REIGN OF MU'AWIYAH

The Year 60

(An account of the events that took place therein)

In this year occurred the military expedition of Malik ibn Abd Allah to Syria, and the entry of Junadah ibn Abi Umayyah into Rhodes, where he demolished its city, according to the statement of al-Waqidi.

The Account of Mu'awiyah’s Pledge of Allegiance to His Son Yazid

In this year, Mu'awiyah took the oath of allegiance for his son Yazid from the delegation that came to him with Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad. When he fell ill during this year, he made the same bequest concerning his son Yazid to the individuals who had previously refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid when he had called them to it.

The testament that he made, as mentioned by Hisham ibn Muhammad on the authority of Abu Mikhnaf, is as follows: Abd al-Malik ibn Nawfal ibn Musahiq ibn Abd Allah ibn Makhramah related to me that when Mu'awiyah fell ill with the illness of which he died, he called for his son Yazid and said:

"O my son, I have spared you the hardship of travel and journeying, I have smoothed things out for you, subdued your enemies, made the necks of the Arabs submissive to you, and united you from a scattered multitude. I do not fear that anyone will dispute this authority with you, which has stabilized for you, except four men from Quraysh: al-Husayn ibn Ali, Abd Allah ibn Umar, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, and Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr.

As for Abd Allah ibn Umar, he is a man whom worship has exhausted, and when no one else remains, he will pledge allegiance to you.

As for al-Husayn ibn Ali, the people of Iraq will not leave him alone until they bring him out [in revolt]. If he comes out against you and you defeat him, then pardon him, for he has close kinship and a great right upon us.

As for Ibn Abi Bakr, he is a man who, if he sees his companions doing something, does the same; he has no ambition other than women and amusement.

As for the one who crouches for you like a lion crouching and maneuvers against you like a fox maneuvers—whenever an opportunity presents itself to him, he springs—that is Ibn al-Zubayr. If he does it to you and you overpower him, then cut him into pieces."

Hisham said: Awanah stated: We have heard in another report that when death approached Mu'awiyah—and that was in the year 60—and Yazid was absent, he summoned al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fihri (who was the head of his security guard) and Muslim ibn Uqbah al-Murri, and entrusted them with a will, saying:

"Convey my testament to Yazid. Look to the people of the Hijaz, for they are your origin; so honor whoever comes to you from them, and check upon those who are absent. Look to the people of Iraq, and if they ask you to dismiss a governor every single day, then do so; for the dismissal of a governor is more beloved to me than a hundred thousand swords being unsheathed against you. Look to the people of Syria, so let them be your inner circle and your trusted confidants; if misfortune strikes you from your enemy, seek victory through them, but once you have defeated them, send the people of Syria back to their lands, for if they stay away from their lands, they will adopt habits other than their own.

I do not fear from Quraysh except three: al-Husayn ibn Ali, Abd Allah ibn Umar, and Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr.

As for Ibn Umar, he is a man exhausted by religion, so he will not seek anything from you.

As for al-Husayn ibn Ali, he is a restless man, and I hope Allah will suffice you against him through the one who killed his father and abandoned his brother; yet he possesses close kinship, a great right, and proximity to Muhammad, peace be upon him. I do not think the people of Iraq will leave him until they make him revolt. If you overpower him, pardon him, for if I were his contemporary, I would have pardoned him.

As for Ibn al-Zubayr, he is a sly viper; if he rises against you, lie in wait for him, unless he seeks peace from you—if he does, accept it and spare the blood of your people as much as you can."

The Account of the Death of Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan

In this year, Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan perished in Damascus. There is a difference of opinion regarding the exact time of his death, though all agreed that his demise occurred in the year 60 AH, specifically in the month of Rajab.

• Hisham ibn Muhammad said: Mu'awiyah died at the sighting of the new moon of Rajab in the year 60.

• Al-Waqidi said: Mu'awiyah died on the middle of Rajab.

• Ali ibn Muhammad said: Mu'awiyah died in Damascus in the year 60 on Thursday, eight days remaining in Rajab. Al-Harith narrated this to me on his authority.

