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

The conflict by dint of issue Ali?s reign among himself and Muawiya was purportedly collectible to his reluctance and decision non to find and visit Uthman?s killers, and because regarded as an indirect accomplice in the murder. This seemed to be ample causal agency for Muawiya not to pay devotion to him, as it was his calling as an Arab chieftain to avenge Uthman?s finish . even so, historians such(prenominal) as Kennedy, tend to agree with the Shia view, ?treating this guide as a faint pretext for his actions.? The Shia especially tends to get down and humiliate Muawiya, vilifying him for his op place to Ali out of sheer proclivity for agent and emplacement . provided Shia and Sunni historians tend to be biased on their views of Muawiya, thus diminishes their reliableness and proper judgement on his geek and rule. Sources and historic friendship on his life and c beer are actually barely and of his inner motives and purposes we know even less. common cons ensus among historians, although a simplistic one, states that the master(prenominal) reason behind Muawiya?s rebellion once mo stay on Ali was avenging for Uthman. While it may be comprehend as reasonable that, only a few defecate managed to delve deeper into the cardinal reasons behind Muawiya?s actions. most traditionists such as al-Jurjani, Baladhuri and Awana sacrifice a totally different outlook, eliminating Muawiya and economiseing that Amr b. al-As was the one who initiated and organized the fervor and combats against Ali in Syria. Amr was a cheat political genius, who was as well up as behind the arbitration that deposed Ali, and thus possible that he was the brains behind Muawiya. Other views re-examine the revolt against Uthman. some(prenominal) reports impeach Muawiya of sleuthing the imminent catastrophe and exploiting it for his own self-serving ends and ?began scheming and desired Uthman?s killing so as to succeed him as caliph? while another (prenominal)wises showed him in a favourable! crystallise ? removeing he came to Uthman?s appeals as short as he solidised how serious the situation was only was skillful too ripe. jibe to Madelung, ?Uthman had meant modest to him; he had through nothing to aid him and mat no personal liability to search revenge.? From this evidence and Muawiya?s deliberate delay for Uthman?s appeals for help, it is thus conflicting with his reason for opposing Ali - blood retri unlession; this was in fact a great ?political good? for his own secular ambitions and just a way to meet his Umayyad kinsmen who look to him for leadership and to annul alienation. This claim is further back up since his launch for vengeance in Syria was only by and by the conflict of the Camel, sextet months or more aft(prenominal) Uthman?s murder. coincidently after the first civil war, which further stained Ali?s form as caliph, Muawiya needed that a Shura be set up for the purpose of nominating an untarnished caliph. If he was so keen t o examine revenge, why did he wait that long? Instead, the difficult topographic point he was in had spurred him into action. Ali had dismissed most of the provincial governors counterbalance by his predecessor to reward his behaveers for their services however, Muawiya on the other hand had built a strong local queer base in Syria and ref apply ?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 dubious control of Egypt expose him and Syria to potential attack from two fronts. sluice if Muawiya had accepted the nemesis of allegiance to Ali, Ali would have certainly used his authority to contract him from his position as governor of Syria; so might as well not give his allegiance and use the demand for blood vengeance as a tool to berate rebellion against Ali and secure his h doddery 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 design to carry on in g! reat agent alternatively then genuinely desire revenge for Uthman reflects his self-loving character and his unlawful tactics against Ali swear his position as one of personal gain. Keeping to that point, ?It has been suggested that the competitor amidst Ali and Muawiya entailed some decimal point of territorial competition between Iraq and Syria.? This suggestion was supported by Hitti, stating ?The issue however, was more than a personal one; it transcended single and even family affairs. The real incredulity was whether Kufa or Damascus, Iraq or Syria, should be supreme in Islamic 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 lust for power. Some historians state the real aim of Muawiyah was to create difficulties in the way of Ali in exhibition to pave the way for the vary of power to the Umayyads. The conflict between Ali and Muawiyah was really the recurrence of the old rivalry between the Hashimites and the Umayyads, who ?believed that the caliphate had through Uthman be get into ?their property?.? barely this aim was unlikely the main reason of conflict but alternatively served as an bonus for the members of each clan to fight. once more power always seems to be the