Mu'awiya ibn abi Sufyan: From Arabia to Empire

Makers of the Muslim World

by Stephen Humphreys

In this accessible study, Stephen Humphreys introduces the most elusive of the early caliphs, Mu'awiya ibn abi Sufyan (602-680). Throughout history, some have accused him of being the first caliph to diverge from Muhammed's model of ideal Muslim leadership whilst others credit him with uniting an empire in disarray and transforming the Caliphate into a practicable form of government. In light of this, Humphreys critically analyses his sources, and seeks to get as close as possible to a historical account of the great man.

Genres: History, Islam, Religion, Nonfiction, Middle East, Biography

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2006

Reviews

[Abu Kamdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the topic, nothing too deep, but a good read for people looking for an introductory resource on King Muawiyah I (RA).

[Arbaz Fahad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historian Stephen Humphrey's pieces together narratives describing the life of a person, who's often contested in history as a usurper, a political genius and someone who'd always play his cards close to his chest : Muawiya Ibn Abi Sufyan.

Muawiya was the brother in law of the Prophet and one of the selected scribes who used to record divine revelations for him. His penchant for statesmanship was put to use early, when he was appointed as the governor of Syria during the Caliphate of Umar ( A post which he held onto untill Umar's martyrdom.) The fact that he held onto his position, without being deposed says a lot about the political astuteness of Muawiya, given that Umar used to depose governors at their slightest slips and even senior companions such as Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas were deposed from governorship in Umar's era.

Humprey argues that Muawiya might not have been the ideal Muslim, but there's little doubt that he was a political genius at a moment when nothing less could've saved the islamic empire from dissolution.

Muawiya has been often criticised for nominating his son Yazid as the next Caliph, thereby initiating the policy of hereditary succession to the post of Caliphate. Humprey argues, that since the early caliphs had left no clear directives regarding the rules of succession ( Abu Bakr was selected impromtly at a gathering, Umar was nominated by Abu Bakr, Uthman was chosen through a commitee of six members chosen by Umar and Ali was chosen as Caliph by those who murdered Uthman), by the end of Muawiyah's tenure, it became apparent that the only way to maintain the integrity of the empire and prevent it from falling into utter chaos, was to adopt the means of hereditary succession. Humprey contends that given the alternatives for the coveted post at that time (Hussain bin Ali and Abdullah bin Zubair), the decision for Muawiya was between his son Yazid and anarchy, and he chose the former.


It is extremely difficult to draw an exact caricature of Muawiyah's personality and his religious standing, the reason being that we really don't know much about him, which is queer, for a leader who ruled over the Islamic empire for almost twenty years.

Islamic sources tend to shift between varying extremes regarding Muawiya. Some traditions label him as a competent jurist, a guide, a capable leader, trustworthy and someone who was liable to forgiveness in this world and the hearafter. Other traditions record that he was cursed, liable to be killed if he assumed the leadership of the community, perenially hungry for food and dwelling in a casket of fire in the lowest level of hell.

It is such contrasting views that have always defined Muawiya. It can be surmised with undeniable certainty, that the truth about him lies somewhere in between the two extremes.

Muawiya was a person renowned for his Hilm - an Arabic word which is best understood as the ability to maintain one's composure in the face of provocation. As a neutral observer, it seems that his actions stemmed from the political logic of the changing situations he and his contemporaries found themselves in. On the other hand, he was guilty of breaching the Hasan-Muawiya treaty and of instutionalising the practice of cursing Ali and other members of the Ahl - Bayt.

At the end, it would suffice to mention a tradition which would exhibit Muawiyah's assesment regarding his own self :

"Al-Miswar ibn Makhrama having come before Mu‘awiya, the latter said to him: ‘I am told that you have spoken ill of me. What cause do you have to reprove me? Do you not know that I combat the enemies of the Muslims, give prosperity to the believers, take on the burden of their affairs and give gifts to those among them who come to me?’. ‘Yes, by God’, answered al-Miswar. Then Mu‘awiya said, ‘I adjure you by God to tell me, 'Have you commited any sins?' Al-Miswar said, ‘Of course I have’. Then Mu‘awiya continued, ‘Then why do you have any better right than I to hope for God’s forgiveness?’. ‘May God forgive you, Commander of the Faithful’, exclaimed al-Miswar."

[Baladhuri, Ansab- LDV, no. 88, pp. 31–2]

[Muawiyah Yousuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muawiyah has always been a complex figure in Islamic history. The Shia perspective often portrays him as one of the most evil men to walk the earth, while the Sunni viewpoint tends to be more balanced, acknowledging his positive qualities alongside his flaws.

This book sets aside theological debates and focuses on Muawiyah, the first Umayyad Caliph, from a historical perspective. The author utilizes a variety of sources, including historical artifacts, architecture, inscriptions, and both Islamic and non-Islamic texts, to present a scholarly image of Muawiyah.

The book neither aligns with Shia nor Sunni views but instead offers a different perspective, presenting Muawiyah as a secular savior of the Caliphate. Although he is criticized for passing the caliphate to his son, the author explains why this decision might have seemed justified from Muawiyah's standpoint.

