Chapter 53: Peacemaking
Narrated Al-Hasan Al-Basri: By Allah, Al-Hasan bin 'Ali led large battalions like mountains against Muawiya. 'Amr bin Al-As
said (to Muawiya), "I surely see battalions which will not turn back before killing their opponents."
Muawiya who was really the best of the two men said to him, "O 'Amr! If these killed those and those
killed these, who would be left with me for the jobs of the public, who would be left with me for their
women, who would be left with me for their children?" Then Muawiya sent two Quraishi men from
the tribe of 'Abd-i-Shams called 'Abdur Rahman bin Sumura and 'Abdullah bin 'Amir bin Kuraiz to
Al-Hasan saying to them, "Go to this man (i. e. Al-Hasan) and negotiate peace with him and talk and
appeal to him." So, they went to Al-Hasan and talked and appealed to him to accept peace. Al-Hasan
said, "We, the offspring of 'Abdul Muttalib, have got wealth and people have indulged in killing and
corruption (and money only will appease them)." They said to Al-Hasan, "Muawiya offers you so and
so, and appeals to you and entreats you to accept peace." Al-Hasan said to them, "But who will be
responsible for what you have said?" They said, "We will be responsible for it." So, whatever Al-
Hasan asked they said, "We will be responsible for it for you." So, Al-Hasan concluded a peace treaty
with Muawiya. Al-Hasan (Al-Basri) said: I heard Abu Bakr saying, "I saw Allah' s Messenger (ﷺ) on the
pulpit and Al-Hasan bin 'Ali was by his side. The Prophet (ﷺ) was looking once at the people and once at
Al-Hasan bin 'Ali saying, 'This son of mine is a Saiyid (i. e. a noble) and may Allah make peace
between two big groups of Muslims through him."
Sahih al-Bukhari 2704