Mu°awiya ibn abi Sufyan : from Arabia to Empire / R. Stephen Humphreys.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Humphreys, R. Stephen.

Contributor:

James A. Crawford Memorial Fund.

Series:

Makers of the Muslim world

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Muʻāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān, Caliph, -680.

Muʻāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān.

Caliphs--Biography.

Caliphs.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xii, 145 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oneworld, [2006]

Summary:

Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (c.602-680) was the fifth and most elusive of the early caliphs. Notoriously guarded about his thoughts, motives and emotions, Mu'awiya was universally known as a figure of immense political acumen. Beyond this, opinions are deeply divided. Throughout history, some have accused him of betraying Muhammad's model of ideal Muslim leadership whilst others credit him with reuniting an empire in disarray and transforming the Caliphate into a practicable form of government.

In light of these debates, Humphreys critically analyses the sources available, getting as close as possible to a historical account of the founder of the Umayyad dynasty. Combining examination of both his public image and personal qualities, this helpful introduction includes coverage of Mu'awiya's intriguing repartee with his governors, his fondness for earthly temptations, and his exceptional skills as ruler of a vast empire. Using an extensive range of sources, and containing a fascinating analysis of early Islamic society, it will prove of great interest to general readers and experts alike.

Contents:

1 The Problem of Mu'awiya 1

Mu'awiya in the eyes of later Muslims 3

How do we know what we claim to know: the sources for Mu'awiya's life 10

Mu'awiya's career: a chronological sketch 19

2 The First Three Decades (600-632) 23

The Meccan milieu 23

The politics of genealogy: why Mu'awiya's ancestry is important 28

The lineage of Mu'awiya 30

The Banu Umayya 31

The descendants, of 'Abd Manaf: the clans of 'Abd Shams and Hashim 33

3 Laying the Foundations of Power: Mu'awiya as Master of Syria (632-656) 43

Mu'awiya and the conquest of Syria 43

Mu'awiya becomes Governor 45

The war against Byzantium 50

The war at sea: creating the Muslim navy 53

The war in Anatolia and Armenia 58

Mu'awiya and the Arab tribes in Syria 60

4 The First Civil War and Mu'awiya's Rise to Power (656-661) 65

The revolt against 'Uthman 65

The aftermath: who can claim the right to rule? 71

The confrontation between 'Ali and Mu'awiya 77

5 Commander of the Faithful (661-680) 85

The war against Byzantium renewed 104

6 The Prince of our Disorder: Mu'awiya as a Symbol of Cultural Tension 115.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 137-142) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the James A. Crawford Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

1851684026

9781851684021

OCLC:

70173861