An Account of the Duration of His Reign

Ahmad ibn Thabit al-Razi narrated to me, saying: He who heard Ishaq ibn Isa mention on the authority of Abu Ma'shar told me, saying: Mu'awiyah was pledged allegiance at Adhruh; al-Hasan ibn Ali pledged allegiance to him in Jumada al-Ula of the year 41. Mu'awiyah passed away in Rajab of the year 60, and his caliphate lasted nineteen years and three months.

Al-Harith narrated to me, saying: Muhammad ibn Sa'd narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Umar informed us, saying: Yahya ibn Said ibn Dinar al-Sa'di narrated to me on the authority of his father, who said: Mu'awiyah passed away on the night of Thursday, on the middle of Rajab in the year 60, and his caliphate lasted nineteen years, three months, and twenty-seven days.

Umar narrated to me, saying: Ali narrated to us, saying: The people of Syria pledged allegiance to Mu'awiyah for the caliphate in the year 37 in Dhu al-Qa'dah when the two arbiters parted ways. Prior to that, they had pledged allegiance to him to seek vengeance for the blood of Uthman. Then al-Hasan ibn Ali made peace with him and handed over the authority to him in the year 41, five days remaining in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal. Thus, all the people pledged allegiance to Mu'awiyah, and it was called the Year of the Community (Am al-Jama'ah). He died in Damascus in the year 60 on Thursday, eight days remaining in Rajab, and his rule lasted nineteen years, three months, and twenty-seven days.

He [Ali] said: It is also said that the span between the death of Ali, peace be upon him, and the death of Mu'awiyah was nineteen years, ten months, and three nights.

Hisham ibn Muhammad said: Mu'awiyah was pledged allegiance to the caliphate in Jumada al-Ula in the year 41, so he ruled for nineteen years and three months minus a few days, and then died at the sighting of the new moon of Rajab in the year 60.

An Account of His Lifespan

They differed regarding the length of his life and how long he lived:

• Some said: He died at the age of seventy-five.

◦ Narrative: Umar narrated to me, saying: Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated to us, saying: Hisham ibn Walid informed me, saying: Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri said: Al-Walid asked me about the ages of the caliphs, and I informed him that Mu'awiyah died at the age of seventy-five. He exclaimed: "Bravo, bravo! That is indeed an age."

• Others said: He died at the age of seventy-three.

◦ Narrative: Umar narrated to me, saying: Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to me, saying: Ali ibn Muhammad said: Mu'awiyah died at the age of seventy-three. He added: And it is said eighty years.

• Others said: He passed away at the age of seventy-eight.

◦ Narrative: Al-Harith narrated to me, saying: Muhammad ibn Sa'd narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Umar informed us, saying: Yahya ibn Said ibn Dinar narrated to me on the authority of his father, who said: Mu'awiyah passed away at the age of seventy-eight.

• Others said: He passed away at the age of eighty-five.

◦ Narrative: I was told this on the authority of Hisham ibn Muhammad, who used to report it from his father.

An Account of the Illness in Which He Died

Al-Harith narrated to me, saying: Muhammad ibn Sa'd narrated to us, saying: Abu Ubaydah narrated to us, on the authority of Abu Ya'qub al-Thaqafi, on the authority of Abd al-Malik ibn Umayr, who said: When Mu'awiyah became heavy [with illness] and it was rumored among the people that death was near, he said to his family: "Pack my eyes with kohl and apply plenty of oil to my head." They did so, and they brightened his face with oil. Then he was propped up, sat up, and said: "Support me."

Then he said: "Grant permission for the people to enter and greet me while standing, and let no one sit." So a man would enter and greet him while standing, and seeing him with kohl and oil, would say: "The people say he is failing, yet he is the healthiest of men!" When they left him, Mu'awiyah recited:

And I harden myself against those who gloat, showing themthat against the vagaries of time I do not weaken.When destiny sinks its claws,you will find that every protective amulet is of no avail.

He was suffering from ulcers (al-naffathat) and died on that very day.

Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to me, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Ishaq ibn Ayyub, on the authority of Abd al-Malik ibn Minas al-Kalbi, who said: Mu'awiyah said to his two daughters during his fatal illness while they were turning him over: "You turn me over, turning me around—the gathering of wealth from youth to old age, if it does not enter the Fire!" Then he recited:

I have striven for you with the striving of one burdened,and I have spared you the wandering and journeying.(Or it is said: "The gathering of one of noble lineage.")

Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Ayyub, on the authority of al-Awza'i and Ali ibn Mujahid, on the authority of Abd al-A'la ibn Maymun, on the authority of his father, that Mu'awiyah said during his fatal illness:

"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, clothed me in a shirt, and I kept it. He clipped his nails one day, and I took the clippings and placed them in a vial. When I die, dress me in that shirt, cut those nail clippings, grind them up, and scatter them over my eyes and in my mouth; perhaps Allah will have mercy on me through their blessing!"

Then he recited verses by al-Ashhab ibn Rumaylah al-Nahshali praising al-Quba':

When I die, generosity dies and bounty ceasesamong men, save for a destitute few.The palms of the petitioners are turned back, and they hold fastto religion and worldly life by a renewed support.

One of his daughters—or someone else—said: "No, O Commander of the Faithful! Rather, Allah will ward off [harm] from you." Whereupon he recited:

When destiny sinks its claws,you will find that every protective amulet is of no avail.

Then he fainted. When he regained consciousness, he said to those present from his family: "Fear Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for Allah, Glory be to Him, protects whoever fears Him, and there is no protector for one who does not fear Allah." Then he passed away.

Ahmad narrated to us, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Muhammad al-Hakam, from whoever narrated to him, that when death approached Mu'awiyah, he bequeathed that half of his wealth be returned to the public treasury (Bayt al-Mal), wishing to make the remainder lawful for himself, because Umar used to divide his governors' wealth.

An Account of Who Led the Funeral Prayer over Mu'awiyah Upon His Death

Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to me, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, who said: Al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fihri led the funeral prayer over Mu'awiyah, as Yazid was absent when Mu'awiyah died.

I was told on the authority of Hisham ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Abu Mikhnaf, who said: Abd al-Malik ibn Nawfal ibn Musahiq ibn Abd Allah ibn Makhramah narrated to me, saying: When Mu'awiyah died, al-Dahhak ibn Qays came out and ascended the pulpit with Mu'awiyah’s shrouds gleaming in his hands. He praised Allah and extolled Him, then said:

"Mu'awiyah was the foundation of the Arabs and their sharp edge. Through him, Allah the Mighty and Majestic cut short tribulations, gave him dominion over the subjects, and conquered lands through him. Behold! He has died, and these are his shrouds; we shall wrap him in them, place him in his grave, and leave him alone with his deeds. Thereafter is the barrier (al-barzakh) until the Day of Resurrection. Whoever among you wishes to witness it, let him attend at the first prayer [al-Ula]."

A messenger had been dispatched to Yazid regarding Mu'awiyah's illness. Regarding this, Yazid said:

The messenger arrived with a parchment, hastening along,causing the heart to beat with panic from its parchment.We said: "Woe to you! What is in your letter?"They said: "The Caliph has spent the evening bedridden and in pain."The earth swayed, or was about to sway beneath us,as though a dusty pillar had broken off from its foundations.Whose soul does not slip when reaching a peak—the reins of that soul are about to fall!When we reached [home], and the courtyard door was swinging,and the voice of Ramlah was heard, the heart was startled and fractured.

Umar narrated to me, saying: Ali narrated to us, on the authority of Ishaq ibn Khulayd, on the authority of Khulayd ibn Ajlan, the freed slave of Abbad, who said: Mu'awiyah died while Yazid was at Hawawrin. They had written to him when [Mu'awiyah] fell ill, so he hurried back [only to find] that he had already been buried. He came to his grave, prayed over him, supplicated for him, then went to his home and said: "The messenger arrived with a parchment..." [reciting the aforementioned verses].

An Account of His Lineage and Kunya

As for his lineage, he is Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. The name of Abu Sufyan is Sakhr ibn Harb ibn Umayyah ibn Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab. His mother is Hind bint Utbah ibn Rabi'ah ibn Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy. His kunya (patronymic) is Abu Abd al-Rahman.

