Question

What do the Hadith scholars say about this Hadith in Sahih Muslim.

Narrated by Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu ‘anhu):

Muawiyah, the son of Abu Sufyan, gave an order to Sa’d, and told him: “What prevents you that you are refraining from cursing Abu Turab (nickname of ‘Ali)?” Sa’d replied: “Don’t you remember that the Prophet said three things about (the virtue of) ‘Ali? So I will never curse ‘Ali.”

Answer

‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah), the popular commentator of Sahih Muslim writes that this was not a command to Sayyiduna Sa’d to revile Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhuma).

Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was merely asking Sayyiduna Sa’d (radiyallahu ‘anhu) why he didn’t join in with the others who were reviling Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

It was to test him and enquire his reasons, rather than to spur him on…

(Sharhun Nawawi, Hadith: 6170)

One should be vigilant of mistranslations of Hadiths, especially those that apparently contradict the mainstream school of thought…

Many a time, a review of the original text, and the commentary of the reliable scholars clears up the unfounded misrepresentations.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar