Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (R.A)

Born: 602 AD Died: 680 AD.

Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) was one of the most respected Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) was born in the year 602 A. D. He was the son of the Quraish leader Sayyidna Abu Sufyan Bin Harb (RA). He belonged to the clan of Banu Umayya which was the second most powerful family in Mecca after the Banu Hashim to which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) belonged. When The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) started preaching Islam,the Banu Umayya opposed him vehemently. And since the pre-Islamic period there was rivalry between the houses of Banu Hashim and the BanuUmayya. Ultimately when Mecca was conquered by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 630 A. D. the family of Sayyidna Abu Sufyan Bin Harb (RA) accepted Islam. Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) had already accepted Islam in his heart before the conquest of Mecca but he did not disclose it to anybody. He hid his faith like Sayyidna Abbas Bin Abdul Muttalib(RA). After the conquest of Mecca, Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) served as Secretary to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and was the writer of the Revelation. Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) was the brother-in-law of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA)'s sister Ummul Momineen Sayyidah Umm Habiba Bint Abi Sufyan (RA) was married to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) was tall and was fair and handsome in appearance. He was eloquent in speech and was noted for his forbearance. He was a man of dignified bearing and good manners. He was a shrewd politician and diplomat par excellence. In winning wars Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) relied more on the use of the tongue than the use of the sword. He was loved and respected by the people of Syria where he served as the governor for 20 years. He was known to his people as " The Silver tongued Amir. " He was a very good mathematician and an excellent calligraphist. Sayyidna Umar Bin Al Khattab (RA)used to call him as " The Ceasar of the Arabs. "

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had said: " The first group of Muslims to make Naval Jihad will be the inhabitants of Heaven. " History bears witness to the fact that the first Naval Jihad in the history of Islam was organized and lead by Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA). During the Calipahte of Sayyidna Abu Bakr Bin Abu Quhafa (RA) and Sayyidna Umar Bin Al Khattab (RA) Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) served in the army and fought under the command of Sayyidna Khalid Bin Al Waleed (RA), Sayyidna Abu Ubaida Bin Al Jarrah (RA) and Sayyidna Yazeed Bin Abi Sufyan (RA). After the death of Sayyidna Yazeed Bin Abi Sufyan (RA), Sayyidna Umar Bin Al Khattab (RA) appointed Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) as the Governor of Syria. When Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) became the Calpih, he confimed Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) as the Governor of Syria and added some more territories to his jurisdiction. There were some differences of opinion between Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) and Sayyidna Abu Zar Al Ghifari (RA) because Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) used to live a rich and lavish life whereas Sayyidna Abu Zar Al Ghifari (RA) stood for simplicity and austere living. That created some tension between the two Companions. Alsothere were some differences between Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) and Sayyidna Adi Bin Hatim (RA) because Sayyidna Adi Bin Hatim(RA) had sided with Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) in the Battle of Siffin. In the year 656 A. D. when the rebels had surrounded Madinah, Sayyidna  Uthman Bin Affan (RA) held a council with the Governors of the various Provinces. Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) gave Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) 3 options. First option was he said that Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) should come to Syria with him. Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) rejected this option and said that he could not leave the city of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Second option was that Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) should let Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) send the Syrian troops to Madina to protect him. Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) said that he did not want to be the cause of a civil war.

At this, Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) said that in that case if Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) was killed at least he should be given the right and authority to take the Qisas of his blood. Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) agreed to this option. And so in the year 656 A.D. when Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA) was matyred, Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) raised the cry of Qisas of Sayyidna Uthman Bin Affan (RA). The Battle of Siffin which was fought between Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) and Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) was because of the same reason.

The differences between Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) and Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) were political in nature and there was no personal enemity between the two great Companions. Some people say that Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) hated Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) and was jealous of him. This is absolutely false and there is no truth in this. Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) said that Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) is his brother as both of them believe in the same God, the same Prophet and their faith is also one. But unfortunately, this glorius Companion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has been criticized vehemently in some circles because of his differences with Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA). According to the historians, Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan (RA) usurped the Caliphate from Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA).

Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) also loved an respected Sayyidna Hasan (RA) and Sayyidna Husain (RA) very much.

One of the qualities of Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) was that he was the very personification of Patience. Once after becoming the Caliph Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) was sitting in his court along with all his eminent courtiers which included Companions like Sayyidna Amr Bin Al Aas (RA) and Sayyidna Mugheerah Bin Shuba (RA). A man came in the court ans started abusing Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) and giving him badwords, all the courtiers were shocked at such indecent behaviour but none of them spoke a word. After the man went away, Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) was asked why he was silent and why didnt he order them to punish the man, the answer that Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) gave at that time was glorious, he said " If my Patience would have failed in front of such abuses then I would have been most ashamed of myself. ".

Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) had once said after the Battle of Siffin : " Do not speak evil about Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) because if he were to die, our lives would become so insecure that you will see necks flying from the bodies everywhere."
Sayyidna Abdullah Bin Abbas (RA) once said: " Leave Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) alone because he is a person who has enjoyed the Companionship of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Once Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) received a letter from the Ceaser of Rome, it said: I know that your brother Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) has caused you a lot of trouble so if you wish I will send a large Roman army to help you against him." In reply to this letter Sayyidna Amir Muawiyah (RA) wrote: " O Ceaser dont try to take advantage of the differences between me and Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA). I know that you want to fight the Muslims but beware if you send an army againg us, the first person to come out from the army of Sayyidna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) to behead you will be Muawiyah."

May Allah be pleased with him and all other Companions who are the pillars of Islam.