His Wives and Children

Among his wives was Maysun bint Bahdal ibn Anayif ibn Waljah ibn Qunafah ibn Adi ibn Zuhayr ibn Harithah ibn Janab al-Kalbiyyah. She bore him Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah. Ali said: Maysun bore Mu'awiyah, alongside Yazid, a daughter—Rabb al-Mashariq—who died young, and Hisham did not mention her among Mu'awiyah's children.

Among them was Fakhitah bint Qarazah ibn Abd Amr ibn Nawfal ibn Abd Manaf. She bore him Abd al-Rahman and Abd Allah, the two sons of Mu'awiyah. Abd Allah was simple-minded and weak, and his kunya was Abu al-Khayr. Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, who said: One day Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiyah passed by a miller who had tied his mule to a millstone to grind grain, and had hung bells around its neck. Abd Allah said to him: "Why did you put these bells on your mule's neck?" The miller replied: "I put them on its neck so that I know if it stands still and the millstone stops turning." Abd Allah said to him: "Suppose it stands still and moves its head—how do you know it is not turning the millstone?" The miller replied: "O Prince, this mule of mine does not have a mind like the Prince's!" As for Abd al-Rahman, he died young.

Among them was Nailah bint Amarah al-Kalbiyyah, whom he married. Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, who said: When Mu'awiyah married Nailah, he said to Maysun: "Go and look at your cousin [by marriage]." She went and looked at her, and [Mu'awiyah] asked: "How did you find her?" She replied: "Beautiful and perfect, but I saw a mole beneath her navel indicating that the head of her husband will be placed in her lap." Consequently, Mu'awiyah divorced her. Habib ibn Maslamah al-Fihri then married her, and after Habib, al-Nu'man ibn Bashir al-Ansari married her—subsequently, he was killed, and his head was placed in her lap.

Among them was Kutwah bint Qarazah, the sister of Fakhitah. Mu'awiyah went on a military expedition to Cyprus while she was with him, and she died there.

An Account of Some Reports and Biographical Anecdotes We Have Gathered

Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, who said: When Mu'awiyah was pledged allegiance as caliph, he appointed Qays ibn Hamzah al-Hamdani over his security guard (shurtah), then dismissed him and appointed Zamil ibn Amr al-Udhri (some say: al-Saksaki). His secretary and chief of staff was Sarjun ibn Mansur al-Rumi. Over his royal guard (haras) was a freed slave named al-Mukhtar (and it is said: a man named Malik, whose kunya was Abu al-Mukhariq, a freed slave of Himyar; he was the first to institute the royal guard). Over his chamberlains (hujjab) was Sa'd, his freed slave. Over the judiciary was Fadalah ibn Ubayd al-Ansari; when he died, he appointed Abu Idris A'idh Allah ibn Abd Allah al-Khawlani as judge. Up to this point is the narration of Ahmad on the authority of Ali.

Others besides Ali said: Over the Bureau of the Signet (Diwan al-Khatam) was Abd Allah b. Muhsin al-Himyari, and he was the first to institute the Bureau of the Signet. The reason for this, it is said, was that Mu'awiyah allocated one hundred thousand dirhams to Amr ibn al-Zubayr to assist him and pay off his debts, and wrote about this to Ziyad ibn Sumayyah, who was over Iraq. Amr opened the letter and changed the one hundred [thousand] to two hundred [thousand]. When Ziyad submitted his accounts, Mu'awiyah denied it, so he seized Amr to recover the money and imprisoned him, until his brother Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr paid it off on his behalf. Because of this, Mu'awiyah instituted the Bureau of the Signet and sealed the letters (khazama al-kutub), whereas they were not sealed before.

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Shabwuyh narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah narrated to me, on the authority of Ibn Abi Dhi'b, on the authority of Sa'id al-Maqburi, who said: Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "You mention Chosroes and Caesar and their cunning, yet you have Mu'awiyah among you!"

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: I read to Abd Allah, on the authority of Fulayh, who said: I was informed that Amr ibn al-As came on a delegation to Mu'awiyah accompanied by the people of Egypt. Amr said to them: "Behold, when you enter upon Ibn Hind, do not greet him with the title of the Caliphate, for that magnifies him more in his eyes; belittle him, just as my own status has been belittled among the people. So when the delegation enters, harass them as severely as you possibly can, such that no man among them reaches him without his mind being preoccupied with ruin."

