Abu Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah
أَبُو أُمَيَّةَ بْنُ ٱلْمُغِيرَةAbū Umayya ibn al-Mughīra
Elder statesman of Quraysh
Biography
Abu Umayyah ibn al-Mughīra was the oldest man in Makkah at the time of the rebuilding of the Ka'bah. When the Quraysh were on the brink of bloodshed over who would place the Black Stone, the Banu Makhzūm had even sworn a blood oath to fight to the last man for the honour, it was Abu Umayyah who intervened. He proposed that all parties accept the judgement of whoever next entered the main entrance of the sanctuary, leaving the matter to Providence rather than swords. The Quraysh agreed. The one who entered was the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Significance
His proposal at the pivotal moment of the Ka'bah dispute was the opening through which the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم wisdom resolved a near-civil war among the Quraysh.