Between His Father and His Conscience

'Abdullah's father, 'Amr ibn al-'As, was a supporter of Mu'awiyah in the civil strife that followed the killing of 'Uthman. A well-known report says that the Prophet ﷺ told 'Abdullah to obey his father, and that 'Abdullah was present at Siffin on the Syrian side, as his father's companion, without taking part in the fighting himself.

Later reports quote him as regretting it, saying in effect, "What do I have to do with Siffin? What was I thinking?" Ahl al-Sunnah do not take such reports as grounds to speak ill of anyone present. They hold that the Companions on every side acted by their own reasoned judgement and sought what they believed to be right, and that the community is told to restrain its tongue about the disputes between them.

Shi'a scholarship takes a more critical view of the Syrian party and of some who took part. This moment records what is known of 'Abdullah and does not argue between the two views.

01Why it matters

Even a sincere and careful believer can find himself in a position he later wishes he had avoided; the right response is honest regret, not self-justification.

02Reflection

Have you ever followed someone's lead and later regretted it? What would you do differently?

03Sources

Ibn Sa'd, al-Tabaqat al-KubraHistorical report
al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'Historical report
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa'l-NihayahHistorical report

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