Abu Sufyan ibn Harb
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Abu Sufyan ibn Harb صخر بن حرب | |
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| Born | Sakhr ibn Harb 1 September 560 |
| Died | 2 September 652 (aged 92) |
| Known for | Chieftain of the Quraish of Mecca. |
Sakhr ibn Harb (Arabic: صخر بن حرب), more commonly known as Abu Sufyan (1 September 560 - 1 August 652), was the leader of the Quraish tribe of Mecca. He was a staunch opponent of the Islamic prophet Muhammad before accepting Islam later in his life. His mother, Safia, is the paternal aunt of Umm Al-Mu'mineen Maymuna bint al-Harith.
Biography
Opposition to Islam
Abu Sufyan was the chieftain of the Banu Abd-Shams clan of the Quraish tribe, which made him one of the most powerful in Mecca. Abu Sufyan viewed Muhammad as a threat to Mecca's social order, a man aiming for political power and a blasphemer of the Quraish gods.
Abu Sufyan's brother Musab was among several people who migrated to Abyssinia to escape persecution in Mecca.
Military conflict with Muhammad
After Muhammed and other Muslims had migrated to Medina in 622, the Quraish confiscated the belongings they had left behind. During that period of time, caravans were accompanied by military escorts of varying strength.
Due to the hospitality Muhammad received in Medina, the Meccans feared the growing influence of the Muslims and thus were contriving to safeguard their trade routes by eliminating the religion of Islam. The Muslims of Medina were aware of such activities and began to make preparations for self-defense.[1]
In 624, Abu Sufyan was the appointed leader of a caravan that was escorted by a force of around 400 or 500 soldiers. Muhammad's Muslim force of 300 poorly armed men moved to intercept them. It is related that God revealed to Muhammad that his people were now given permission to defend themselves, rather than continuing to undertake persecution from the Meccans. The Muslims ended up engaging a Meccan army, a force sized 1000 men. This conflict, the Battle of Badr, ultimately ended in a Muslim victory. The death of most Quraish leaders in the battle not only left Abu Sufyan the leader of Mecca but also marked the fulfillment of a prophecy.[1]
Abu Sufyan served as the military leader in the later Meccan campaigns against Medina, including the Battle of Uhud in 625 and the Battle of the Trench in 627, but he could not attain final victory.
Eventually the two parties would agree to an armistice, the Treaty of Hudaybiyya in 628, which allowed Muslims to make the pilgrimage to the Kaaba.
Muslim conquest of Mecca
When the armistice was violated in 630 by allies of the Quraish, Muhammad moved towards liberating Mecca from non-Muslim authority. Abu Sufyan, sensing that the balances were now tilted in Muhammad's favour and that the Quraish were not strong enough to hinder the Muslims from conquering the city, travelled to Madina, trying to restore the treaty. No agreement was reached between the two parties and Abu Sufyan returned to Mecca empty handed. These efforts ultimately ensured that the conquest occurred without battle or bloodshed. Muhammad forgave Abu Sufyan's wife, Hind bint Utbah, who had allegedly chewed the liver of Muhammad's uncle, Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, during the Battle of Uhud. [citation needed]
Abu Sufyan travelled back and forth between Mecca and Madinah, still trying to reach a settlement. According to the sources, he found assistance in Muhammad's uncle al-Abbas, though some scholars consider that historians writing under the rule of Abbas's descendants, the Abbasid dynasty, had exaggerated Abbas's role and downplayed the role of Sufyan, who was the ancestor of the Abbasids' enemies.[2]
Later life
After the conquest of Mecca, Abu Sufyan fought as one of Muhammad's lieutenants in the subsequent wars. During the Siege of Taif, he lost an eye.
When Muhammed died in 632, Abu Sufyan was in charge of Najran.[3]
Abu Sufyan also fought in the Battle of Yarmouk in 636, in which he lost his second eye. He played a very important role in the war, being the naqeeb (chief of staff) of the Muslim army. He fought under command of his son Yazid bin Abi Sufyan.[4][5] Abu Sufyan died at the age of ninety in 650 at Medina. His kinsman Uthman Ibn Affan, who had become the third Caliph in 644, led the prayer over his grave.
Legacy
Abu Sufyan's son Muawiyah became the founder of the Umayyad dynasty, the first Muslim dynasty which ruled the Islamic world for a century, from 661 to 750. Mu'awiyah's son, Yazid, succeeded him as caliph. Abu Sufyan is a controversial character in the history of Islam due to his initial opposition to Muhammad. He converted to Islam only when the forces of Islam had entered Mecca under the command of the prophet Muhammad.
Furthermore, the descendants of Abu Sufyan - Mu'awiyah and Yazid - have fought wars with the descendants of Muhammad[citation needed] – Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hassan ibn Ali, and Hussain ibn Ali respectively.
Family
Women and children
1. From Ṣāfiyah d. Abu al-As:
- Daughter: Ramlah (Umm Ḥabībah) (Married to 'Ubayd-allah ibn Jaḥsh, followed by Muhammad after 'Ubayd-allah renounced Islam in Abyssinia)
- Daughter: Ḥabībah d. Jaḥsh
2. From the daughter of Abu 'Amr ibn 'Umaiyah:
- Son: 'Amr (Captive in the Battle of Badr)
3. From Ṣāfiyah d. 'Abd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim: 1 son Other children: Ḥanzalah (Killed in the Battle of Badr),Yazīd, Ḥārith, Umm Ḥakam,'Utbah (son: Walīd)
See also
References
- ^ a b Mirza Bashir-ud Din Mahmud Ahmad, Life of Muhammad, Islam International Publications 2003, p. 46-47.
- ^ Glubb, John (2001). The Life and Times of Muhammad. Cooper Square Press. p. 304-310. ISBN 0815411766.
- ^ Abu Al-Abbas Ahmad Bin Jaber Al-Baladhuri, The people of the Islamic State (translated by Philip Khuri Hitti), p. 107.
- ^ Ibn al-Athir, Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh
- ^ "Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb: An Eye Now or an Eye in Heaven?". Francisco Burzi. Retrieved 6 October 2012.