Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

The Umayyads are considered to be the most important link in the chain of
events which lead to the development of Naṣb, a link which is not possible to
understand without delving into its details and knowing about all its dynamics.
This is because of the role they played which became the most effective reason in
the development of the two types of Naṣb and its proliferation amongst people.
At the same time they were the severest opponents who emerged to combat the
Khawārij who were the extremist Nawāṣib; this combat which they took up was
extremely effective in curbing the influence of the Khawārij and the spread of
their beliefs and ideas, one of which was their severe resentment for ʿAlī I,
although not primarily intended by the Umayyads.
Hence the discussion will concern two perspectives:
The first perspective: The Umayyads and the non-excommunicating
Nawāṣib.
The resentment the Umayyads had for ʿAlī I is quite popularly found in the
statements of the scholars. Hence al-Dhahabī says:
في آل مروان نصب ظاهر سوى عمر بن عبد العزيز
There was open Naṣb in the family of Marwān, with the exception of ʿUmar
ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz. 1
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Likewise Ibn Kathīr has said the following in his Tafsīr, “The first king of Islam was Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī
Sufyān.” See: Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr 2/15.
Ibn Abī al-ʿIz al-Ḥanafī similarly said, “The first king of the Muslims was Muʿāwiyah I, he was the
best king of the Muslims.” See: Sharḥ al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah p. 545.
Furthermore, Ibn al-ʿArabī al-Mālikī and Ibn Khaldūn both have rejected the ḥadīth of Safīnah I,
but have erred in doing so. See: al-ʿAwāṣim min al-Qawāṣim p. 208; Tārīkh Ibn Khaldūn 2/650.
For more details see: Majmūʿ Fatāwā Shaykh al-Islam 35/24; the annotations of Ibn al-Qayyim upon
Sunan Abī Dāwūd 11/244; Fatḥ al-Bārī 12/392; al-Ṣawāʿiq al-Muḥriqah 1/66; Tuḥfah al-Aḥwadhī 6/396.
1 Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ 5/113.
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