Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) Advises the Commander of the Army to Uphold Justice

Imaam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) narrates:

When Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was governor over Shaam, the Muslims engaged in Jihaad and gained victory, thereby acquiring some booty.

Among the spoils of war was a beautiful slave girl who fell into the share of one of the Muslim warriors. Shortly after the Muslim soldier received her as his share of the booty, Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the commander of the army, had taken her for himself from the soldier in whose share she had entered.

At that time, Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was present in Shaam and this soldier went to him seeking his assistance in getting the slave girl back from Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Thus, Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), taking the soldier with him, went to Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and instructed him thrice to return the slave girl to the soldier.

Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter said to him, “Behold! By Allah! If you take this slave girl away from the soldier unjustly, then know well that I have heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mention, ‘The first person to change my Sunnah will be a man from the Banu Umayyah tribe.’” (and in some narrations, it is also mentioned that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The person from Banu Umayyah who will change my sunnah, his name will be Yazeed.” Musnad Abi Ya’la #871).

Saying this, Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) turned his back and began to walk away.

Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) immediately returned the slave girl to the soldier and went behind Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asking him, “I beg you in the name of Allah! Please tell me, do you think that I am the person who Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) referred to in this hadith?” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “No, you are not that person.”

After narrating the above incident, Imaam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) mentioned, “Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), was the leader of the armies of Shaam in the era of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) referred to a person from Banu Umayyah changing his blessed Sunnah, Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is not intended (as he was a Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and led an upright life conforming to the Sunnah).

However, Imaam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) further explains that there was another person from the Banu Umayyah who shared the same name. He was Yazid bin Mu‘aawiyah, the son of Hazrat Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and it seems that he was the one referred to in the Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) (as he was responsible for bringing great harm to Islam during the rule of the Banu Umayyah).

(Dalaa’il-un-Nubuwwah 6/410)