Ibn al-Jawzī (1) said concerning this hadith: “There is no doubt whatsoever that this is an error on the part of one of the narrators. They have blamed Ikrimah ibn Ammār for it, because historians unanimously agree that Umm Habībah was married to Ubayd Allāh (2) ibn Jahsh and bore him a child. He emigrated with her to Abyssinia while both were Muslims. He then became a Christian, while Umm Habībah remained steadfast in Islam. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent word to the Negus asking for her hand in marriage. The Negus married her to him and paid her a dowry on his behalf. This was in the seventh year after the Hijrah. Abū Sufyān came during the truce and entered (3) her home. She folded up the bedding of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, so that he would not sit on it. There is no disagreement that Abū Sufyān and Mu‘āwiyah embraced Islam at the conquest of Mecca in the eighth year.”

This hadith also relates that he asked him: “And will you appoint me (4) to command, so that I may fight the disbelievers as I used to fight the Muslims?” He replied: “Yes.” Yet it is not known that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ever appointed Abū Sufyān to command.

There has been much discussion of this hadith, and various approaches have been taken to explaining it. Some have said: “The correct view is that he married her after the conquest, on the evidence of this hadith.” They argue that this cannot be rejected on the strength of historians’ accounts. This approach is untenable to anyone with even the slightest knowledge of the Prophet’s biography, historical accounts, and what actually occurred.