Abu Sufyan: Difference between revisions

Ṣakhr b. Ḥarb b. Umaya b. ʿAbd al-Shams b. ʿAbd Manāf (صَخر بن حَرب بن اُمَی‍ـَّة بن عبدالشمس بن عبدمَناف), famous as Abū Sufyān (اَبوسُفیان), is one of the famous Arab men in the history of early Islam. When the Noble [[Prophet (s)]] started his invitation to [[Islam]], Abu Sufyan turned in to one of the most obstinate enemies of the Prophet (s). He had an active role against the Prophet (s) in the [[Battles of Badr]], [[Battle of Uhud|Uhud]] and [[Battle of Khandaq|Khandaq]] but embraced Islam in the eighth year of Hijri, and was appointed as the governor of Najran by the Noble Prophet (s). He treated the first and second caliph with compromise and supported the caliphate of 'Uthmaan.

With the beginning of the Prophet’s (s) invitation to Islam, Abu Sufyan turned into one of his obstinate enemies; nevertheless, it is believed that his enmity with the Prophet (s) was less than the rest of the leaders of Quraish, such as Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab.

In the second year after the Prophet’s (s) migration from Mecca to Medina, Abu Sufyan was leading a trade caravan coming back from Shaam. The Prophet (s) decided to raid the caravan. Abu Sufyan sent a letter asking for the help of the Quraishi Meccans on one hand, and at the same time, changed his path and delivered the caravan to Mecca safely. Although the caravan avoided the raid, Abu Jahl became angry of the Prophet’s (s) threat and decided to stay and fight the people of Yasreb.

In the third Lunar year, Abu Sufyan led an enormous army to Medina with the hope of revenge from the Muslims. Near Medina, in Ohod, a heavy war broke out and the Muslims were defeated. Some of the Muslim elites such as Hamza, the Prophet’s (s) uncle, were martyred. After the war Abu Sufyan went up a hill, and after praising the idols, promised the Prophet (s) another war in Badr.

Abu Sufyan organized the Khandaq war with the help of the Jews in Medina in the following year, but with the Prophet’s (s) management, Abu Sufyan’s army and their allies were defeated and Medina was safe.

==Abu Sufyan’s Islam==

The narrations suggest that Abu Sufyan warned his son Mu’awiya from opposing Omar and recommended he abide him. It seems Mu’awiya had committed some mistakes during the caliphate of Omar and was therefore warned by his father.

When Othmaan was chosen as the caliph, Abu Sufyan went to him and said to the Omayads present, “Now that the sphere of caliphate has fallen in your hands, move it amongst yourselves, and do not lose it.”

Abu Sufyan had many children, the most famous of which was Mu’awiya whom had an important role in the first lunar century and founded the Umayyad Caliphate.

Another one of his children was Yazid whom was appointed as an army commander and was later appointed as a governer by Omar. 'Ataba was another one of his children who took part in the War of Jamal along with 'Ayisha, and was later appointed as the governor of Egypt by Mu’awiya.