al_etidaal_gn

Sayyidah Aysha’s (Radiallahu anha) brother Muhammed bin Abu Bakr (Radiallahu
anhu), fighting on Ali’s (Radiallahu anhu) side, promptly went forward to inquire:
“Have you been injured?”
Then Sayyldina Ali (Radiallahu anhu) himself came to the howdah upon the camel
and said: “Dear mother, have you suffered any injury? May Allah pardon your fault.”
She replied: “May Allah forgive your fault also.” (Tabari)
This was how the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum) dealt with an opponent! This was
honour and respect for your adversary! What is our behaviour when we overcome an
enemy? When we overcome any rival, is there anything of his life, weaith and honour
to which we show any consideration?
The battle between Sayyidina Muawiya (Radiallahu anhu) and Sayyidina Au
(Radiallahu anhu) is quite well-known. During the time when he was ruling Syria it
happened that a person called Ibn Khaybari, seeing his wife was committing adultery,
could not bear it and killed her. The case came before Muawiya (Radiallahu anhu).
He could not reach a judgement, because for the murder of his wife, the killer’s death
is demanded in retaliation. However, the facts of the case were such that this was no
ordinary murder and the facts could not be disregarded. Therefore he wrote a letter to
Sayyidina Abu Moosa Ash-ary (Radiallahu anhu) asking him to consult with
Sayyidina Ali (Radiallanu anhu) as regards the correct judgement. (Muta Imam
Maalik).
Now I ask you: Do we ever think of admitting our ignorance before our political
adversary? Do we ever think of asking our opponent about any mas’aail about which
there is any dispute? No, with us, not a single word of our opponent is acceptable.
Sometimes, not even the truth.
When Sayyidina Ali (Radiallahu anhu) became Khalifa he took the oath of allegiance
from the Muhajireen and Ansaar. A group of people did not swear allegiance, but he
did not force them. Some people asked his opinion about those people. He said:
“There people have refused to side with the truth, but have also refused to side with
falsehood.” (Khamees). How magnanimous of him! But today of anyone should
prefer to remain neutral, what do we think of him? What we think of him and the
attacks on him in the newspapers will be only to obvious. Need I go into detail?
Sayyidina Imam Hasan (Radiallahu anhu) was poisoned. When he was near to death
they asked him: “Do you know who poisoned you?” He replied:
“By Allah, I will never disclose, who gave me poison to drink. If it is that person
whom I think it is, then Allah’s retaliation is sufficient. And if it is not him, then I do
not want that an innocent person should be killed.” (Khamees)
What would we have done? What do we do with that person with whom we have just
a slight difference of opinion? With us he must be accused of being the cause of every
affliction we suffer. It must be his evil plan. Even if someone else should cause us
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 177