and these men (1), before embracing Islam, were more extreme than Muāwiya in both unbelief and waging war against the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Safwān, Ikrima, and Abū Sufyān had been at the head of the unbelievers at Uhud and leaders of the Confederates during the Battle of the Trench. Yet despite this, Abū Sufyān, Safwān (2), and Ikrima were among those whose commitment to Islam was finest, and they fell as martyrs—may Allah be pleased with them—at Yarmūk.

Muāwiya was not known (3), before Islam, to have harmed the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—(4), whether by deed or word. If those who had shown far greater hostility toward the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—than Muāwiya embraced Islam sincerely and became among those who love Allah and His Messenger and whom Allah and His Messenger love, what could prevent Muāwiya—may Allah be pleased with him—from being likewise?

His conduct while in authority was among the finest, and he was among those whose commitment to Islam was sincere. Had it not been for his fighting Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—and his assumption of kingship, no one would ever have spoken of him except favorably, just as his peers (5) are spoken of only favorably. These converts at the Conquest—Muāwiya and others like him—accompanied the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—on several campaigns, including Hunayn, Tā’if, and Tabūk. Thus, like his peers, he had faith in Allah and His Messenger and took part in jihad in His cause. How, then, could these men have been unbelievers when they had become believers engaged in jihad throughout 8, 9, and 10 AH, and part of 11 AH?