Hadith 40
The Book of the Merits of the Companions
Ibn Abbas reported that the Muslims neither looked to Abu Sufyan (with respect) nor did they sit in his company. he (Abu Sufyan) said to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ):
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) , confer upon me three things. He replied in the affirmative. He (further) said: I have with me the most handsome and the best (woman) Umm Habiba, daughter of Abu Sufyan; marry her, whereupon he said: Yes. And he again said: Accept Mu'awiya to serve as your scribe. He said: Yes. He again said: Make me the commander (of the Muslim army) so that I should fight against the unbelievers as I fought against the Muslims. He said: Yes. Abu Zumnail said: If he had not asked for these three things from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), he would have never conferred them upon him, for it was (his habit) to accede to everybody's (earnest) request.
حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْمَعْقِرِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْيَمَامِيُّ - حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُمَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ لاَ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَلاَ يُقَاعِدُونَهُ فَقَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثٌ أَعْطِنِيهِنَّ قَالَ " نَعَمْ " . قَالَ عِنْدِي أَحْسَنُ الْعَرَبِ وَأَجْمَلُهُ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ بِنْتُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا قَالَ " نَعَمْ " . قَالَ وَمُعَاوِيَةُ تَجْعَلُهُ كَاتِبًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ . قَالَ " نَعَمْ " . قَالَ وَتُؤَمِّرُنِي حَتَّى أُقَاتِلَ الْكُفَّارَ كَمَا كُنْتُ أُقَاتِلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ . قَالَ " نَعَمْ " . قَالَ أَبُو زُمَيْلٍ وَلَوْلاَ أَنَّهُ طَلَبَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ لأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُسْئَلُ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ قَالَ " نَعَمْ " .
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