In fact both persons were always very chummy and even during...

In fact both persons were always very chummy and even during the days of Abū-Sufyan’s infidelity, Abū-Bakr did not like to hear anything against him. Once some companions, amongst whom were Salman, Suhayb and Bilal, were sitting at a place when Abū-Sufyan passed by. They passed a remark that the enemy of Allah was not killed by Allah’s Swords even to that day!

Abū-Bakr was angry at their remark and said that they were making an impertinent remark against a senior chief of the Quraysh and moved away from there. He then went to the presence of the Prophet (a.s) and repeated what he had heard them say about Abū-Sufyan. The Prophet (a.s) said: “Perhaps you have offended those persons!

If you have angered them, you have angered Allah!”[2] Hearing these words from the Prophet (a.s), Abū-Bakr returned to those persons and asked them if they were upset with what he told them concerning Abū-Sufyan. They only said, “May Allah forgive you!” This incident can only be from the days of Abū-Sufyan’s infidelity. If he were not an infidel, the persons would not have termed him as Allah’s enemy and deserving of getting killed by Allah’s Swords.

Even Abū-Bakr would not have referred to him only as a senior Quraysh Chief. Some historians have clarified that this event took place at the time of Hudaybiyah in 7 H and Abū-Sufyan embraced Islam after the conquest of Makkah in 8 H. It becomes evident from this event that neither Abū-Sufyan had any enmity with Abū-Bakr, nor Abū-Bakr disliked him.

Then how is it that the person thought of disturbing his apple cart and trying to bring a person from the Tribe inimical to his own who had personally dispatched many of his close kinsmen in recent battles! The truth is that he played the trick to give an impression to the rulers of the day that he was capable of creating a group in opposition to them to put their rule in danger. This way he wanted to frighten Abū-Bakr and his cohorts to get things decided the way he wanted them.

Therefore, this strategy of his proved successful. When the rumor spread that Abū-Sufyan was conspiring with Banū-Hashim against the rulers, the rulers [1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, Vol 2, Page 449 [2] Ansāb al-Ashrāf, Vol 1, Page 489 quietened him by giving him undue favors. `Umar told Abū-Bakr: “Abū-Sufyan has arrived! He is bound to create some mischief. The Prophet (a.s) himself used to keep him appeased with regard to Islam! The charities that are in his control they should remain with him.