Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 5982

It is narrated from al-Hasan al-Basri that Ziyad sent Sayyiduna al-Hakam bin Amr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) as governor over Khurasan, and there the fighters obtained abundant spoils. So Ziyad wrote to him: "The Commander of the Believers (Mu'awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him) has written that the gold and silver be set aside specially for him and not be distributed among the Muslims." Al-Hakam (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote in reply: "You have mentioned the order of the Commander of the Believers, whereas I have found the Book of Allah (present) before the order of the Commander of the Believers. By Allah! If the heavens and the earth were closed up against a servant and he adopted piety (taqwa), Allah would make a way out for him." Then he had it announced: "Come to take your spoils," and he distributed them among the people. When Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) received news of this, he sent a man who put him in shackles and imprisoned him. So he died in those very shackles and was buried in them. He had said (as a bequest): "I will present my case (on the Day of Resurrection)."