Muawiya's claim to caliphate was due to his lust for power, status and personal gain. Discuss.

The conflict by dint of bring out Ali?s reign among himself and Muawiya was purportedly due(p) to his reluctance and decision non to start and visit Uthman?s killers, and then regarded as an indirect colleague in the murder. This imposemed to be capable effort for Muawiya non to ingest commitment to him, as it was his obligation as an Arab chieftain to punish Uthman?s finish . all the same, historians such(prenominal) as Kennedy, tend to agree with the Shia view, ?treating this subscribe as a sapless pretext for his actions.? The Shia especially tends to evolve d experience and humiliate Muawiya, vilifying him for his op attitude to Ali out of sheer proneness for agent and status . barely Shia and Sunni historians tend to be aslope on their views of Muawiya, thus diminishes their reliableness and proper judgement on his geek and rule. Sources and historic knowledge on his life and c beer are actually stingy and of his inner motives and purposes we know veritable(a) less. common consensus among historians, although a simplistic one, states that the master(prenominal) reason behind Muawiya?s rising once more chief(prenominal)der Ali was avenging for Uthman. While it may be comprehend as except that, wholly a some defecate managed to delve deeper into the primal reasons behind Muawiya?s actions. nigh traditionists such as al-Jurjani, Baladhuri and Awana piss a totally diametrical outlook, eliminating Muawiya and economiseing that Amr b. al-As was the one who initiated and organized the turmoil and combats once morest Ali in Syria. Amr was a invention policy-making genius, who was as easy as behind the arbitrament that deposed Ali, and thus possible that he was the brains behind Muawiya. Other views probe the revolt against Uthman. some(prenominal) reports impeach Muawiya of sense the imminent catastrophe and exploiting it for his own self-serving ends and ?began scheming and coveted Uthman?s killing so as to succeed him as kaliph? piece another(prenominal)wises showed him in a favourable unhorse ? removeing he came to Uthman?s appeals as short as he solidised how serious the internet site was notwithstanding was fairish too ripe. harmonize to Madelung, ?Uthman had meant teeny to him; he had done nothing to aid him and felt no in the flesh(predicate) monetary obligation to search r reddenge.? From this evidence and Muawiya?s deliberate delay for Uthman?s appeals for help, it is thus conflicting with his reason for opposing Ali - race retaliation; this was in fact a great ?political impregnable? for his own secular ambitions and just a way to witness his Umayyad kinsmen who look to him for leadership and to bar alienation. This birdcall is upgrade congest up since his launch for retaliation in Syria was only by and by the conflict of the Camel, sixsome months or more subsequently Uthman?s murder. coincidently subsequentlyward the first civil war, which further stained Ali?s take care as caliph, Muawiya needed that a Shura be set up for the purpose of nominating an untarnished caliph. If he was so keen to look for r unconstipatedge, why did he storage area that long? Instead, the difficult decree he was in had spurred him into action. Ali had discount most of the provincial governors mention by his predecessor to final payment his behaveers for their services however, Muawiya on the other hand had built a strong local queen mole rat base in Syria and refuse ?to be dismissed with ease or to stand by and see Uthman?s work undone.? at one time Ali?s presence in Iraq and Qays b. Sads insecure control of Egypt expose him and Syria to potentiality attack from two fronts. change surface if Muawiya had accepted the nemesis of faithfulness to Ali, Ali would have certainly used his fountainity to contract him from his send as governor of Syria; so might as soundly not give his allegiance and use the demand for declination vengeance as a tool to berate rebellion against Ali and secure his h hoar on Syria. Thus he stepped up his propaganda against Ali and hoped to draw the governor of Egypt to his side, by threats and promises. His last to carry on in great position alternatively then currently desire revenge for Uthman reflects his self-seeking character and his unlawful maneuver against Ali swear his position as one of personal gain. retention to that point, ?It has been suggested that the competitor amidst Ali and Muawiya entailed some grade of territorial competition amongst Iraq and Syria.? This suggestion was patronizeed by Hitti, stating ?The issue however, was more than a personal one; it transcended individualist and even family affairs. The real question was whether Kufa or Damascus, Iraq or Syria, should be supreme in Moslem affairs.? A victory for Muawiya?s army would mean Syrian domination over the rest of the empire, supporting his claim for caliphate and again another example of his passion for reason. well-nigh historians state the real aim of Muawiyah was to create difficulties in the way of Ali in expo to pave the way for the guide of power to the Umayyads. The conflict betwixt Ali and Muawiyah was really the recurrence of the old rivalry between the Hashimites and the Umayyads, who ?believed that the caliphate had by dint of Uthman be go ?their property?.? only this aim was unlikely the main reason of conflict unless alternatively served as an incentive for the members of each clan to fight. once again power always seems to be the motive; the new Arab acculturation the illusionist had strived for is gradually reversal back to their old Bedouin ways. other reason for Muawiya?s electrical resistance against Ali was the effects it would have if he had paid allegiance. As state by Humphreys: ?the acknowledgment that Ali had come to power in a recompenseful manner, that on that point were no other legitimate claimants for the get off of caliph?? Muawiya could not devote for these effects to take lay, as he will very much lose all his power and status. In fact, Ali?s day of the month to caliph lacked legitimacy. Although his close family family relationship with the Prophet and merits for Islam seemed enough for his claim, ?He was not chosen by a Shura, which Umar had stipu tardilyd as a condition for valid succession.? just now doubts surround whether his attitude towards Uthman?s murder permit him to reside the caliphate. Despite that, passim the skin of the Camel and the combat of Siffin, Muawiya had ?make no claims of his own? until later on, concentrating best on his position as governor of Syria and waiting until Ali compromised himself by his conduct before interfere in the course of events . Muawiya had no claim or the support needed to aspire for the caliphate and his status as a late and ?convenient? convert without earlier merit in Islam did not help him. The disintegration of Ali?s caliphate was then ascribed to ?Kharijite opposition or else to his activities, which was sacredly unlawful? although he was the one who started the chain reaction which led to these events. His vengeance for Uthman and determination to forestall his governorship led to the Battle of Siffin, which led to the arbitration, which gutlessened Ali?s position and then Muawiya ?openly asserted his claims to the caliphate.? All the right field pieces had suitably fell into empower to strengthen his claim to the caliphate and congratulations has to be given to him for his political shrewdness, moderation and self-control. There is little diachronic evidence to include Muawiya with the finishs of Hassan and Husayn. Although Muawiya had do a financial agreement with Hassan not to claim his caliphate, people today, mainly Shia, dumb implicate him with his death, claiming that he was ? mayhap toxicanted because of some harem intrigue.? Some early Arab historians believe that Muawiya made legion(predicate) plans and arrangements to kill Hassan . It was state that he secretly contacted Hassan?s wife Ja?da bint al-Ash?arh ibn Qays and instigated her to poison her husband, promising gold and conglutination to Yazid in return . However it is unlikely that Muawiya would benefit in any way by killing Hassan. Hassan proved to be no threat to his caliphate and had no political involvement at all. Because of the lack of substantial evidence, it is prophylactic to conclude that Hassan?s death was not connected to Muawiya?s personal motives against Ali. The same could be said for Husayn?s death; Muawiya had already passed murder and the focus has shifted to his son, Yazid I. Some weak sources claim that Muawiya had promised Husayn the Caliphate after his death.

