The agreement required Muawiyah to rule according to the Quran and Sunnah, grant amnesty to al-Hasan’s supporters, and allow a council to choose his successor.
Proponents of this view argue that the allegiance was not a recognition of Muawiyah's spiritual legitimacy but a political necessity ( taqiyya or strategic peace) to preserve the Muslim community. Scholarly Reliability and Controversy Rijal Al Kashi Report 176 HOT-
, also known by its abridged title Ikhtiyar Ma’rifat al-Rijal , is a cornerstone of Shia biographical evaluation ( ilm al-rijal ). Report 176 within this text is particularly significant as it documents a critical historical moment: the pledge of allegiance ( bay'ah ) given by Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn to Muawiyah I following the signing of their peace treaty in 661 CE. Summary of Report 176 The agreement required Muawiyah to rule according to
While Rijal al-Kashi is one of the "Four Books of Rijal," its content is frequently debated by scholars due to the author's inclusion of various reports for historical context, some of which may be considered weak or fabricated. Report 176 within this text is particularly significant
In related accounts, al-Hasan defended his decision against critics, asserting his divine right to leadership while explaining that his concession was a tactical necessity.