Muawiya Bin Abi Sufyan

Making History from Damascus

Muawiya Bin Abi Sufyan (608-680) was a member of “Banu Umayya”, a branch of the “Quraish” Arab tribe that ruled Mecca at the time of Prophet Mohammad.

Having opposed the Prophet and the religion of Islam initially, “Banu Umayya” eventually accepted the new religion and were instrumental in its spreading.


After the Arabs managed to take Damascus and expel the Byzantines out of Syria, Muawiya was appointed the ruler of Syria in the middle of the 7th century.

His wise rule earned him the respect and loyalty of the Christian Syrian population who later made up the core of the armies that went on to establish the Umayyad Empire.

Saidnaya Convent