The first to enter upon him was a man from the people of Egypt called Ibn al-Khayyat. He entered having been harassed, and said: "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah!" The people then followed suit in this. When they came out, Amr said to them: "May Allah curse you! I forbade you from greeting him with the title of leadership (Imarah), yet you greeted him with prophecy!" It is reported that one day Mu'awiyah wore his Hoorqani turban and applied kohl, and he was among the handsomest of men when he did that—Abd Allah doubted whether he [the narrator] heard this directly or not.

Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to me, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, who said: Abu Muhammad al-Umawi narrated to us, saying: Umar ibn al-Khattab went out to Syria and saw Mu'awiyah coming in a procession to meet him, and [Mu'awiyah] set out toward him in a procession. Umar said to him: "O Mu'awiyah, you set out in a procession and return in the like of it, and it has reached me that you wake up in your home with people of need at your door!" He replied: "O Commander of the Faithful, the enemy is near us here, and they have spies and scouts. I wanted, O Commander of the Faithful, for Islam to be seen with majesty." Umar said to him: "This is indeed the cunning of a sagacious man, or the deception of a clever man." Mu'awiyah said: "O Commander of the Faithful, command me with whatever you wish, and I shall resort to it." Umar said: "Woe to you! I have never debated you on a matter wherein I found fault with you, except that you left me not knowing whether to command you or forbid you!"

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah narrated to me, on the authority of Ma'mar, on the authority of Ja'far ibn Burqan, that al-Mughirah wrote to Mu'awiyah:

"As to what follows: My age has advanced, my bones have grown thin, and Quraysh have begun to frown upon me [or show animosity]; so if you see fit to dismiss me, then dismiss me."

Mu'awiyah wrote back to him:

"Your letter has reached me, in which you mention that your age has advanced—by my life, nothing has consumed your age except you yourself! And you mention that Quraysh have frowned upon you—by my life, you never attained any good except through them. And you ask me to dismiss you; I have done so. If you are truthful, then I have granted your request; and if you are being deceitful, then I have deceived you."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Ali ibn Mujahid, who said: Mu'awiyah said: "When an Umayyad is not a reformer of his property and forbearing, he does not resemble those from whom he came; and when a Hashemite is not generous and bountiful, he does not resemble those from whom he came. But eloquence, generosity, and bravery will never put you ahead of a Hashemite."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Awanah and Khallad ibn Ubaydah, who said: One day Mu'awiyah was having lunch, and with him was Ubayd Allah ibn Abi Bakr, accompanied by his son Bashir (it is also said: other than Bashir). He ate excessively, and Mu'awiyah watched him. Ubayd Allah ibn Abi Bakr noticed this and wanted to nudge his son with a sign, but he could not, and the son did not raise his head until he finished. When they left, [Ubayd Allah] reproached him for what he had done. Then he returned to Mu'awiyah without his son, and Mu'awiyah asked: "What did your gluttonous son do?" He replied: "He fell ill." Mu'awiyah said: "I knew that his eating would bequeath him a disease."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Juwayriyah ibn Asma', who said: Abu Musa [al-Ash'ari] came to Mu'awiyah and entered upon him wearing a black cloak (burnus). He said: "Peace be upon you, O Trustworthy one of Allah (Amin Allah)." Mu'awiyah replied: "And upon you be peace." When he left, Mu'awiyah said: "The old man came so that I would put him in charge of something; but no, by Allah, I will not put him in charge!"

