the caliphs of umayyad reign

The Caliphs of Umayyad reign

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Muawiyah I

Reign 661 – 680

Full name Muˁāwīya ibn ˁAbī Sufyān

Born 602

Died May 6, 680

Predecessor Ali ibn Abi Talib

Successor Yazid I

Dynasty Umayyad

Father Abu Sufyan ibn Harb

Mother Hind bint Utbah

Muawiyah I (Arabic: أبيسفيان بن ;(Transliteration: Muˁāwīya ibn ˁAbī Sufyān ;معاوية(602–680) is the first Caliph in the Ummayad Dynasty. In Sunni Islam he is perceived as having two main parts to his life which are of major historical note. The first part was as one of the staunchest enemies of Mohammad and of Islam; indeed Muawiya was after the Battle of Badr the heir-apparent to the pagan throne of Mecca which was occupied in effect by his father Abu Sofyan and mother Hinda.[1] After the defeat of his family following the fall of Mecca in 8 AH Muawiya said that he was then a Muslim and hence is regarded within Sunni Islam as a Sahabi (companion) of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Also he was Katib Al-waḥi (inspiration writer)[2] – he later became a member of the Umayyad caliphate in Damascus.[1] Shia Muslims refuse to recognise the sincerity of his conversion, and cite as evidence his allegedly being cursed by Mohammad (see section on physical appearances below) and Muawiya's waging of continual

civil war against the caliphate led by Ali, al-Hassan and many of the early companions.[1] He engaged in a major civil war against the fourth and fifth (final) Rashidun (Rightly Guided Caliphs), Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib) (Muhammad's son-in-law) and Muhammad's eldest grandson Al-Hassan, and Mu'awiya met with considerable military success, including the seizure of Egypt. He assumed the caliphate after Ali's assassination and forcing the abdication of al-Hassan by threatening further bloodshed in 661 and led until 680.

Because of his involvement in the Battle of Siffin against Ali, whom the Shia Muslims believe was Muhammad's true successor (see Succession to Muhammad), the belief that he broke the treaty he made with Hasan ibn Ali by appointing his son Yazid as ruler and the belief that he was responsible for the deaths of various companions, Mu'awiyah has been hated and reviled by generations of Shi'a and is not regarded as a rightly guided caliph by some Sunni Muslims.[citation

needed]

Contents

[hide]

1 Early life 2 His wives 3 Governor of Syria 4 Conflict with Ali 5 Rule 6 Mu'awiya and Mawalis 7 Appearance and habits 8 Legacy 9 Sunni View 10 Shi'a View 11 See also 12 References 13 External links

[edit] Early life

Umayyad Mosque, established during Muawiyah's era.

Mu'awiyah ibn Abi-Sufyan was born in 602 C.E. into a powerful clan, the Banu Umayya, of the Quraysh tribe. The Quraysh controlled the city of Mecca, in what is now western Saudi Arabia, and the Banu Abd-Shams were among the most influential of its citizens.Like Abu Sufyan, Mu'awiya was a staunch follower of the pre-Islamic polytheism that was Abu Sufyan, opposed Muhammad before becoming a Muslim after Muhammad conquered Mecca.

In 630 CE, Muhammad and his followers conquered Mecca, and most of the Meccans, including the Abd-Shams, formally submitted to Muhammad and accepted Islam. General consensus among early Islamic historians is that Mu'awiyah, along with his father Abu Sufyan, became Muslims at the conquest of Mecca when further resistance to Muslims became an impossibility.[3]

[4] Some scholars hold the view that Mu'awiya was the second of the two to convert, with Abu Sufyan convincing him to do it.

Muhammad welcomed his former opponents, enrolled them in his army and gave them important posts in what was to become the Caliphate. After Muhammad's death in 632, he served in the Islamic army sent against the Byzantine forces in Syria. He held a high rank in the army which was led by his brother Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan.

[edit] His wives

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Historian recorded that Muawiyah had many wives, one of them is Maysun bint Jandal a Christian poetess and singer from Bani Kalb in south Syria. She gave birth to Yazid I in 645 when Muawiyah was a governor of Syria pointed by Umar ibn al-Khattab. However, he divorced her later and she took Yazid her only son back to her tribe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Umayyad_Mosque-Dome_of_the_Treasury.jpg

Another wife was Fakhinah bint Qarzhah from the clan of Abdumanaf. He had 2 sons with her: Abdullah and Abdulrahman. Abdullah was dumb and was nicknamed "Abu al-Khayr".[citation needed] Abdulrahman died when he was young.

The third wife was Katwah bin Qarzhah, Fakhinah's sister. When Muawiyah invaded Cyprus he took her with him and she died there.

The fourth wife was Na'ilah bint Ammarah from the same tribe as Maysun. He divorced her after a while.[when?] Na'ilah was married to Habib al-Nu'man ibn al-Bashir al-Ansari.

[edit] Governor of Syria

Caliph Umar (Umar ibn al-Khattab) had appointed Muawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan as governor of Syria. In the year 640, Umar appointed Muawiyah as governor of Syria when his brother died in an outbreak of plague. Muawiyah gradually gained mastery over the other areas of Syria, instilling remarkable personal loyalty among his troops and the people of the region. By 647, Muawiyah had built a Syrian army strong enough to repel a Byzantine attack and, in subsequent years, to take the offensive against the Byzantines in campaigns that resulted in the capture of Cyprus (649) and Rhodes (654) and a devastating defeat of the Byzantine navy off the coast of Lycia (655). At the same time, Muawiyah periodically dispatched land expeditions into Anatolia.

According to the chronicler Theophanes the Confessor, Muawiyah I, after capturing Rhodes sold the remains of the Colossus of Rhodes to a traveling salesman from Edessa. The buyer had the statue broken down, and transported the bronze scrap on the backs of 900 camels to his home. Pieces continued to turn up for sale for years, after being found along the caravan route.

All these campaigns came to a halt with the accession of Ali to the caliphate, when a new and decisive phase of Muawiyah's career began.

[edit] Conflict with Ali

Muawiyah fought a protracted campaign against Ali, allegedly seeking justice for the assassinated caliph Uthman Ibn Affan. Aisha (Aisha bint Abu Bakr) (Muhammad's widow), Talhah (Talha ibn Ubayd-Allah) and Al-Zubayr (Abu ‘Abd Allah Zubayr ibn al-Awwam) were all in agreement with Muawiyah that those who assassinated Uthman should be brought to justice. However, Ali refused to apprehend and punish Uthman's murderers, citing rebel infiltration of the Muslim ranks, resulting in Muawiyah's refusal to acknowledge Ali's caliphate.

Muawiyah did not participate in the campaign by Aisha, Talhah and Al-Zubayr against Ali that ended in the Battle of the Camel.[5] The city of Basrah went over to them but they were defeated in battle by Ali. Talhah and Al-Zubayr were killed. Ali pardoned Aisha and had her escorted back to Medina.

Ali then turned towards Syria, where Mu'awiyah was in open opposition. He marched to the Euphrates and engaged Mu'awiyah's troops at the famous Battle of Siffin (657). Accounts of the

clash vary – however, it would seem that neither side had won a victory, since the Syrians called for arbitration to settle the matter, arguing that continuing civil war would embolden the Byzantines.[6] There are several conflicting accounts of the arbitrations.

In the meantime, dissension broke out in Ali's camp where some of his former supporters, later known as Kharijites, felt that Ali had betrayed them by entering into negotiations. Ali set out to quell the Kharijites. At about the same time, unrest was brewing in Egypt. The governor of Egypt, Qais, was recalled, and Ali had him replaced with Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (the brother of Aisha and the son of Islam's first caliph Abu Bakr). Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr's rule resulted in widespread rebellion in Egypt. Mu'awiyah ordered 'Amr ibn al-'As to invade Egypt and 'Amr did so successfully. Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was killed under Mu'awiyah's orders and stuffed into a donkey. It is said that Aisha never ate meat again in her life after this act.

When Alī was assassinated in 661, Mu'awiyah, as commander of the largest force in the Muslim Empire, had the strongest claim to the Caliphate. Ali's son Hasan ibn Ali signed a truce and retired to private life in Medina.

Muawiyah said later: "I never fought against Ali, only about Uthman's death"[2]. That was attested by Al-Sharif al-Radi in his book Nahj al-Balagha, he said:

In the war... When we met people of Al-Sham, it seemed that our god is one, our prophet is the same, our calling is the same, and no one is more of a believer than the other about believing in Allah, or the prophet. The misunderstandings were about Uthman's blood, and we have nothing to do with it.—Al-Sharif al-Radi, [7]

[edit] Rule

After being granted the title Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful) in the year 661, Mu'awiyah governed the geographically and politically disparate Caliphate, which now spread from Egypt in the west to Iran in the east, by strengthening the power of his allies in the newly conquered territories. Prominent positions in the emerging governmental structures were held by Christians, some of whom belonged to families that had served in Byzantine governments. The employment of Christians was part of a broader policy of religious tolerance that was necessitated by the presence of large Christian populations in the conquered provinces, especially in Syria itself. This policy also boosted his popularity and solidified Syria as his power base.

Mu'awiyah instituted several Byzantine-style bureaucracies, called divans, to aid him in the governance and the centralization of the Caliphate and the empire. Early Arabic sources credit two diwans in particular to Mu'awiyah: the Diwan al-Khatam (Chancellery) and the Barid (Postal Service), both of which greatly improved communications within the empire.

To have an insight into Mu’awiyah’s character, we may mention what Ibn Katheer reports in his history book Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah.

"At the height of tension when fighting was about to erupt at Siffin between Imam Ali and Mu’awiyah, Mu’awiyah was informed that the Byzantine Emperor raised a very large army and was drawing very close to the borders of the Muslim state. He wrote to him, giving him a very clear warning, 'By God, if you do not stop your designs and go back to your place, I will end my dispute with my cousin and will drive you out of the entire land you rule, until I make the earth too tight for you.' The Byzantine Emperor was scared off and abandoned his plans"

However, other scholars contend that he simply placated the Byzantine emperor with offers of land, gold, and slaves.[8]

Mu'awiyah died May 6, 680, allegedly from a stroke brought on by his weight. He was succeeded by his son Yazid I. Mu'awiyah had held the expanding empire together by force of his personality, through personal allegiances, in the style of a traditional Arab sheikh. However Mu'awiyah's attempt to start a dynasty failed because both Yazid and then his grandson Muawiya II died prematurely. The caliphate eventually went to Marwan I a descendant of another branch of Mu'awiya's clan.

[edit] Mu'awiya and Mawalis

It was in the time of Umar that discrimination was made amongst Muslims on the basis of race, for he had begun the system of Mawalis (non-Arab converts to Islam who became clients of Arabs / token Arabs with their own taxation system and exclusion from certain jobs).[9] This unpopular system was restored by Muawiya[citation needed]. Umar had also rehabilitated Mu'awiya within the power structure of the Islamic state after his ostracisation during the time of Muhammad, by appointing him to the Governorship of Syria - Syria became Muawiya's powerbase. Umar had said that Mu'awiya would be the Caesar of the Arabs, a reference to his imperial ambitions. In accordance with the ways of Empire, Mu'awiya favoured his Arab subjects over non-Arab Muslims (the Mawalis) - the discriminatory treatment of non-Arab Muslims by the victorious Umayyad forces are documented by both Sunni and Shia sources as in the example below concerning Mu'awiya's commands to his governor Ziyad ibn Abih[10][11][12] Mu'awiyah, in a famous letter addressed to Ziyad ibn Abih, the then governor of Iraq, wrote:

Be watchful of Iranian Muslims and never treat them as equals of Arabs. Arabs have a right to take in marriage their women, but they have no right to marry Arab women. Arabs are entitled to inherit their legacy, but they cannot inherit from an Arab. As far as possible they are to be given lesser pensions and lowly jobs.

[edit] Appearance and habits

There are conflicting reports regarding his appearance. According to certain sources, he was handsome and athletic and a proud horseman and warrior.[13]

(The following is unclear as no specific hadith is mentioned)It has been argued that in the Arabic culture and language the expression is a colloquialism which means a wish that the person's belly be so full of blessings of Allah (in the form of food) that his belly cannot take anymore, or that

he wishes the persons blessings to be without an end. This is similar to the English saying of a father saying to his son in a soccer match to "Break a leg". However, the two pre-eminent Masters of Sunni Hadith, Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, have rejected absolutely the latter apology for Mu'awiya, and Imam Muslim indeed places the Hadith-e-Muawiya in the Chapter of those Cursed by Mohammad.[14] Further, the Imam Nisa'i was murdered when he recited this Hadith in the presence of pro-Muawiya Arab-speaking Syrians as it was perceived as a curse of Mu'awiya, which debases the unreferenced suggestion that the term was a form of praise and not condemnation.[15] Shias often question why there are no reliable precise accounts of Mu'awiya actually participating in any battles after his conversion to Islam - no names of enemies he personally defeated in combat are known.

