He—may Allah be pleased with him—was asked about the disputes that arose among the Companions—‘Alī, Mu‘āwiyah, Talhah, and ‘Ā’ishah—and whether they would be held accountable for them or not.

He replied:

It is established by authentic texts that ‘Uthmān, ‘Alī, Talhah, al-Zubayr, and ‘Ā’ishah are among the people of Paradise. Indeed, it is established in the Sahīh collection that:

“No one who pledged allegiance beneath the tree will enter the Fire.”

Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī, ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās, and Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān are among the Companions, and they possess virtues and praiseworthy qualities. Much of what is related about them is false. As for the reports that are true, if they were exercising independent judgment in those matters, then one who exercises such judgment receives two rewards when correct, and one reward when mistaken, and his error is forgiven.