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad narrated to me, saying: Abu Salih Sulayman ibn Salih narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak narrated to me, on the authority of Sulayman ibn al-Mughirah, on the authority of Humayd ibn Hilal, on the authority of Abu Burdah, who said: I entered upon Mu'awiyah when he was afflicted with his sore. He said: "Come here, my nephew, draw close to me and look." I looked and saw that it had been lanced. I said: "There is no harm upon you, O Commander of the Faithful." Then Yazid entered, and Mu'awiyah said: "If you attain any authority over the people's affairs, then take good care of this one, for his father was a friend of mine"—or words to that effect—"except that I have seen in warfare what he has not seen."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Shihab ibn Ubayd Allah, on the authority of Yazid ibn Suwayd, who said: Mu'awiyah gave permission [to enter] to al-Ahnaf, as he used to begin with his permission. Then Muhammad ibn al-Ash'ath entered and sat between Mu'awiyah and al-Ahnaf. Mu'awiyah said: "We did not give him permission before you so that you would be seated below him, yet you did what someone who senses humiliation within himself does! Just as we rule over your affairs, we rule over your permission to enter; so desire from us what we desire from you, for that is more enduring for you."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Suhaym ibn Hafs, who said: Rabi'ah ibn Asal al-Yarbu'i proposed a marriage to Mu'awiyah [for a relative], and Mu'awiyah said: "Give him some porridge to drink." Then Mu'awiyah said to him: "O Rabi'ah, how are the people among you?" He replied: "They are divided into such-and-such factions." He asked: "And which of them do you belong to?" He replied: "I am not with any of their affairs." Mu'awiyah said: "I see them as more numerous than you said." He replied: "O Commander of the Faithful, help me in building my house with twelve thousand palm trunks." Mu'awiyah asked: "Where is your house?" He replied: "In Basra, and it is more than two fursakhs by two fursakhs." Mu'awiyah said: "Is your house in Basra, or is Basra in your house?!"

A man from his [Rabi'ah's] offspring entered upon Ibn Hubayrah and said: "May Allah set the Prince right! I am the son of the master of his people; my father proposed a marriage to Mu'awiyah..." Ibn Hubayrah said to Salam ibn Qutaybah: "What is this one saying?" He replied: "This is the son of the most foolish man among his people." Ibn Hubayrah asked: "Did Mu'awiyah marry off your father?" He replied: "No." [Ibn Hubayrah] said: "Then I do not think your father accomplished anything."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Abu Muhammad ibn Dhakwan al-Qurashi, who said: Utbah and Anbasah, the two sons of Abu Sufyan, quarreled (Utbah's mother was Hind, and Anbasah's mother was the daughter of Abu Uzayhir al-Dawsi). Mu'awiyah spoke harshly to Anbasah, and Anbasah said: "And you too, O Commander of the Faithful!" Mu'awiyah said: "O Anbasah, indeed Utbah is the son of Hind!" Anbasah recited:

We were in goodness, righteousness prevailing between usof old, until Hind came and divided us!If Hind did not give birth to me, indeed I amof fair complexion, nurtured by the noble lords of Najd.His father is the father of guests in every winter season,and the refuge of the weak who cannot rise from exhaustion.His cooking pots are ever steadfastly setfor whoever fears from the highlands of Tihamah or Najd.

Mu'awiyah said: "I shall never repeat it against you."

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah narrated to me, on the authority of Harmalah ibn Imran, who said: Mu'awiyah was brought word one night that Caesar had mustered forces against him, that Natil ibn Qays al-Judhami had overpowered Palestine and seized its public treasury, that the Egyptians whom he had imprisoned had escaped, and that Ali ibn Abi Talib had mustered forces against him. He said to his muezzin: "Call the call to prayer this very hour"—and that was the middle of the night. Amr ibn al-As came to him and said: "Why did you send for me?" He replied: "I did not send for you." Amr said: "The muezzin did not call the call to prayer at this hour except for my sake!" [Mu'awiyah] said: "I cast the four bows."

Amr said: "As for those who broke out of your prison, if they have escaped your prison, they are still within the prison of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; they are a sect of religious extremists (shurah) who have no capability to journey. So appoint a blood-money reward for whoever brings you any one of them or his head, for they will surely be brought to you. Look to Caesar: make a peace treaty with him, and give him wealth and garments from the fabrics of Egypt, for he will be content with that from you. Look to Natil ibn Qays—by my life, religion did not anger him, nor did he desire anything except what he attained; so write to him, grant it to him as a gift, and congratulate him upon it, if you have the power over him; but if you do not, do not grieve over it. And direct your resolve and your iron [weapons] against this one who possesses the blood of your cousin [Ali]."

