Umayya ibn Abd Shams (Arabic: أمية بن عبد شمس) is the progenitor of the line of the Umayyad caliphs. Anti-Umayyad polemic says that his name is derived from 'afa', a diminutive of the word for slave-girl,[2] and instead of being the legitimate son of Abd Shams, Ibn al-Kalbi claims that he was adopted by him.[3] However, Ibn al-Kalbi is acknowledged as unreliable reporter.[4]
Umayya ibn ʿAbd Shams
| |
|---|---|
| أمية بن عبد شمس | |
| Born | c. 515[1] |
| Died |
Makkah
|
| Known for | being the qāʾid (wartime commander) of the Meccans. |
| Children | Abu al-As ibn Umayya Harb ibn Umayya |
| Parent | Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf |
The clan of Banu Umayya as well as the dynasty that ruled the Umayyad Caliphate are named after Umayya ibn Abd Shams.
Umayya succeeded Abd Shams as the qāʾid (wartime commander) of the Meccans. This position was likely an occasional political post whose holder oversaw the direction of Mecca's military affairs in times of war instead of an actual field command. This proved instructive as later Umayyads were known for possessing considerable political and military organizational skills.
His children were:
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