[edit] Legacy

Mu'awiyah greatly beautified Damascus likening it to Rome, and developed a court to rival that of Constantinople. He expanded the frontiers of the empire, reaching the very gates of Constantinople at one point, though the Byzantines drove him back and he was unable to hold any territory in Anatolia. Sunni Muslims credit him with saving the fledgling Muslim nation from post civil war anarchy. However, Shia Muslims charge that if anything, he was the instigator of the civil war, and weakened the Muslim nation and divided the Ummah, fabricating self-aggrandizing heresies[16] and slander against the Prophet's family[17] and even selling his Muslim critics into slavery in the Byzantine empire.[8]

One of Muawiyah's most controversial and enduring legacies was his decision to designate his son Yazid as his successor. According to Shi'a doctrine, this was a clear violation of the treaty he made with Hasan ibn Ali, in which Muawiyah said he would not make his son his successor. Yazid was regarded by many Muslims of the time as a moral degenerate, a sadist and a hedonist, and in many accounts his beliefs hovered between polytheism and atheism[18]

[edit] Sunni View

Many Sunni historians view Muawiyah as a companion of Muhammad, and hence worthy of respect for this reason, and many Sunnis Muslims indeed revere him, taking great issue with the Shia criticism and vilification of him.[19] However other Sunni Muslims, while refusing to adopt the negativity of Shia sentiment to Muawiya nevertheless quietly withhold according him religious status owing to his rebellions against Ali and al-Hassan, who are regarded as pious rulers, Muawiyah being regarded as a wordly king of dubious sincerity. Sunnis believe that the imperial legacy of Muawiyah was overshadowed by his materialistic ambition for personal power and materialistic dominion - he fought against Ali, causing great bloodshed and slaying many highly regarded companions of Muhammad who took the side of Ali over many years, often cruelly murdering them; and though Ali defeated Muawiyah in battle Muawiya continued to raise the banner of war and civil strife against Ali's legitimate successor Al-Hassan. Finally Muawiyah transformed the caliphate from an elective monarchy with some emphasis on religious qualification into a hereditary one with no such stringent requirement, by designating his son Yezid as his successor.

A Sunni hadith says:

"..Muawiyah who was really the best of the two men said to him, "O 'Amr! If these killed those and those killed these, who would be left with me for the jobs of the public, who would be left with me for their women, who would be left with me for their children?" Then Muawiya sent two Quraishi men from the tribe of 'Abd-i-Shams called 'Abdur Rahman bin Sumura and Abdullah bin 'Amir bin Kuraiz to Al-Hasan saying to them, "Go to this man (i.e. Al-Hasan) and negotiate peace with him and talk and appeal to him." So, they went to Al-Hasan and talked and appealed to him to accept peace..."[20]

Sunni scholars interpret Hasan's willingness to abandon his claims in favor of Mu'awiyah as proof that Al-Hasan, Muhammad's eldest grandson, did not go so far as to view Muawiyah an apostate, renegade and hypocrite. Al-Hasan, they say, did so for the sake of peace and ending the civil war. Some Sunni Muslims say Hasan entered into the treaty simply to prevent further civil war and bloodshed. Pro-Alid Sunnis also say as Shias do that Al-Hassan aimed to show the Muslim world that the Umayyads should not be entrusted with responsibility for protecting the religion founded by Al-Hassan's grandfather since Muawiya would violate all the terms of the treaty, thereby proving himself untrustworthy.

[edit] Shi'a View

The Shi'a view Mu'awiyah as a tyrant, usurper and murderer. His supposed conversion to Islam before the conquest of Mecca is dismissed as a fable, or mere hypocrisy. He is also described as a manipulator and liar who usurped Islam purely for political and material gain. He was also widely regarded as a tyrant and usurper by both Shia Arabs and Persians, who despite being ruled by Sunni Arabs and their vassals for centuries, ultimately found the egalitarian Shia creed more palatable than the oppressive, Arab-supremacist tribal rule of Mu'awiya. Ali was noted for upholding the rights of non-Arab Muslims, whereas the Umayyads are remembered in Persian history for squashing them. The Umayyads suppressed Persian culture and language, and a number of Iran's greatest contributors to Persian literature - both Shias like Ferdowsi and Sunnis like Sa'di - took the side of Ali, not Mu'awiyah.

Mu'awiya opposed Ali, the rightful Imam, out of sheer greed for power and wealth. His reign opened the door to unparalleled disaster, marked by the persecution of Ali, slaughtering of his followers,[21] and unlawful imprisonment of his supporters,[22] which only worsened when Yazid come into power and the Battle of Karbala ensued. Mu'awiya is alleged to have killed many of Muhammad's companions (Sahaba), either in battle or by poison, due to his lust for power. A few historical figures killed by Mu'awiya include: the Sahaba Amr bin al-Hamiq,Muhammad ibn abu bakr[23] Malik al-Ashtar,[24] Hujr ibn Adi [25] (to which the families of Abu Bakr and Umar condemned Mu'awiyah for,[26] and the Sahaba deemed his killer to be cursed[27]) and Abd al-Rahman bin Hasaan (buried alive for his support of Ali).[28]

Kokab wa Rifi Fazal-e-Ali Karam Allah Wajhu, Page 484, By Syed Mohammed Subh-e-Kashaf AlTirmidhi, Urdu translation by Syed Sharif Hussein Sherwani Sabzawari, Published by Aloom AlMuhammed, number B12 Shadbagh, Lahore, 1 January 1963.

Habib Alseer Rabiyah AlAbrar, Volume 1, Alama JarulAllah Zamik (530 Hijri),

Hadoiqa Sanai, by Hakim Sanai (Died 525 Hijri, at Ghazni), Page 65-67,

Namoos Islam, by Agha Hashim Sialkoti, Published Lahore, 1939 - Pages 66–67

Tazkarah Tul-Aikram Tarikh-e-Khulafa Arab-Wa-Islam by Syed Shah Mohamed Kabir Abu Alalaiyi Dana Puri, Published Le Kishwar Press, Lakhnow, April 1924/ 1346 H</ref>

Mu'awiyah was also responsible for instigating the Battle of Siffin, the bloodiest battle in Islam's history, in which over 70,000 people (among them many of the last surviving companions of the Prophet Muhammad) were killed. Notable among the Companions who were killed by Mu'awiyah's forces was Ammar bin Yasir, a frail old man of 95 at the time of his murder. Shi'i Muslims see his being killed at the hands of Mu'awiyah's army as significant because of a well-known hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah in which the Prophet is recorded to have said: "Rejoice Ammar! The transgressing party shall kill you."[29]

When the tide of the battle was turning in Ali's favor, Mu'awiyah stalled Ali's troops by raising the Qur'an on the tip of a bloody spear as a sort of "holy book shield" against attack by Muslims.[30] This sort of act is widely regarded as blasphemy and desecration of God's word, and Shia scholars condemn Mu'awiyah for it, arguing such a practice would today be condemned by Sunni Muslims just as much as Shia Muslims.

The killing of the two children of Ubaydullah ibn Abbas can also be found in Sunni and Shi'a texts.[31]

[...] Then he [i.e. Mu'awiyah] was informed that Ubaidullah had two infant sons. So he set out to reach them, and when he found them - they had two (tender) forelocks like pearls - [and] he ordered to kill them.[32]

From the Shia point of view, Imam Hasan ibn Ali did not sign the treaty with Mu'awiya because he liked him; rather, he did so to prevent even worse bloodshed than had already happened at Siffin. Hasan's intention was to preserve the Muslim Ummah and eventually restore the Caliphate to its rightful heirs, the Prophet's family (as per the terms of the treaty). Unfortunately he was unable to do this as he was fatally poisoned on Mu'awiyah's orders, according to remour, but never verified.[citation needed]

[editSee also

Second Fitna

[edit] References

1. ^ a b c History of Tabari

2. ^ a b (Arabic) [1]3. ̂ The History of al-Tabari, Volume IX, The Last Years of the Prophet, p32, SUNY Press4. ̂ Life of Muhammad, Ibn Hisham, Volume 2, p597 (Urdu)5. ̂ The Early Caliphate, Maulana Muhammad Ali, Al-Jadda Printers, pg. 169-206, 19836. ̂ Aisha Bewley, Mu'awiyah: Restorer of the Muslim Faith, pg. 22. Dar al Taqwa Ltd.

2002.7. ̂ Nahj al-Balagha (3/648), by Al-Sharif al-Radi8. ^ a b * Musharriful Mahbubin by Hazrat Khuwaja Mehboob Qasim Chishti Mushrrafi

Qadri ra.gif Pages 216-218 o Kokab wa Rifi Fazal-e-Ali Karam Allah Wajhu, Page 484, By Syed Mohammed

Subh-e-Kashaf AlTirmidhi, Urdu translation by Syed Sharif Hussein Sherwani Sabzawari, Published by Aloom AlMuhammed, number B12 Shadbagh, Lahore, 1 January 1963.

o Habib Alseer Rabiyah AlAbrar, Volume 1, Alama JarulAllah Zamik (530 Hijri),o Hadoiqa Sanai, by Hakim Sanai (Died 525 Hijri, at Ghazni), Page 65-67,o Namoos Islam, by Agha Hashim Sialkoti, Published Lahore, 1939 - Pages 66-67

o Tazkarah Tul-Aikram Tarikh-e-Khulafa Arab-Wa-Islam by Syed Shah Mohamed Kabir Abu Alalaiyi Dana Puri, Published Le Kishwar Press, Lakhnow, April 1924/ 1346 H

9. ̂ Hourani, Albert. A History of the Arab People10. ̂ "Ansab al Ashraf" or "Futuh al-Buldan" by Baladhuri. p.417.11. ̂ "Tarikh-i Sistan". p8212. ̂ "Tarikh e Qum". p254-6.13. ̂ http://forums.ratedesi.com/archive/index.php/t-180678.html14. ̂ Sahih Muslim, Book of those Cursed by Mohammad but were not deserving15. ̂ IBn Khallikan, Al Wafat Al Ayan Imam, under the biography of Nisa'i, section dealing

with his murder16. ̂ http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/muawiya/en/chap8.php17. ̂ http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/muawiya/en/chap7.php18. ̂ http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/yazeed/en/index.php.19. ̂ Leader of the Jundallah Movemement, Abd Al-Malek Al-Rigi: We Train Fighters in

the Mountains and Send Them into Iran. October 17, 200820. ̂ Muhammad Muhsin Khan "The Translation of the Meanings of Salih al-Bukhari,

volume 3" 1984 ISBN 81-7151-016-7, item 86721. ̂ Tarikh Tabri Volume 18 page 201 ; al Istiab, Volume 1 page 49, Chapter: Busar; al

Isaba Volume, 1 page 289, Translation No. 642, Busar bin Irtat; Asadul Ghaba, Volume 1 page 113, Topic: Busar bin Irtat; Tarikh Ibn Asakir, Volume 3 page 225 ; Tarikh Asim Kufi, page 308.

22. ̂ al Bidaya wa al Nihaya, Volume 8 page 52 ; Asad'ul Ghaba Volume, 1 page 846, Dhikr Umro bin Hamiq; Tarikh Yaqubi, volume 2 page 200, 50 H; Al Bidayah wal Nihayah, Volume 8 page 52, death of Amro bin al-Hamiq al-Khazai.

23. ̂ al Bidaya wa al Nihaya, Volume 8 page 48, Dhikr 50 Hijri; al Istiab, Volume 1 page 363 ; al Isaba, Volume 4 page 623, Translation No. 5822 ; Asadul Ghaba, Volume 1 page 846, Amr bin al-Hamiq al-Khazai; Tabaqat al Kubra, Volume 6 page 25 ; Tarikh Kamil, Volume 3 page 240 Dhikr 51 Hijri; Risala Abu Bakr Khawarzmi, page 122 ; Tarikh ibn Khaldun, Volume 3 page 12 ; al Maarif, page 127 ; History of Tabari, Volume 18 page 137

24. ̂ Tadhirathul Khawwas, page 64 ; Muruj al Dhahab, Volume 3 page 420 ; Tarikh ibn Khaldun, Volume 2 page 191 ; Tarikh Kamil, Volume 3 page 179 ; Tarikh Tabari, English translation Volume 18 pages 144-146 ; Habib al Sayyar, Volume 1 page 72 ; Tabaqat al Kubra, Volume 6 page 213

25. ̂ al Bidaya wa al Nihaya, Volume 8 page 53 Dhikr 51 Hijri; Tarikh Kamil, Volume 3 page 249 Dhikr 51 Hijri; Tarikh ibn Asakir, Volume 12 page 227 Dhikr Hujr ibn Adi; Tarikh ibn Khaldun, Volume 3 page 13 Dhikr 51 Hijri; al Isaba, Volume 1 page 313 Dhikr Hujr ibn Adi; Asad'ul Ghaba, Volume 1 page 244 Dhikr Hujr ibn Adi; Shadharat ul Dhahab, Volume 1 page 57 Dhikr 51 Hijri; Tabaqat al Kubra, Volume 6 page 217 Dhikr Hujr ibn Adi; Mustadrak al Hakim, Volume 3 page 468-470 Dhikr Hujr ibn Adi; Akhbar al Tawaal, page 186 Dhikr Hujr ibn Adi; Tarikh Abu'l Fida, page 166 Dhikr 51 Hijri; Muruj al Dhahab, Volume 3 page 12 Dhikr 53 Hijri; Tarikh Yaqubi, Volume 2 page 219

26. ̂ al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, Volume 8 page 55 ; Kanz al Ummal, Volume 3 page 88 ; Tarikh al Islam by Dhahabi Volume 2 page 217 ; Tarikh ibn Khaldun, Volume 3 page 12 ; al Isaba, page 355 Dhikr Hujr; al-Istiab, Volume 1 page 97.

27. ̂ Qadhi Abi Bakar al-Arabi. 'Awasim min al Qawasim' p.341 ; Allamah Muhibuddin al-Khateeb

28. ̂ Bidayah wal Nihayah, Volume 8 page 52 ; Tarikh Kamil, Volume 3 page 245 ; History of Tabari, Volume 18 page 151.

29. ̂ Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith #380030. ̂ http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/siffin.asp31. ̂ Sunni: Tarikh Kamil, Volume 3 page 194 Dhikr 40 Hijri; Shadharath al Dhahab, page

64 Dhikr 58 Hijri; Tarikh Taabari (English translation) Volume 18 pages 207-208 ; Murujh al Dhahab, Volume 3 page 30 ; al Istiab, Volume 1 page 49, Chapter: Busar; Tarikh ibn Asakir, Volume 10 page 146 ; Asad'ul Ghaba Volume 1 page 213 Dhikr Busar; Tarikh Islam by Dhahabi, Volume 2 page 187. Shia: 21:6 Secrets of Mu'awiyah from Al-Amali: The Dictations of Sheikh al-Mufid

32. ̂ Shia: 21:6 Secrets of Mu'awiyah from Al-Amali: The Dictations of Sheikh al-Mufid

Muawiyah IBanu UmayyaSunni Islam titlesPreceded byHasan ibn Ali Islam Caliph 661 – 680Succeeded byIbn Al-ZubayrRegnal titlesPreceded bynoneUmayyad Caliph661 – 680Succeeded byYazid IRegnal titlesPreceded by

Yazid ibn Abi SufyanGovernor of Al-Sham640 – 656under direct control of Muawiya I

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Yazid I

Caliphs of the Umayyad Caliphate

Reign 680 – 683

Full name Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwīyati ibn Abī Sufyāni

Born 645

Died 683

Predecessor Mu'awiya I

Successor Mu'awiya II

Dynasty Umayyad

Father Mu'awiya I

Mother Maysun

Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiyata ibn Abī Sufyān Arabic: سفيان أبي بن معاوية بن - July 23, 645) يزيد683), commonly known as Yazid I, was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate (and the first hereditary one), ruling for three years from 680 CE until his death in 683 CE. The period of Yazid's rule was a great disaster for the Muslims and his rule is still remembered by many, especially Shia Muslims. His period witnessed the tragedy of Kerbala, the Muslim forces suffered losses in North Africa, their supremacy at sea was lost. During this period, Muslims also

saw the spoliation and profanation of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah by the Yazidi army.

Contents

[hide]

1 Oath of Allegiance of Yazid 2 Husayn ibn Ali and Ibn az-Zubair 3 Setbacks 4 Death 5 Sunni view of Yazid 6 Shi'a and Sunni view of Yazid 7 References 8 See also

[edit] Oath of Allegiance of Yazid

Muawiyah I was succeeded by his son Yazid I. As it was common in Arabia at those time, Yazid asked Governors of all provinces to take the oath of allegiance to him. The necessary oath was secured from all parts of the country except from Husain and Abdullah ibn Zubayr [1][2]

[edit] Husayn ibn Ali and Ibn az-Zubair

Main article: Battle of KarbalaMain article: Ibn al-Zubair's revolt

Husayn ibn Ali did not give his oath of allegiance to Yazid. He was living in Madina with his family, but Yazid considered him a threat to his rule and ordered his governor either to take oath from Husayn by any mean or execute him. Husayn ibn Ali refused this demand and hence was pushed to a limit that he finally decided to leave Madina. He first went to Makkah with an intention to perform Hajj. But even at this holy place he couldn't do it with peace as Yazid conspired to kill him in the Kaaba during Hajj. So Husayn had to cut short his plan and performed Umrah instead of Hajj.

Kufa, a garrison town in what is now Iraq, had been Caliph ‘Alī's capital and many of his supporters lived there. Husayn ibn Ali received many letters from the Kufans expressing their offer of support if he claimed the caliphate. They were also trying to restore Kufa's power against Damascus, the Umayyad capital.

Abd-Allah ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Zubayr held a meeting with Husayn in Mecca to advise him to refuse to travel to Iraq. Meanwhile, Husayn corresponded with nobles of Basrah and asked them to support him. Major tribes of Basrah gathered and prepared for the fight against Yazid I.

At the same time Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, governor of Basrah, executed one of Husayn's messengers and then addressed the people and warned them to avoid the insurgency. Husayn departed towards Kufa despite many warnings and during the trip, he and many members of his family were killed or captured at the Battle of Karbala.

The complications of Yazid's accession to the Caliphate didn't end there. Many Sahaba and fellow Muslims refused to give their oath of allegiance to Yazid simply because they saw it as usurpation of power and not the proper way of choosing a Caliph by the Shura or Council. The most prominent among these resistors was Abdullah ibn Zubayr.

Abdullah ibn Zubayr opposed Yazid's position as Caliph. He launched an insurgency in the Hejaz, the heartland of Islam, where Mecca and Medina are. Yazid sent armies against him in 683. After the Battle of al-Harrah, Medina was recaptured and Mecca was also besieged. During the siege, the Ka‘bah was damaged. The siege ended when Yazid died suddenly in 683 CE.

[edit] Setbacks

During the caliphate of Yazid Muslims suffered a great deal of setbacks. In 682 AD Yazid restored Uqba ibn Nafi as the governor of North Africa. Uqba won battles against the Berbers and Byzantines.[3] From there Uqba marched on thousands of miles westward towards tangier, where he reached the Atlantic coast, and then marched eastwards through the Atlas Mountains.[4] With a cavalry of about 300 horsemen, he proceeded towards biskra where he was ambushed by a Berber force under kaisala. Uqba and all his men died fighting. The berbers launched an attack and drove Muslims from north Africa for a period.[5] This was a major setback for the Muslims, because of this they lost supremacy at sea, and had to abandon the islands of Rhodes and Crete.

[edit] Death

Yazid I died at the age of 38. He ruled for 3 years. Yazid I was succeeded by his son Muawiyah II [6] .

[edit] Sunni view of Yazid

Main article: Sunni view of Yazid I

Ahmad ibn Hanbal was reputedly asked by his son about Yazid , and he is said to have replied with a reference to the Qur'an and said it was in reference to the murder of Husayn:

Do you then have the sign that if you get the authority, spread disorder in the land and sever your ties of Kinship? These are they whom God has cursed and made them deaf from the truth and made their eyes blind.[Qur'an 47:22][7]

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari records under the year 49 Hijri (or 669-670 CE) during the reign of Muawiyah I, a number of forces, including one under Yazid attacked

Constantinople. However Yazid was not in the first army that attacked constantinople and it was the 7th attack in which Yazid participated, the first attack being in 42 Hijri.[8] This First Arab siege of Constantinople was a naval assault lasting through the years 670-677. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was also among the notables accompanying Yazid. This journey marks an important event in the life of young Yazid (27 at that time).

While most Sunni and Shi'i scholars consider Yazid to be a villain of Islamic history on account of his hatred towards the household of Muhammad, many Islamic scholars also believe that Yazid should not be cursed.[9]

Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi Maliki another scholar did not hold permissible the cursing and abusing of Yazid nor declaring him to be a disbeliever.

“If it is said justice and knowledge are from the conditions of Caliphate and Yazid neither had justice nor knowledge, then we would have to ask, by what evidence this conclusion was drawn that Yazid had no justice or knowledge.”

[10]

“Where are those historians who wrote against Yazid in mentioning alcohol and open sinning, do they not have any shame?” – meaning where are the evidences for these accusations.[10]

Abdul Mughith Hanbali has the unique distinction of being one of the earliest known biographers of Yazid .Ibn Kathir said about Abdu l-Mughith that, “He was from the righteous Hanbali’s who the common folk referred to.”[11] Abdul Mugheeth was also not in favor of cursing Yazid or declaring him to be a disbeliever, rather he authored a biography of Yazid with the titles Fadhal Yazid and Fadhal Yazid bin Muawiyah .[12]

Ibn Kathir reported on Allamah Abu l-Khayr Qazwini:

“After he left Qazwain he went to Baghdad where he became a teacher in Madrassa Nizamia and he would admonish and deliver lectures to the people. So on the day of Ashuraa he sat on the minbar to admonish the people, it was said to him to curse Yazid bin Muawiyah. He replied, “He was but an Imam Mujtahid.”[13]

Ibn Salah was also not in favor of cursing Yazid or saying he was a disbeliever. Ibn Hajr the Meccan writes,

“ “Ibn Salah who is from our jurists and scholars of Hadith, I have seen in his Fatwa that when he was asked concerning the individual who would only curse Yazid because he ordered the death of Husayn. Then in answer to this he said, according to us Yazid ordering the death of Hussain is not a correct report and cursing and abusing Yazid is not the sign of a believer.”- (as-Sawaa’iq al-Meharqah (pg.222)) ”

.

Ibn Taymiyyah was neither in favor of cursing Yazid nor declaring him to be a disbeliever.{{quote“And the people who curse Yazid and other such people like him then it is upon them to bring evidence, Firstly: that he was an open sinner and an oppressor and therefore prove he really was an open sinner and an oppressor as allowing him to be cursed needs to be proven that he continued this open sinning and oppression to the end up until his death. Secondly: Then after this they must prove that it is permissible to curse specific people like Yazid. ... and the verse, "May the Curse of God be upon the oppressors" is a general verse like the verses concerning punishment... And the Hadith compiled by Bukhari states the first army to wage Jihad against Constantinople is forgiven and it is clear that their commander Yazid ibn Muawiyah was a member of this army and is included in this forgiveness.}} - (ref books: Minhaaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah Fee Naqdh Kalaam ash-Shee’ah Wal-Qadariyyah (2/252), al-Muntaqa al-Minhaj al-I’tidaal fi Naqdh Kalaam ar-Rafdh wa l-i’tizaal (pg.290). However, as discussed above, this Hadith clearly did not refer to Yazid as he did not take part in the first battle of Constantinople[8], it was his father Mu'awiya[14] during the reign of Caliph Uthman [15] therefore this verse did not apply at all to Yazid. In fact according to the scholar Ibn Khaldun Yazid was unwillingly to take part in the 1st 7 Jihads against Constantinople, and was eventually forced to attend the 8th by his father.[16]

[edit] Shi'a and Sunni view of Yazid

For Shi'a and Sunni Muslims, Yazid is viewed as a tyrant for killing Husayn, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, and his family. All Muslims believe that God had purified the household of Muhammad (ahl al-bayt),[17] however they differ on the definition. Furthermore, all Shia's believe that God commanded the Muslim community to have intense love (Al-Muwadata) and kindness for them.[18]

Shi'a scholars, while very vocal in their views towards Yazid, show their stand on his nature even through Sunni texts:

Ibn Taymiyyah , a Sunni scholar stated the following concerning the nature of Yazid's position:

“ “Yazid had the sword and hence he had the power to deal with anyone that opposed him. He had the power to reward his subjects with the contents of the treasury, and could also withhold their rights. He had the power to punish criminals; it is in this context that we can understand that he was the khalifah and king. Issues such as Yazid's piety or lack of it, or his honesty or lack of it, is another matter. In all of his actions Yazid was not just, there is no dispute amongst the people of Islam on this matter.” ”

[19]

Shaykh al-hadith Muhammad Zakaria, an Indian Sunni scholar, has stated the following regarding the manner in which Yazid came to power:

“ “The army that Yazid had sent to Madinah comprised of 60,000 horsemen and 15,000 foot soldiers. For three days they shed blood freely, 1000 women were raped and 700 named Quraysh and Ansar were killed. Ten thousand women and children were made slaves. Muslim bin Uqba forced people to give allegiance to Yazid in such a manner that people were enslaved and Yazid could sell them as he pleased, no Sahaba who were [with the Prophet] at Hudaibiya were spared.” ”

[20]

Ibn Kathir a famously renowned Sunni Islamic scholar, himself reports on the character of Yazid:

“ “Traditions inform us that Yazid loved worldly vices; would drink; listen to music; kept the company of boys with no facial hair; played drums; kept dogs; made frogs, bears and monkeys fight. Every morning he used be intoxicated, and he used to bind monkeys with the saddle of a horse and make the horse run.” ”

[21]

Ibn Sa'd , another Sunni scholar, writes in his book, “Tabaqat Al-Kubra” regarding the nature of Yazid:

“ “Abdullah bin Hanzala the Sahaba stated, 'By Allah we opposed Yazid at the point when we feared that stones would reign down on us from the skies. He was a Fasiq who copulated with his mother, sister and daughters, who drank alcohol and did not offer Salaat.” ”

[22]

After Yazid's death, when Muawiyah II (Yazid's son) was made to be the caliph, he stated the following in his inaugural address with regards to his father and his grandfather (Muawiyah I), as recorded by Ibn Hajr al-Haythami another scholar of the Ahl us-Sunnah:

“ When Yazid's son came to power he gave the speech: “Khilafat is from Allah. My grandfather fought for khilafat against an individual who was more entitled to it, that being Ali. He (Mu'awiya I) performed actions that you are all aware of, and he is suffering in his grave for that. Then my father Yazid became the khalifah even though he was not deserving of khilafat. He fought the cousin of Rasulullah , Husayn ibn Ali and is suffering in the grave on account of his sins.” [Muawiyah II] then proceeded to cry, “It is a terrible thing that we are fully aware of Yazid's bad deeds: he slaughtered the family of the Prophet, he deemed alcohol Halal, and set fire

”

to the Ka'ba.”

