By Allah, Mu`awiyah is not more shrewd than I am, but he deceives and commits evil deeds. Had I not been hateful of deceitfulness, I will have been the most cunning of all men. But (the fact is that) deceit is a sin and sin is disobedience (of Allah). Every deceitful person will have a banner by which he will be recognized on the Day of Judgment. By Allah, I cannot be made forgetful by strategy, nor can I be overpowered by hardships.