Muhammad ibn Abī Bakr, however, did not enjoy such standing among the people. Nor did he live through more than a few months of the Prophet’s life—peace and blessings be upon him—from Dhū al-Qi'da until the beginning of Rabī al-Awwal. He was born at al-Shajara with five days remaining in Dhū al-Qi'da, in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage.

Marwān was one of Ibn al-Zubayr’s peers. He was therefore alive during the Prophet’s lifetime—peace and blessings be upon him—and may have seen him in the year of the conquest of Mecca or during the Farewell Pilgrimage.

[Those who] (1) said that he had not seen the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—argued that his father was in al-Tā'if when the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—died, and that he was there with his father. Some people maintain that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—had banished his father to al-Tā'if. Many scholars, however, reject this and say that he went there of his own accord and that the report of his banishment has no chain of transmission.

In any event, this could only have occurred after the conquest of Mecca, for his father had been in Mecca with the other freed captives, and Marwān had nearly reached the age of discernment. His father may also have performed Hajj with the people, in which case Marwān may have seen the Prophet during the Farewell Pilgrimage. He may also have come to Medina. It is therefore impossible to state categorically that he did not see the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him.

As for his peers, such as al-Miswar ibn Makhrama and Abd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr, they were in Medina, and it is established that they heard directly from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him.

[Reply to the Rāfidī’s claim that Uthmān—may Allah be pleased with him—appointed Muāwiya governor over Syria, whereupon he stirred up the turmoil he did]

As for his statement:

“He appointed (2) Muāwiya governor over Syria, and Muāwiya went on to stir up the turmoil that he did.”

The reply is that it was Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—who appointed Muāwiya. When Muāwiya’s brother, Yazīd ibn Abī Sufyān, died, Umar appointed him in his brother’s place. He continued to serve as governor under