[23]

Although many Sunni Muslims are against the cursing of Yazid, Yazid is cursed even according to the definitions of Muhammad, as recorded by Ibn Kathir:

“ “Rasulullah said, whoever perpetuates injustice and frightens the residents of Madinah, the curse of Allah, His Angels and all people is on such a person.” ”

- [24]

The events at Karbala figure as fundamental in Shi'a thought, and many Islamist movements liken their causes to Husayn ibn Ali's struggle against Yazid. Leaders of the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi government frequently drew such comparisons.

The 10th of Muharram (also known as Ashura), is the Islamic calendar date on which the Battle of Karbala occurred and is commemorated as a day of mourning by Shia Muslims around the world. Rituals on Ashura' usually involve public processions during which the Shi'as reject Yazid's caliphate and recite poems commemorating Husayn ibn Ali and his death. Shi'as and sunnis around the world refer to Yazid as "the tyrant."

[edit] References

Yazid I

Banu Umayya

Regnal titles

Preceded byMuawiyah I

Umayyad Caliph680 – 683

Succeeded byMuawiyah II

1. ̂ The arabs by philip k hitti2. ̂ History of Islam by Prof Masudul Hasan3. ̂ History of the Arab by Philip k hitti4. ̂ History of Islam by prof.Masudul Hasan5. ̂ The Empire of the Arabs by sir John Glubb6. ̂ The History Of Arabs by Philip.K.Hitti7. ̂ Ibn Hajar Makki in al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa page 333, Tafsir Mazhari v. 8. p. 434 Imam

Barzanji in al-Isha'at, Qadi Abu Ya'la in Mu'tamad al-Usool, ibn al-Jawzi8. ^ a b al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah9. ̂ Zakir Naik (MUMBAI, 31 December 2007)

10. ^ a b al-Awasim Minal Qawasim (pg.222)11. ̂ al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (12/328)12. ̂ Hidaayatul A’arifin Asma' al-Mu’allifeen Wa Athar Musannifin (5/623), al-Bidayah

Wan-Nihaayah (12/328)13. ̂ al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (9/13), Risaalah al-Mustarfah Lee-Bayaan Mashoor

Kitaab as-Sunnah al-Musharfah (pg.132)14. ̂ The Arab world: an illustrated history by Kirk H. Sowell, 2004, p4815. ̂ The shade of swords: Jihad and the conflict between Islam and Christianity by M. J.

Akbar, 2002, p4816. ̂ Tarikh Ibn Khaldun17. ̂ [Quran chapter 33, verse 33]18. ̂ Al-Qurba, Quran chapter 42, verse 2319. ̂ - (ref book: Minhaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah )20. '^ - (ref book: Au Khanar al Masalik vol.3 pg.450).21. ̂ - (ref book: al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah vol.8 pg.1169)22. ̂ - (ref book: Tabaqat Al-Kubra vol.5 pg.66)23. ̂ - (ref book: Sawaiq al Muhriqa pg.134)24. ̂ (ref book: al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah vol.8 pg.1147)

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica , Eleventh Edition , a publication now in the public domain.

[edit] See also

Battle of Karbala Umayyads Islamic empires

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazid_I"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | 645 births | 683 deaths | 7th-century caliphsHidden categories: Islam articles needing expert attention | Articles needing expert attention from November 2008 | All articles needing expert attention | Articles to be expanded from January 2008 | All articles to be expanded | NPOV disputes from June 2009 | All NPOV disputes | Articles containing Arabic language text | Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica

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Muawiya IIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Muawiya II

Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty

Reign 683 – 684

Full name Mu'āwiyah ibn Yazīd

Born 661

Died 684

Predecessor Yazid I

Successor Marwan I

http://www.mediawiki.org/

http://wikimediafoundation.org/

Dynasty Umayyad

Father Yazid I

Muawiyah II or Mu'āwiyya ibn Yazīd ( يزيد بن was an Umayyad caliph (684 - 661 ;معاويةfor about four months after the death of his father Yazīd. The empire he inherited was in a state of disarray with Abdullah bin Zubayr claiming to be the true caliph and holding the Hejaz as well as other areas.

Contents

[hide]

1 Birth and early years 2 Accession 3 Personality and family 4 Government acts 5 Conflict with Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr 6 Shia view of his abdication and death 7 See also

[edit] Birth and early years

Muawiya II was born on the 28th March 661 and was the son of Yazid I of the Ummayyad dynasty and on his mother's side a descendent of the Quraysh tribe in the Hejaz. His mother's father, Abu Hashim ibn Utbah ibn Rabi'ah was appointed Governor of Basra and his mother married Yazid I in 660. Mu'awiya was the eldest son to be born, out of six brothers and many (uncounted) daughters. When Mu'awiya I became Caliph in 661, it is said that on his day of accession he heard the news that his son had given birth to a son. The account is related in Al Nasab (890-949) in his History of the Wars:

At the same time as the birth (of Mua'wiya II), his grandfather had met with the Islamic Elders (i.e. the Shura) and when he heard that he had a grandson he said, "Surely this is a blessing from God and a sure sign, if there is any, that I am the true Caliph. For I shall establish a dynasty that shall be well-remembered. My son shall follow me, and his son shall follow him." And the child was named Mua'wiya in his honour.

According to al-Tabari, Muawiya II was 13 years old when he died. This means Muawiya must have been born in 671 when Yazid I his father was 25 years old.

Lewis Joseph in his article "Islamic Historiography during the Ummayyad period 661-750", nevertheless argues that this was a later tradition created at a time when the Ummayyad dynasty was facing extinction.

Mu'awiya was the first prince of the Ummayyads to grow up entirely at the court of the Caliph, being kept there to protect him from potential assassins of both Husayn bin Ali and Ibn al-Zubair. He was the first to be given private scholars and teachers as is recorded in Al-Habah (854-905)'s Court of the Righteous Caliphs:

It is said, by many sources, that the first who was given scholars and teachers of his own was Mu'awiya bin Yazid, grandson of that Mu'awiya who turned the Successors of the Prophet (may God protect him) into a dynasty of despots. For as is related by the scholars of the past, the previous Caliphs had learnt with the companions as equals in the schools of the faith.

The fact that Mu'awiya was not sent to Mecca and Medina was also unpopular with Muslims. This growing unpopularity became worse with the campaigns against Husayn ibn Ali and Ibn al-Zubair. The latter war, leading to the capture of Medina and the siege of Mecca, was even more unpopular. Fortunately for the Arab Empire, Yazid I died soon afterwards in 683 and his son succeeded him.

[edit] Accession

The accession of Mu'awiyya II was met first with indifference and trepidation by Muslims, for they didn't know anything about him as he had been kept away in the home of the Caliphs. Yet, when Mu'awiyya declared that a truce would be made, it was met with almost universal acclamation, for it had ended the war in the Holy Places. Mu'awiya II declared that the war in Medina and Mecca had been foolish and blasphemous and that the damage to the Ka'aba was sacrilege. He is said to have declared:

For this is the City of God, of both East and the West. For when there is war here, there are earthquakes in heaven, and the angels scatter for protection. I shall not have blood shed here and there shall be no war. We shall become friends and allies again, and the community of the faithful shall be restored.

These words made him popular with those Muslims tired by war, even some supporting Ibn al-Zubayr. But the followers of Ibn al-Zubayr urged the rebel to break the truce and declare war, stating that the Caliph was a beardless boy and a coward, afraid to fight, and so easy to defeat. Yet the truce held officially for many months, though there was sporadic fighting in Mecca.

[edit] Personality and family

In the primary sources and modern histories, Mu'awiyya II's reign is usually passed over quickly. The caliph is portrayed as being weak-willed but with a good-nature. He is said to have declared when news came of his father's death, that this is the news he dreaded for now he was Caliph and did not wish to be. Mu'awiyya was even prepared to summon the Shura and call on them to choose a Caliph of their own, and thus restore the non-hereditary traditions of the Caliphate. Many stories have been written in the sources of Mu'awiyya's weak but good-willed nature, not all of them true.

The marriage of Mu'awiyya was deemed contentious and problematic.His grandfather Mu'awiyya I wished him to marry into another tribe and thus strengthen the power of the dynasty. This, Mu'awiyya did but his wife died in 677. He then married again in 678 and 680, having two wives but he divorced both by 682 for providing no children. Yazid now forced him to marry a fourth wife in 683, a foreign princess, to extend the power of the Caliphate. It is said that Mu'awiyya despised this woman, and as soon as Yazid had died, she was divorced.

[edit] Government acts

Traditionally, Mu'awiya is shown to have had no interest in politics, perhaps with justification. He is said to have claimed that only by mistake of the hereditary principle was he Caliph and under no other means would he have ever been chosen. Yet it is said that his courtiers persuaded him to remain Caliph as he was kind and would do some virtuous deeds. Some say they did this to prolong their own power or because it was ungrateful for Mu'awiya to give back the power given to him by God.

Once a truce had been made in 683, Mu'awiya turned to domestic affairs. He did not involve himself for many months with Zubayr, even when fighting continued and when the truce had obviously been broken in all but name. Mu'awiyya passed three laws which he said were necessary. Firstly, he said that the rights of women should be protected, secondly that no man should be put to death because of a crime, and thirdly that the charity tax should be made compulsory. These laws were removed once he had died.

According to al-Tabari, Muawiya II reigned only 40 days before he died.

[edit] Conflict with Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr

By the beginning of 684, the problem of Ibn al-Zubayr had worsened, and Mu'awiya was forced to turn his attention back to southern Arabia. He rejected any attempts to launch an attack, declaring that Medina and Mecca were sacred.

Instead he sent an embassy to Ibn al-Zubayr and declared that as he himself had no son, that Ibn al-Zubayr could be his heir. Zubayr rejected this for he knew that Mu'awiya was young and could have many children. "I shall not be a nursemaid", Ibn al-Zubayr is said to have answered.

The embassy was imprisoned and Ibn al-Zubayr continued the conflict. According to Al Nasab (890-949):

When news of this came, Mu'awiya wept openly. "Oh, that there should be peace in the Holy Places, in the East and the West, and in Heaven! I shall not be remembered as a Caliph with blood on my hands. I shall not preside over civil war!" And he sent another embassy saying that he would abdicate and make Ibn al-Zubayr Caliph, if his life be spared.

It seems this embassy was rejected as well. Two weeks before his death, Mu'awiya declared he would abdicate, saying he would rather lose his life than have many lose their lives for him in a civil war.

[edit] Shia view of his abdication and death

In June 684, Mu'awiyya abdicated. Shia Muslims believe that he converted to Shi'ism and abdicated, by saying that he could "smell the blood of Ahl ul-Bayt" from the throne. By this they mean that he considered his forefathers to be the murderers of the Ahl ul-Bayt (the household of prophet Muhammad).

It is generally believed that he abdicated and died a month later. Another source, the fragments of Al-Nisba (800-845?) records a tradition:

"When his courtiers heard he intended to abdicate as soon as Ibn al-Zubayr had entered the city, they were struck by fear for they knew they would die. Three times three they pleaded with the Caliph to be strong but he rejected their pleas... So a conspiracy was made... for though the Caliph had no sons... his cousin was eager to be Caliph. When a farewell feast was held... (fragmentary)... and Mu'awiyya died from the poison... It is recorded that Zubayr knew of this but he was unfairly blamed by the successor Marwan."

[edit] See also

Battle of Karbala

Muawiya II

Banu Umayya

Regnal titles

Preceded byYazid I


Succeeded byMarwan I

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muawiya_II"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | 661 births | 684 deaths | 7th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles lacking sources from December 2009 | All articles lacking sources | Articles containing Arabic language text

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Marwan IFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Marwan I


Reign 684 – 685

Full name Marwan ibn al-Hakam

Born March 28, 623

Died May 7, 685

Predecessor Muawiya II

Successor Abd al-Malik

Dynasty Umayyad

Father Hakam ibn Wa'il

Marwan ibn al-Hakam (623 - 685) (Arabic: الحكم بن ,was the fourth Umayyad Caliph (مروانwho took over the dynasty after Muawiya II abdicated in 684. Marwan's ascension pointed to a



shift in the lineage of the Umayyad dynasty from descendants of Abu Sufyan to those of Hakam, both of whom were grandsons of Umayya (for whom the Umayyad dynasty is named). Hakam was a first cousin of Uthman ibn Affan.

During the "Battle of the Camel" Marwan ibn al-Hakam is said to have shot his general Talha with an arrow to the thigh, resulting in his death. Marwan killed Talha in revenge for Talha's alleged betrayal of the third Caliph Uthman:

He was removed from this position by Ali, only to be reappointed by Muawiya I. Marwan was eventually removed from the city when Abdullah ibn Zubayr rebelled against Yazid I. From here, Marwan went to Damascus, where he was made the caliph after Muawiya II abdicated.

Marwan's short reign was marked by a civil war among the Umayyads as well as a war against Abdullah ibn Zubayr who continued to rule over the Hejaz, Iraq, Egypt and parts of Syria. Marwan was able to win the Umayyad civil war, the result of which was a new Marwanid line of Umayyad caliphs. He was also able to recapture Egypt and Syria from Abdullah, but was not able to completely defeat him. Shi'a hold that none of the Umayyad caliphs were legitimate. See Succession to Muhammad for more details.

