Abu Sufyan: Difference between revisions

He was sometimes called with his nickname, Abu Handhala. His exact date of birth is not clear, but according to some, he was born ten years before the [['Am al-Fil]] (the Year of the Elephant), 560 AD.

Although Abu Sufyan is a famous figure of the early history of Islam, but his life, specifically before Islam, is not clear. Some indications from historians show that he was probably one of the nobles of the [[Quraysh]] before Islam and was a merchant. Ibn Habib says he was one of the rulers of Quraysh. He was one of the authorities of Quraysh and one of the four people whose command was influential.

With the beginning of the [[Prophet (s)|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 Quraysh, such as [[Abu Jahl]] and [[Abu Lahab]].

Although he embraced Islam after the liberation of [[Mecca]], but the speeches which have been attributed to him in the Event of Radda shows his desire and attraction to the previous religion. Ibn Habib states he was one of the pagans of Quraysh.

Abu Sufyan has reported some hadiths from the Noble Prophet (s) as well.

In the third Lunar year/March 625, Abu Sufyan led an enormous army to [[Medina]] with the hope of revenge from the Muslims. Near Medina, in [[Uhud]], a heavy war broke out and the Muslims were defeated. Some of the Muslim elites such as [[Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib|Hamza]], the Prophet's (s) uncle, were martyred. After the war Abu Sufyan went up the [[Mount Uhud|hill]], and after praising the idols, promised the [[Prophet (s)]] another war in [[Badr]].

The Prophet (s) went to Badr the following year, but Abu Sufyan convinced the Qurayshis to return to [[Mecca]] before they reached Badr.

Abu Sufyan organized the Khandaq war with the help of the [[Jews of Medina|Jews in Medina]] in 5 AH/627, but with the Prophet's (s) management, Abu Sufyan's army and their allies were defeated and Medina was safe.

Although Abu Sufyan had no apparent role in the [[Hudaybiya Peace Treaty]], but prior to the liberation of Mecca, Abu Sufyan was sent by the Polytheists to [[Mecca]] to negotiate for the extension of the treaty; he was ignored and went back to Mecca with no results.

Finally, after much enmity and numerous wars against the [[prophet (s)]], Abu Sufyan embraced Islam in the eighth year Hijri/630 after the [[liberation of Mecca]] with the intermediating of [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]]. Abu Sufyan went to the Prophet (s) and accepted Islam and the Prophet (s) announced his house a safe refuge. From then on, Abu Sufyan and his family were of the Muslims. The Prophet (s) sent him to [[Najran]] province. In the same year, Abu Sufyan commanded a group of warriors in the [[Battle of Hunayn]]. At the end of the war, the Prophet (s) gave Abu Sufyan and his children a bigger share of the spoils of war.

It is said that in Abu Sufyan lost one of his eyes in the [[Battle of Ta'if]]. After that event, the Prophet (s) sent Abu Sufyan to [[Ta'if]] to gather the charity.

According to some narrations when the [[Prophet (s)]] died, Abu Sufyan, who was the governor of [[Najran]], went to [[Mecca]] and stayed there for a while, then he went to [[Medina]] and remained there.

After [[Abu Bakr]] was chosen as caliph, Abu Sufyan was probably plotting against him since he seemed unhappy that a man from the lowest tribe had been chosen as the caliph.

Nevertheless, he took part in the [[Battle of Yarmuk]], which was commanded by his son Yazid, and encouraged the Muslims army to fight and show stability.

It is said that he lost his other eye in this battle.

===Abu Sufyan and the Caliphate of Omar===

The narrations suggest that Abu Sufyan warned his son [[Mu'awiya]] from opposing [['Umar b. Khattab|'Umar]] and recommended he abide him. It seems Abu Sufyan had committed some mistakes during the caliphate of 'Umar and was therefore warned by him.

When Uthman was chosen as the caliph, Abu Sufyan went to him and said to the [[Umayads]] present, "Now that the sphere of caliphate has fallen in your hands, move it amongst yourselves, and do not lose it."

The exact date of his death is not clear. According to Waqedi, he died five years before 'Uthman was murdered which makes it the 30th Lunar year/651, but the years 31/652 to 33/654 have also been reported.

Another one of his children was Yazid whom was appointed as an army commander and was later appointed as a governer by [['Umar b. Khattab|'Umar]]. 'Utba was another one of his children who took part in the [[Battle of Jamal]] along with [['Aisha]], and was later appointed as the governor of [[Egypt]] by Mu'awiya.

One of his daughters was named [[Umm Habiba (Prophet Muhammad's (s) wife)|Umm Habiba]] and had migrated to [[Habasha]]. When she went back to [[Medina]], the [[Prophet (s)]] married her.