691 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Matar informed me, saying: Abu Talib narrated to us, saying: I asked Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal] regarding a man who says: 'Mu'awiyah died outside of Islam,' or 'He was an unbeliever (kafir).' Should one write [hadith] from such a man? He replied: "No." Then he added: "No man among the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) should be labeled an unbeliever."
٦٩١ - أَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَطَرٍ، قَالَ: ثَنَا أَبُو طَالِبٍ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ ⦗٤٤٨⦘ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: يُكْتَبُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ، إِذَا قَالَ: مُعَاوِيَةُ مَاتَ عَلَى غَيْرِ الْإِسْلَامِ أَوْ كَافِرٌ؟ قَالَ: " لَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: لَا يُكَفَّرُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ "
