Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

He was a Companion whose conversion to Islam was delayed. He was one of the prominent figures of Quraysh and the father-in-law of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married his daughter, Ramla bint Abi Sufyan, who is known as Umm Habiba. He is Abu Sufyan ibn Harb ibn Umayyah ibn Abd Shams, ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab, ibn Murrah ibn Ka‘b ibn Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr.

Abu Sufyan ibn Harb before Islam

Abu Sufyan's stance before embracing Islam was like that of the other elite members of Quraysh: they clung to the religion of their forefathers and refused to enter into Islam. In fact, they fought against Islam in its early stages. Abu Sufyan ibn Harb was the leader of the disbelievers' army in the Battle of Uhud and recruited a large number of fighters.

As the battle unfolded and Khalid ibn al-Walid flanked the archers’ mount, Abu Sufyan came to the battlefield and asked about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed them not to answer him. He then asked about Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him).

He also asked about al-Farooq, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), and they did not respond. He then said: "As for these, they have been killed. If they were alive, they would have answered". At that, Umar responded to him. Abu Sufyan said: "Indeed, war is a matter of turns; the Day of Uhud is in return for the Day of Badr. Exalt Hubal!"

Family of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

Father and Mother

Abu Sufyan’s father was Harb ibn Umayyah, one of the notable leaders of Quraysh and a prominent figure of Banu Umayyah. His mother was Safiyyah bint Hazn, a woman of high status and lineage in Meccan society.

Wives of Abu Sufyan

Abu Sufyan married several women. Among the most well-known was Hind bint Utbah, a strong and influential woman of Quraysh. She was the mother of his most famous children and played a significant role during the early Islamic era, including her eventual acceptance of Islam.

Children of Abu Sufyan

Abu Sufyan had several children, the most notable of whom include:

• Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan – A prominent Companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), founder of the Umayyad Caliphate, and its first caliph.
• Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan – A Companion and early Muslim commander who played a key role in the Muslim conquests in the Levant.
• Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (Umm Habiba) – A respected female Companion and one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Conversion of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) approached Mecca, al-Abbas went to him accompanied by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb to seek safety and protection for themselves. He took him along, riding a mule that belonged to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Every time they passed by a location where the Muslims were camped, they would ask about him, and when they saw the mule, they said:

"The uncle of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on his mule".

When they passed by Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he asked al-Abbas about him. When he realized it was Abu Sufyan, he said:

"Abu Sufyan, the enemy of Allah! Praise be to Allah who has enabled us to seize you without a treaty or covenant!" Then he went to inform the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked for permission to kill him.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed him that al-Abbas had granted him protection. Al-Abbas then began to converse with Umar ibn al-Khattab regarding the matter. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told them to bring him the following morning.

In the morning, he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said to him:

"Woe to you, O Abu Sufyan! Has the time not come for you to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah?"
He said: "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! How noble, patient, and kind you are! I thought that if there were any god besides Allah, he would have helped me in something".

He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 "Woe to you, O Abu Sufyan! Has the time not come for you to know that I am the Messenger of Allah?"
He replied:

"May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! How noble, patient, and kind you are! By Allah, there was still something in my heart about this until now".

Al-Abbas then said:

"Woe to you, O Abu Sufyan! Submit to Islam, and testify that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah before your neck is struck". So he testified the testimony of truth and embraced Islam. He (Abu Sufyan) said: "O Messenger of Allah!"

Thus, Abu Sufyan embraced Islam afterward.

Traits of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

Abu Sufyan was known for many traits, including:

• He was one of the shrewd and astute figures among the Arabs, known for his wisdom and sound judgment.
• He was of noble status, a brave and daring knight, which was clearly evident in the Battle of Hunayn, which he witnessed alongside the Muslims.
• He loved prestige and leadership, which is why the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) granted safety to anyone who entered his (Abu Sufyan’s) house.

The Death of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

Abu Sufyan ibn Harb was ten years older than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). After the Prophet’s passing, he lived for another twenty years as a believer in Allah and His Messenger. He received special respect from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) because he was the elder of Banu Umayyah. Before his death, he witnessed the appointment of his sons Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and Yazid to positions of leadership in Damascus.

Abu Sufyan ibn Harb died in Medina in the year 31 AH. Some said he died in the year 32 AH, and others said it was a year or two after that, or something similar.