Abu Sufyan: Difference between revisions

{{under revision}}

| known for = Head of unbelievers of [[Mecca]]

| Full Name = Ṣakhr b. Ḥarb b. Umayya b. ʿAbd al-Shams b. ʿAbd Manāf

| Kunya = Abu Sufyan

| Well Known As = Abu Sufyan

| Death/Martyrdom = 30 or 31 or 32

| Known for = Head of unbelievers of [[Mecca]]

| Notable roles = Head of unbelievers of [[Mecca]]

| Activities = [[Battle of Badr]], [[Battle of Uhud]], [[Battle of Khandaq]]

'''Ṣakhr b. Ḥarb b. Umayya b. ʿAbd al-Shams b. ʿAbd Manāf''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|صَخر بن حَرب بن اُمَی‍ـَّة بن عبدالشمس بن عبدمَناف}}), famous as '''Abu Sufyan''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|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 [[Battle of Badr|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 [[Abu Bakr|first]] and [['Umar b. Khattab|second caliph]] with compromise and supported the caliphate of [['Uthman b. 'Affan|'Uthman]].

He was sometimes called with his nickname, Abu Handhala. His exact date of birth is not clear, but according to some<ref>al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, P.13</ref>, he was born ten years before the [['Am al-Fil]] (the Year of the Elephant), 560 AD.

His mother was Safiyya, daughter of Hazn b. Bujayr b. Huzam. His father, Harb, was the leader of [[Banu Umayya]] and their commander in the Battles of Fijar (Harb al-Fijar).

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<ref>P. 368</ref> 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]]<ref>al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.1, P. 124</ref>.

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<ref>al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, P. 13</ref>. Ibn Habib<ref>P. 388</ref> states he was one of the pagans of Quraysh.

Abu Sufyan has reported some hadiths from the Noble Prophet (s) as well<ref>For example, see: Bukhari, Vol.1, P.91; Vol.2, P.108</ref>.

In the second year after the Prophet's (s) [[Hijra|migration]] from [[Mecca]] to [[Medina]], Abu Sufyan was leading a trade caravan coming back from [[Sham]]. The [[Prophet (s)]] decided to raid the caravan. Abu Sufyan sent a letter asking for the help of the Qurayshi 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 [[Yathrib]]. So, with the help of new force that came from Mecca, Abu Jahl fight against the army of Muslims.

The [[Quraysh]] was defeated in the [[Battle of Badr]]; Handhala, the son of Abu Sufyan was killed and his other son, 'Amr was captured. He was set free later.

The defeat in [[Battle of Badr|Badr]] was too much for the Quraysh to bear, therefore, they decided to battle the [[Prophet (s)]] and the Muslims of [[Medina]] once again. Abu Sufyan, accompanied by two hundred cavalry, marched to Medina. Upon negotiating with Sallam b. Meshkam, the head of [[Banu Nadhir]], a couple of men were sent to Medina who torched the palm trees of 'Uraydh and fled. Abu Sufyan was under pursuit by the Prophet (s) but managed to escape.

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]]<ref>al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.1, P.327; Ibn Ishaq, PP.333-4; Ibn Hisham, Vol.3, PP.99-100</ref>.

The Prophet (s) went to Badr the following year, but Abu Sufyan convinced the Qurayshis to return to [[Mecca]] before they reached Badr<ref>Ibn Hisham, Vol.3, PP.220-1</ref>.

Abu Sufyan organized the Khandaq war with the help of the [[Jews of Medina|Jews in Medina]] in 5 AH/627<ref>Ibn Hisham, Vol.3, PP.225-6</ref>, 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<ref>Ibn Hisham, Vol.4, PP.37-9</ref>.

==Abu Sufyan's Islam==

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]]<ref>al-Waqidi, Vol.2, PP.817-8</ref>. Abu Sufyan went to the Prophet (s) and accepted Islam and the Prophet (s) announced his house a safe refuge<ref>al-Waqidi, Vol.2, PP.817-8; Ibn Hisham, Vol.4, P.46</ref>. From then on, Abu Sufyan and his family were of the Muslims. The Prophet (s) sent him to [[Najran]] province<ref>Al-Kalbi, P.49</ref>. 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<ref>al-Waqidi, Vol.2, PP.944-5; Al-Tabari, Vol.1, P. 1679</ref>.

It is said that in Abu Sufyan lost one of his eyes in the [[Battle of Ta'if]]<ref>al-Baladhuri, Vol.4, P.8</ref>. After that event, the Prophet (s) sent Abu Sufyan to [[Ta'if]] to gather the charity<ref>Ibn Qutayba, P.344</ref>.

==Abu Sufyan and the Three Caliphs==

According to some narrations when the [[Prophet (s)]] died, Abu Sufyan was the governor of [[Najran]]<ref>al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, PP.7,12; Al-Kalbi, P.49</ref>, and went to [[Mecca]] and stayed there for a while, then he went to [[Medina]] and remained there.

===Abu Sufyan and the Caliphate of Abu Bakr===

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<ref>Al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.1, PP.529,588; Al-Tabari, Vol.1, P.1827</ref>.

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<ref>Al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, P.11; Ibn Athir, Vol.3, P.13</ref>.

It is said that he lost his other eye in this battle<ref>Al-Tabari, Vol.1, P.2101</ref>.

===Abu Sufyan and the Caliphate of 'Umar===

The narrations suggest that Abu Sufyan warned his son [[Mu'awiya]] from opposing [['Umar b. Khattab|'Umar]] and recommended he abide him<ref>Al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, P.9</ref>. It seems Abu Sufyan had committed some mistakes during the caliphate of 'Umar and was therefore warned by him.

===Abu Sufyan and the Caliphate of 'Uthman===

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"<ref>Al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, P.12</ref>.

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<ref>See: Al-Baladhuri, Ansab, Vol.4, P.13; Al-Tabari, Vol.1, P.2871</ref>.

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]].

 

 

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<ref>Ibn Sa'd, Vol.8, P.96</ref>.

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<references/>

 

* Ibn Athir, 'Ali b. Muhammad. ''Usd al-ghaba''. Cairo, 1280 AH.

* Ibn Hisham, 'Abd al-Malik. ''Al-Sira al-nabawiyya'' Ed. Ibrahim Abyari and Et. Al. Cairo, 1375 AH/1955.

* Ibn Qutayba, 'Abd Allah b. Muslim. ''Al-Ma'arif'', Ed. Thirwat 'Akasha. Cairo, 1960.

* Ibn Sa'd, Muhammad. ''Al-Tabaqat al-kubra''. Beirut: Dar Sadir, n.d.

* Al-Kalbi, Hisham b. Muhammad. ''Al-Jumhura fi al-nasab'' Ed. Naji Hasan. Beirut, 1407 AH/ 1986.

* Al-Waqidi, Muhammad b. 'Umar. ''Al-Maghazi'' Ed. Marsden Jones. London.

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