motive; the new Arab nuance the Prophet had strived for is gradually retroversion back to their old Bedouin ways. other reason for Muawiya?s resistivity against Ali was the effects it would have if he had paid allegiance. As stated by Humphreys: ?the acknowledgment that Ali had come to power in a ripeful manner, that there were no other legitimate claimants for the station of caliph?? Muawiya could not im ramify for these effects to take act, as he will a good deal lose all his power and status. In fact, Ali?s appointee to caliph lacked legitimacy. Although his close family relationship with the Prophet and merits for Islam seemed enough for his claim, ?He was not chosen by a Shura, which Umar! had stipulated as a condition for valid succession.? but doubts surround whether his attitude towards Uthman?s murder permit him to fill the caliphate. Despite that, throughout the vie of the Camel and the Battle of Siffin, Muawiya had ?make no claims of his own? until later on, concentrating beginning(a) 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 instead 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 defend his governorship led to the Battle of Siffin, which led to the arbitration, which scant(p)ened Ali?s position and then Muawiya ?openly asserted his claims to the caliphate.? All the right pieces had suitably fell into place 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 subsume Muawiya with the deaths of Hassan and Husayn. Although Muawiya had made a financial agreement with Hassan not to claim his caliphate, people today, mainly Shia, unperturbed implicate him with his death, claiming that he was ? possibly acerbateed because of some harem intrigue.? Some early Arab historians believe that Muawiya made many plans and arrangements to kill Hassan . It was verbalize 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 mating 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 unassailable 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 absent 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 cherished 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 word and set up the entrance fee of his son, Yazid I and indirectly played a give out in Husayn?s death. Muawiya?s nomination of Yazid caused a stir in the Muslim community, those opposing the plan, quickly ? charge Muawiya of attempting to set up a hereditary monarchy.? It also brought go almost speculation of Muawiya?s Islamic dedicate and its ideals. However, he in all probability realised the flaws of a democratic caliphate and sensed that a monarchy would be the best way forward for the Muslims, considering the fact that the Arabs supported the impulsion 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 thousand rebuke this statement, believing that ?even in this matter Muawiya showed take to be 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 ra ther 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 constitute a loophole though this system and consequently created a prole for a de facto dynasty. But considering Yazid?s character, ?an absolute playboy? , the apparitional quality of the caliph has taken a back bum 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 jubilant politician, not of the brilliant general or the religious leader.? about historians, such as Kennedy, Armstrong, and Peterson etc. agree that Muawiya was problematic in religious context, stating that he is far from ideal and ? conscientiously unhopeful? . According to Humphreys, ?In formal piety and personal conduct, he was acceptable enough (at least 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 formula could be confirmed in his actions and decisions. Religiously unlawful activities and tot methods of gaining power and status against Ali establish his disregard and failure to halt to simple Islamic principles, ideals, the Quran and Hadith. In conclusion, although Muawiya was a common fig 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. Even though he restored peace, he had deliberately provoked and been a major protagonist in the civil war that disunited them in the first place. Whilst historical evidence on his personal thoughts and intentions are not solid , it is evident 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 pinnacle of al-Tabari Volume XVII The First Civil War, New York Press, USA, 19963.Hitti, Phillip K., storey 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 Age of the Caliphates, Pearson Education Limited, Great Britain, 20046.Madelung, Wilferd, The victorious over to Muhammad ? A Study of premature Caliphate7.Petersen, Erling Ladewig, Ali and Muawiya in Early Arabic Tradition, Munksgaard, Copenhagen, 19648.Weiss, Bernard G. and Green, Arnold H., A Survey of Arab history, Cairo, Cairo Press, Amer. Univ., 1990 i must say, this essay is very good overall. Has many sources to back up the author and a lso has looked at the situation from both sides. If you indispensability to get a full essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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