29 – With his chain of transmission, from al-Shaʿbī, who said: A man came to Muʿāwiyah, asked him for something, and Muʿāwiyah granted it. The man exclaimed, “May Allah reward you, O Commander ⦗31⦘ of the Faithful!” Muʿāwiyah replied, “My nephew, by Allah, if we actually earned reward for what we give and incurred no sin for what we take, then no two elders on earth would be less fortunate than Abū Bakr and ʿUmar. But it is not as you imagine, and I will explain: We opened for you the gate of emigration, secured the frontier garrisons, set the stipends flowing, and arranged the provisions. Even after that a large amount of wealth remained, and Muʿāwiyah and the family of Muʿāwiyah have made free with it. They will meet Allah, Who will call them to account; if He wills, He will forgive them, for He is All-Forgiving, Merciful.”