Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

Mu’awiya’s Death
Mu’awiah died at the age of about 72 years on the 1st Rajjab

60’’l8th April 680. On his death-bed he warned Yazid against the two Abdullah’s sons of Umar (Rad.A) and Zubayr, al-Hussain. son of Ali (Had. A), and Ibn al-Abbas particularly against the third. CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Mu’awiya (Rad.A) \vas a successful ruler. He was more a politician than a soldier. As a soldier though he was inferior to Ali (R.nd.A). as a military organizer he was second to none. Wise and courageous, he held the dangerous elements around him in check I le kill moral courage even more than physical. Mu’awiya (Rad.A) was
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undoubtedly a bolder and abler ruler than Ali (Rad.A). the man of physical courage.
Abbasid chroniclers have denigrated his character, accused him of introducing the royal throne, the maqsurali for saying prayer in seclusion from the congregation in the mosque and of reciting the khutbah while seated on the pulpit. But the Syrian traditions preserved in Ibn al-Asakir depict his character as that of a true Muslim.9 Mu’av\iya (Rad.A) was a self-made man and one of the best of the Arab monarchs. He seldom used the sword \\hen other means of reconciliation \vere available. The pathetic letter addressed by him to Hasan on his abdication is a testimony to his character. Mu’awiya (Rad.A) won over the Alids by bestowing abundant gifts on them and treating Ali’s (Rad.A) kinsmen prudently. He utilized the services of the poets, \\lio still held great influence on the masses, to the cause of glorifying his dynasty. The nomination of Yazid by a wise and tolerant father like him is. however, considered by some to be a black spot on his character.
For nearly twenty years (661-680) from Hasan’s abdication to his own death, Mu’awiya (Rad.A) was undisputed Khalifah of the Muslim world. Arabia which was lukewarm in loyalty, also submitted. Throughout his reign there was prosperity and peace was disturbed but casually by the rebellions of the Kharijis and the Alids All of which were easily suppressed though with some bloodshed. He was equally successful in extending the boundaries in all directions.
Mu’awiya (Rad.A) created a peaceful Empire out of chaos and consolidated and extended the already vast territory of Islam in two continents, Asia and Africa. Peace having been established and fresh lands having been conquered, trade and industry developed and economic conditions improved. Taxes were collected from the provinces though they were partly relieved of the burden of pensions that the early Caliphs had granted to their followers. By improved methods of cultivation and canalization agriculture was developed in Hijaz. For his success and achievements Mu’awiya (Rad.A) depended mainly upon the loyalty of his Syro-Arab (Yamanite) and Syrian soldiers and on the collaborations of his three lieutenants Amr ibn al-A’s, the Viceroy of Egypt, Ziyad ibn Abih, the Governor of Basrah and Mughirah ibn Shubah, the Governor of Kufah.
The Syro-Arabs regarded him as the legitimate successor of
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Political and Cultural Hilton/ of Islam

their old Ghassanid House and fought for his success. The Kalbites, the strongest in Syria, and kinsmen of Mu’awiya’s wife, assured him and his son, Yazid, their support. His lieutenants were known for their tyranny but Mu’awiya (Rad.A) himself was very mild and of reconciliatory habits which proved to be a great boon for him. He created a disciplined army from the ra\\ Syrian soldiers on whose loyalty he depended chiefly and replaced the tribal organization by a well-planned military machinery after the Greek pattern. His success lay mostly in his offensive policy.’”
As a statesman, Mu’awiya (Rad.A) maintained equilibrium between the Kaisites (northern Arabs) and the Kalbites (southern Arabs). Though he was more nearly related to the former, he made the son of his Kalbite wife his heir and so he held them both. His aspiration in State policy was to establish a dynasty and when this dynastic interest was fulfilled by the nomination of his son, Yazid as his successor to the throne, his only care was the welfare of the State. As a ruler, Mu’awiya (Rad.A) \\as very generous and upright. He was stern to the unruly and kind and considerate to the poor and the weak. Under his rule, the rulers and the ruled lived side by side. The Christians were happy under his benign Government. He appointed Christians to high offices of the State. One of his chief advisers was a Christian. He rebuilt the Church of Edessa which had been destroyed by an earthquake. Commerce and industry were nourished and nurtured, under his patronage. Thus peace and prosperity prevailed over the whole of the empire. Hence it can be said in the words of Prof. Hitti that he was not only the first, but also one of the best of the Arab kings.
Mu’awiya (Rad.A) was a very shrewd politician, cunning diplomat and unscrupulous statesman who did not hesitate to adopt any means, fair or foul, to achieve his own end. Where valour and strength could not avail him, he had resort to cunning and guile. The character of Mu’awiya (Rad.A) has been depicted by Osborn in his famous book, ”Islam under the Arabs” in which he says. ”Astute, unscrupulous and pitiless, the first Khalitah of the Umayyads shrank from no crime necessary to secure his position. Murder was his accustomed mode of removing a formidable opponent. The grandson of the Prophet (PBUH) was caused to be poisoned. Malik al-Ashter, the heroic lieutenant of Ali (Rad.A) was destroyed in a like way.
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To secure the succession of his son Yazid. Mu’awiya (Rad.A) did not hesitate to break the word he had pledged to Hussain the surviving son of Ali (Rad.A). And yet this cool, calculating, atheistic Arab ruled over the region of Islam and the scepter remained in his family for the space of nearly ninety years”. Osborn has brought a great charge against Mu’awiya (Rad.A) by picturing him as the murderer of several persons but he. at the same time, has frankly admitted that Mu’awiya (Rad.A) was cool and calculating and ruled with wisdom over his subjects. We only ask him to judge his statement in the light of the then European countries. Mu’awiya (Rad.A) had held it energetically against the Byzantines, establishing strong garrisons along the coast and instituting Arab maritime warfare in the Mediterranean-an activity earlier forbidden by Hazrat Umar. His firm government and continuing presence in Syria provided an element of stability.
Mu’awiya (Rad.A) was a good judge of men, matters and situation. He wanted to remove the pulpit and staff of the Prophet (PBUH) from Medina to Damascus. But
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