the jurist, Abū Muḥammad al-Anṣārī, of the Aws. He was a Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and one of those present at the Pledge of Riḍwān.
He commanded military expeditions for Muʿāwiyah, then served as his judge in Damascus, and would act as Muʿāwiyah’s deputy in governance whenever the latter was away.
He is the source of several hadiths, including narrations traced back to ʿUmar and to Abū al-Dardāʾ.
Those who reported from him include Ḥanash al-Ṣanʿānī, ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥayrīz, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Jubayr, ʿAmrū ibn Mālik al-Janbī, ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Abī al-Ṣaʿbah, al-Qāsim Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, ʿUlayy ibn Rabāḥ, Maysarah—Faḍālah’s freedman—and a number of others.
Al-Wāqidī said: “Faḍālah was present at Uḥud, the Trench, and all the remaining campaigns alongside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He then went to Syria, settled there, and served as a judge in that region.”
Ibn Yūnus stated: “He witnessed the conquest of Egypt and, on behalf of Muʿāwiyah, held both the judiciary there and command of the fleet.”
Among the Egyptians who narrated from him are Abū Khirāsh the Companion, al-Haytham ibn Shufay, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Jaḥdam (1), and others whose names were enumerated.
Saʿīd ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz said: “Faḍālah was the youngest of those who took the Pledge of Riḍwān.”
The author remarks: If his participation at Uḥud is confirmed, then he cannot have been a mere youth on the Day of the Tree.
It is also related that when Faḍālah died and Muʿāwiyah was carrying his bier, he said to his son ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muʿāwiyah, “Come, follow behind me, for you will never again carry anyone like him.” (2)
Al-Walīd said: “In the year 51 AH Faḍālah took part in the winter campaign.” (3)