I do not know what obstacle exists in the way of Amir...

I do not know what obstacle exists in the way of Amir al-Mu'minjn (Mu'awiyah) that he does not take a step in securing allegiance to you from all people." Yazid said: "Do you think this matter will eventually be settled success-fully?" al-Mughayrah answered in the affirmative. The meeting came to an end and the conversation was reported by Yazid to Mu'awiyah. Mu'awiyah summoned al-Mughayrah and made inquiries about the subject.

Cunning al-Mughayrah said: "You yourself have witnessed all those wars and bloodsheds which occurred after 'Uthman about the question of government. Yazid is competent to succeed you. Why delay it, then?

Secure allegiance for him, so that if anything happens to you, there will be your successor and people's support to prevent bloodshed and mischief." Mu'awiyah asked: "Who can undertake this task?" al-Mughayrah answered: "I accept the responsibility for Kufah, and Ziyad can for Basra, and next to these two cities there is no one left to oppose you.

Mu'awiyah said: "You had better return to your own seat and consult your trusty friends until we see what course the events take." al-Mughayrah returned to his friends and said to them: "I have placed Mu'awiyah's feet in a stirrup where his drilling-ground over the ummah is far and wide, and I have torn up the affair of this ummah in such a way that it can never be repaired." Then ai-Mughayrah returned to Kufah and prepared ten of the supporters of the Umayyads together with his own son, Musa to depart for a journey to ash-Sham.

He divided three hundred thousand dinars among them to go to Mu'awiyah and give the question of the allegiance a new gloss and attraction.

In his meeting with this group, Mu'awiyah said: "Do not be hasty in this matter, and of course you should not forget your view, either." Then he secretly summoned Musa, son of al-Mughayrah, and asked him: "At what price has your father bought these men's religion?" Musa said: "For three hundred thousand dinars!" Mu'awiyah said: "How trifling their religion seems to be to them!"(222) Allegiance to Yazid in Basra Yazid is a dog fancier; a monkey-fancier and a wine- bibber!

How can I invite people to allegiance to. him? Ziyad ibn Abihi At the time that al-Mughayrah was preparing the people of Kufah for allegiance to Yazid, Mu'awiyah wrote a letter to Ziyad ibn Ab1hi, governor of Basra, as follows: "al-Mughayrah ibn Shu'bah has invited the people of Kufah for allegiance to Yazid and his succession as caliph.