Marwan I

Banu Umayya

Regnal titles

Preceded byMuawiyah II


Succeeded byAbd al-Malik

[edit] References

[edit] External links

http://www.dartabligh.org/books/ebooks/Role_vol1/page139.asp

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marwan_I"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | 623 births | 685 deaths | 7th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Abd al-MalikFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


For other uses, see Abd al-Malik (disambiguation).

Abd al-Malik


Reign 685 – 705

Full name Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan

Born 646 Mecca

Died 705

Predecessor Marwan I

Successor Al-Walid I

Dynasty Umayyad

Father Marwan I

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (646-705) (Arabic: مروان بن الملك was the 5th Umayyad (عبدCaliph. He was born in Mecca and grew up in Medinah ( both are cities in modern day Saudi Arabia ). Abd al-Malik was a well-educated man and capable ruler, despite the many political problems that impeded his rule. Ibn Khaldun states: “Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan is one of the greatest Arab and Muslim Caliphs. He followed in the footsteps of `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, the Commander of the Believers, in regulating state affairs.”

In his reign, all important records were translated into Arabic, and for the first time a special currency for the Muslim world was minted, which led to war with the Byzantine Empire under Justinian II. The Byzantines were led by Leontios at the Battle of Sebastopolis in 692 in Asia Minor and were decisively defeated by the Caliph after the defection of a large contingent of Slavs. The Islamic currency was then made the only currency exchange in the Muslim world. Also, many reforms happened in his time as regards agriculture and commerce. Abd al-malik was a capable ruler, who consolidated Muslim rule and extended it, made Arabic the state language, and organized a regular postal service[1].

Contents

[hide]

1 Campaigns in Iraq and Hejaz 2 Campaigns in North Africa 3 Reforms 4 Art and Architecture 5 Death 6 References 7 Bibliography

[edit] Campaigns in Iraq and Hejaz

Abd al-Malik became caliph after the death of his father Marwan I in 685. Within a few years, he dispatched armies, under al-Hajjaj bin Yousef, on a campaign to reassert Umayyad control over the Islamic empire. Hajjaj first defeated the governor of Basra and then led his forces into Hejaz, where Ibn Zubayr was killed - ending his short claim to the caliphate.The Siege of Mecca in 692CE started with Hajjaj at the head of about 12000 (most of those 12000 men were natives of Arabia but settled earlier in Syria) he set out against Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr, the caliph of Hejaz at Mecca. He advanced unopposed as far as his native Taif, which he took without any fighting and used as a base. The caliph had charged him first to negotiate with Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr and to assure him of freedom from punishment if he capitulated, but, if the opposition continued, to starve him out by siege, but on no account to let the affair result in bloodshed in the Holy City. Since the negotiations failed and al-Hajjaj lost patience, he sent a courier to ask Abd al-Malik for reinforcements and also for permission to take Mecca by force. He received both, and thereupon bombarded the Holy City using catapults from the mountain of Abu Qubays. The bombardment continued during the Pilgrimage or Hajj.

After the siege had lasted for seven months and 10,000 men, among them two of Abdullah Ibn al-Zubair 's sons, had gone over to al-Hajjaj, Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr with a few loyal followers, including his youngest son, were killed in the fighting around the Kaaba (Jumadah I 73/October 692)

Hajjaj's success led Abd al-Malik to assign him the role of governor of Iraq and give him free rein in the territories he controlled. Hajjaj arrived when there were many deserters in Basra and Kufa. He promptly and forcefully impelled them to return to combat. Hajjaj, after years of serious fighting, quelled religious disturbances, including the rebellion launched by Salih ibn Musarrih and continued after Salih's death by Shabib. These rebels repeatedly defeated more numerous forces and at their height entered Kufah. However, Abd al-Malik's Syrian reinforcements enabled Hajjaj to turn the tide.

Under Hajjaj, Arab armies put down the revolt of Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn al-Ash'ath in Iraq from 699 to 701 CE, and also took most of Turkestan. Abd al-Rahman rebelled following Hajjaj's repeated orders to push further into the lands of Zundil. After his defeat in Iraq, again achieved through Abd al-Malik's dispatch of Syrian reinforcements to Hajjaj, Abd ar Rahman returned east. There one city closed its gates to him and in another he was seized. However, Zundil's army arrived and secured his release. Later, Abd ar Rahman died and Zundil sent his head to Hajjaj who sent it to Abd al-Malik. These victories paved the way for greater expansions under Abd al-Malik's son Al-marvan.

[edit] Campaigns in North Africa

Caliph Abd al-Malik was effective in increasing the size of the empire. In Maghreb (western North Africa) in 686 CE a force led by Zuhayr ibn Qais won the Battle of Mamma over Byzantines and Berbers led by Kusaila, on the Qairawan plain, and re-took Ifriqiya and its capital Kairouan.

In 695 Hasan ibn al-Nu'man captured Carthage and advanced into the Atlas Mountains. A Byzantine fleet arrived, retook Carthage but in 698 Hasan ibn al-Nu'man returned and defeated Tiberios III at the Battle of Carthage. The Byzantines withdrew from all of Africa except Ceuta.

Hasan met trouble from the Zenata tribe of Berbers under al-Kahina. They inflicted a serious defeat on him and drove him back to Barqa. However, in 702 Abd al-Malik strongly reinforced him.Now with a large army and the support of the settled population of North Africa, Hasan pushed forward. He decisively defeated the Zenata in a battle at Tabarka, 85 miles west of Carthage. He then developed the village of Tunis ten miles from the destroyed Carthage. Around 705 Musa ibn Nusayr replaced Hasan. He pacified much of North Africa, though he failed to take Ceuta.

[edit] Reforms

Abd al-Malik instituted many reforms such as: making Arabic the official language of government across the entire empire, instituting a mint that produced a uniform set of aniconic currency, expansion and reorganization of postal service, repairing the damaged Kaaba and beginning the tradition of weaving a silk cover for the Kaaba in Damascus.

[edit] Art and Architecture

He also built the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, but parts of that city were also destroyed when Abd al-Malik's armies put down an uprising there. The Muslim scholar al-Wasiti reports this incidence:

Dome of the Rock, Constructed by Abd al-Malik

“ When Abd al-Malik intended to construct the Dome of the Rock, he came from Damascus to Jerusalem. He wrote, "Abd al-Malik intends to build a dome (qubba) over the Rock to house the Muslims from cold and heat, and to construct the masjid. But before he starts he wants to know his subjects' opinion." With their approval, the deputies wrote back, "May Allah permit the completion of this enterprise, and may He count the building of the dome and the masjid a good deed for Abd al-Malik and his predecessors." He then gathered craftsmen from all his dominions and asked them

”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jerusalem_Dome_of_the_rock_BW_3.JPG

to provide him with the description and form of the planned dome before he engaged in its construction. So, it was marked for him in the sahn of the masjid. He then ordered the building of the treasury (bayt al-mal) to the east of the Rock, which is on the edge of the Rock, and filled it with money. He then appointed Raja' ibn Hayweh and Yazid ibn Salam to supervise the construction and ordered them to spend generously on its construction. He then returned to Damascus. When the two men satisfactorily completed the house, they wrote to Abd al-Malik to inform him that they had completed the construction of the dome and al-Masjid al-Aqsa. They said to him "There is nothing in the building that leaves room for criticism." They wrote him that a hundred thousand dinars was left from the budget he allocated. He offered the money to them as a reward, but they declined, indicating that they had already been generously compensated. Abd al-Malik orders the gold coins to be melted and cast on the Dome's exterior, which at the time had a strong glitter that no eye could look straight at it.[2][3]

The two engineers Yazid ibn Salam, a Jerusalemite, and Raja' ibn Hayweh, from Baysan, were ordered to spend generously on the construction. In his Book of the Geography, al-Maqdisi reported that seven times the revenue of Egypt was used to build the Dome. During a discussion with his uncle on why the Caliph spent lavishly on building the mosques in Jerusalem and Damascus, al-Maqdisi writes:

“ O my little son, thou has no understanding. Verily he was right, and he was prompted to a worthy work. For he beheld Syria to be a country that had long been occupied by the Christians, and he noted there are beautiful churches still belonging to them, so enchantingly fair, and so renowned for their splendour, as are the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the churches of Lydda and Edessa. So he sought to build for the Muslims a mosque that should be unique and a wonder to the world. And in like manner is it not evident that Caliph Abd al-Malik, seeing the greatness of the martyrium of the Holy Sepulchre and its magnificence was moved lest it should dazzle the minds of Muslims and hence erected above the Rock the dome which is now seen there.[4] ”

[edit] Death

The last years of his reign were generally peaceful. Abd al-Malik wanted his son al-Walid I to succeed him, ignoring his father's decree that Abd al-Malik should be succeeded by his brother, Abd al-Aziz. However, Abd al-Malik accepted advice not to create disturbances by carrying out this design. In the event, Abd al-Aziz died before Abd al-Malik. Abd al-Malik then had his sons al-Walid and Sulayman, in that order, accepted as heirs to the throne. To history, Abd al-Malik is known as the "Father of Kings": his four sons succeded him as the caliph one after another[5].

[edit] References

1. ̂ Classical Islam G.Gunebam2. ̂ Abu-Bakr al-Wasiti, Fada'il Bayt al-Maqdis, pp. 80-81, vol 136.3. ̂ Nasser Rabbat, The Dome of the Rock Rvisited: Some Remarks on al-Wasiti's

Accounts, Muqaranas, Vol. 10, Essays in Honor of Oleg Grabar, pp. 66-75, 19934. ̂ Shams al-Din al-Maqdisi, Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Mar'rifat al-Aqalim, 2nd ed. (Leiden,

1967) pp. 159-171.5. ̂ Masudul Hasa, History of Islam

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari v. 21 "The Victory of the Marwanids," transl. Michael Fishbein, SUNY, Albany, 1990; v.22 "The Marwanid Restoration," transl. Everett K. Rowson, SUNY, Albany, 1989; v. 23 "The Zenith of the Marwanid House," transl. Martin Hinds, SUNY, Albany, 1990.

John Bagot Glubb The Empire of the Arabs, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1963

Abd al-Malik

Banu Umayya

Sunni Islam titles

Preceded byIbn Al-Zubayr

Islam Caliph692 – 705

Succeeded byAl-Walid I

Regnal titles

Preceded byMarwan I


Succeeded byAl-Walid I

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd_al-Malik"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | Tabi‘un | 646 births | 705 deaths | 7th-century caliphs | 8th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Al-Walid IFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, searchThis article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations of additional sources. (November 2008)

Al-Walid I

Reign 705 – 715

Full name Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik

Born 668

Died 715

Predecessor Abd al-Malik

Successor Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik

Royal House Banu Abd Shams

Dynasty Umayyad

Father Abd al-Malik

The Arab Empire in its greatest extent. Expansion under the Prophet Mohammad, 622-632 Expansion during the Patriarchal Caliphate, 632-661 Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750

Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik (Arabic: الملك عبد بن or Al-Walid I (668 - 715) was an (الوليدUmayyad caliph who ruled from 705 - 715. He continued the expansion of the Islamic empire that was sparked by his father, and was an effective ruler. His father Abd al-Malik had taken the oath of allegiance for Walid I during his lifetime [1].[unreliable source?]. As such the succession of Al-Walid I was not contested. His reign was marked by endless successions of conquests east and west.

Al-Walid I (705-715 AD/86-96 AH), began the Islamic conquests and took the early Islamic empire to its farthest extents. He reconquered parts of Egypt from the Byzantine Empire and moved on into Carthage and across to the west of North Africa. Then, in 711, Muslim armies crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and began to conquer Spain using North African Berber armies. By 716, the Visigoths of Spain had been defeated and Spain was under Muslim control. This would be the farthest extent of Islamic control of Europe (in 736, they were stopped in their expansion into Europe south of Tours, France). In the east, Islamic armies made it as far as the Indus River in 710—under Al-Walid, the caliphate empire stretched from Spain to India. Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef played a crucial role in the organization and selection of military commanders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Age-of-caliphs.png

Al-Walid paid great attention to the expansion of an organized military, building the strongest navy in Ummayad era, it was this tactic that supported the ultimate expansion to Spain. His reign is considered as the apex of Islamic power.

Al-Walid also began the first great buiilding projects of Islam, the most famous of which is the mosque at Damascus. The long history of Islamic architecture really begins with al-Walid. This is also the period, however, in which Islamic court culture begins to germinate. With the caliph as a patron, artists and writers begin to develop a new, partly secular culture based on Islamic ideas.

It was also Al-Walid that coupled islamicization with arabicization. Conversion was not forced on conquered peoples; however, since non-believers had to pay an extra tax and were not technically citizens, many people did convert for religious and non-religious reasons. This created several problems, particularly since Islam was so closely connected with being Arab. Being Arab, of course, was more than an ethnic identity, it was a tribal identity based on kinship and descent. As more and more Muslims were non-Arabs, the status of Arabs and their culture became threatened. In particular, large numbers of Coptic-speaking (Egypt) and Persian-speaking Muslims threatened the primacy of the very language that Islam is based on. In part to alleviate that threat, al-Walid instituted Arabic as the only official language of the empire. He decreed that all administration was to be done only in Arabic. It was this move that would cement the primacy of Arabic language and culture in the Islamic world.

