who said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘The first force from my community that sets out upon the sea has made Paradise incumbent for itself.’

I asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, will I be among them?’

He replied, ‘You will be among them.’

She continued: Then the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘The first force from my community that attacks the City of Caesar will have its sins forgiven.’ I asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, will I be with them?’ He answered, ‘No.’

The Muslims did, in fact, assault that city during the caliphate of Muʿawiya, with Yazid as their commander. In the army was Abu Ayyub al-Ansari—the Companion in whose house the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stayed when he first arrived in Medina as an emigrant. Abu Ayyub died there and was buried beneath its rampart, and it is related that whenever the people were hit by drought they would uncover his grave and would then be granted rain."}