Did Abu Sufyan answer contrary to the reality when Heraklius asked him: “Are the nobles of the people following him, or the weak ones?”
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, our Shaykh. In the hadith of Abu Sufyan with Heraklius, Heraklius asked Abu Sufyan when he said to him: “Are the nobles of the people following him, or the weak ones?” He said: “Rather, the weak ones.” Did Abu Sufyan answer contrary to the reality, because the first of the Quraysh to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were the Ten Promised Paradise and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and they were undoubtedly among the nobles? Did he answer contrary to the reality?
The Shaykh : No, he did not answer contrary to the reality. He answered according to the reality, considering the majority, and this does not contradict the fact that there were nobles among them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Individuals among them, as you mentioned.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : He considered the majority.
The questioner : Yes, the majority.
The Shaykh : And this, and this points to the other hadith, and perhaps it confirms or clarifies...
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is His saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 3941.
The student: Allah is the Greatest!
The Shaykh : These ten are the great ones, but the Jews, what are they? The common people. And on this basis, Abu Sufyan’s answer was in accordance with the reality.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : There is no problem, if Allah wills.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : No, he did not answer contrary to the reality. He answered according to the reality, considering the majority, and this does not contradict the fact that there were nobles among them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Individuals among them, as you mentioned.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : He considered the majority.
The questioner : Yes, the majority.
The Shaykh : And this, and this points to the other hadith, and perhaps it confirms or clarifies...
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is His saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Had only ten Jews (amongst their chiefs) believe me, all the Jews would definitely have believed me.
لو آمَنَ بي عشرة من اليهود لَآمن اليهودThe student: Allah is the Greatest!
The Shaykh : These ten are the great ones, but the Jews, what are they? The common people. And on this basis, Abu Sufyan’s answer was in accordance with the reality.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : There is no problem, if Allah wills.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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