Like his father, Al-Walid continued to allow Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef free rein, and his trust in Al-Hajjaj paid off with the successful conquests of Transoxiana and Sindh. Musa ibn Nusayr and his retainer Tariq ibn Ziyad conquered Al-Andalus. Al-Hajjaj was responsible for picking the generals who led the successful eastern campaigns, and was well known from his own successful campaign against Ibn Zubayr during the reign of Al-Walid's father. Others, such as al-Walid's brother Salamah, advanced against the Byzantines and into Adharbayjan.

Valladolid is an industrial city and it is a municipality in north-central Spain, upon the Rio Pisuerga and within the Ribera del Duero region. It is the capital of the province of Valladolid and of the autonomous community of Castile and Leon, therefore is part of the historical region of Castile. The name "Valladolid" is linked with the Arabic name for the city الوليد meaning بلدThe City of Al- Walid.

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari describes how Qutaibah bin Muslim, Khurasan's governor, led forces extending the caliphate to the east. Qutaibah campaigned in most, if not all, years of this reign, conquering Samarqand, advancing into Farghana and sending envoys to China. (v. 23)

Al-Tabari records how al-Hajjaj tortured Yazid ibn al-Muhallab. Yazid escaped and made his way to al-Walid's brother Suleiman ibn Abd al-Malik who granted him refuge. Al-Hajjaj pressed al-Walid about this and al-Walid commanded Suleiman to send him Yazid in chains. Suleiman had his own son approach al-Walid chained to Yazid and speak in favour of Yazid's safety. Al-Walid accepted this and told al-Hajjaj to desist. (v. 23, p. 156f)

Umayyad Mosque built by Al-Walid

Al-Walid himself continued the effective rule that was characteristic of his father, he developed a welfare system, built hospitals, educational institutions and measures for the appreciation of art.

Dome of the Rock built by Walid

In 691, Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ordered that the Dome of the Rock be built on the site where the Islamic Prophet Muhammad begun his journey to heaven (Meraj) on the Temple Mount. About a decade afterward, Caliph Al-Walid I ordered the building of Al-Aqsa Mosque.[73] It was under Umayyad rule of Al-Walid and his father Abd al-Malik that Christians and Jews were granted the official title of "Peoples of the Book" to underline the common monotheistic roots they shared with Islam.

Al-Walid himself was an enthusiast of architecture and he repaired and refurbished Masjid al Nabawi in Medina. He also improved mountain passes and wells in Hijaz (al-Tabari v. 23, p. 144). In addition, he demolished the Christian Basilica of St. John the Baptist to build a great mosque, now known as the Great Mosque of Damascus or simply the Umayyad Mosque (John the Baptist is considered a Prophet of Islam and is known as Yahya).

The Grand Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Umayyad Mosque (Arabic: أمية بني جامع transl. Ğām' Banī 'Umayyah al-Kabīr), is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the ,الكبير

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Omayyad_mosque.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dome_of_the_Rock1.jpg

world. Located in one of the holiest sites in the old city of Damascus, it is of great architectural importance.

The mosque holds a shrine which is said to contain the head of John the Baptist, honoured as a prophet by Muslims and Christians alike. The head was supposedly found during the excavations for the building of the mosque. The tomb of Saladin stands in a small garden adjoining the north wall of the mosque.

In 2001 Pope John Paul II visited the mosque, primarily to visit the relics of John the Baptist. It was the first time a pope paid a visit to a mosque.

In an article titled “Syria: Crossroads of the Levant”, featured on Syria’s Ministry of Tourism website [1], Richard Moore reports that “the highlight to the Old City was the Umayyad Mosque."

Initially, the Muslim conquest of Damascus in 636 did not affect the church, as the building was shared by Muslim and Christian worshippers. It remained a church although the Muslims built a mud brick structure against the southern wall so that they could pray.

Under the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid I, however, the church was demolished and between 706 and 715 the current mosque built in its place. According to the legend, Al-Walid I himself initiated the demolition by driving a golden spike into the church. At that point in time, Damascus was one of the most important cities in the Middle East and would later become the capital of the Umayyad caliphate.

He was also known for his own personal piety, and many stories tell of his continual reciting of the Qur'an and the large feasts he hosted for those fasting during Ramadan. He was married to Umm Banin bint Abdul Aziz ibn Marwan ibn Hakam.

Al-Walid was succeeded by his brother Suleiman.

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, v. 23 "The Zenith of the Marwanid House," transl. Martin Hinds, SUNY, Albany, 1990

[edit] References

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009)

1. ̂ Muhammad and conquests of Islam by Francesco Gabreili

Preceded by Caliph Succeeded by

Abd al-Malik 705–715 Suleiman

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Walid_I"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | 668 births | 715 deaths | 8th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles lacking reliable references from November 2008 | All articles lacking sources | Articles containing Arabic language text | All articles lacking reliable references | Articles lacking reliable references from September 2009 | Articles lacking in-text citations from April 2009 | All articles lacking in-text citations

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Sulayman ibn Abd al-MalikFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



(Redirected from Suleiman of Umayyad)Jump to: navigation, search

Sulayman

Reign 715 – 717

Full name Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik

Born 674

Died 717

Predecessor Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik

Successor Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz


Dynasty Umayyad

Father Abd al-Malik

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Sulayman bin Abd al-Malik (Arabic: الملك عبد بن c. 674 - 717) was an Umayyad ;سليمانcaliph who ruled from 715 until 717. His father was Abd al-Malik, and he was a younger brother of the previous caliph, al-Walid I.

Contents

[hide]

1 Early years 2 Assumption of power as caliph and his appointments

3 Policies as caliph 4 Naming of his successor 5 Death 6 References 7 Sources

[edit] Early years

Under the rule of his brother al-walid ( عبدالملک .he had been the governor of Palestine (الولیدبنIn the tribal politics of the Near East at that time he allied himself to the Yamani grouping. When Yazid ibn al-Muhallab escaped from al-Hajjaj, he made his way to Sulayman in Palestine. Sulayman granted him refuge. Al-Hajjaj pressed al-Walid about this and the caliph commanded Sulayman to send him Yazid in chains. Sulayman had his own son chained to Yazid approach al-Walid and present Sulayman's forcefully written letter insisting on sanctuary for Yazid. Al-Walid accepted this and so informed al-Hajjaj.

[edit] Assumption of power as caliph and his appointments

Sulayman was hailed as caliph on February 23, 715, the day al-Walid died. He appointed Yazid ibn al-Muhallab governor of Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Salih ibn Abd al-Rahman financial administrator there. Salih was also instructed to arrest and execute the family of al-Hajjaj, one of two prominent leaders (the other was Qutaibah bin Muslim} who had supported the succession of al-Walid's son Yazid, rather than Sulayman. Al-Hajjaj had predeceased al-Walid, so he was no longer alive to pose a threat.

Qutaibah was considerably alarmed at the ascension of Sulayman to the throne. He first sent an envoy to the caliph with letters asserting his loyalty as he was loyal to previous caliphs, urging Sulayman not to replace Qutaibah as governor of Khurasan with Yazid ibn al-Muhallab and, finally, if the envoy saw Sulayman favouring Yazid, with Qutaibah's renunciation of allegiance to Sulayman. Sulayman sent the envoy back with a confirmation of Qutaibah's governorship. However, Qutaibah had already attempted to rebel. Qutaibah's troops rejected his appeal to revolt, killed him and sent his head to Sulayman[1]

Sulayman appointed Yazid ibn al-Muhallab governor of Khurasan. Yazid was happy to escape the financial strictness of Salih ibn Abd al-Rahman in Mesopotamia (Iraq).

[edit] Policies as caliph

As he remained close to the Yamanis, Suleiman did not move to Damascus on becoming Caliph, but rather he remained in Ramla in Palestine. His Khurasani governor Yazid continued expansion into mountainous parts of Iran such as Tabaristan. Sulayman also sent a large army under Maslama ibn Abdul-Malik to attack the Byzantine capital, Constantinople. This was a determined attack that lasted through the winter. The caliph's armies also advanced beyond Byzantine territory and took a Slavic stronghold[2]. The siege of Constantinople occasioned

hunger inside the city and among the besiegers. It ultimately proved to be unsuccessful. Suleiman was on his way to attack the Byzantine border when he died in 717.

In the domestic scene, he had wells built in Mecca for pilgrims, and organized enforcement of prayers. Suleiman was known for his exceptional oratory skills and was fondly remembered[3].

[edit] Naming of his successor

In A.H. 98 (716-717) Sulayman named his son Ayyub heir to the throne. However, Ayyub died that same year. Sulayman considered naming a son to replace him. However, he received advice that it was uncertain the son fighting at Constantinople was still alive and others were too young. So, he passed these over, broke with tradition by not maintaining a hereditary dynasty and appointed Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as his successor. Umar had a reputation as being one of the most wise, capable and pious persons of that era. This appointment is rare, although it technically fulfils the Sunni Islamic method of appointing a successor, whereas hereditary succession does not[4] [5].

[edit] Death

Sulayman donned an impressive green robe and turban and seeing himself in the mirror commented on how he looked to be in the prime of life. A week later he was dead. He died on either September 22 or October 1, 717. Al-Tabari [6] records the following anecdote: "According to 'Ali--Suhaym b. Hafs: A slave girl belonging to Sulayman looked at him one day, and he asked, "How do you like what you see?" She recited:

You are the best object of delight--if only you would last./ But man does not possess immortality.

I do not know of any blemish in you/ that other people have, except that you will pass away.

[edit] References

1. ̂ re Qutaibah, al-Tabari v. 24 pp 5–25, head 302. ̂ al-Tabari v. 24, p. 423. ̂ al-Tabari v. 24, p. 624. ̂ Atyya, Bassam (in Arabic). Political Thought of Ibn Taymiya (1st ed.). Amman: Yaqut.

p. 169., page 1695. ̂ Ibn Hazm. Al-fasl fil al-Milal wal-Nihal (in Arabic), page 286. ̂ v. 24 p. 63

[edit] Sources

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, v. 23 The Zenith of the Marwanid House, transl. Martin Hinds, Suny, Albany, 1990; v. 24 The Empire in Transition, transl. David Stephan Powers, Suny, Albany, 1989

Preceded byAl-Walid I

Caliph715–717

Succeeded byUmar II

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulayman_ibn_Abd_al-Malik"Categories: 674 births | 717 deaths | Umayyad caliphs | 8th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Umar ibn AbdulAzizFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz)


Umar II

Reign 717-720

Full name Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz

Born 682

Died 720

Predecessor Suleiman ibn Abd al-Malik

Successor Yazid bin Abd al-Malik


Dynasty Umayyad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banu_Abd_Shams

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Father Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan

Mother Umm Asim bint Asim

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Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (c. 682 - February, 720) [1] (Arabic: العزيز عبد ابن was an (عمرUmayyad caliph who ruled from 717 to 720. Unlike previous Umayyad caliphs, he was not a hereditary successor to the former caliph, but was elected. He was also a cousin of the former caliph, being the son of Abd al-Malik's younger brother, Abd al-Aziz. He was also a great-grandson of the companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Umar bin Al-Khattab.

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1 Lineage 2 Biography

o 2.1 682 – 715: Early Life o 2.2 715 – 715: Al-Walid I's era o 2.3 715 – 717: Sulayman's era o 2.4 717 – 720: His own era

2.4.1 Disdainful of luxuries 2.4.2 Halt to the cursing of Ali 2.4.3 Sharia 2.4.4 Military 2.4.5 Death

o 2.5 Quote 3 Legacy

o 3.1 Views 4 Bibliography 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Lineage

Umar was born around 682. Some traditions state that he was born in Medina while others claim that he was born in Egypt.

According to a Sunni Muslim tradition, Umar's lineage to Umar ibn al-Khattab stems from a famous event during the second Caliph's rule. During one of his frequent disguised journeys to survey the condition of his people, Umar overheard a milkmaid refusing to obey her mother's orders to sell adulterated milk. He sent an officer to purchase milk from the girl the next day and learned that she had kept her resolve; the milk was unadulterated. Umar summoned the girl and her mother to his court and told them what he had heard. As a reward, he offered to marry the girl to his son Asim. She accepted, and from this union was born a girl named Layla that would in due course become the mother of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.

[edit] Biography

[edit] 682 – 715: Early Life

Umar would grow up in Medina and live there until the death of his father, after which he was summoned to Damascus by Abd al-Malik and married to his daughter Fatima. His father-in-law would die soon after, and he would serve as governor of Medina under his cousin Al-Walid I.

[edit] 715 – 715: Al-Walid I's era

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Unlike most rulers of that era, Umar formed a council with which he administered the province. His time in Medina was so notable that official grievances sent to Damascus all but ceased. In addition, many people emigrated to Medina from Iraq seeking refuge from their harsh governor, Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef. This angered Al-Hajjaj, and he pressed al-Walid to remove Umar. Much to the dismay of the people of Medina, al-Walid bowed to Hajjaj's pressure and dismissed Umar from his post. By this time, Umar had developed an impeccable reputation across the Islamic empire.

[edit] 715 – 717: Sulayman's era

Umar continued to live in Medina through the remainder of al-Walid's reign and that of Walid's brother Suleiman. Suleiman, who was Umar's cousin and had always admired him, ignored his own brothers and son when it came time to appoint his successor and instead nominated Umar. Umar reluctantly accepted the position after trying unsuccessfully to dissuade Suleiman, and he approached it unlike any other Ummayad caliph before him.

