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Nasibi support for Yazeed

Let us see how the Salaf Imam's treated Yazeed in their writing's. Let us begin with Imam of Ahl'ul Sunnah Abdul Hamid Ibn Ghazzali. 
Ibn Khallikan records one of his fatwas in reply to the following question:

"Q. What opinion should one hold of an individual that curses Yazeed, deems him a fasiq and encourages others to curse him? Did Yazeed intend to kill Hussain [r] or were his actions aimed at defending himself? Can we say (rahmathullah) after saying his name or is silence the best approach to adopt?

'A. 'It is not allowed to curse a Muslim at all and whosoever does so is himself cursed; and how can the curse of a Muslim be ever allowed when prohibitions in this matter are clear cut. Yazeed's being a Muslim and his non-participation in killing Hadhrat Hussain (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) nor his being pleased with this are all established from authentic narration's. When his involvement in the murder of Hadhrat Hussain (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) is not proven, it would not be correct to entertain any negative opinions about him for this is tantamount to harbouring evil thoughts about a Muslim without evidence which itself is Haraam. Allah Taãla says, 'O believers! Abstain from suspicions as some suspicions are sinful.' As to bless him with Duáss of mercy; not only is it permissible but in fact, Mustahabb (preferable) we do so in every Salaat for it is encompassed in this all-inclusive Duá: 'O Allah forgive the believing men and women' for he was a believer - quoted from: Tareekh Ibn Khalikkan Volume 1 page 413, "Dhikr Aqelbin Hairth"; Tafseer Ruh al Ma'ani Volume 26 page 73 "Surah Muhammad verse 23"; Hayatul Hayawaan p. 196.

So in the eyes of Imam of Ahl'ul Sunnah Abdul Hamid Ghazzali:

1) One that curses Yazeed is himself cursed

2) Yazeed was a momin

3) There is no clear evidence that he killed Imam Hussain

4) To say Yazeed rahmathullah is a permissible action

4) We should supplicate in favour of Yazeed after every Salat

Ghazzali is one of the esteemed kingpin's of Ahl'ul Sunnah, an Imam of the Salafies - who makes known his glowing admiration for Yazeed! Can you explain why you take Nasibis with such abhorrent to be your Imams? Or is the truth that he is only saying openly what you state privately?

Compare Ghazzali's support for Yazeed to his opinion on discussing Imam Hussain (as)'s martyrdom:

"It is a sin for the people to narrate the martyrdom of Hasan and Hussain, as retelling the troubles of the family of the Prophet (s), creates enmity towards the Sahaba".

This so called Hujutul Islam Abdul Hamid Ghazzali (d. 505 Hijri) on the one hand is issuing a Fatwa seeking mercy for Yazeed, and at the same time gave a fatwa deeming it haraam to even discuss the tragedy that befell Imam Hussain (as).

Another darling of the Salfi Nasibi's is Qadhi 'Abu Bakr Ibn Arabi. He is a clear authority figure for the Salafies since we have often come across Nasibi sites where his fatwa of takfeer against the Shi'a has been cited. So let us see the esteemed rank that Ibn Arabi gave to Yazeed and his adviser Marwan.

On Marwan, Ibn Arabi stated

"With regards to Marwan and Yazeed, critics who assert that they were both fasiq, are themselves fasiq. Marwan is in the eyes of the Sahaba, tabieen and fuquha a just individual, he was a high ranking member of the Ummah".
al Awasim min al Kawasim page 88-89

In relation to Yazeed, Ibn Arabi states as follows:

"If we state that knowledge and justice are the key features to be a Khalifa, some will claim that Yazeed was neither Adil nor was he an Aalim. We will ask 'Where is your source for claiming that these conditions were missing in Yazeed? If this was indeed the case then Ibn Zubayr and Hussain bin 'Ali would have informed us".
al Awasim min al Kawasim page 222

Ibn Arabi's support for Yazeed continues:

"If it is claimed that Yazeed drank alcohol we should point out that such a claim cannot be verified until we have the word of two witnesses, who testified against Yazeed? On the contrary a just man Yahya bin Bakeer narrates from Lays bin Sa'd, 'Ameer'ul Momineen Yazeed died on the following date…' Lays referred to him as Ameer'ul Momineen when his rule had come to an end, if Lays did not feel that this was the case he would not have referred to Yazeed as Ameer'ul Momineen after his death".
al Awasim min al Kawasim page 227

Interestingly Nasibis also follow the way of their Salaf Imam Ibn Arabi - writer Abu Sulaiman had sought to deny that Yazeed drank alcohol. Alhamdolillah we have already refuted this in our article on Mu'awiya we are quoting it here to show the affection that these Nasibi have towards Yazeed.

Salafi also  states:

