The lives of companions

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu `Amir `Abdullah bin Luhay said, “We performed Hajj with Mu`awiyah bin Abi Sufyan  (رضي الله عنه) . When we arrived at Makkah, he stood up after praying Zuhr and said, `The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of Allah said,

«إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابَيْنِ افْتَرَقُوا فِي دِينِهِمْ عَلى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً، وَإِنَّ هذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً يَعْنِي الْأَهْوَاءَ كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ وَإِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ فِي أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ تَجَارَى بِهِمْ تِلْكَ الْأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يَتَجَارَى الْكَلَبُ بِصَاحِبِه، لَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْقٌ وَلَا مَفْصِلٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَه»

(The People of the Two Scriptures divided into seventy-two sects. This Ummah will divide into seventy-three sects, all in the Fire except one, that is, the Jama`ah. Some of my Ummah will be guided by desire, like one who is infected by rabies; no vein or joint will be saved from these desires.)

Mu`awiyah  (رضي الله عنه) said next: By Allah, O Arabs! If you do not adhere to what came to you from your Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then other people are even more prone not to adhere to it. ”

Similar was recorded by Abu Dawud from Ahmad bin Hanbal and Muhammad bin Yahya.

وفد المقدام بن معدي كرب وعمرو بن الأسود إلى معاوية فقال معاوية للمقدام : أعلمت أن الحسن بن علي توفي ؟ فرجع المقدام فقال له معاوية : أتراها مصيبة ؟ فقال : ولم لا أراها مصيبة وقد وضعه رسول الله في حجره وقال : الحسن مني والحسين من علي

الراوي: المقدام بن معد يكرب المحدث: الألباني – المصدر: السلسلة الصحيحة – الصفحة أو الرقم: 2/450
خلاصة حكم المحدث: إسناده حسن رجاله ثقات

When Al Miqdan bin Madi Al Karb informed Muawiyah رضي الله عنه that Al Hassan رضي الله عنه had died, Muawiyah رضي الله عنه was taken aback. Al Miqdan said “Do you consider that a calamity?” Muawiyah رضي الله عنه replied “Why wouldn’t I? I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Al Hassan رضي الله عنه is from me, and Al Hussein رضي الله عنه is from Ali رضي الله عنه”

Imam Ahmad recorded that Salim bin `Amir said, “Mu`awiyah was leading an army in Roman lands, at a time the bilateral peace treaty was valid. He wanted to go closer to their forces so that when the treaty of peace ended, he could invade them. An old man riding on his animal said, `Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Great), Allahu Akbar! Be honest and stay away from betrayal.’ The Messenger of Allah said,

«وَمَنْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ قَوْمٍ عَهْدٌ فَلَا يَحُلَّنَّ عُقْدَةً وَلَا يَشُدَّهَا حَتَّى يَنْقَضِي أَمَدُهَا، أَوْ يَنْبُذَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَاء»

(Whoever has a treaty of peace with a people, then he should not untie any part of it or tie it harder until the treaty reaches its appointed term. Or, he should declare the treaty null and void so that they are both on equal terms.) When Mu`awiyah was informed of the Prophet’s statement, he retreated. They found that man to be `Amr bin `Anbasah, may Allah be pleased with him.”

This Hadith was also collected by Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih. At-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan Sahih.”

The Messenger of Allaah – sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – said about Mu’awiyyah:

“Oh Allaah! Make him a guide (haadiyann), and guided (mahdiyyann), and guide others through him.”

[Sahih Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 3/236]

Ibraahim bin Maysarah – rahimahullah – said:

“I never saw ‘Umar bin ‘Abdil-’Azeez hit any person except one who reviled Mu’awiyyah. This one he whipped many times.”

[al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah]

It was said to ‘Abdullah bin al-Mubarak, “Which of the two is better, Mu’aawiyyah or ‘Umar bin ‘Abdil-’Azeez?”  So he said, “The dust gathered in the nose of Mu’awiyyah with the Messenger of Allah is better and superior than ‘Umar bin ‘Abdil-Azeez.”

[al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: 8/130]

“All the Muslims unanimously agreed to swear allegince to him in 41 AH, and he remained in charge throughout this period until the year in which he died. Throughout this period Jihaad was ongoing in the lands of the enemies, and the Word of Allaah remained supreme, and booty was coming to him from the ends of the earth; the Muslims were at ease, enjoying justice, tolerance, and goodwill. He was forbearing, dignified, a leader, prominent among people, noble, just, and a man of chivalry. He was a man of good conduct, forgiving, tolerant and overlooking the mistakes of others – may Allaah have mercy upon him.”

