Here is a post of a XXXXX scholar - XXXXXX- who is both provocative and controversial. He denies being Shi'i or Zaydi:
"KNOW YOUR HISTORY: The night before the Conquest of Makkah, the leader of the Kuffar of Quraysh, head of the Umayyad Clan and chief enemy of Islam Abu-Sufyan was brought to the Tent of the Prophet (SAW) under the protection of al-Abbas (RA). When Umar (RA) saw him, he continuously tried to kill him, but the Prophet (SAW) prevented Umar (RA) from that due to the protection granted by his uncle al-Abbas (RA). Thereafter, the Prophet said to Abu-Sufyan: "Isn't it high time you testified that there is no God but Allah?". Abu-Sufyan replied: "I guessed if there was another God, he would have helped me by now!". Then the Prophet (SAW) said: "Isn't it high time you testified that I am the Messenger of Allah?". Abu-Sufyan replied: "My heart is still doubtful of that". Then al-Abbas (RA) looked at Abu-Sufyan and said: "WOE UNTO YOU! TESTIFY OR I WILL CHOP YOUR HEAD OFF". So Abu-Sufyan proclaimed the Shahadah." (سيرة ابن هشام و تاريخ الطبري و سيرة ابن كثير)
And here are comments from him on this post:
"The Prophet (SAW) considered Abu-Sufyan and his sons amongst the Mu'allafati Qulubuhum i.e. "Those new converts who hearts must still be SOFTENED TOWARDS ISLAM"!!! This was obvious as he had NOT accepted Islam by his free-will but due to fear. Thats why they were given lots of MONEY after Hunayn but the proper Sahabah were not given anything or very little (they didnt care about Dunya in any case). His wife Hind cursed him when she heard he had recited the Kalimah. The Prophet (SAW) then made her blood Halal, even if she was next to the Kabah. SO she ran away, and then later on entered Islam in a devious manner, in order to save her life. Anyways, after the Batte of Hunayn, the Prophet (SAW) did not take Abu-Sufyan with in the Battle of Tabuk. He was left in Makkah. Ulama mention that the reason the Prophet (SAW) left Ali (and not others like he would normally do) in Medina was to safeguard Medina if Abu-Sufyan decides to attack it."
"I dont consider Abu-Sufyan and outright Munafiq. I believe he eventually realized that his beloved Kufr Days were over and that Arabia was never going to return to Shirk. For this reason, the Prophet (SAW) send Khalid bin al-Waleed WITH ABU-SUFYAN to demolish the Idol of al-Lat, after the people of Taif had accepted Islam. However, he continued to seek power and fame. Tribalism remained his motive, and was inherited by his family. We don't see much of Abu-Sufyan after that except that he came to the Prophet (SAW) saying: 'Your SAHABAH dislike me and my family, so please give us some position so that we may retain our respect'. Then he requested that the Prophet (SAW) use his son Muawiyah as a writer as he knew how to read and write. So the Nabi (SAW) used Muawiyah to write some letters, though NOTHING of the Qur'an. The Qur'an was primarily written by ALI (who was the actual writer of the Prophet), and Ubayy and Zaid bin Thabit, among other seniors."
"After the death of the Prophet (SAW), we see Abu-Sufyan coming to Ali (RA) and condemning the Khilafah of Abu-Bakr (RA) and ridiculing it. In fact, he promised Ali that he will fill Madina with the men and horses of Quraysh to uproot the lowly Abu-Bakr and appoint Ali. But ALI rebuked Abu-Sufyan and chased him out saying: "You REMAIN an enemy of Islam. We are satisfied with Abu-Bakr"!!!"
"One cannot compare Sayyidna Umar (RA) with people like Abu-Sufyan. Firstly, Umar accepted Islam willingly and when there was NO WORLDY BENEFIT in accepting Islam. Secondly, Umar spent years defending Rasul-Allah (SAW). Abu-Sufyan did nothing of the sort. Thirdly, Umar is praised in Quran as from the Sabiqun, and in many Ahadith by name, while Abu-Sufyan is from the Mu'allafah and never praised by the Rasul (SAW). He was not from the Sabiqun or Muajirun or Ansar (but was thier arch enemy). In fact, in the terminology of the Salaf, he wasn't even from the Sahabah. The Sahabah never used the term "Sahabi" for people like Abu-Sufyan."
"Our problem today is that, under a highly exaggerated, distorted and even un-Quranic perception of "Suhbah and Sahabah" we are treating Abu-Sufyan as equal to Abu-Bakr, Muawiyah as equal to Ali, Yazid as equal to Husayn...etc. One MUST distinguish between those who are called "Sahabah" simply due to being part of that generation, and those who are the Actual Sahabah, praised in Quran and Hadith. To use Ayat revealed in praise of the actual Sahabah as in praise of Abu-Sufyan is utterly RIDICULOUS because when those Ayat were revealed Abu-Sufyan was still a Kafir FIGHTING THOSE VERY SAHABAH who the Ayah was praising!"
Any comment,
My Reply:
، فلما رآه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ويحك يا أبا سفيان ، ألم يأن لك أن تعلم أنه لا إله إلا الله ؟ قال : بأبي أنت وأمي ما أحلمك وأكرمك وأوصلك ، والله لقد ظننت أن لو كان مع الله إله غيره لقد أغنى عني شيئا بعد ، قال : ويحك يا أبا سفيان ألم يأن لك أن تعلم أني رسول الله قال : بأبي أنت وأمي ، ما أحلمك وأكرمك وأوصلك أما هذه والله فإن في النفس منها حتى الآن شيئا . فقال له العباس : ويحك أسلم واشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله قبل أن تضرب عنقك
When Allāh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saw him he said, "Woe unto you Abū Sufyān!" Has the time not yet come for you to know that there is no god but Allāh?" [Abū Sufyān] replied, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you. How forbearing you are! How noble you are! How you maintain ties of kinship! By Allāh! It has already occurred to me that were there a god besides Allāh he would have helped me by now.”[Allāh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم ] said, “Woe unto you Abū Sufyān!" Has the time not yet come for you to know that I am Allah’s Messenger?”[Abū Sufyān] replied, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you. How forbearing you are! How noble you are! How you maintain ties of kinship! As for this, by Allah, there remains something in me until now.”Al-‘Abbās then said to him, “Woe unto you! Accept Islām and testify that there is no god besides Allāh and that Muḥammad is Allāh’s Messenger, lest your neck is struck!”
During the Jihād of aṭ-Ṭāif an arrow struck Abū Sufyān’s eye. Allāh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, “If you wish, I shall pray for you and Allāh will restore your eye. But if you wish, be patient and you will have Paradise.”Abū Sufyān replied whilst experiencing that severe pain whose reality only one who has suffered the same can understand, “I choose Jannah.”This is a promise guaranteed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم during the most perfect form of worship i.e. Jihād. Abū Sufyān is in Paradise and may those who harbour evil against him have their noses rubbed in the depths of Hell.
Hind – may Allāh be pleased with her
Scribe of the Qurān
Those whose hearts were softened
A word of advice
سليمان الكندي