to bestow upon us mercy from Himself; indeed He is the Ever-Bestower. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

2/261 — Abū Hubayrah ʿĀʾidh ibn ʿAmr al-Muzanī—one of those who pledged allegiance at al-Riḍwān (may Allah be pleased with him)—reported that Abū Sufyān once passed by Salmān, Ṣuḥayb, and Bilāl while they were sitting with a number of men. They said, “The swords of Allah have not yet taken from the enemy of Allah what they deserve.” Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Do you say such words to the elder and chieftain of Quraysh?” He then went to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him. The Prophet said, “O Abū Bakr, perhaps you have angered them? If you have angered them, you have certainly angered your Lord.” So Abū Bakr returned to them and said, “My brothers, have I offended you?” They answered, “No. May Allah forgive you, our brother.” Recorded by Muslim.

His words “mā akhadhat … maʾkhadhahā” mean that the swords had not yet exacted their full due from him. As for the expression “yā akhī” (“my brother”), it is narrated in two vocalizations: with the hamzah carrying fatḥah, the khāʾ kasrah, and a light yāʾ, and with the hamzah carrying ḍammah, the khāʾ fatḥah, and a doubled yāʾ.

[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—cites this narration in the discussion of the weak and needy, stressing that they must be treated gently, kindly, and beneficently. Abū Sufyān passed by Salmān, Ṣuḥayb, and Bilāl—each of them formerly a servant: Ṣuḥayb the Roman, Bilāl the Abyssinian, and Salmān the Persian. When he walked past them they said, “The…"