It happened that all the people had escaped from his prison except Abrahah al-Sabahi. Mu'awiyah asked him: "What prevented you from escaping with your companions?" He replied: "What prevented me was neither hatred for Ali nor love for you, but I simply found no way to do it." So he set him free.

Abd Allah narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah narrated to me, on the authority of Jarir ibn Hazim, who said: I heard Muhammad ibn al-Zubayr narrating, saying: Abd Allah ibn Masadah ibn Hakam al-Fazari, from the clan of Banu Badr, narrated to me, saying: Mu'awiyah moved from one of the provinces of Syria to another of his jurisdictions, and he stopped at a place in Syria, where a carpet was spread for him on top of a terrace overlooking the road. He gave me permission, and I sat with him. Caravans, baggage trains, slave-girls, and horses passed by, and he said:

"O Ibn Masadah, may Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr! He did not desire the world, nor did the world desire him. As for Umar"—or he said: *"Ibn Khattab"—the world desired him, but he did not desire it. As for Uthman, he took from the world and it took from him. As for us, we wallowed in it!"

Then, as though he regretted it, he said: "By Allah, it is indeed sovereignty that Allah has bestowed upon us!"

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Ali ibn Ubayd Allah, who said: Amr ibn al-As wrote to Mu'awiyah asking him to grant his son Abd Allah ibn Amr what he had [previously] granted his father of Egypt. Mu'awiyah said: "Abu Abd Allah [Amr] wanted to write, but he blundered. I take you as witnesses that if I remain after him, I have revoked his bequest." He said: And Amr ibn al-As said: "I never saw Mu'awiyah reclining at all, placing one leg over the other, narrowing his eye, and saying to a man 'Speak,' except that I felt pity for him."

Ahmad said: Ali ibn Muhammad said: Amr ibn al-As said to Mu'awiyah: "O Commander of the Faithful, am I not the most sincere of people toward you?" He replied: "By that you attained what you attained."

Ahmad said: Ali narrated, on the authority of Juwayriyah ibn Asma', that Busr ibn Abi Artah disparaged Ali in the presence of Mu'awiyah while Zayd ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab was sitting [there]. Zayd struck him with a staff and cracked his head open. Mu'awiyah said to Zayd: "You targeted an elder of Quraysh and the master of the people of Syria and struck him!" Then he turned to Busr and said: "You insult Ali, while he is his [Zayd's] grandfather and the son of al-Faruq, before the eyes of the people—did you think he would endure that?!" Then he appeased them both.

He said: Mu'awiyah used to say: "I elevate myself above having a sin greater than my forgiveness, an ignorance greater than my forbearance, a flaw that I do not conceal with my covering, or an offense greater than my beneficence." He also said: "The adornment of a nobleman is chastity." He also said: "There is nothing more beloved to me than a gushing spring in soft earth." Amr ibn al-As said: "There is nothing more beloved to me than spending the night as a bridegroom with a noble woman among the noble women of the Arabs." Wardan, the freed slave of Amr ibn al-As, said: "There is nothing more beloved to me than bestowing favors upon brethren." Mu'awiyah said: "I am more deserving of this than you." [Wardan] said: "Whatever you love, do it."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, on the authority of his father, who said: When Mu'awiyah's governor over Medina wanted to dispatch a postal courier to Mu'awiyah, he would command his crier to cry out: "Whoever has a need, let him write to the Commander of the Faithful."Zur ibn Hubaysh—or Ayman ibn Khuraim—wrote a subtle note and cast it among the letters, and in it were these verses:

When men beget their children,and their upper arms tremble from old age,and their illnesses begin to frequent them—then they are crops whose harvest has drawn near.

When the dispatches reached [Mu'awiyah] and he read this note, he said: "He has announced my own death to me."

