Sakhr ibn Harb (Arabic: صخر بن حرب), more commonly known as Abu Sufyan (560-650), was a leading man of the Quraish of Mecca. He was a staunch opponent of the Arabian prophet Muhammad before accepting Islam later in his life, although Shia Muslims argue that Abu Sufyan was a hypocrite, who converted only after Muslims had conquered Mecca and who managed to infiltrate the Muslim ranks and be included among the Muslim community, so as to keep power in his family instead of the family of the prophets'. This also raised controversy over the sincerity of his conversion. [1]
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1. From Hind/Hinda daughter of 'Utbah ibn Rabī'ah:
Son: Mu'āwiyah I
Son: Yazīd
Sons: Mu'āwiyah II, Khālid
Daughter: 'Ātikah (married to 'Abd al-Mālik ibn Marwān)
2. From Ṣāfiyah d. Abu al-'Āṣ:
Daughter: Ramlah (Umm Ḥabībah)(Married to 'Ubayd-allah ibn Jaḥsh, followed by Muhammad after 'Ubayd-allah renounced Islam in Abyssinia)
Daughter: Ḥabībah d. Jaḥsh
3. From the daughter of Abu 'Amr ibn 'Umaiyah:
Son: 'Amr (Captive in the Battle of Badr)
4. 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)
Abu Sufyan was the chieftain of the Banu Abd-Shams clan of the Quraish tribe, which made him one of the most powerful and hated men 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.
When several Muslims emigrated to Abyssinia to escape harassment in Mecca, Abu Sufyan's daughter Ramlah was among those emigrating to Abyssinia for refuge.
After Muhammad had migrated to Medina in 622, the Quraish confiscated the belongings they had left behind. Some scholars have suggested that the Muslims attacked several of the Quraish's caravans coming from Syria to Mecca. However, most authorities, after studying the details of this particular situation, believe otherwise. During that period of time, caravans were accompanied by a military escort -- varying numbers.
Due to the hospitality Muhammad received in Medina, the Meccans feared the growing influence of the Muslims and thus were contriving plans to eliminate the religion of Islam. The Muslim's of Medina were aware of such activities, and began to make preparations for self-defense.[2].
In 624, Abu Sufyan was the appointed leader of a caravan that was escorted by a force of around 400 or 500 soldiers. In which, a Muslim force of 300 poorly armed men moved to intercept them; it can be seen as acting in self-defense as this was the first measure of military action, after having faced years of brutal persecution under the hands of the Meccan tribes. 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 would result in the Battle of Badr, which 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 [2].
Subsequently Abu Sufyan was the military leader in the Meccan campaigns against Medina, such as the Battle of Uhud in 625 and the Battle of the Trench in 627, but 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.
When the armistice was violated in 630 by allies of the Quraish, Muhammad moved towards conquering Mecca. 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.
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.[3]
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.[4].
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 war. He was naqeeb of war from muslim army. He fought under command of his son Yazid bin Abi Sufyan.[5][6]
Abu Sufyan died at the age of ninety in 650 at Madina. His kinsman Uthman Ibn Affan, who had become the third Caliph in 644 led the prayer over his grave.
Abu Sufyan's son Mu'awiyah 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 waged a series of battles against Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Mu'awiyah's son, Yazid, succeeded him as caliph. Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah commanded the murder of Husayn ibn Ali because the latter refused to pledge allegiance to him.
Shi'i Muslims view Abu Sufyan as a hypocrite, who converted only after Muslims had conquered Mecca and who managed to infiltrate the Muslim ranks and be included among the Muslim community. [7]
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