown how Yazeed ordered his Nasibi troops to attack the city of Medina. Rasulullah (s) cursed those that caused fear to Medina. When Rasulullah (s) cursed an individual that perpetrated such an act then what right does this third rate Nasibi Jamaat have to demand that we refrain from cursing Yazeed? Whoever adheres to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (s) shall definitely curse Yazeed.

Fifth Reply

Sura Rad verse 25:

But those who break the Covenant of Allah, after having plighted their word thereto, and cut asunder those things which Allah has commanded to be joined, and work mischief in the land; - on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home!

Surah Ash Shura verse 151-2:

"And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant, - Who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways)."

The sum total of these two verses is as follows:

We should steer away from mischief makers

Allah (swt) has cursed those that indulge in mischief through the land

With these two verses in mind, now contemplate this verse:

Surah Baqarah verse 220:

"Their bearings on this life and the Hereafter. They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good; if ye mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren; but Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good. And if Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties: He is indeed Exalted in Power, Wise."

We would appeal to those with open minds to decide for themselves whose intention was mischief and whose intention was good in this circumstance? There are two paths: one of the Banu Ummayya with Yazeed at the helm (the Nasibi path) and one of Ahl'ul bayt (as) with a Shia Imam in Husayn (as) at the helm - which of these two individuals was working for the benefit of the Deen and for the salvation of our souls? Who was the mischief monger whose actions have been cursed by Allah (swt)? Was the killing of Imam Husayn (as) not an act of Fitnah? Was the attack on Medina, slaughtering and raping its inhabitants not an act of Fitnah? Was the assault on Makka that included catapaulting the Kaaba with fire which set the House of Allah alight not an act of Fitnah. Was killing men in the most sacred of all sanctuaries where it is forbidden to kill even an ant an act of Fitnah? It is forbidden to kill a man in the sanctuary of the Ka'aba even if that man is about to kill you, yet Yazeed slaughtered innocents there! There is no need to exercise caution when one is cursing an enemy of Allah (swt). It is a praiseworthy act so long as it does not create Fitnah.

Reply Six : The Ulema of Ahl'ul Sunnah deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed

The Fiqh Imams deemed cursing Yazeed to be an act of worship

Ibn Khalikan in Wafayaath page 412 whilst discussing the biography of the Shafi'i scholar Abu Hassan bin 'Ali bin Muhammad bin 'Ali al Tabari al Amadadeen al Maroof al Bakeeya al Iraas al Shafeeya, states that:

"He (the above) was once asked 'Can Yazeed who was born during the Khilafat of Hadhrath Umar be counted as a Companion, and what have the Salaf elders said in relation to cursing him?

He replied, 'There are two statements of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal on this; one is an indication (that you can), the other direct (both that you can). These two views were also given by Imam Malik and by Imam 'Abu Hanifa. We (those who follow imam Shafi'is fatwas) have only one fatwa in this regard, that it is permissible to curse Yazeed, he should be cursed since he used to play chess, would hunt with Cheetahs and drank alcohol".

Adapted from the book: "Yazeed"