It is also related through mursal chains that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: “I love you because you are my kinsman, and because Abu Talib loved you.” (1)

Humayd ibn Hilal reports: Aqil once approached Ali and complained of his need. Ali said, “Be patient until my stipend arrives.” Aqil persisted, so Ali told him, “Go and take whatever you find in the people’s shops.” Aqil replied, “Would you have me steal?” Ali retorted, “And would you have me steal by giving you other people’s money?”

Aqil then said, “I shall go to Muʿawiya.” Ali replied, “As you wish.” Aqil went to Muʿawiya, who gave him one hundred thousand and said, “Go up on the pulpit and tell the people what Ali gave you and what I have given you.”

So Aqil mounted the pulpit and said, “People! I pressed Ali for the sake of his religion, and he chose his religion over me; I pressed Muʿawiya for the sake of his religion, and he chose me over his religion.”

Muʿawiya exclaimed, “So this is the man Quraysh claim is a fool!” (2)

It is also reported that Muʿawiya said to those present, “This is Aqil, whose uncle is Abu Lahab,” whereupon Aqil retorted, “And this is Muʿawiya, whose aunt is the carrier of firewood.” (3)

20 – Yaʿlā ibn Umayya ibn Abī ʿUbayda al-Tamīmī al-Makkī* (ʿ)
An ally of Quraysh. He is Yaʿlā son of Munya bint Ghazwān, the sister of ʿUtba ibn Ghazwān.