Allama Askari Discussion with a Sunni Scholar on Cursing the Companions

Despite the fact that there is a tradition in which the Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said, “My companions are like the stars of heaven, if you follow each one, you will be guided,” why do you Curse some of the companions of the Prophet?

One of the Sunni scholars asked me (Allamah Sayyid Mortaza Askari), “Why do you Shiite people curse some of the companions [of the prophet]?”

It is despite the fact that there is a tradition in which the Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said, “My companions are like the stars of heaven, if you follow each one, you will be guided.”

I said to him, there is a verse [in the Qur’an] that says, “Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you.” (Sura An-Nur, Verse 11)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ  لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ

I said, “Were the people who accused the Prophet’s wife [the word ‘ifk’ in this verse means to accuse the prophet’s (pbuh) wife for doing wrong things] other than the companions, whom the Qur’an gives them a promise of hell?”

Also, in another verse [Allah] says about other companions, “But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing…” (Sura al-Jum’a, Verse 11)

 وَ إِذَا رَأَوْاْ تِجَرَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا انفَضُّواْ إِلَيْهَا وَ تَرَكُوكَ قَآئمًا

So, who were they, those who abandoned the holy Prophet (pbuh) during the Friday Prayer? Were they other than the companions? [In Dur al-Manthur, an exegetical book, has been mentioned that only twelve people —seven women and five men—stayed with the Prophet (pbuh).]

Then I continued, “If you say that there is a tradition (Hadith) from the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) that says, ‘Do not curse my companions.’ so, why did Muawiyah give the order of cursing Imam Ali (pbuh) on the Pulpits?!It was to the extent that the Khatibs (spokesmen) of the Friday prayers cursed Imam Ali (pbuh) on the Pulpits for so many years.

Even the Khatib who forgot to curse Imam Ali (pbuh) in the Friday prayer, when he was on his way back home—as he found out— he stood where he was and cursed Imam Ali (pbuh) for one hour on the back of his camel. After that, a mosque named “Curse” was built there.

Also, some other issues were raised [during our conversation] and at the end I told him, “Do you wash your feet or do you wipe them while you do Wudu?” He said, “I wash them.”

I said, “Do you act contrary to the Qur’an and the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and his Household’s (Ahl al-Bayt) (pbut) lifestyle?” Because the Holy Qur’an says:

“O you who have faith! When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe a part of your heads and your feet, up to the ankles…” (Sura al-Ma’ida, Verse 6)

يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَوةِ فَاغْسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُواْ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