Keeping The Name Muawiyah

When it comes to picking a name for a child, the Asmaa Husnaa of Allah, the names of Rasool Allah SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam, the names of the illustrious Sahaabah Raḍi Allah ‘Unhum should be aspired towards. The status, rank and honor which the Sahaabah Raḍi Allah ‘Unhum had within Islaam can never be denied. They were beacons for mankind, of such caliber, that there lies a consensus upon their excellence and nobility. 

Hadhrat Mu’awiyah Radi Allah ‘Unh was from amongst the great companions of Rasool Allah SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam whose favors upon this Ummah cannot be ignored. He was of those Sahaabah Radi Allah ‘Unhum who were in the constant companionship of Nabi SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam and he was honored to be counted from amongst those illustrious companions whose responsibility was to write down divine revelations. The supplications on his behalf by Rasool Allah SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam are an open declaration of his piety and reliability. Accordingly, it is narrated in Tirmithi, that Rasool Allah SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam said: “O Allah, make him (Mu’awiyah) a guide towards righteousness, a person who is guided and make him a means of guidance for others.”

Immm al-Bukhari R.A has narrated that Rasool Allah SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam is reported to have said that Jannah is compulsory upon the first army who will fight a naval battle from amongst my Ummah and Hadhrat Mu’awiyah Radi Allah ‘Unh was the Amir of the first naval fleet to engage in nautical warfare during the Caliphate of Hadhrat Uthman Raḍi Allah ‘Unh. 

Once our beloved Nabi SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam made the following Du’a’: “O Allah! Endow Mu’awiyah with special knowledge of the Qur’ān and save him from any afflictions.” Once Abdul Malik Ibn Marwān R.A passed by the grave of Hadhrat Mu’awiyah Radi Allah ‘Unh. He stopped and for a long while he beseeched Allah Ta’ala on behalf of its dweller. A person asked, “Whose grave is this?” Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan replied: “It is the grave of such a person whose speech was filled with knowledge and wisdom. If he chose to remain silent, it was due to his tolerance and patience. When he donated, he conferred with his donation independence, and when he engaged in battle, he threw his enemies into annihilation.”

During the caliphate of Hadhrat Mu’awiyah Radi Allah ‘Unh the Islamic empire had expanded upon a total area of 64,065,000 square miles. An imminent western historian by the name of Napoleon once commentated that the Muslims had conquered half of the world in less than fifty years. During, the caliphate of Hadhrat Mu’awiyah Radi Allah ‘Unh the Islamic banner was hoisted at 57,000 new territories. Great cities and nations like, Kabul, Afghanistan, Russia, Cyprus, Rhodes (Greece), Sicily and Sudan etc. were conquered and introduced to Islamic civilization. The virtues of Hadhrat Mu’awiyah Raḍi Allah ‘Unh are plenty. Being a Sahaabi is enough. To be able to live in the blessed time of Rasool Allah SallAllah ‘Alayh Wa Sallam is enough to show someone’s virtue. therefore, it will be suitable to keep the name Muawiyah.