He said: Mu'awiyah used to say: "There is nothing more delicious to me than a surge of anger that I swallow." He also said to Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As: "O my nephew, you have taken a liking to poetry; so beware of composing love poetry (tashbib) about women, lest you bring disgrace upon a noble woman; and beware of lampooning (hija'), lest you bring disgrace upon a noble person and provoke a base one; and beware of panegyric (madh), for it is the food of the shameless. Rather, boast of the glories of your people, and utter proverbs by which you adorn yourself and discipline others."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, who said: al-Hasan ibn Hammad said: Mu'awiyah looked at al-Thumma wearing a woolen cloak (aba'ah) and held him in contempt. [Al-Thumma] said: "O Commander of the Faithful, the cloak does not speak to you; rather, the one who is inside it speaks to you."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Sulayman, who said: Mu'awiyah said: "Two men, if they die, they do not die; and a man, if he dies, he dies. As for me, if I die, my son will succeed me; and as for Sa'id, if he dies, Amr will succeed him; and as for Abd Allah ibn Amir, if he dies, he dies." This reached Marwan, who said: "Did he not mention my son Abd Malik?" They said: "No." He said: "I would not love to have his two sons in exchange for my son."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, who said: Abd Allah ibn Salih narrated to us, saying: A man said to Mu'awiyah: "Which of the people is most beloved to you?" He replied: "The one who makes them love me the most." He also said: "Intellect and forbearance are the best things a servant is given: when he is reminded, he remembers; when he is given, he is grateful; when he is tested, he is patient; when he is angered, he suppresses [his anger]; when he has power, he forgives; when he commits a wrong, he seeks forgiveness; and when he promises, he fulfills."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Abd Allah and Hisham ibn Sa'd, on the authority of Abd al-Malik ibn Umayr, who said: A man spoke harshly to Mu'awiyah at great length. It was said to him: "Do you show forbearance toward this man?" He replied: "I do not come between the people and their tongues so long as they do not come between us and our dominion."

Ahmad narrated to me, on the authority of Ali, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Amir, who said: Mu'awiyah reproached Abd Allah ibn Ja'far regarding singing. One day [Abd Allah] entered upon Mu'awiyah with Badih [the singer], while Mu'awiyah had one leg crossed over the other. Abd Allah said to Badih: "Go ahead, Badih!" So he sang, and Mu'awiyah moved his leg in rhythm. Abd Allah said: "Softly, O Commander of the Faithful!" Mu'awiyah replied: "Verily, the noble person is light-hearted [swayed by music]."

Abd Allah ibn Ja'far came to Mu'awiyah accompanied by Sa'ib Khathir—who was a freed slave of Banu Layth and a wicked man. [Mu'awiyah] said to him: "State your needs." He did so, and included among them the need of Sa'ib Khathir. Mu'awiyah asked: "Who is this?" He was informed, so he said: "Admit him." When he stood at the doorway of the assembly, he sang:

Whose are the abodes, their traces left desolate,where the winds and the rains have played?And between them, after their inhabitants left,have passed eight or ten years,And saffron upon their collarbones,overflowing upon the breastbones and upper chests!

Mu'awiyah said: "You have excelled," and granted his needs.

Abd Allah ibn Ahmad narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah narrated to me, on the authority of Ma'mar, on the authority of Hammam ibn Munabbih, who said: I heard Ibn Abbas saying: "I never saw anyone more suited for kingship than Mu'awiyah. He used to lead the people away from himself toward the banks of a wide valley, and he was not like the narrow, stagnant, and tight-fisted one"—meaning Ibn al-Zubayr.

Abd Allah narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Sulayman narrated to me, saying: Abd Allah narrated to me, on the authority of Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, on the authority of Mujalid, on the authority of al-Sha'bi, on the authority of Qabisah ibn Jabir al-Asadi, who said:

"Shall I not tell you whom I accompanied? I accompanied Umar ibn al-Khattab, and I never saw a man more profoundly knowledgeable in jurisprudence nor a better companion in scholarly discussion than him. Then I accompanied Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah, and I never saw a man more generous with lavish gifts without being asked. Then I accompanied Mu'awiyah, and I never saw a man more companionable as a friend, nor whose inner self more closely resembled his outer appearance than him. And if al-Mughirah were placed in a city from which no one could exit through any of its gates except by treachery, he would still find a way out of it."

[From: Tarikh al-Umum wa al-Muluk by Al-Tabari]