Mu’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (c. 602–680) was one of the most consequential political figures in early Islamic history and the founder of the Umayyad Caliphate. Rising from the powerful Quraysh tribe of Mecca, he became a skilled administrator and military leader during the formative decades of the Muslim state. His appointment as governor of Syria under the Rashidun caliphs provided the foundation for his eventual rise to power. Following the assassination of Ali ibn Abi Talib and a period of civil conflict, Mu’awiya established his authority as caliph in 661, ushering in a new era of Islamic imperial rule.

This volume examines Mu’awiya’s political career, administrative abilities, and role in transforming the early Muslim community into a more centralized empire. With Damascus as his capital, he strengthened provincial administration, developed diplomatic networks, and maintained military pressure along the Byzantine frontier. His pragmatic approach to governance helped consolidate Umayyad authority across an expanding territory. Yet his rise also remains inseparable from the First Fitna, the bitter conflict that divided the Muslim community, and the controversial decision to nominate his son Yazid as his successor, establishing a hereditary principle of succession that shaped subsequent Islamic political history.

Part of the Minds of the Muslim World series, this book explores Mu’awiya’s achievements, controversies, and enduring historical significance. His life offers a compelling perspective on the emergence of Islamic imperial government and the enduring debates over leadership, legitimacy, and political authority in Muslim history.