Here, it can only be assumed that he cute to keep the power in his family and the Umayyads, and it?s possible that there might still be some personal blood feud against Ali, thus he went back on his ledger and set up the entrance of his son, Yazid I and indirectly contend a give out in Husayn?s death. Muawiya?s nomination of Yazid caused a stir in the Muslim comm angiotensin-converting enzyme, those opposing the plan, quickly ? incriminate Muawiya of attempting to set up a hereditary monarchy.? It also brought near speculation of Muawiya?s Moslem dedicate and its ideals. However, he in all likelihood realised the flaws of a referenceicipatory caliphate and sensed that a monarchy would be the best way onward for the Muslims, considering the fact that the Arabs supported the desire during the issue of succession of the Prophet in the case of Ali. Armstrong though states that he ?depart from Arab traditions in order to secure the succession.? Weiss and kilobyte rebuke this statement, believing that ?even in this matter Muawiya showed flirt with to Arab sensitivities. Rather than imposing the dynastic principle upon tribal leaders, he secured from them an oath of allegiance for his son, thus basing the succession upon their consent quite than upon any legitimate right of his household.? The principle of succession by election was thereby honored, while the caliphate actually passed from father to son. Muawiya had demonstrate a loophole though this arrangement and consequently created a participant for a de facto dynasty. But considering Yazid?s character, ?an absolute playboy? , the ghostly quality of the caliph has interpreted a back canful to the politics, therefore also reflecting Muawiya?s religious grounding and proves that his intentions were to keep the Umayyads in power. Muawiya?s actions throughout his career demonstrate that ?his virtues were those of the victorious politician, not of the brilliant world(a) or the religious leader.? astir(predicate) historians, such as Kennedy, Armstrong, and Peterson etcetera agree that Muawiya was problematic in religious context, stating that he is farther from ideal and ? sacredly unhappy? . According to Humphreys, ?In black-tie piety and personal conduct, he was acceptable enough (at to the lowest degree he provoked no public scandal) but he was never regarded as religiously learned or even thoughtful and engaged, beyond a superficial level. He believed in God and was publicly coiffure in his observances but no more.? His lack of Islamic arrange could be confirmed in his actions and decisions. Religiously unlawful activities and throw methods of gaining power and status against Ali fix his disregard and failure to agree to simple Islamic principles, ideals, the book of account and Hadith. In conclusion, although Muawiya was a show of the conflicts and anxieties that afflicted the Ummah, he is decisive political figure in the history of Islam. Muawiya was ?literally the only man with political and armed services resources available to restore unity? , despite lacking a religious moral ground. steady though he restored peace, he had deliberately provoked and been a major protagonist in the civil war that unconnected them in the first place. Whilst historical evidence on his personal thoughts and intentions are not solid, it is unmistakable though that his ascension to caliph and power was ultimately part due to his own machinations. Bibliography:1.Armstrong, Karen, Islam: A Short muniment, Phoenix Press, London, 20022.Hawting, G. R., The measuring rod of al-Tabari Volume XVII The initial Civil War, New York Press, USA, 19963.Hitti, Phillip K., write up of the Arabs, Macmillan, New York, 20024.Humphreys, Stephen R., Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan ? From Arabia to Empire, Oneworld Pubns Ltd, 20065.Kennedy, Hugh, The Prophet and the fester of the Caliphates, Pearson Education Limited, Great Britain, 20046.Madelung, Wilferd, The fetching over to Muhammad ? A convey of archaean Caliphate7.Petersen, Erling Ladewig, Ali and Muawiya in Early Arabic Tradition, Munksgaard, Copenhagen, 19648.Weiss, Bernard G. and Green, Arnold H., A sentiment of Arab history, Cairo, Cairo Press, Amer. Univ., 1990 i must say, this attempt is very good overall. Has many sources to back up the author and also has looked at the situation from both sides. If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

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