Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 12382

Mu'awiyah bin Hudayj narrates: I was with Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah bin Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) when a letter came to him from one of his governors, in which he reported that he had attacked the Turks and routed them, killed many of their people and taken much spoil from them. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) became angry at this, then he ordered that this letter be written to the governor: I have come to know what you have stated, that you have killed so many and taken so much spoil; but let me not come to know that you have done this again; you are not to fight them until my order reaches you. The narrator says: I asked him: O Commander of the Believers! What is the reason for this? He said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The Turks will certainly overpower the Arabs, until they drive them to the places where shih and qaysum (desert plants) grow." (Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:) That is why I dislike fighting them.
Abu Ya'la recorded it, and its chain contains narrators whom I do not know.