[edit] 717 – 720: His own era

[edit] Disdainful of luxuries

Umar was extremely pious and disdainful of worldly luxuries. He preferred simplicity to the extravagance that had become a hallmark of the Umayyad lifestyle, depositing all assets and finery meant for the caliph into the public treasury. He abandoned the caliphate palace to the family of Suleiman and instead preferred to live in modest dwellings. He wore rough linens instead of royal robes, and often went unrecognized.

According to a Muslim tradition, a female visitor once came to Umar's house seeking charity and saw a raggedly-dressed man patching holes in the building's walls. Assuming that the man was a servant of the caliph, she asked Umar's wife, "Don't you fear God? Why don't you veil in the presence of this man?" The woman was shocked to learn that the "servant" was in fact the caliph himself.

Though he had the people's overwhelming support, he publicly encouraged them to elect someone else if they were not satisfied with him (an offer no one ever took him up on). Umar confiscated the estates seized by Ummayad officials and redistributed them to the people, while making it a personal goal to attend to the needs of every person in his empire. Fearful of being tempted into bribery, he rarely accepted gifts, and when he did; he promptly deposited them in the public treasury. He even encouraged his own wife—who had been daughter, sister and wife to three caliphs in their turn—to donate her jewelry to the public treasury.

At one point he almost ordered the Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus to be stripped of its precious stones and expensive fixtures in favor of the treasury, but he desisted on learning that the Mosque was a source of envy to his Byzantine rivals in Constantinople. These moves made him unpopular with the Umayyad court, but endeared him to the masses, so much so that the court could not move against him in the open.

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[edit] Halt to the cursing of Ali

Umar made a number of important religious reforms. He abolished the long-standing Umayyad and Khawaarij custom of cursing Ali ibn Abi Talib (the fourth Caliph), at the end of Friday sermons and ordered the following Qu'ranic verse be recited instead:

- Surely God enjoins justice, doing of good and giving to kinsfolk.

[edit] Sharia

In addition, Umar was keen to enforce the Sharia, pushing to end drinking and bathhouses where men and women would mix freely. He continued the welfare programs of the last few Umayyad caliphs, expanding them and including special programs for orphans and the destitute. He would also abolish the Jizya tax for converts to Islam, who were former dhimmis, who used to be taxed even after they had converted under other Umayyad rulers.

Generally, Umar II is credited with having ordered the first collection of hadith material in an official manner, fearing that some of it might be lost. Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Hazm and Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, are among those who compiled hadiths at `Umar II’s behest. [2].

[edit] Military

Though Umar did not place as much an emphasis on expanding the Empire's borders as his predecessors had, he was not passive. Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari states that he sent Ibn Hatim ibn al-Nu'man to repel Turks invading Azerbaijan (v. 24 pp. 74–75). He faced Kharijite uprising and preferred negotiations to armed conflict, personally holding talks with two Kharijite envoys shortly before his death (v. 24, p. 77-78). He recalled the troops besieging Constantinople (p. 74). These were led by his cousin Maslama. This Second Arab siege of Constantinople had failed to take the city and was sustaining heavy losses at the hands of allied Byzantine and Bulgarian forces. Its defeat was a serious blow to Umayyad prestige.

[edit] Death

His reforms in favor of the people greatly angered the nobility of the Umayyads, and they would eventually bribe a servant into poisoning his food. Umar learned of this on his death bed and pardoned the culprit, collecting the punitive payments he was entitled to under Islamic Law but depositing them in the public treasury. He died in February, 720, probably the 10th and probably forty years old (v. 24, pp. 91–92) in Aleppo.

He was succeeded by his cousin Yazid II.

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“ Rulers usually appoint people to watch over their subjects. I appoint you a watcher over me and my behaviour. If you find me at fault in word or action guide me and stop me from doing it. ”

-Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz

[edit] Legacy

While Umar's reign was very short (three years), he is very highly regarded in Muslim memory.

[edit] Views

He is considered one of the finest rulers in Muslim history, second only to the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs. In fact, in some circles, he is affectionately referred to as the Fifth and the last Rightly Guided Caliph.

Shah Waliullah, a 18th century Sunni Islamic scholar stated [3]:

“ A Mujadid appears at the end of every century: The Mujtahid of the 1st century was Imam of Ahlul Sunnah, Umar bin Abdul Aziz. The Mujadid of the 2nd century was Imam of Ahlul Sunnah Muhammad Idrees Shaafi the Mujadid of the 3rd century was Imam of Ahlul Sunnah Abu Hasan Ashari the Mujadid of the 4th century was Abu Abdullah Hakim Nishapuri. ”

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. The Empire in Transition, v. 24. transl. David Stephan Powers, SUNY, Albany, 1989.

[edit] See also

Pact of Umar

Preceded bySuleiman

Caliph717–720

Succeeded byYazid II

[edit] References

1. ̂ Umar II - Britannica Online Encyclopedia2. ̂ http://people.uncw.edu/bergh/par246/L21RHadithCriticism.htm3. ̂ Izalat al-Khafa p. 77 part 7

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Yazid IIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Yazid bin Abd al-Malik or Yazid II (687 - 724) (Arabic: الملك عبد بن was an Umayyad (يزيدcaliph who ruled from 720 until his death in 724.

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari states Yazid came to power on the death of Umar II on February 10, 720 (v. 24, p. 91) . His forces engaged in battle the Kharijites with whom Umar had been negotiating. After initial setbacks, Yazid's troops prevailed and the Kharijite leader Shawdhab was killed. Yazid ibn al-Muhallab had escaped confinement on the death of Umar. He made his way to Iraq. There he was much supported. He refused to acknowledge Yazid II as caliph and led a very serious uprising. Initially successful, he was defeated and killed by the forces of Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik.

Numerous civil wars began to break out in different parts of the empire such as in the Al Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula), North Africa and in the east. In A.H. 102 (720-721) in Ifriqiyah, the harsh governor Yazid ibn Muslim was overthrown and Muhammad ibn Yazid, the former governor, restored to power. The caliph accepted this and confirmed Muhammad ibn Yazid as governor of Ifriqiyah.

Al-Djarrah ibn Abdullah, Yazid's governor in Armenia and Azerbaijan, pushed into the Caucuses, taking Balanjar in A.H. 104 (722-723). That same year Yazid's governor in Medina, Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Dahhak, incurred the caliph's displeasure because the governor was exerting undue pressure trying to force a woman to marry him. She appealed to Yazid who replaced Abd al-Rahman with Abd al-Walid ibn Abdallah (at Tabari v. 24, p. 180f).

Theophanes the Confessor (p. 93) states that a wizard advised Yazid that he would reign for forty years, if he opposed Christian icons. Yazid did so, but died the same year he issued his iconoclastic decree. Anti-Umayyad groups began to gain power among the disaffected. Al-Tabari records that Abbasids were promoting their cause in A.H. 102 (720-721). They were already building a power base that they would later use to topple the Umayyads in CE 750.

An anecdote told of Yazid is that his wife Sudah learning he was pining for an expensive slave girl, purchased this slave girl and presented her to Yazid as a gift. This woman's name was Hababah and she predeceased Yazid (at Tabari v. 24, p. 196).

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Yazid II died in 724 of tuberculosis. He was succeeded by his brother Hisham.

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, History v. 24 "The Empire in Transition," transl. David Stephan Powers, SUNY, Albany, 1989.

Theophanes the Confessor, The Chronicle of Theophanes, transl. Harry Turtledove, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1982

Preceded byUmar II

Caliph720–724

Succeeded byHisham

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazid_II"Categories: 687 births | 724 deaths | Umayyad caliphs | Deaths from tuberculosis | 8th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Hisham ibn Abd al-MalikFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search"Hisham" redirects here. For the hadith narrator, see Hisham ibn Urwah.

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Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (691–6 February 743) (Arabic: الملك عبد بن 10th Umayyad (هشامcaliph who ruled from 723 until his death in 743. When he was born in 691 his mother named him after her father.

Inheriting the caliphate from his brother Yazid II, Hisham was ruling an empire with many different problems. He would, however, be effective in attending to these problems, and in allowing the Umayyad empire to continue as an entity. His long rule was an effective one, and it saw a rebirth of reforms that were originated by Umar bin Abd al-Aziz.

Like his brother al-Walid I, Hisham was a great patron of the arts, and he again encouraged arts in the empire. He also encouraged the growth of education by building more schools, and perhaps most importantly, by overseeing the translation of numerous literary and scientific masterpieces into Arabic. He returned to a stricter interpretation of the Sharia as Umar had, and enforced it, even upon his own family. His ability to stand up to the Umayyad clan may have been an important factor in his success, and may point to why his brother Yazid was ineffective.

On the military front his empire suffered a series of setbacks, including in Transoxiana. Hisham sent armies to end the Hindu rebellion in Sindh, and was successful when the Hindu ruler Jai Singh was killed. This allowed the Umayyads to reassert their rule over some portions of their provinces in India. In Spain, the internal conflicts of the years past were ended, and Hisham's governor, Abd ar Rahman ibn Abdallah, assembled a large army that went into France. He besieged Bordeaux and pushed to the Loire. This marked the limit of Arabic conquest in Western Europe. The wave was halted at the Battle of Tours by Charles Martel who inflicted a crushing defeat to the Arabs.

Under Hisham's rule, regular raids against the Byzantines continued. One regular commander of Arab forces was the redoubtable Maslamah, Hisham's brother. He fought the Byzantines in A.H. 107 (725-726) and the next year captured Caesarea Mazaca. He also opposed Turks in the Caucasus. In A.H. 110 he fought for a month against the Khaqan there and defeated him. Mu'awiyah ibn Hisham was another Arab commander in the almost annual raids against the Byzantine Empire. In A.H. 110 he took the fort of Samalu in Cilicia. The next year Mu'awiyah thrust left and Sa'id ibn Hisham right. In addition there was also a sea raid. In A.H. 112 Mu'awiyah captured Kharsianon in Cappadocia.

Mu'awiyah raided the Byzantine Empire in A.H. 113 (731-732). The next year he captured Aqrun (Akroinos), while Abdallah al-Battal took a Byzantine commander prisoner. Mu'awiyah raided Byzantium in A.H. 115, 116, 117 and 118. In A.H. 119 (737) al Walid ibn al Qa'qa al-Absi led the raid against the Byzantines. The next year Sulayman captured Sindirah (Sideroun). In A.H. 121 (738-739) Maslamah captured some of Cappadocia and also raided the Avars. Theophanes the Confessor (p. 103) states that while some Arabs raided successfully in 739 and returned home safely, others were soundly defeated. See Battle of Akroinon. He records that internal Byzantine strife facilitated Arab raids by Sulayman in 741-742 (p. 106) that resulted in many Byzantines made Arab captives. At Tabari refers to the same raid. (v. 26, p. 68)

In North Africa, Kharijite teachings combined with natural local restlessness to produce a significant Berber revolt. In 740 A large Berber force surrounded a loyal army at Wadi Sherif.

The loyalists fought to the death. Hisham dispatched a force of 27,000 Syrians. This was destroyed in 741. In 742 Handhala ibn Safwan began successfully, but soon was besieged in Qairawan. He led a desperate sortie from the city that scattered the Berbers, killing thousands and re-establishing Umayyad rule.

Hisham also faced a revolt by the armies of Zayd bin Ali, grandson of Husayn bin Ali, which was however easily put down. Zayd had faced litigation. He had been initially favoured by Hisham, though the caliph was displeased by Zayd's suggestions that Zayd was superior. Kufans encouraged Zayd to revolt. Zayd was ordered to leave Kufah and though he appeared to set out for Mecca, he returned and dwelt secretly in Kufah moving from house to house and receiving the allegiance of many people. Yusuf ibn Umar, Iraq's governor, learned of the plot, commanded the people to gather at the great mosque, locked them inside and began a search for Zayd.

Zayd with some troops fought his way to the mosque and called on people to come out. He then pushed back Yusuf's troops, but was felled by an arrow. Although his body was initially buried, the spot was pointed out and it was extracted, beheaded and the head sent to Hisham and later to Medina.

Despite Hisham's successes, the Abbasids continued to gain power, building power bases in Khurasan and Iraq. However, they would not prove strong enough to make a move yet. Some of them were caught, punished or executed by eastern governors.

Hisham died of diphtheria on Wednesday, February 6, 743. He impressed others with his simplicity and honesty. He wore the same green cloak he had worn since before becoming caliph. He demonstrated he knew how to make bread and to milk a goat. He was conscientious in administering the finances of the empire. As all the Marwanids, he did not draw the military stipend, unless actually on campaign. He dwelt in the desert to avoid plague. Near the Byzantine site of al-Rusafah he built two castles. Hisham was succeeded by his nephew al-Walid ibn Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik Walid II.

[edit] Bibliography

The End of Expansion: The Caliphate of Hisham A.D. 724-738/A.H. 105-120 by Jere L. Bacharach and Khalid Y. Blankinship, Albany, SUNY Press, 1989.

Preceded byYazid II

Caliph724–743

Succeeded byWalid II

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisham_ibn_Abd_al-Malik"Categories: Deaths from diphtheria | 691 births | 743 deaths | 8th-century caliphs | Umayyad caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Al-Walid IIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Walid ibn Yazid or Walid II (died April 16, 744) (Arabic: يزيد بن was an Umayyad (الوليدcaliph who ruled from 743 until 744. He succeeded his uncle, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.

