Hadith on Treachery: Mu’awiyah returns because it is forbidden to betray even an aggressive enemy
Abu Amina Elias • December 19, 2011
Sulaym ibn Amir reported: There was a peace treaty between Muawiyah and the Byzantines. He was marching towards their country and when the covenant came to an end, he would attack them. A man came on a horse, saying, “Allah is Most Great! Allah is Most Great! Let there be faithfulness and not treachery!” When they looked they found that he was Amr ibn Abasah. Muawiyah sent for him and questioned him about that. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, “When one has a covenant with people he must not strengthen or loosen it until its term comes to an end or he brings it to an end in agreement with them.” So Muawiyah returned with the people.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1580

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to At-Tirmidhi

سُلَيْمَ بْنَ عَامِرٍ يَقُولُ  كَانَ بَيْنَ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِ الرُّومِ عَهْدٌ وَكَانَ يَسِيرُ فِي بِلَادِهِمْ حَتَّى إِذَا انْقَضَى الْعَهْدُ أَغَارَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ عَلَى دَابَّةٍ أَوْ عَلَى فَرَسٍ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَفَاءٌ لَا غَدْرٌ وَإِذَا هُوَ عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَسَةَ فَسَأَلَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ مَنْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ قَوْمٍ عَهْدٌ فَلَا يَحُلَّنَّ عَهْدًا وَلَا يَشُدَّنَّهُ حَتَّى يَمْضِيَ أَمَدُهُ أَوْ يَنْبِذَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ قَالَ فَرَجَعَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بِالنَّاسِ

1580 سنن الترمذي كِتَاب السِّيَرِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ باب مَا جَاءَ فِي الْغَدْرِ

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