The connection between

Christians and Umayyad Dynasty

The Umayyad dynasty also had links with the Christians and used to consult them in their actions. The best example of the link between the Christians and the Umayyad Dynasty is Mu’awiyah’s personal relations with them.

           The relation between Mu’awiyah and the Christians was so deep and firm that it wasn’t limited to their access and regular visits to his palace, but Mu’awiyah himself took advices from the Christians, and apart from the administrative positions that were given to them, he used to consult them and implement their thoughts and viewpoints in the referred issue. 

          The issue of Mu’awiyah’s links with the Christians and the fact that he took their advices are evident in the pages of history.

          It is obvious that such a behavior and conduct is antagonistic to the administrative code of conduct of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

          Prophet (p.b.u.h.) never sat in company of the Christians or other ‘People of the Books’, so it is far-fetched for him to seek advices from them or to implement their suggestions and thoughts on the people. Although Mu’awiyah, who had forcefully acquired the rule and was the usurper of the position of Caliphate of Prophet (p.b.u.h.), his actions did not match those of the Holy Prophet. Moreover, he used to seek advices from the enemies of Islam and implement their ideas in order to harm the religion and weaken its roots.

           In the book ‘Umawiyan, nukhusteen doodmaan e hukoomatgar dar Islam’, it is mentioned that:

          As per the indications in the narrations and reports, it seems likely that he respected the culture and traditions of the Christians, who constitute the larger part of the population in most of the cities of Syria even today. One of his ministers and advisers was Sarjawn (Sergios), who was the member of a Greek Orthodox family which served in the Royal Roman administration of Syria, and was the father of ‘Saint John’ (died in 748 A.D.) who was a renowned Orthodox scholar of Syria.[1]