Al-Walid succeeded to the throne on the death of Hisham on February 6, 743. As al-Walid grew older, Hisham became more displeased with him and even urged him to step aside in favour of Hisham's son. Hisham spoke to al-Walid about his drinking and living a dissolute life. The caliph commanded al-Walid to send away his best drinking companion. He also cut off funds to the heir and strongly encouraged him to be more respectful in matters religious.

As heir, al-Walid was known for his open handedness. When he became caliph, he took special care of the crippled and blind. He increased the stipend. He named his two sons, al-Hakam and Uthman, to succeed him in that order. There's an eloquent letter on this theme dated May 21, 743 in at Tabari (pp. 106–115). At Tabari also quotes a number of al-Walid's poems.

Al-Walid at first confirmed Nasr ibn Sayyar as governor of Khurasan. However, bribed by Yusuf ibn Umar, the caliph dismissed Nasr. Al-Walid also appointed his uncle Yusuf ibn Muhammad governor of Medina. Yahya ibn Zayd was found in Khurasan. Nasr urged him to present himself to the caliph, bearing in mind the essential nature of Islamic unity. However, Yahya chose another path and after initial victory was slain.

Al-Walid put Sulayman ibn Hisham in prison. Such a deed, as well as his reputed drinking, singing and immorality aroused considerable opposition. Al-Walid was fond of versifying and he arranged horse races. The upright Yazid ibn al-Walid spoke against the new ruler's moral laxity. A group began plotting his assassination. When approached, Khalid ibn Abdallah declined to join in and even cautioned al-Walid. However, his vague warning aroused the ire of al-Walid who imprisoned Khalid and then gave him to Yusuf ibn Umar for an offer of fifty million dirhams. Yusuf tortured and killed Khalid. This intensely angered many of al-Walid's own relatives.

Hearing of the plot, Marwan ibn Muhammad wrote from Armenia urging a more prudent course of action, one more promising for the stability of the state and the preservation of the Umayyad house. This was disregarded and many armed men moved into Damascus. The caliph was besieged in a castle outside the city. He fought well, but on April 16, 744, Al-Aghdaf, in modern Jordan, he was defeated and killed by the forces of Sulayman ibn Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. He was succeeded by his cousin Yazid III.

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History, v. 26 "The Waning of the Umayyad Caliphate," transl. Carole Hillenbrand, SUNY, Albany, 1989

Glubb, Sir John, The Empire of the Arabs, Hodder and Stoughton, london, 1963

Preceded byHisham

Caliph743–744

Succeeded byYazid III

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Walid_II"Categories: 744 deaths | Umayyad caliphs | Military personnel killed in action | 8th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Yazid IIIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Yazid ibn al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik or Yazid III (701 - 744) (Arabic: ابن الوليد ابن يزيدالملك was an Umayyad caliph. He reigned for six months, from April 15 to October 3 or (عبد

4, 744; and died in that office.

Yazid was the son of a Persian princess who had been gifted as a concubine to Caliph al-Walid I.[1] Al-Tabari quotes a couplet of Yazid's on his own ancestry:[2]

I am the son of Choesroes, my ancestor was Marwan,Caesar was my grandsire and my grandsire was Khaqan.[3]

Tabari further records descriptions of Yazid as tall and handsome

During the reign of his cousin al-Walid II, Yazid spoke out against Walid's "immorality" which included discrimination on behalf of the Banu Qays Arabs against Yemenis and non-Arab Muslims, and Yazid received further support from the Qadariya and Murji'iya (believers in human free will).[4] Yazid slipped into Damascus and deposed Walid in a coup; following this up with a disbursement of funds from the treasury.[5]

According to Yazid's own account, Yazid sent 'Abd al-Aziz ibn al-Hajjaj to meet Walid at al-Bakhra'.[6] 'Abd al-Aziz offered to set up a shura to decide on the future of the realm. Walid rejected this offer and attacked, by which action he lost his life.[7] Yazid had Walid's head hoisted

"on a lance and paraded around Damascus"; Yazid then imprisoned Walid's sons 'Uthman and Hakam,[8] whom Walid had designated as his heirs.[9]

On accession, Yazid explained that he had rebelled on behalf of the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Prophet, and that this entailed ensuring that the strong not prey upon the weak. He promised "to engage in no building works, squander no money on wives or children, transfer no money from one province to another" without reason, "keep no troops on the field too long", and not to overtax the ahl al-dhimma; instead, he would eschew discrimination and would make his payments on time. He promised abdication if he failed to meet these goals, and held in principle to al-amr shura - to an elected caliphate.[10]

Tabari records Yazid's nickname "the Diminisher (Naqis)", for his reduction in military annuities by 10%[11], where his predecessor had promised a raise. Islamic popular tradition, recorded in apocalyptic, comments that Yazid would go himself into the marketplace.[12]

The city of Hims refused allegiance to Yazid, and there were several other dissident movements against him.[13] Another cousin Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan, governor of Armenia, had initially supported Walid and on that one's death entered Iraq to avenge him.[14] Marwan eventually rallied around Yazid.

Yazid appointed Mansur ibn Jumhur to replace Yusuf ibn 'Umar as governor of Iraq. In May 15, Yazid wrote a letter, preserved from oral sources in al-Mada'ini (reproduced in Tabari) and in al-Baladhuri. It supports the Umayyad dynasty up to but not including "the enemy of Allah" al-Walid II; at which point it lays out Yazid's version of the event at al-Bakhra'. At the end, Tabari's rendition has Yazid exhorting the Iraqis to follow Mansur ibn Jumhur.[15]

Yusuf ibn 'Umar was subsequently imprisoned and later killed by the son of Khalid ibn 'Abd Allah. Mansur attempted to dismiss the Khurasani governor Nasr ibn Sayyar, but Nasr refused to accept this. Facing opposition from al-Kirmani, Nasr invited al-Harith to return from his thirteen year stay in Turkish territory. Al-Harith arrived wearing a fine suit of armour the Khaqan had given him and gaining the support of many people in Khurasan.

Yazid named his brother Ibrahim as his successor. Yazid fell ill of a brain tumour.[16] He died on October 3 or 4, 744. Ibrahim duly succeeded him.

[edit] Bibliography

1. ̂ Philip Khuri Hitti, History Of Syria (Gorgias Press LLC, 2004), 4892. ̂ Tabari, 2433. ̂ transl. Sir John Glubb, The Empire of the Arabs, 2004. ̂ von Ess, "Kadar", Encyclopedia of Islam 2nd Ed.5. ̂ Theophilus. Quoted Robert Hoyland, Seeing Islam as Others Saw It (Darwin Press,

1998), 6606. ̂ 1234 Chronicle apud Hoyland confirms this, 660; it was a fortress near Palmyra. 1234

and Muslim sources dispute over whether Walid was there all along or whether he had fled there.

7. ̂ Patricia Crone, God's Caliph (Cambridge U Press, 1986), 1278. ̂ Theophilus and Muslim sources apud Hoyland, 660-19. ̂ God's Caliph 124-510. ̂ God's Caliph, 68, 10711. ̂ Philip Khuri Hitti, 47812. ̂ David Cook, Studies in Muslim Apocalyptic, 350: appendix I, III, 12 a13. ̂ 1234 Chronicle apud Hoyland, 66114. ̂ Theophilus apud Hoyland, 66115. ̂ God's Caliph, 126f16. ̂ Dionysius of Telmahre apud Hoyland, 661 n 193

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History, v. 26 "The Waning of the Umayyad Caliphate," transl. Carole Hillenbrand, SUNY, Albany, 1989

Sir John Glubb, The Empire of the Arabs, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1963

Preceded byAl-Walid II

Caliph744

Succeeded byIbrahim

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazid_III"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | 701 births | 744 deaths | 8th-century caliphsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Ibrahim ibn al-WalidFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Ibrahim of Ummayyad)Jump to: navigation, search

Ibrahim ibn Al-Walid (Arabic: الملك عبد بن الوليد ابن .was an Umayyad caliph (ابراهيمHe only ruled for a short time in 744 before he abdicated, and went into hiding out of fear of his political opponents. The shortness of this time and his incomplete acceptance led Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari to state that he did not succeed in becoming caliph (v. 26, p. 247). However, at Tabari (p. 13) does record that Ibrahim as caliph did confirm the appointment of Abdallah ibn Umar as governor of Iraq. (v. 27, p. 13)

Ibrahim was named heir apparent by his brother Yazid III. Marwan II decided to oppose Yazid III, and even though he later gave allegiance to Yazid, on the early death of that caliph, Marwan continued his own ambitions. Ibrahim requested and was granted Marwan's assurance of personal safety. He travelled with Marwan to former Caliph Hisham's residence at Rusafah in Syria.

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History v. 26 "The Waning of the Umayyad Caliphate," transl. Carole Hillenbrand, SUNY, Albany, 1989; v. 27 "The Abbasid Revolution," transl. John Alden Williams, SUNY, Albany, 1985

Preceded byYazid III

Caliph744

Succeeded byMarwan II

This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Islam is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_ibn_al-Walid"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | 8th-century caliphs | Islamic biography stubsHidden categories: Articles containing Arabic language text

Marwan IIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Califate in 750From The Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1923Courtesy of The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Califate_750.jpg

Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan al-Himaar (688-750) (Arabic: بن مروانالحكم بن مروان بن was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was (محمد

killed. He was the last Umayyad ruler to rule from Damascus.

In A.H. 114 (732-733) Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H. 117 (735-736) Marwan took three fortresses of the Alans and made peace with Tumanshah. In A.H. 121 he launched further raids and obtained tribute. In A.H. 126 on hearing news of the plotting to overthrow al-Walid II Marwan wrote to his relatives from Armenia strongly discouraging such an act. He urged them to harmoniously preserve the stability and well being of the Umayyad house.

When Yazid III persisted in overthrowing al-Walid II, Marwan at first opposed him, then rendered allegiance to him. On Yazid's early death, Marwan renewed his ambitions, ignored Yazid's named successor Ibrahim and became caliph. Ibrahim initially hid, then requested Marwan give him assurances of personal safety. This Marwan granted and Ibrahim even accompanied the new caliph to Hisham's residence of Rusafah.

Marwan named his two sons Ubaydallah and Abdallah heirs. He appointed governors and proceeded to assert his authority by force. However, anti-Umayyad feeling was very prevalent, especially in Iran and Iraq. The Abbasids had gained much support. As such, Marwan's reign as caliph was almost entirely devoted to trying to keep the Umayyad empire together.

Marwan took Hims (Emesa) after a bitter ten month siege. Al-Dahhak led a Kharijite rebellion. He defeated Syrian forces and took Kufa. Sulayman ibn Hisham turned against Marwan, but suffered a severe defeat. The Kharijites advanced on Mosul and were defeated. Sulayman joined them. Al-Dahhak's successor al-Khaybari was initially successful in pushing back Marwan's centre and even took the caliph's camp and sat on his carpet. However, he and those with him fell in fighting in the camp. Shayban succeeded him. Marwan pursued him and Sulayman to Mosul and besieged them there for six months. Then reinforced the caliph drove them out. Shayban fled to Bahrayn where he was killed; Sulayman sailed to India.

In Khurasan there was internal discord with the Umayyad governor Nasr ibn Sayyar facing opposition from al-Harith and al-Kirmani. They also fought each other. In addition Abbasid envoys arrived. There had long been religious fervour and a kind of messianic expectation of Abbasid ascendency. During Ramadan 747 (May 16-June 14), they unfurled the standards of their revolt. Nasr sent his retainer Yazid against them. Yazid, however, was bested, taken and held captive. He was impressed by the Abbasids and when released told Nasr he wanted to join them, but his obligations to Nasr brought him back.

Fighting continued throughout Khurasan with the Abbasids gaining increasing ascendency. Finally, Nasr fell sick and died at Rayy on November 9, 748 at the age of eighty five. The Abbasids achieved success in the Hijaz. Marwan suffered a decisive defeat by Abu al-'Abbas al-Saffah on the banks of the Zab River called Battle of the Zab. At this battle alone, over 300 members of the Umayyad family died. Marwan fled, leaving Damascus, Jordan and Palestine and reaching Egypt, where he was caught and killed on August 6, 750. His heirs Ubaydallah and Abdallah escaped to Ethiopia. Ubaydallah died in fighting there.

Marwan's death signalled the end of Umayyad fortunes in the East, and was followed by the mass-killing of Umayyads by the Abbasids. Almost the entire Umayyad dynasty was killed, except for the talented prince Abd ar-Rahman who escaped to Spain and founded an Umayyad dynasty there.

[edit] Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History v. 25 "The End of Expansion," transl. Khalid Yahya Blankinship, SUNY, Albany, 1989; v. 26 "The Waning of the Umayyad Caliphate," transl. Carole Hillenbrand, SUNY, Albany, 1989; v. 27 "The Abbasid Revolution," transl. John Alden Williams, SUNY, Albany, 1985

Sir John Glubb, The Empire of the Arabs, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1963

Marwan II

Banu Umayyah

Sunni Islam titles

Preceded byIbrahim I

Islam Caliph744 – 750

Succeeded byAs-Saffah

Regnal titles

Preceded byIbrahim I


Umayyad Caliphate abolished and Umamayyad Emirate established Abd ar-

Rahman I in 756

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marwan_II"Categories: Umayyad caliphs | Khazar military history | 688 births | 750 deaths | 8th-century caliphs

the caliphs of umayyad reign

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