Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abu Al-Minhāl Sayyār bin Salāmah narrates: He said that when Ibn Ziyad was expelled, Marwān took control of Shām, Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair took control of Makkah, and the Qurra took control of Basrah. ‘Awf said: Abu Al-Minhāl said, "my father became very sad," and the narrator says that Abu Al-Minhal used to speak well of his father. Abu Al-Minhāl said: My father said to me, "O son! Take us to that man among the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." So we set out towards Hazrat Abu Barzah Aslami on a day of intense heat. He was sitting in a high shade made for him from bamboo. My father began to speak with him, wanting to converse. My father said, "O Abu Barzah! Do you not see? Do you not see?" The first thing he said was, "I am angry with the tribes of Quraysh. Indeed, O tribes of Arabia, you were in that state of scarcity and ignorance that you know. And indeed Allah Almighty elevated you through Islam and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) until you reached the state you now see. And this world is what has caused corruption among you. Indeed, those who are in Shām"—he meant Marwān—"By Allah, he is not fighting except for the world. And indeed, those around you whom you call your Qurra, By Allah, they too are not fighting except for the world." Abu Al-Minhāl the narrator says: When he had not spared anyone, my father said to him, "What is your view?" He replied, "Today, I do not consider anyone better than that group who clings to the earth, whose bellies are empty of people's wealth, whose backs are free from the responsibility of people's blood."