quraish and in the nobility of ambition and originality of opinion and quality of speech and perfection of body and in the perfection of soul in the round and when the spears break and the swords cut) a man at his table unknown of home unknown of lineage and not mentioned for a good day. he saw a hair in his morsel so he said take the hair from your morsel. there is no basis for this saying from him except pure advice and pity. the man said and you are taking care of me as one who sees a hair? i will not sit at your table as long as i live and i will tell you about it as long as i live. so the people did not know which of muawiyahs two actions was better and more beautiful his overlooking it or his pity for him. so this was his reward from him and his gratitude to him.
قريش، وفي نبل الهمة، وأصالة الرأي، وجودة البيان، وكمال الجسم، وفي تمام النفس عند الجولة، وعند تقصف الرماح، وتقطع السيوف) رجلا على مائدته، مجهول الدار، غير معروف النسب، ولا مذكور بيوم صالح. فأبصر في لقمته شعرة، فقال خذ الشعرة من لقمتك. ولا وجه لهذا القول منه إلا محض النصيحة، والا الشفقة. فقال الرجل وإنك لتراعيني مراعاة من يبصر معها الشعرة؟ لا جلست لك على مائدة ما حييت، ولأحكينها عنك ما بقيت. فلم يدر الناس أي أمري معاوية كان أحسن وأجمل تغافله عنه أم شفقته عليه. فكان هذا جزاؤه منه، وشكره له.