If Quraysh were not there...

If Quraysh were not there, they would have remained in the darkness and backwardness. He said that he was told they were critical of the Quraysh functionaries of al-Kūfah and publicly criticized them. The state was tolerating their activities so far. If they did not mend their ways, they might come to great hardship. Sa`sa`ah told Mu`awiyah that he talked of the superiority of the Quraysh, but at no time they were ever more than us in numbers nor in strength.

And his saying that the rulers are like shield for them, let the shield break and they would make their own shield. The talks proceeded in this manner. Once Mu`awiyah said that everyone knew that his father, Abū-Sufyan, was the most respected person of the Quraysh but Muhammad (a.s) had the Prophethood. If they were the progeny of Abū-Sufyan they would all be clever and intelligent. Sa`sa`ah said that he was wrong.

Adam (a.s) who was certainly better than Abū-Sufyan was made by Allah and put His spirit in him and ordered the angels to prostrate to him. In his progeny, there are clever ones, and there are foolish persons as well. There are good persons as well as bad. Mu`awiyah could not reply to this and kept quiet. In another meeting, he said that they should keep their own welfare in view and they should adopt an attitude that should be beneficial for their tribe and their people.

Sa`sa`ah asked him since when he had started giving sermons about good behavior? Was there any welfare for them that they disobey Allah and follow his advice? Mu`awiyah replied that he was asking them to fear Allah and follow the Prophet (a.s) and hold the rope of Allah fast and do not create dissent. Sa`sa`ah asked why, Mu`awiyah, had acted against the commands of the Prophet (a.s)? Mu`awiyah said that if such a thing has happened, he would express his repentance over what happened in the past.

And now he ordered them to adopt piety, obedience and cooperation with the rulers of the day. He asked them to respect the rulers and give them advice in an atmosphere of friendship. Sa`sa`ah said that, in that event, they advise him to forsake the emirate of Syria and clear the way for those who truly deserve the position. Could he deny that in Arabia there were persons whose services to Islam have been far superior than his?

He agreed, but said that, at the moment, none was more capable than him to carry the burden of the state on his shoulder.