As for his being a Muslim in the year of the conquest, together with those mentioned, the scholars agree on this, whether he had embraced Islam earlier or only in the year of the conquest of Mecca. Yet some liars have claimed that he reproached his father for embracing Islam. The scholars of hadith unanimously agree that this is a lie.

Those mentioned were among the finest people in their practice of Islam and the most praiseworthy in their conduct. They were not accused of wrongdoing, nor did any scholar accuse them of hypocrisy, as others were accused. Rather, their exemplary practice of Islam, obedience to Allah and His Messenger, love for Allah and His Messenger, striving in Allah’s cause, and observance of the limits set by Allah demonstrated the soundness of their inward faith and the excellence of their practice of Islam.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, appointed some of them to positions of authority as his deputies. For example, he appointed ‘Attāb ibn Asīd as governor of Mecca on his behalf. He was among the finest Muslims and used to say: “People of Mecca! By Allah, if I learn that any of you has stayed away from prayer, I will have him beheaded.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also appointed “Abū Sufyān” ibn Harb—Mu‘āwiyah’s father—as his deputy over Najrān. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, died, Abū Sufyān was still his governor over Najrān. The scholars agree that Mu‘āwiyah was better in his practice of Islam than his father, just as his brother “Yazīd ibn Abī Sufyān” was superior to both him and his father.

For this reason, Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, appointed Yazīd to lead the fighting against the Christians during his conquest of Syria. He was one of the commanders appointed by Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, who gave him well-known instructions that the scholars transmitted and relied upon, and that were recorded by