أَبُو سُفْيَانَ بْنُ الْحَارِث
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith
Cousin and foster-brother of the Prophet ﷺ · Satirised him for years · Held firm at Hunayn
may Allah be pleased with him
Quraysh — Banu Hashim · Makkah and Madinah, up to and beyond the opening of Makkah in 8 AH
A first cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, and by report also his foster-brother from infancy, who spent roughly two decades composing verse against him. He accepted Islam only in the last stretch before Makkah fell, and at Hunayn was among the small number who stayed at the Prophet's ﷺ side when the rest of the army broke.
Known for
He was a first cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, and by report his foster-brother as well
His father, al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib, was a paternal uncle of the Prophet ﷺ. The biographical dictionaries also record that the two were nursed by the same woman in infancy, which made them foster-brothers.
He composed verse against the Prophet ﷺ for a long stretch of years
The biographical sources describe him as one of the poets Quraysh relied on against the Muslims through most of the Makkan period. No verse is reproduced here.
He accepted Islam only shortly before Makkah was opened
He met the Prophet ﷺ on the road, together with his cousin Abdullah ibn Umayyah, and was received after some hesitation on the Prophet's ﷺ part.
At Hunayn he was one of the few who stayed with the Prophet ﷺ when the army broke
The report names him as holding the Prophet's ﷺ mount alongside al-Abbas while most of the army had scattered.
Story
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
In full
Life & legacy
Cousin, foster-brother, opponent
Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith was a son of al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib, one of the Prophet's ﷺ paternal uncles, which made the two of them first cousins. The biographical dictionaries add that they were nursed by the same woman in infancy, and count him among the Prophet's ﷺ foster-brothers.
None of that closeness stopped him opposing the message once it began. He is remembered among the poets Quraysh used against the Muslims, and he kept at it for a long stretch of the Makkan years.
The road to Makkah, and afterwards
He came to the Prophet ﷺ shortly before Makkah was taken, together with his cousin Abdullah ibn Umayyah, seeking to accept Islam. What happened at that meeting is set out in the moment below.
Once he had accepted Islam he was present at Hunayn later the same year, where he was among the handful who held their ground when most of the army broke — a report carried in Sahih Muslim.
The sources say little in detail about his remaining years, and do not agree closely on when he died.
How the sources describe him
He was skilled with words, and turned that skill around completely
He did not run when the rest of the army did
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
Cousin and, by report, foster-brother. He satirised him for years, was received only after hesitation shortly before Makkah fell, and later held his ground beside him at Hunayn.
Spoke on his behalf when the Prophet ﷺ hesitated to receive him.
Full timeline
- The Makkan years
Composes verse against the Prophet ﷺ through the Makkan years
- Shortly before the opening of Makkah, 8 AH
Meets the Prophet ﷺ on the road and accepts Islam
- 8 AH
Holds his ground at Hunayn when the army breaks
- The sources do not agree approximate, reports differThe biographical dictionaries do not settle on a year or place for his death.
Dies
Part of
Sources & review
Draft content — undergoing reviewThis content was written for SahabaMate and has not yet been checked by a reviewer against the works below. Treat it as a starting point, not a citation.
Sahih Muslimصحيح مسلم
Hadith collection · Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Companions of the Prophet
Modern biography · Abdul Wahid Hamid
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
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