He made an agreement with these commanders that after...

He made an agreement with these commanders that after achieving victory Abū-`Ubaydah would be the governor of Hims, Shurahbil ibn Hasnah of Jordan, `Amr ibn al-`As and `Alqamah ibn Majzaz of Palestine and Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan of Damascus. Then all the four contingents took different routes and met at Yarmūk. The Muslims were confronted with a huge Roman army. They sent word to Abū-Bakr to send more men. He sent Khalid ibn al-Walid with 2,000 men from Iraq to Yarmūk.

Now the total force available was 46,000 men. In Yazid’s contingent Suhayl ibn `Amr and some other sheikhs were present as advisers. The standard of the contingent was in the hands of Mu`awiyah. While this campaign was in progress, Abū-Bakr died on 21 Jumada II, 13 H. And the caliphate was transferred to `Umar. During his reign, in the month of Rajab 14 H, after a siege of 6 months Damascus was conquered and Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan was appointed the governor.

In 18 H Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan died of a plague and `Umar appointed his brother Mu`awiyah, who was present at Damascus, in his place. After the death of `Umar in 23 H when `Uthman became the caliph, he gave Mu`awiyah the charge of Jordan, Palestine, Hims and Qinnasrin in addition to Damascus. The foundation for the influence that Mu`awiyah laid, `Umar gave it a practical shape and `Uthman strengthened it.

It is surprising that the of the Prophet (a.s), whose services had been invaluable, were totally neglected and those who were open enemies of Islam, opponents of Banū-Hashim and always opposed the Prophet (a.s), were supported and promoted by the three caliphs. `Umar not only gifted the governorate of Damascus to Mu`awiyah but he laid out the road map for his influence and perpetuation.

He instructed people that when they noticed the changing environment, they must migrate to Damascus and gather around Mu`awiyah. Therefore, Ibn Hajar al-Makki writes: “`Umar used to encourage people to follow Mu`awiyah and used to prepare them that when there was division among the people, they must migrate and go to Mu`awiyah in Syria.”[1] This fact does not need any proof that in the hearts of Banū-Umayyah there was always enmity and hatred for Banū-Hashim.

In addition to this ancestral [1] Tathīr al-Jinān, Page 19 maternal grandfather `Utbah, brother Hanzalah and uncle al-Walid ibn `Utbah. It was the nature of the Arabs that they did not easily forget old enmities.