Why is Muawiyah considered a savior? Two generations later, another civil war broke out, during which Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan having to focus on Abdullah Ibn Zubayr, his opponent for the caliphate, and not wanting a war on two fronts, signed a humiliating treaty with the Romans to keep the peace. In comparison, Muawiyah demonstrated exceptional political skill in managing the schismatic environment he inherited. Under his reign, the first naval expedition took place, establishing the Caliphate's first navy. Additionally, he effectively managed the ahl al-dhimma (protected non-Muslim communities) in Syria, where the majority of subjects were Christians, ensuring stability and integration in the Umayyad power base. He, a muslim, an Arab from the deserts, made the Syrian Christian populace LOYAL to him. Let me mention it again, he made the Syrians, a MAJORITY christian population loyal to him. Why am I stressing on this fact? You've got to be one hell of a politician to make that possible, and boy, was he one.

Then again, one could come up with the arguement that the reason he "inherited" such an empire filled with strife was that, he was after all one amongst the many reasons for the instability post Uthman's assassination.

One can't help but wonder, for a person who championed justice for the Khalifa Uthman's murder, where was he and his Syrian army during the battle of the camel?
Where was he and his Syrian army when Uthman was besieged (Hagiographical accounts say that the Khalifa Uthman told him not to come, Anti-Umayyad accounts say he purposely delayed mobilizing his army, who to believe?) ? He was playing the long, silent, sly game, and he won. A very shrewd politician and excellent statesman! As I mentioned earlier, the book is to be read strictly with historical and secular lens, No theological and moralistic view otherwise we're left with an even more complicated, contradictory, complex picture of Muawiya.

I'm not a big fan of the makers of the Muslim world series, given the same old Orientalist trope that is used. For example in Chase F. Robinsons book on Abd al Malik Ibn Marwan, he makes it clear he doesn't have much to work on, then why bother writing a biographical work on him? Not to forget the whole argument that the Qur'an was Canonized during Abd al Malik's reign, etc. It is such Nonsensical baloney that fuels those so called critics out there who would like to discredit the authenticity of Islam. But for this book credit has to be given. Humphreys has been very balanced in his stance.

[Syed Nouman Hasany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike most conventional biographies on the subject, the author borrows from a fair number of non-Islamic Syriac sources making this book a unique and recommended reading experience.

[Hassan Farooqi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scholarly and well argued account of the rise and rule of Islam’s fifth caliph. Humphreys does an excellent job outlining the life of Muawiyah based on traditional sources but injects his historical analysis and critique when necessary. Nonetheless, the portrait is one that most who know the subject would be familiar with; that of a politically astute and prudent man who steadily consolidated power in Syria and eventually emerged as the victor in Islam’s first civil war- the details of which are not discussed as much as the political motives and strategies of the parties involved. The author argues that it was Muawiyah’s political talents that allowed the consolidation and continuity of the Caliphate to survive and expand. Policies such as the focus on naval raids against Byzantine Constantinople, selection of governors based on mutual self interest and firm loyalty, and patronizing the Syrian tribal elements on which his rule rested on are discussed and situated in their historical contexts. Overall, its an excellent introduction to the subject.

[Melis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her zaman ilgi duyduğum topluluklardan olan Emeviler in İspanya da kurulduğu ve sadece orda var olan Müslüman toplumlar olduğunu düşünüyordum. Ve her zaman islamın orada nasıl ortaya çıktığı vs. İlgimi çekiyordu. Sonunda öğrendim:) ve sandığımdan çok farklıymış..
Suriye Temelli Muaviye öncülüğünde ortaya çıkan ve daha sonra yayılan bu devlete ilişkin bilgi edindiğim merakını gideren bir kitap oldu. Akademik yazınla beraber günlük okuma içinde ideal bir kitap, tavsiye ederim.

[Pinar G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarih araştırmasını hem akademik hem bu kadar kolay anlaşılan hem de pop-tarihe dökmeden anlatmak budur. Muaviye’nin olmayan ve çok sonrları ortaya çıkan kaynaklara göre biyografisi çok ilgi çekici. Bize anlatılan savaş tarihinde hiç öğrenmediğimiz politik ve kültürel detaylar var. Din tarihinde bile savaş tarihi anlattıkları için bizim bilgiler hep kof.

[Armin Hashemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

معاویه حاکمی نابغه و بسیار بخشنده بوده که توانست خلافت را به سلطنت تبدیل کند. منابع مسیحی او را حاکمی بسیار ممتاز می‌دانند که آنها را در سرزمین خودشان آزاد گذاشته است. مدارا و احترام معاویه نسبت به سایر ادیان باعث شده که منابع اسلامی آن را حاکمی بی‌دین بدانند. نويسنده سعی کرده است که با انتخاب منابعی که‌ به‌ عباسیان و شيعيان گرایش نداشته‌اند، تصویری دقیقتری از معاویه ارائه دهد.

[Abu · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it contains so great information, it's let down by the author using Shiite lying sources, which are well known to be fake. However, a student of history can clearly see through these fake stories and reports.

[Raheem Syed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book is good for people who are new to Islamic History.

[عبد الله القصير · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب مختصر عن معاوية رضي الله عنه، المؤلف لم يقل الكثير عنه ولم يأتي بجديد حتى لغير المتخصص

[Mohammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

بخش هایی از کتاب را از متن انگلیسی خواندم.

[Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I disagree with so many points in which the author argued, I think, this book is good as an introduction to the life of this genius, Mu'awiya RA.