[al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah: 8/118]

Hafiz Abul Qasim ibn ‘Asakir has documented in Tarikh Dimashq that Imam an-Nasa’i was asked about Mu’awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan [Radiallahu anhuma]. His reply was:

‘Islam is like a house with a door. The door of Islam is the Sahaba. Whoever speaks ill of the Sahaba seeks but to harm Islam, just like one who knocks a door to enter a house. As for Mu’awiyah, whoever speaks ill of him seeks to find a way to speak ill of the Sahaba.’

(Cited in Tahdhib al-Kamal, vol. 1 p. 339)

سُئل أبوعبد الرحمن النسائي عن معاويةَ بن أبي سفيان رضي الله عنهما فقال

إنما الإسلام كدارٍ لها بابٌ، فبابُ الإسلام الصحابة، فمن آذى الصحابةَ إنما أرادَ الإسلام، كمن نَقرَ البابَ إنما يريدُ دخولَ الدار. قال: فمن أراد معاويةَ فإنما أراد الصحابة.

رواه ابن عساكر في تاريخه

تهذيب الكمال 1/339

Compiled from the first four volumes of adh-Dhahabi’s ‘Siyar A’lam an-Nubala”:

1 – Abu Bakr:

“He was white-skinned, skinny, with thin cheeks. He had a wrinkly face, deepset eyes, a protruding forehead, and he would dye his beard with henna and oil it.”

“He was white or yellow-skinned, handsome, with thin legs. His izar would not stay firmly tied around his waist.”

2 – ‘Umar bin al-Khattab:

“He was white-skinned, leaning towards redness. He was tall, balding, and had white hair around his head.”

“He was very tall, and extemely bald. He had reddened skin, thin cheeks, and the edges of his mustache were long and dark red.”

“He would walk so fast that it was as if he was riding a horse while those around him were walking.”

“He used to dye his hair with henna.”

3 – ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan:

“He was not tall or short. He had a handsome face, a long beard, dark skin, wide shoulders, and he would dye his hair with saffron. He would cap teeth with gold.”

‘Abdullah bin Hazm said: “I saw ‘Uthman, and I never saw a man or woman more beautiful than him.”

as-Sa’ib said: “I saw him dying his beard yellow, and I never saw an old man more handsome than him.”

4 – ‘Ali bin Abi Talib:

“He was balding, but had much hair left, as if he was wearing a sheepskin. He was of medium height, with a large belly and a large beard.”

“He had a yellow beard.”

“He dyed his beard with henna once, then he never used it again.”

“His hair and beard were white, like cotton.”

ash-Sha’bi said: “I saw ‘Ali with a white beard, and I never saw anyone with a larger beard then he.”

“He had heavyset, large eyes, and he was closer to being short.”

5 – Abu ‘Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah:

“He was a skinny man, with a wrinkly face and a light beard. He was tall.”

6 – Mu’adh bin Jabal:

“He was tall, with large eyes, white-skinned, with wrinkled skin.”

7 – ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud:

“He was thin, short, and did not dye his hair.”

“He was handsome and wise.”

8 – ‘A’ishah:

“She was white-skinned and beautiful.”

9 – Abu Hurayrah:

“He was fair-skinned, had wide shoulders, wide teeth, and he had braids in his hair.”

“He was white-skinned, thin, and had a red beard.”

10 – Mu’awiyah:

“He was tall, white-skinned, and handsome. When he laughed, his upper lip would move, and he would dye his hair.”

“He would dye his hair with saffron, and his beard was golden.”

11 – ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar:

“He would dye his beard yellow.”

“He would dye his beard yellow until his clothing became wet with the dye. It was said to him: “You dye with yellow?” He replied: “I saw the Messenger of Allah doing so!””

12 – al-Husayn:

“His hair and beard were extremely black.”

13 – ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas:

“He was white-skinned, leaning towards yellow, tall, handsome, bright-faced, and he would dye his hair with henna.”

‘Ata’ said: “I never see the full Moon of the 14th night of the month except that I remember the face of Ibn ‘Abbas.”

14 – Anas bin Malik:

“He would wear a black turban that he would leave trailing behind him.”