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Mu'awiya: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "'''Mu'awiya''' ibn Abi Sufyan (d. 680) was the founder and first caliph of Umayyad dynasty (661-680 C.E.). Mu'awiya's father, Sakhr ibn Harb ibn Umayyah—popularly known...") |
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In 634 the first caliph of Islam, Abu Bakr, sent Mu'awiya to Syria, where he was appointed as a commander of one division of the army led by his brother, Yazid, against the Byzantines. On Yazid's death in 639, the second caliph, 'Umar, appointed him as commander of the army, collector of taxes, and governor of Damascus. | In 634 the first caliph of Islam, Abu Bakr, sent Mu'awiya to Syria, where he was appointed as a commander of one division of the army led by his brother, Yazid, against the Byzantines. On Yazid's death in 639, the second caliph, 'Umar, appointed him as commander of the army, collector of taxes, and governor of Damascus. | ||
The third caliph, 'Uthman, confirmed Mu'awiya's appointment as governor of Syria, which became an important front for the defense of the caliphate against the Byzantines. Mu'awiya established garrisons all along the coast and for the first time Muslims engaged in naval warfare. | The third caliph, 'Uthman, confirmed Mu'awiya's appointment as governor of Syria, which became an important front for the defense of the caliphate against the Byzantines. Mu'awiya established garrisons all along the coast and for the first time Muslims engaged in naval warfare. | ||
When 'Uthman was besieged in Medina by dissidents who demanded the instatement of [[Ali]] as caliph, he requested assistance from Mu'awiya. As soon as he assumed the caliphate after the assassination of Uthman, 'Ali sought to dismiss Mu'awiya, who refused to pay allegiance to him until Uthman's murderers had been punished. | When 'Uthman was besieged in Medina by dissidents who demanded the instatement of [[Ali|'Ali]] as caliph, he requested assistance from Mu'awiya. As soon as he assumed the caliphate after the assassination of Uthman, 'Ali sought to dismiss Mu'awiya, who refused to pay allegiance to him until Uthman's murderers had been punished. | ||
===The Battle of Siffin=== | ===The Battle of Siffin=== | ||
The deadlock between 'Ali and Muawiya led to the [https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-the-quran/siffin-battle-of-EQSIM_00388 Battle of Siffin] in 657 c.e. The battle was brought to an end when Mu'awiya, whose army was on the verge of defeat, proposed that the conflict be resolved through negotiation. The two parties agreed to arbitration (tahkim). In fact, Muawiya was able to avoid defeat by adopting the clever ruse of placing pages of the Koran on his soldiers' lances, which signified that his quarrel with Ali should be settled not through fighting but by consulting the book of God. | The deadlock between 'Ali and Muawiya led to the [https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-the-quran/siffin-battle-of-EQSIM_00388 Battle of Siffin] in 657 c.e. The battle was brought to an end when Mu'awiya, whose army was on the verge of defeat, proposed that the conflict be resolved through negotiation. The two parties agreed to arbitration (tahkim). In fact, Muawiya was able to avoid defeat by adopting the clever ruse of placing pages of the Koran on his soldiers' lances, which signified that his quarrel with Ali should be settled not through fighting but by consulting the book of God. | ||
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While Mu'awiya has been vilified by Shi’a throughout Muslim history, Sunni Muslims respect his political sagacity, justice, impartiality, forbearance, and resolution of character. It is said that he granted his subjects free access to him as well as freedom of expression. He was reputed for his oratory and his ability to turn adversaries into allies. | While Mu'awiya has been vilified by Shi’a throughout Muslim history, Sunni Muslims respect his political sagacity, justice, impartiality, forbearance, and resolution of character. It is said that he granted his subjects free access to him as well as freedom of expression. He was reputed for his oratory and his ability to turn adversaries into allies. | ||
==BIBLIOGRAPHY== | ==BIBLIOGRAPHY== | ||
* Hawting, G. R. The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad | |||
* Caliphate AD 661–750. London and New York: | *Hawting, G. R. The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad | ||
* Routledge, 2000. | *Caliphate AD 661–750. London and New York: | ||
* Ibn Hisham, Abd al-Malik. The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishag's Sirat Rasul Allah. Introduction and notes by A. Guillaume. Karachi, Pakistan, and New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. | *Routledge, 2000. | ||
* Tabari, al-. Between Civil Wars: The Caliphate of Mu'awiyah. | *Ibn Hisham, Abd al-Malik. The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishag's Sirat Rasul Allah. Introduction and notes by A. Guillaume. Karachi, Pakistan, and New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. | ||
* Translated and annotated by Michael G. Morony. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1987. | *Tabari, al-. Between Civil Wars: The Caliphate of Mu'awiyah. | ||
*Translated and annotated by Michael G. Morony. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1987. | |||
==Source== | ==Source== | ||
* Suleman Dangor (2004). Encyclopedia of Islam and Muslim World. Edited by Richard C. Martin. USA: Macmillan; P: 477. ISBN 0-02-865912-0 | |||
*Suleman Dangor (2004). Encyclopedia of Islam and Muslim World. Edited by Richard C. Martin. USA: Macmillan; P: 477. ISBN 0-02-865912-0 | |||
[[Category: Umayyad Dynasty]] | [[Category: Umayyad Dynasty]] | ||
[[Category: Individuals]] | [[Category: Individuals]] | ||
[[Category: Historical Character]] | [[Category: Historical Character]] | ||