# Why did Muawiya make Yazid his heir?

*Muawiya names Yazid as heir, and the political adoption of Ziyad*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/iabl5vis3rg/s/9/
- Date: 2020-10-16 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Karbala & it's precursors | Mufti Abu Layth (29:43–32:04)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBL5ViS3Rg&t=1783s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/iabl5vis3rg/

**Topics:** Umayyads and Abbasids; Succession and the first civil wars

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Muawiya named Yazid heir while senior companions lived, and Mufti Abu Layth feels his recognition of Ziyad as Abu Sufyan's son was a political move.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says he feels that the recognition of Ziyad as Abu Sufyan's son was a political move.

**Evidence, his words at 31:36:** “And then somebody tells him that, you know, he's the alleged son of Abu Sufyan. He's your alleged brother. But really, I feel that this was a political move.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBL5ViS3Rg&t=1896s)

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth says that as Muawiya approached death he set up his son Yazid as heir, although great companions were still alive, among them Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Husayn and Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, none of them of Banu Umayya. He says he feels Muawiya must have believed that in the end it was Banu Umayya who called the shots, given their air of authority. Before that, he says, Muawiya brought in and consolidated members of his clan, among them Ziyad, an alleged son of Abu Sufyan never recognised in his lifetime, a formidable warrior from Ali's army who was captured and then declared Muawiya's brother, which he feels was a political move.

## Sources and names cited

- Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan
- Yazid ibn Mu'awiya
- Ziyad (ibn Abihi)
- Abu Sufyan
- Abdullah ibn Umar
- Ibn Abbas
- Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
- Husayn ibn Ali
- Banu Umayya

## Transcript (machine tier, 29:43–32:04)

[29:18] So, they become just they're really cemented. Now, you have to remember they have this history of feeling that we really were the the real chiefs. They do have this that they feel that look ultimately in the time you know, pre-Islam we were the you know, we were the daddies.

[29:42] They do have this kind of attitude. So, what happens as Muawiyah is to pass away? He says that I will I'm setting about an heir to the throne. The heir is none other than Yazid. That's his son. So, Muawiyah just has one son. And this is, you know, it's Yazid.

[30:13] So, and keeping in mind that they were great people alive. You know, they were great companions still alive. Abdullah ibn Umar is alive. Abdullah ibn Abbas is alive. Hussein, Hassan is alive. Abdullah ibn Zubair is alive. And many many companions are still alive at this time. So, all great people nominees. But the truth is they are not Bani Umayya.

[30:39] And to them, they did feel I I do accept that I feel that Muawiyah did have this thing that he felt that, you know, at the end of the day it was Bani Umayya who called the shots. I I feel that he must have felt like that. Uh because there was that kind of air of um that authoritarian kind of like throwing your weight around that Bani Umayya had.

[31:07] That they they felt it was their, you know, part of their own legacy. So, he gives this to his Yazid. But before he does that, this he brings in other I'd mention he brings another uh other members of his clan and consolidates them. But one of the people he brings in is called Ziyad. And I've mentioned this in my previous thing, who was an alleged son of Abu Sufyan.

[31:36] During Abu Sufyan's lifetime or prior to this, he was never recognized. And Ziyad used was an incredible fighter. And he was actually a a warrior from Sayyidna Ali's army. Who is captured by Muawiyah. And then somebody tells him that, you know, he's the alleged son of Abu Sufyan. He's your alleged brother. But really, I feel that this was a political move.

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment iaBL5ViS3Rg/s/9. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/iabl5vis3rg/s/9/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.