An Analysis of the Historical Personality of Muawiyah from the perspective of Ibn Abil Hadid

Muawiyah is a controversial personality in the history of Islam. According to certain sources, he is considered one of the companions having a significant role in Islamic conquests and propagation of religion of Islam. In some other sources, he is not regarded as a companion based on their special definition. Rather, his embracing Islam is quite questionable. Muawiyah as the head and founder of the Umayyads has played an outstanding role in the history of Islam. Therefore it is not possible to neglect his political activity and performance in the Islamic territory for a period of forty two years. The present article seeks to study the personality of Muawiyah in doctrinal as well as political aspects, and the quality of his interaction with the Sunnah of the holy Prophet from the perspective of a Sunni scholar- Ibn Abil Hadid. The significance of the views of Ibn Abli Hadid lies in the fact that he has been familiar with the theological thoughts of the early days of Islam, being also the first and foremost in his age in knowing history and mastering historical reports.