Umayya ibn Abd Shams

Umayya ibn Abd Shams (Arabic: أمية بن عبد شمس‎) was the son of Abd Shams and is said to be the progenitor of the line of the Umayyad Caliphs. Ibn al-kalbi says that his name is derived from 'afa', a diminutive of the word for slave-girl[1] and instead of being the legitimate son of Abd Shams, Ibn al-Kalbi claimed that he was adopted by him,[2] The clan of Banu Umayya as well as the dynasty that ruled the Umayyad Caliphate and Caliphate of Córdoba are named after Umayya ibn Abd Shams.

Umayya succeeded Abd Shams as the qāʾid (wartime commander) of the Meccans. This position was likely an occasional political post whose holder oversaw the direction of Mecca's military affairs in times of war instead of an actual field command. This proved instructive as later Umayyads were known for possessing considerable political and military organizational skills.

His children were:

• Abu al-'As
• Harb
• Al-'As
• Safiyya