It is also a lie that Yazeed was an alcohol drinking person. We will let Muhammad bin Ali bin Abi Talib to answer this claim because Muhammad knew Yazeed the best because he lived with him for a while. Ibn Katheer says in Al-Bidayah: (When the people of Al-Medina returned from Yazeed, Abdullah bin Mutee'a and his companions walked to Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyah. They wanted Muhammad to agree to dismiss Yazeed, but Muhammad refused. Ibn Mutee'a said: "Yazeed drinks alcohol, does not pray, and ignores the rule of the Book." Muhammad answered them: "I never saw what you are saying about him. I came to him, and stayed with him for a while and I saw him taking care of his prayers, looking for goodness, asking about jurisprudence, and clinging to the Sunnah." They said: "He was acting like that!" Muhammad answered: "And what did he scare from me or please so that he shows piety to me? Did he show you what you saying about drinking alcohol? If he did, then you are his partners, but if he did not, then it is not lawful for you to testify what you do not know." They said: "It is the truth for us even if we did not see it." Muhammad said: "Allah refused that on the people of witness, Allah says: "Except for those who testified with truth and they know," and I have nothing to do with you anymore." They said: "Perhaps you did not like someone to take control rather than yourself, therefore, we give you our leadership." He said: "I do not make this fight lawful for me, either as a leader or as a follower." They said: "But you fought with your father!" He answered: "Give me someone like my father to fight the like of what my father fought." They asked: "Then, order your sons Abu Al-Qassim and Al-Qassim to fight with us." He answered: "I would have fight if I ordered them." They said: "At least join us to urge people to fight." He said: "Praise be the Lord! Do you want me to order the people to do what I do not do and do not accept? I would not then advised Allah's slaves for the sake of Allah." They replied: "Hence, we will force you." He said: "Then I will order the people to fear Allah and do not make a creature happy at the expense of the Creator's anger." Then Muhammad left to Makkah." 
[Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah for IbnKatheer,vol.8,p.236]


Ibn Arabi's writing do not just include an appraisal of Yazeed, they also contain attacks on Imam Hussain (as) that clearly point to his Nasibi aqeedah. Writing on the position taken by Imam Hussain (as) he states:

"Hussain failed to take heed of the words of Ibn Abbas who was the greatest scholar of that time, nor did he listen to the Sahaba Ibn Umar. He rebelled, he wanted to be young when he was in fact old, people were not present around him, he did not have helpers to support his stance, nor did he have people that were willing to sacrifice their lives for him…No one supported him (Hussain) when he rebelled. His grandfather the most merciful of all Prophets, foretold disputes and warned of fitnah, it was on this basis that Yazeed fought Hussain"
al Awasim min al Kawasim page 231-232

So Ibn Arabi is seeking to inform the people that:

Yazeed was with the truth

Yazeed's stance was supported by hadith that he relied when taking the action he did.

Imam Hussain decided to rebel, having failed to listen to Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar.

By rebelling Imam Hussain (as) was causing fitnah

Imam Hussain (as) was acting in violation to the words of Rasulullah (s)

This Nasibis entire portrayal is that Imam Hussain (as) died as a baghi fighting the rightful Imam. This is a serious matter since a baghi can NOT be declared a martyr under Shari'a, you can not even read the funeral prayers of a baghi.


Yazeed was a Sunni Muslim

We read in Sharh Qaseeda page 16:

"Other than a kaafir, is is not permissible to curse a Muslim and Yazeed was not a kaafir but was a Sunni Muslim"
 Sharah Qaseeda Amali, Page 16

When the Ulema of Ahl'ul Sunnah have themselves declared Yazeed to be a Sunni Muslim, is there any further need to discuss the beliefs of those that killed Imam Hussain (as)? Mullah Ali Qari al Hanafi, Hujutul Islam Ghazzali, Ibn Hajr al Makki and Ibn Katheer have forbade the cursing of Yazeed, and these are the Ulema that supported the killers of Imam Hussain (as), from their comments one can conclude that their Imam was Yazeed, Yazeed's madhab can be determined on the basis of the madhab that these Ulema adhered to.

We have presented these examples to show that these are individuals that have been extolled as Sunni's when they are actually Nasibis who had deep felt sympathies for Yazeed. We would urge our Sunni brothers not to be taken in by these Nasibis who claim to love Ahl'ul bayt (as) - their actual beliefs are derogatory towards the memory of Imam Hussain (as). 
 
Their tactic is to:

protect Yazeed,

praise Yazeed's character

absolve Yazeed of wrongdoing

oppose cursing Yazeed

For the benefit of those who may be taken in by these Nasibis we shall conclude this post with the words of an 'actual' Sunni scholar Sayyid Mahmood Alusi who stated (on Imam Hussain's murder):

"Those who state that Yazeed was not responsible and should not be cursed, or that he committed no sin are in fact Yazeed's helpers".
Ruh al Ma'ani Part 26


Some questions for  Nasibi

1. In Mishkat al Masabih Volume 3 page 244 we read this hadith:

"Oh Allah I love these two (Hasan and Hussain) love those that love them" - Do you accept his hadith of Rasulullah (s)?

2. If you accept this du'a then does Allah (swt) not love the Shi'a?

3. When Allah (swt) loves the Shi'a tell us does he love their enemies or hate them?

4. When you and your Nasibi Imams deem Imam Hussain (as) to be a baghi, can we conclude that you love Imam Hussain (as)?

5. Ibn Asakir records (in Mishbaath ba Sunnath page 219) a hadith on the authority Hadhrath Ayesha:

"Oh Allah never shower your blessings on the cursed, killer Yazeed, he will rebel against my beloved Hussain and martyr him"

When we have this hadith on the authority of Ayesha how do your Salaf Imams have the audacity to claim that absolving Yazeed of any wrongdoing is the correct approach?

6. When Rasulullah (s) has coined Yazeed a cursed murderer then when why do your Imams such as Ghazzali deem cursing Yazeed as haraam, are such fatwas not in violation to the words of Rasulullah?

7. In this hadith Rasulullah (s) explicitly named Yazeed, as a cursed murderer then is this not clear proof of him being cursed and hell bound?

8. When Rasulullah (s) deemed Yazeed to be a baghi could you explain why your brother Abu Sulaiman relied on a fatwa that "His (Yazeed's) caliphate is rightful"?

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