Abu-Sufyan ibn Affan (1 September 560-1 August 650) was the leader of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. He was initially the leader of those who fought against Muhammad, defeating him at the Battle of Uhud; however, he later converted to Islam.
Biography[]
Abu Sufyan was born on 1 September 650, the son of Affan ibn Umayyah. He was the chief of the Banu Abd-Shams clan of the Quraysh and became the leader of the pagan Quraysh, and he led opposition to the rise of Islam under Muhammad. Abu Sufyan confiscated the belongings that Muhammad and his followers left behind when they left Mecca for Medina, but Muhammad and his followers raided his caravans. On 13 March 624 an army of 300 Muslims defeated 1,000 Quraysh at the Battle of Badr, but in 625 Abu Sufyan soundly defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Uhud. This disaster nearly killed Muhammad, but the Muslims came back and won the Battle of the Trench in 627. In 630, Mecca was conquered by the Muslims, and Abu Sufyan converted to Islam. He served as one of Muhammad's commanders, losing an eye at the Siege of Taif in 630 and losing his other eye at the Battle of Yarmuk in 636. In 650, he died at the age of 90, and his brother Uthman (now the Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate) led a prayer for him.
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