a man: ‘May Allah curse him! How often he is brought before the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace!’ The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: ‘Do not curse him, for he loves Allah and His Messenger.’”

Nevertheless, some among Ahl al-Sunnah permit cursing Yazīd because they believe that he committed acts of injustice whose perpetrator may rightly be cursed. Others hold that he should be loved because he was a Muslim who assumed rule during the time of the Companions, and the Companions pledged allegiance to him. They say: “The reports about him have not been authenticated; he had good qualities, or he was exercising independent judgment in what he did.”

The correct position is that held by the leading scholars: he should neither be singled out for love nor cursed. Nevertheless, if he was sinful or unjust, Allah forgives the sinful and the unjust, especially when they have performed great good deeds.

Al-Bukhārī narrated in his Sahīh, on the authority of Ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“The first army to attack Constantinople will be forgiven.”

The first army to attack it was commanded by Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya, and Abū Ayyūb al-Ansārī—may Allah be pleased with him—was with him.

Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya may be confused with his paternal uncle, Yazīd ibn Abī Sufyān. Yazīd ibn Abī Sufyān was one of the Companions, among their finest, and the best of the family of Harb. He was one of the commanders whom Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—sent to conquer Syria. Abū Bakr walked alongside his mount, giving him advice as he saw him off. Yazīd said to him:

“O successor to the Messenger of Allah, either you ride or I dismount.”

He replied:

“I will not ride, and you will not dismount. I seek reward for these steps of mine