Islamic History

Mu‘āwiya was a man of ḥilm. This word is both complex and comprehensive and is not easily translated, but it is the best if not the only way of describing Mu‘āwiya's special ability as a leader. However extreme and intimidating the pressures were, as a man of ḥilm he kept absolute self-control and made decisive judgements. He took decisions after long and judicious thought, and whenever possible rejected a show of power as a solution to his problems. He looked squarely at a problem to see what forces were at work so that through the subtle readjustment of these forces, he could reach an ingenious compromise. Thus Mu‘āwiya was always quick to offer reconciliation and treated his fallen enemies with an unassuming generosity and magnanimity which saved their dignity and self-respect and gained him their loyalty. His mind was eminently pragmatic and political, characterized by restraint and self-control. Such a leader was exactly what was needed at this time. Mu‘āwiya's attempt to establish a stable regime was successful, at least until he died, but its failure after his death clearly indicates how intractable were the problems of this period. One cannot over-emphasize how precarious the situation was at the death of ‘Alī. The empire had just emerged from a civil war which had created more problems than it had solved.