Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni

Al-Ḥuṣayn ibn Numayr al-Sakūnī (died 5/6 August 686) was a leading general of the early Umayyad Caliphate, from the Sakun subtribe of the Kinda.

Biography A man of his name is recorded as being responsible for the pacification of Hadhramaut during the Ridda Wars in 632, but most scholars reject that he is the same person as the Umayyad general. Husayn is first securely attested at the Battle of Siffin in 657, where he fought for the Umayyad governor of Syria, Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan. Back in Syria, he played an important role in securing the election of the Umayyad elder, Marwan ibn al-Hakam, as caliph, instead of Yazid's young son Khalid. The leading Umayyad general, Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, then sent him to the Jazira, where, on 6 January 685, he defeated the Shi'a Tawwabin movement at the Battle of Ayn al-Warda. Husayn also participated in the attempted reconquest of Iraq under Ibn Ziyad, and like him, fell at the Battle of Khazir on 5 or 6 August 686.

His son, Yazid ibn Husayn, also fought for the Umayyads in the Second Fitna and served as the governor of Jund Hims for Umar II ( 717–720), while his grandson Mu'awiya also served as governor of Hims for Yazid III ( 743–744), but went over to Marwan II ( 744–750) during the Third Fitna.