Banū Umayya
Sub-clan of Banū ʿAbd Shams, descended from Umayya ibn ʿAbd Shams ibn ʿAbd Manāf. The dominant clan of pre-Islamic Mecca alongside Banū Hāshim, the Umayyads under Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb opposed the Prophet ﷺ until the Conquest of Mecca (630 CE). Their later descendants — Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān, ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān etc. — founded the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE) and the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba (756-1031 CE).
Chief of the Quraysh opposition to the Prophet ﷺ until the Conquest of Mecca (8 AH / 630 CE), when he accepted Islam. Father of Muʿāwiya (founder of the Umayyad caliphate) and Umm Ḥabība (the Prophet's ﷺ wife — making him the Prophet's ﷺ father-in-law). Led the Quraysh forces at Uḥud and the Confederates at the Trench. After accepting Islam, fought as a Muslim general at Ḥunayn, Ṭāʾif, and Yarmūk (where he lost an eye).
Wife of Abū Sufyān, mother of Muʿāwiya, daughter of ʿUtba ibn Rabīʿa (killed at Badr). Famously hired the Abyssinian slave Waḥshī ibn Ḥarb to assassinate Ḥamza at Uḥud in revenge for her father. Accepted Islam at the Conquest of Mecca; the Prophet ﷺ told her: "Whoever enters the house of Abū Sufyān is safe."
Founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty (41-60 AH / 661-680 CE). Son of Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb. Companion of the Prophet ﷺ (accepted Islam at the Conquest of Mecca). Served as a scribe of revelation. Brother of Umm Ḥabība (Mother of the Believers). Governor of Sham under ʿUmar and ʿUthmān. After ʿUthmān's assassination, refused to give bayʿa to ʿAlī until vengeance was taken; fought ʿAlī at Ṣiffīn (37 AH); after al-Ḥasan's abdication in 41 AH became sole caliph and moved the capital from Kufa to Damascus. Established the dynastic principle by appointing his son Yazīd as successor — a controversial move that triggered the second Fitna.
Ninth wife of the Prophet ﷺ. Daughter of Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb (then still chief of Quraysh's opposition to Islam) — making her sister to Muʿāwiya, the future Umayyad caliph. Migrated with her first husband ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Jaḥsh to Abyssinia where he apostatised to Christianity and died. The Prophet ﷺ proposed to her through the Negus (al-Najāshī), who arranged the marriage and paid the dower in 6-7 AH. This marriage helped reconcile Quraysh's leading family with the Prophet.
Eponymous founder of Banū Umayya. Son of ʿAbd Shams ibn ʿAbd Manāf (twin of Hāshim). Famous for the proverbial rivalry with his uncle Hāshim over the leadership of Mecca — settled by lottery in Hāshim's favour.
Father of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān. From Banū Umayya. Died before his son's caliphate.
Third Rashidun caliph (23-35 AH / 644-656 CE). Wealthy merchant from Banū Umayya. Among the first to accept Islam (often listed as the 4th male after Abū Bakr, ʿAlī and Zayd ibn Ḥāritha). Married Ruqayya bint Muhammad ﷺ (the Prophet's ﷺ second daughter) and after her death married her sister Umm Kulthūm — earning the kunya Dhū al-Nūrayn ("Possessor of the Two Lights"). Two-time migrant (Abyssinia and Medina). Famous for funding the Muslim community: bought the well of Rūmā in Medina, financed the army of ʿUsra at Tabūk (sponsored 1,000 camels equipped). As caliph, oversaw the standardisation of the Qurʾān (the ʿUthmānic muṣḥaf — the basis of all extant copies today) using Ḥafṣa's manuscript. Assassinated by rebels who broke into his home during the First Fitna while he was reciting the Qurʾān. Genealogy meets the Prophet at ʿAbd Manāf (5 generations back) — closer to the Prophet than any other Rashidun caliph except ʿAlī.
Father of Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb. A pre-Islamic Quraysh notable.