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him wholly
oblivious of all Islamic and human matters, and
dragged him to the point of winebibbing.
Ibn 'Asakir and adh-Dhahabj, two greater historians,
narrate: One day 'Ubadah ibn as-Samit was walking
along one of the streets of Damascus. He noticed
a caravan of camels carrying loads. He asked:
"What is the load? Is it olive oil?"
Someone said: "No, it is wine; they take
it to Mu'awiyah who has ordered them." 'Ubadah
at once found a knife and ripped open all the
skins of wine. Abu Hurayrah Lived in ash-Sham
at this time. During the Prophet's time he was
not considered of any account, but after him,
owing to the favour shown to him by the caliphate,
he was greatly respected. So Mu'awiyah sent someone
to him with this message: "Why don't you
check your brother in his deeds? He goes to the
market every morning and hinders tributaries from
their transactions, and sits in the mosque at
doing nothing but blemishing our honour and prestige
At Mu'awiyah's request Abu Hurayrah went to 'Ubadah
and said to him: "What is your business with
Mu'awiyah? Leave him alone and do not molest him."
'Ubadah said: "Abu Hurayrah! You were not
with us on the day we made a pact with the Prophet
of God to obey his orders to the effect to do
our best in enjoining good and forbidding evil,
and have no fear of any reproach, for the sake
of Allah."
Abu Hurayrah had no answer to give but to remain
silent. So Mu'awiyah wrote to 'Uthman: "
'Ubadah has ruined and corrupted ash-Sham and
its inhabitants. Summon him and either prevent
him from such deeds, or allow me to hand over
ash-Sham to him."
'Uthman wrote in answer: "Expel 'Ubadah from
the city and send him back to his house in Medina."
Historians write: "When 'Ubadah returned
to Medina, he went to see 'Uthman. 'Uthman was
sitting in his house and on looking up, he saw
'Ubadah in front of him. So he said: "What
is your business with us? Why do you interfere
in our affairs?"
'Ubadah arose from amidst the people said: "I
heard the Prophet state: After me such people
govern you who accustom you to forbidden things
and pollution's with their actions, and at the
same time they will criticize the good deeds with
which
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