Question

Is there a virtue of Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah mentioned in the Hadith?

Answer

Sayyidah Ummu Haram (radiyallahu ‘anha) reports that she heard Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say:

“The first army of my ummah to undertake a battle on sea have made [Jannah] compulsory [upon themselves].’ Ummu Haram (radiyallahu ‘anha) said, ‘I asked, ‘O Rasulullah, am I among them?’ He said, ‘You are among them.’ Then Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The first army of my ummah to attack the city of Caesar will be forgiven.’ I said, ‘Am I among them O Rasulullah?’ He replied, No”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2924)

Since Yazid was part of the first army that attacked Caesar, some Muhaddithun are of the opinion that this Hadith is a virtue for him. However other Muhaddithun have rejected this opinion and have stated that some people may be excluded from the generality of this Hadith due to outside factors. ‘Allamah ‘Ayni (rahimahullah) also seems to be of this second view.

(Refer: Fathul Bari and ‘Umdatul Qari, under Hadith: 2924)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar