Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

**Sakhr ibn Harb ibn Umayya** (Arabic: صَخْرِ ٱبْن حَرْب ٱبْن أُمَيَّةَ, romanized: *Ṣakhr ibn Ḥarb ibn Umayya*; ), dem commonly know by ein  **Abu Sufyan** ( (Arabic: أَبُو سُفْيَانُ, romanized: *Abū Sufyān*), be a prominent opponent-turned companion den father-in-law of de Islamic prophet Muhammad. He be de poppie of de first Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya I (r. 661–680) den namesake of de Sufyanid line of Umayyad caliphs wich rule from 661 to 684.

Abu Sufyan be a leader den merchant from de Quraysh tribe of Mecca. During ein early career, he often lead trade caravans to Syria. He be among de main leaders of Meccan opposition to Muhammad, de prophet of Islam, wey dey command de Meccans at de battles of de Uhud den Trench insyd 625 den 627 CE. However, wen Muhammad entered Mecca insyd 630, he be among de first to submit wey dem give am a stake insyd de nascent Muslim state, dey play a role at de Battle of Hunayn den de subsequent destruction of de polytheistic sanctuary of al-Lat insyd Ta'if. After Muhammad ein death, he fi be appointed as de governor of Najran by Caliph Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) for an unspecified period. Abu Sufyan later play a supporting role insyd de Muslim army at de Battle of the Yarmuk against de Byzantines insyd Syria. Dem give ein sons Yazid den later Mu'awiya command roles insyd dat province wey de latter go on to establish de Umayyad Caliphate insyd 661.

## Life

### Early life
Abu Sufyan ein given name be Sakhr wey dem born am around  to Harb ibn Umayya, a leader of de Quraysh tribe of Mecca, den Safiyya bint Hazn ibn Bujayr.De family belong to de Banu Abd Shams clan of de Quraysh, de brother clan of de Banu Hashim, to wich de Islamic prophet Muhammad belong. Abu Sufyan be among de leaders of de Qurayshi opposition to Muhammad insyd de years wey dey precede de Hijrah (emigration of Muhammad den ein followers from Mecca to Medina insyd 622). A prominent financier den merchant, Abu Sufyan engage insyd trade insyd Syria, often dey head Meccan caravans to de region. He own land insyd de vicinity of Damascus.

### Opposition to Islam
Insyd 624, a caravan wey na Abu Sufyan dey lead back to Mecca from Syria face an assault by Muhammad, wey prompt am to send for aid. In response, a 1,000-strong Meccan army wey Abu Jahl ibn Hisham lead dem dispatch. Insyd de ensuing confrontation, Abu Sufyan, "by skillful den vigorous leadership elude de Muslims", according to de historian W. Montgomery Watt. However, under Abu Jahl ein command, de Meccans pursue a direct confrontation plus de Muslims, wich result in de rout of de Quraysh at de Battle of Badr. One of Abu Sufyan ein sons, Hanzala, dem kill at Badr den anoda son, Amr, dem take captive, buh dem release.

### Conversion to Islam
Though Abu Sufyan no participate insyd de truce negotiations at al-Hudaybiya insyd 628, he hold peace talks plus Muhammad insyd Medina wen allies of de Quraysh apparently break de truce. Information about de results of dese talks be unclear, buh Watt dey surmise say Abu Sufyan den Muhammad enter into an understanding of sorts. Wen Muhammad conquer Mecca insyd 630, Abu Sufyan play a key role insyd de city ein surrender, he be among de first Qurayshi leaders to submit den dey guarantee protection for ein partisans. He fight alongside de Muslims at de Battle of Hunayn against de Banu Thaqif of Ta'if, traditional rivals of Mecca, den de latter ein tribal backers from de Hawazin confederation. During dis battle, wich end insyd a decisive Muslim victory, he loose an eye, wey dem reward am a relatively high percentage of de spoils to reconcile ein heart. Secof ein past trade relations plus Ta'if, wer he sanso own property wey he get kinsmen, Abu Sufyan play a leading role insyd de dismantlement of de pagan sanctuary of al-Lat insyd de city.

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