1. Is it ever possible, that maybe certain Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhu) forged Hadiths?
2. Someone recently accused Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu’anhu) to have done so.
Answer
1. No! this is impossible.
To accuse any Sahabi (radiyallahu’anhu) of such a deed, is a serious and completely false allegation against those souls who were divinely selected by Allah Ta’ala for the companionship of our Beloved Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam)!
Accusing the Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhu) of such a deed is against the Quran, Hadith and the consensus of the Scholars, in addition to it being completely irrational!
The Sahabah were selected by Allah Ta’ala to accompany Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam), to learn from him and pass on Islam to the rest of the world. Allah Ta’ala will never choose people who would end up forging Hadiths against our Master, (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam)!
Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) states: ‘It is not known [or ever proven] that any Sahabi (radiyallahu’anhu) lied about Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam)… Allah Ta’ala had protected them from forging anything about their Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam).’
(Ar-Radd ‘alal Akhna’i; see Lamahat, pg.55)
This is further understood from the Hadith in which Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) unconditionally instructed every Sahabi to convey his message to those who were not present. This Hadith proves the suitability of every Sahabi for this task.
Based on the above [any many more proofs] all the ‘Ulama of Islam have a united stance; that every Sahabi was reliable. They can therefore never be suspected of such a sin.
One who believes differently will be sinful.
(For more, see Lamahat min Tarikhis sunnah of Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah (rahimahullah), pgs. 40-73 and Shaykh ‘Awwamah’s recent booklet; Khutuwat manhajiyyah fi ithbati ‘adalatis Sahabah)
2. As far as the specific accusation against Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu’anhu), this too is baseless.
As clearly proven above, no Sahabi ever forged a Hadith. Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu’anhu) is no different.
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded that Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu’anhuma) said regarding Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu’anhu):
‘He is a faqih.’ [a Jurist]
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 3765. Also see Hadith: 3764)
One who is a faqih -especially in that golden era- will never commit such a sin.
Imam Ibn Sirin (rahimahullah) is authentically reported to have said:
‘Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah was not a suspect of fabricating Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).’
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4126, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 25753 and Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 93)
This allegation against Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu’anhu) is therefore baseless.
Furthermore, some contemporaries have cited an unreliable narration to support this allegation.
A narration of this kind cannot match up to and never be used against the authentic ones quoted above!
Imam Nasai (rahimahullah) said the following when he was asked about the allegations that some people had levelled against Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah (radiyallahu’anhu):
‘Whoever attacks Sayyiduna Mu’awiyah, in reality seeks to attack the Sahabah in general… Whoever attacks the Sahabah, actually has the motive of attacking Islam‘
(Tahdhibul Kamal, vol.1 pg.45, Lamahat min Tarikhis sunnah, pg.43)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar