Utbah ibn Abi Sufyan ibn Harb (Arabic: عتبة بن أبي سفيان بن حرب, ʿUtba ibn Abī Sufyān ibn Ḥarb; died 665) was a member of the Umayyad ruling family and served as the Umayyad governor of Egypt in 664–665, during the reign of his brother, Caliph Mu'awiya I.
Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه of the Banu Umayya and Hind bint Utba ibn Rabi'a ibn Abd Shams رضي الله عنه. Under Caliph Sayyidina Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه (r. 634–644), he was charged with collecting the sadaqat (tribute) from the Kinanah tribe based around Makkah. Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه sought to use the money collected from them for trade. Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه fought alongside most of the Quraysh led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad's wife A'isha against Muhammad's cousin, Caliph Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه(r. 656–661), in the Battle of the Camel near Basra in 656. In the immediate aftermath of Caliph Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه's victory, Utba took refuge with A'isha رضي الله عنهand avoided giving allegiance to Caliph Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه.
Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه soon after managed to escape to Damascus, where his brother, Mu'awiya ruled as governor of Syria. In the alliance negotiations between Mu'awiya رضي الله عنه and Amr ibn al-As رضي الله عنه, Utbaرضي الله عنه pressed his brother to accept Amr's offer of receiving the lifetime governorship of Egypt in return for his support against Caliph Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه's. Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه and was later part of Mu'awiya's retinue during the Battle of Siffin against Caliph Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه in 657. Mu'awiya رضي الله عنه became caliph in 661 and appointed Utba to lead the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah in March 662. led the Hajj again in February 667 and January 668.
Following the death of Amr in 664, Utbah a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه was appointed governor of Egypt. He strengthened the Muslim Arab presence and elevated the political status of Alexandria by attaching 12,000 Arab troops to the city and constructing a Dar al-Imara (governor's palace). The Dar al-Imara was intended to serve as the residence of the Arab governor of the province, who was based in Fustat.
Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه was the first Arab governor of Egypt recorded to have visited Alexandria by Arabic sources, though Amr is implicitly said to have entered the city as governor, according to al-Baladhuri. Nonetheless, Utbah a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه remained concerned that troop numbers in Alexandria remained insufficient and vulnerable to the large, local Christian population there. Utbah was a son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb رضي الله عنه died in office in 665, and was succeeded by the muleteer of Muhammad, Uqba ibn Amir رضي الله عنه ..
Utba's son al-Walid رضي الله عنه went on to serve as governor of Medina under Mu'awiya and his son and successor, Caliph Yazid I (r. 680–683). A descendant of Utbah رضي الله عنه. Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Utbi was recorded as a source of information in the 9th-century historical work of al-Tabari.
WILLS OF UTBAH BIN ABI SUFYAN AND UMAIR BIN HABIB FOR MANNERS EDUCATORS.
The following is his will which is very important to educate the best generation of Muslims in the future.
From Sa'ad he said, "Utbah bin Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه bequeathed to Abduh Shomad, his son's educator: "The first thing in educating or improving the morals of my children should be to improve yourself. Because their spies are very interested in your shortcomings. Goodness on their side is what you do. And ugliness is what you leave behind.
He said, "Teach the children the Qur'an and don't make them bored, then they will leave you. Teach them hadiths and poems that bring wisdom. Do not leave the chapter of knowledge until they are really solid, because the words that are rushing to be delivered can confuse understanding.
Utbah bin Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه said, "Let them be afraid of me. Educate their manners to other than me. Be to them like a loving doctor, who does not rush to give medicine until they understand the disease. Forbid them from discussing women. Keep them busy with the stories of the wise. Teach them the manners of people full of manners. Ask me to help you educate them in manners, and I will certainly provide more. Don't relax because of the excuses that come from me. Because really I have given this responsibility to you.
(Ibn Abi Dunya – Kitab Al Qiyal)
From the will of 'Utbah bin Abi above, we educators of manners can take wisdom. Here are some lessons that can be cited to be applied in children's education:
- Improve yourself before teaching manners
- Be a pleasant educator
- Teach the Qur'an and hadith
- Teach poetry that is full of wisdom, but does not take away from worship
- Use sentences that the child understands
- Finish the lesson that has been started until you really understand
- Learn to solve your own problems
- Train children to choose and pay attention to other people who have good manners
- Encourage children to stay away from ikhtilat, especially after puberty.
- Be enthusiastic and avoid relaxing in educating.
The problem of this ikhtilat was also highlighted by Umair bin Habib on the dangers of this ikhtilat as conveyed by Ibnu Syaibah Abi Ja'far Alkhutami:
He said: That Umair bin Habib had a slave whom he later freed. He taught Umair's son the Qur'an and writing. (At that time) he mentioned women and the world in front of them. So Umair reprimanded,
"Ya Ziyad, indeed you have placed the devil's dome over my children's heads. So (now) remove it."
The seriousness of this ikhtilat problem, which is now considered normal, turns out we have to swallow the consequences. Even though the scholars have already provided a solution if the condition is to put men and women in the same classroom. Place the boys in front of the girls so that their eyes are more awake. No, this solution is not to 'lower' the intelligence of women. Indeed, by not displaying women in front of men, their honor is more protected. Precisely what is visible and valued is his intelligence, not his physicality.
Wallahu ‘alam bi shawab
