Mu'awiya ordered a person to sell it for payment to the people (soldiers).

Mu'awiya ordered a person to sell it for payment to the people (soldiers). The people made haste in getting that. The news of (this state of affairs) reached 'Ubada b. Samit, and he stood up and said: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding the sale of gold by gold, and silver by silver, and wheat by wheat, and barley by barley, and dates by dates, and salt by salt, except like for like and equal for equal.

So he who made an addition or who accepted an addition (committed the sin of taking) interest. So the people returned what they had got. This reached Mu'awiya. and he stood up to deliver an address. He said: What is the matter with people that they narrate from the Messenger (may peace be upon him) such tradition which we did not hear though we saw him (the Holy Prophet) and lived in his company? Thereupon, Ubida b.

Samit stood up and repeated that narration, and then said: We will definitely narrate what we heard from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) though it may be unpleasant to Mu'awiya (or he said: Even if it is against his will). I do not mind if I do not remain in his troop in the dark night. Hammad said this or something like this". Sahih Muslim Book 010, Number 3852 Yet again Mu'awiya allowed a transaction that was not based on the 'like for like principle' as stipulated by Rasulullah (s).

It is interesting to see Mu'awiya's denial of this matter declaring "they narrate from the Messenger (may peace be upon him) such tradition which we did not hear though we saw him". How can Mu'awiya deny knowledge of this matter when it is proven from the previous narration in Muwatta that as Governor of Syria under Umar this issue was brought to his attention by Abu'd Darda and then confirmed in writing to him by the Khalifa himself?

We also read in Sharra Ma'ani Lill Sharra Lill Thahavee page 263 that Mu'awiya used to take interest. In this regard Imam Thahavee narrates a very interesting incident in his work Mana al Ahsaar page 262: "Mu'awiya purchased a Pearl and Yaqoot necklace for 4,600 dirhams. When Mu'awiya got on to the Puplit Ibada Ibne Samaad stood up and said "No! Mu'awiya entered in to an agreement based on interest and also ate interest and as a result of this is in the Fire".