Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

Abu Sufyan ibn Harb ibn Umayyah was among the most prominent leaders of Quraysh and one of the wealthiest merchants of Makkah. Before his conversion, he led much of the opposition to the Prophet and the Muslim community. He commanded or helped organise the Quraysh forces at the battles of Uhud and al-Khandaq, and he led the trade caravan whose interception precipitated the Battle of Badr. Despite his opposition, Abu Sufyan demonstrated a degree of honesty even before his Islam. When the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius summoned him in Syria to inquire about the Prophet, Abu Sufyan — though still a disbeliever — gave a largely truthful account of the Prophet's character, lineage, and message, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. Heraclius concluded from his testimony that the Prophet was indeed a true messenger. On the eve of the conquest of Makkah in Ramadan 8 AH, Abu Sufyan came out to survey the Muslim army and was met by al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who brought him to the Prophet. After witnessing the vast Muslim forces, Abu Sufyan accepted Islam. The Prophet, honouring his standing among Quraysh, proclaimed: 'Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe, whoever shuts his door upon himself is safe, and whoever enters the Sacred Mosque is safe.' This proclamation helped secure a largely peaceful conquest. After his conversion, Abu Sufyan participated in the battles of Hunayn and the siege of Ta'if alongside the Prophet. He lost an eye at the siege of Ta'if fighting for Islam. He remained committed to the Muslim cause and later participated in the campaigns in Syria during the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar. He died in Madinah in approximately 31 AH at an advanced age.