Supporters of the Umayyad dynasty forged a Hadith in which the Prophet foretold that Mu’awiya, the first Umayyad caliph, would enjoy the intimate company of God, seated below His throne in the heavens, as recompense for the abuse his opponents dealt him in this world.6 Mu’awiya himself encouraged his followers to forge Hadiths detracting from the standing of his opponents, the Shiah supporters of Ali and his descendants.
