Caliph’s bestowal to Abu Sufyan
The Caliph, on the day he commanded to give a hundred thousand dirhams
to Marwan bin Hakam from Public Treasury, he gave two hundred thousand
dirhams to Abu Sufyan.1
Allamah Amini says: I don’t know what made Abu Sufyan eligible for such
great gifts from Public Treasury and when he – as is mentioned in Al-Istiab by
Abu Umar quoting from some people – converted to Islam he was refuge of
hypocrites and during period of Ignorance, was attributed with apostasy and
disbelief.
Zubair said to his son on the day of the Battle of Yarmuk2 [a place near
Shaam] – when he said that Abu Sufyan was praying that may God increase the
Romans,3 “May Allah kill him, he is a hypocrite, are we not better than Roman
kings for him?” Ali (a.s.) said: “You have always been enemy of Islam and its
folks.”
It is narrated from Ibne Mubarak from Hasan that: When Uthman became
Caliph, Abu Sufyan said: “Now that Caliphate has come to you after Teem and
Adi, play with it like a ball and make Bani Umayyah tent pegs of Caliphate, and
this Caliphate is nothing except rulership; and I don’t know what Paradise and
Hell is.” Uthman screamed at him: “Get out from here! God will do with you what He wants!”4
It is mentioned in Tarikh Tabari that:5 Abu Sufyan said: “O sons of Abde
Manaf catch hold of Caliphate like grabbing a ball; as there is no need of Paradise
and Hell.”
It is mentioned in report of Masudi that: “O Bani Umayyah, catch hold of
Caliphate quickly like grabbing a ball. I swear by one, on whom Abu Sufyan
swears that I hope for your rulership forever; and it be transferred among your
descendants.”6
Ibne Asakir in his Tarikh has narrated from Anas:7 After Abu Sufyan turned
blind, he came to Uthman and asked: “Is there anyone here?” “No,” they said. He
asked: “O God, make the circumstances revert to period of Ignorance and make
rulership an usurped rulership and make firm tent pegs and pillars Bani
Umayyah.”
Ibne Hajar has written: “He was commander of polytheists during Battles of
Uhad and Ahzab.”
If you ask Maula Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) regarding this man, you would
have referred to an informed person. He says in a tradition: “Muawiyah is a freed
slave, son of a freed slave and a party from these parties; [who gathered during
Battle of Ahzab to confront the Prophet. He and his father were permanent
enemies of Prophet and Muslims, till they converted under compulsion].”8
And this statement of His Eminence that he wrote in his letter to Muawiyah
bin Abu Sufyan that: O son of Sakhr, O son of accursed.9
Perhaps Imam (a.s.) has hinted at the report we mentioned that the Prophet
cursed him (Abu Sufyan) and his two sons, Muawiyah and Yazid when he saw
him mounted; and one of sons was ahead and one was behind, he said: “May God curse the rider, the one leading and the one driving the beast.”10
Ibne Abil Hadid has mentioned this statement in his Sharh, in a letter, which
Imam (a.s.) wrote to Muawiyah:11
“Indeed, you traversed the paths of Abu Sufyan, your father, and Utbah,
your grandfather and the like of these two from your relatives, who were
followers of disbelief, discord and falsehood.”12
Also, the statement of Abu Zar to Muawiyah – when Muawiyah said: O enemy of God and His Messenger, do you know Abu Sufyan? – “I am not enemy
of God and His Messenger, on the contrary it is you and your father, who are
enemies of God and His Messenger, you faked your, Islam but concealed your
infidelity…”13
This was the condition of that man during the period of his infidelity and
Islam. And he did not change his belief and conduct at all. Now, does he have
any right over the funds of Muslim even as much as the skin of the date seed?
And was it not important for the Caliph, whether his excessive bestowal of
Muslim property to Abu Sufyan was according to Sunnah or opposed to it, what
was important was his Umayyad lineage!