for ʿUmar over Hims after Abū ʿUbaydah. When ʿUmar learned that he had fallen into severe need (1), he sent him one thousand dinars, all of which he gave away in charity; he then said to his wife, “We have handed it to someone who will trade with it on our behalf.” May Allah be pleased with him. Khalīfah (2) relates: he and Muʿāwiyah captured Caesarea, each serving as commander over the troops with him.
ʿIyāḍ ibn Ghanm (3), Abū Saʿd al-Fihrī, was among the earliest Emigrants. He fought at Badr and every battle thereafter. Forbearing, open-handed, and brave, he conquered al-Jazīrah and was the first to cross the Roman pass on campaign. Abū ʿUbaydah appointed him his deputy over Syria, and ʿUmar confirmed him in that post until he died in 20 AH at the age of sixty.
Abū Sufyān ibn al-Ḥārith ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib (4), the Prophet’s ﷺ cousin—some say his given name was al-Mughīrah—embraced Islam in the Year of the Conquest and his Islam became excellent indeed. Until then he had been one of the fiercest opponents of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his faith, and his followers. A consummate poet, he used to satirize Islam and its people, and it was he whom Ḥassān ibn Thābit (may Allah be pleased with him) answered when he said (5):
from the wāfir metre
Go, bear to Abū Sufyān from me
A forceful message—no longer can it be concealed! (6)
You reviled Muhammad, and I defended him;
With Allah rests the recompense for that. (7)
Do you lampoon him while you are no equal to him?
The worse of you two is ransomed for the better!
When he and ʿAbdullāh ibn Abī Umayyah came to profess Islam, the Prophet ﷺ did not at first admit them until Umm Salamah interceded for her brother, whereupon he granted them audience. Word had reached him that Abū Sufyān had said, “By Allah, if he will not let me in, I shall take this little son of mine by the hand and depart so that no one knows where I have gone.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was moved and allowed him to enter. He then remained close to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Ḥunayn (8), holding the bridle of the Prophet’s mule. It is related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ loved him, testified that he would be in Paradise, and said, “I hope you will be a successor to Ḥamzah.” (9)